Lana Oconnell
International students on an F-1 visa are eligible for Optional Practical Training (OPT), which allows them to gain valuable experience and begin contributing to the US economy immediately. OPT is a type of work authorization that allows students to work in their major area of study, providing an opportunity to develop their skills and build professional networks. Students can apply for OPT before or after completing their academic studies, but the pre-completion OPT duration will be deducted from the post-completion OPT period. While OPT is generally for 12 months, students with degrees in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math (STEM) can apply for a 24-month extension, known as the STEM OPT extension. To apply for OPT, students must submit Form I-20 and Form I-765 within specified deadlines and maintain their F-1 student status.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Who is eligible for OPT? | F-1 international students who have been full-time students for at least one academic year and are not studying English as a Second Language. |
| What is the purpose of OPT? | To allow international students to gain work experience in their major area of study. |
| How long does OPT last? | 12 months, with a possible 24-month extension for students with degrees in STEM fields. |
| When can students apply for OPT? | Up to 90 days before the program end date and no later than 60 days after the program end date. |
| Where can students work during OPT? | Anywhere in the United States. |
| Can students change jobs during OPT? | Yes, students can change jobs and work multiple concurrent jobs during OPT. |
| Can students work before receiving OPT approval? | No, students must not begin working before receiving approval and the start date on the Employment Authorization Document (EAD). |
| Can students work part-time during OPT? | Yes, OPT employment must be a minimum of 20 hours per week. |
| Can students volunteer during OPT? | Yes, volunteering and unpaid internships can be considered employment during OPT as long as they comply with federal and state labor laws. |
| What happens if a student transfers to another school or begins a new degree program? | The student's authorization to engage in OPT employment will automatically terminate. |
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What You'll Learn
OPT eligibility requirements
International students on an F-1 visa in the United States may be eligible for Optional Practical Training (OPT) to gain work experience in their field of study. OPT is temporary employment directly related to an F-1 student's major area of study. Students can apply for pre-completion OPT or post-completion OPT.
Pre-completion OPT eligibility requirements
To be eligible for pre-completion OPT, you must:
- Be an F-1 student.
- Have been enrolled on a full-time basis for one full academic year at a college, university, conservatory, or seminary certified by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) to enroll F-1 students.
- Not have worked for one full academic year with F-1 status; you can satisfy the requirement with another nonimmigrant status.
- Remain enrolled full-time while participating in OPT.
- Not work more than 20 hours per week while school is in session.
Post-completion OPT eligibility requirements
To be eligible for post-completion OPT, you must:
- Be an F-1 student.
- Have completed your studies.
- Apply for OPT no later than 60 days after your program's end date on Form I-20.
- Receive your Employment Authorization Document (EAD) before starting work.
- Work a minimum of 20 hours per week, paid or unpaid.
STEM OPT eligibility requirements
Students with degrees in certain Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields may be eligible for a 24-month extension of their post-completion OPT. To be eligible for the STEM OPT extension, you must:
- Be an F-1 student with a STEM degree included on the STEM Designated Degree Program List.
- Be employed by an employer enrolled in the E-Verify program.
- Have received an initial grant of post-completion OPT employment authorization based on your STEM degree.
- Accrue no more than 150 days of unemployment during the initial 12-month post-completion OPT period.
- Apply for the STEM OPT extension within the final 90 calendar days of your post-completion OPT period.
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OPT application process
International students on an F-1 visa in the United States can apply for Optional Practical Training (OPT) to gain temporary employment directly related to their major area of study. The OPT application process is as follows:
Step 1: Check Eligibility
Before starting the OPT application process, ensure that you are eligible for OPT. To be eligible, you must be an F-1 student who has been lawfully enrolled full-time for at least one academic year at a college, university, conservatory, or seminary certified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) to enroll F-1 students. Additionally, your Designated School Official (DSO) must recommend OPT in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS).
Step 2: Request a Recommendation from your DSO
Request that your DSO at your academic institution recommend OPT by endorsing your Form I-20, Certification of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status, and making the appropriate notation in SEVIS. The DSO must sign page one of the Form I-20, and then it will be given to you.
Step 3: Prepare and Submit Form I-765
Once you have received the Form I-20 with the OPT recommendation from your DSO, you must file Form I-765, "Application for Employment Authorization," within 30 days. You can download Form I-765 from the USCIS website and complete it in Adobe Acrobat. Print out all seven pages single-sided and sign in black ink only. Compile all the required documents as outlined in the form instructions. You can choose to submit your Form I-765 online or by mail. If mailing, make a copy of your completed OPT application packet for your records, and ensure you use a mailing address with tracking information.
Step 4: Wait for USCIS Processing
The USCIS processing time for OPT applications can take up to five months. During this time, you must not begin your pre- or post-completion OPT until your Form I-765 is approved, and you receive your Employment Authorization Document (EAD). If your OPT application is still pending after your 60-day grace period, you can legally remain in the US in F-1 status until USCIS makes a decision.
Step 5: Begin OPT Employment
Once your OPT is approved and you receive your EAD, you can start your OPT employment. For pre-completion OPT, you may work 20 hours or less per week while school is in session and full-time when school is not in session. For post-completion OPT, you must work at least 20 hours per week, either part-time or full-time. Remember that any changes in employment or interruptions must be reported to your DSO in a timely manner.
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Pre-completion OPT
To be eligible for Pre-completion OPT, students must have been lawfully enrolled on a full-time basis for one full academic year at a college, university, conservatory, or seminary that has been certified by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) to enroll F-1 students. Students can file for OPT up to 90 days before the program end date on the Form I-20 and no later than 60 days after the program end date on the Form I-20.
To request Pre-OPT work authorization, students must request an I-20 with a recommendation for Pre-OPT from OGS and submit an application to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for review and adjudication. Students must also file Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization with USCIS, accompanied by the required fee and supporting documentation as described in the form instructions.
PhD students may be eligible to apply for Pre-OPT at any time during their program of study if all coursework other than the thesis/dissertation has been completed. They must have studied as a full-time degree-seeking student in the U.S. for at least one academic year at an SEVP-authorized school. Time spent in language training and non-degree programs does not count toward the one academic year requirement.
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Post-completion OPT
To apply for post-completion OPT, students must request a recommendation from their Designated School Official (DSO) at their academic institution. The DSO will make the recommendation by endorsing the student's Form I-20, Certification of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status, and noting it in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). Students must then file Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, within 30 days of the DSO recommendation. The application must be accompanied by the required fee and supporting documentation. Students must not submit Form I-765 before or after the DSO recommendation, as this will result in denial and loss of the application fee.
Once OPT is approved, USCIS will issue an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) or OPT card. Students must not begin working before the start date on the EAD. Students on post-completion OPT are expected to be employed and can be unemployed for a maximum of 90 days. Volunteering and unpaid internships can be considered employment for the initial 12-month period of post-completion OPT.
If students have earned a degree in certain STEM fields, they may apply for a 24-month extension of their post-completion OPT employment authorization. To be eligible, students must have received a STEM degree included on the STEM Designated Degree Program List, be employed by an employer enrolled in the E-Verify program, and have received an initial grant of post-completion OPT employment authorization based on their STEM degree.
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OPT STEM extension
International students on F-1 visas can apply for Optional Practical Training (OPT) to gain relevant work experience in their field of study. OPT is a type of work permit available for eligible F-1 students, allowing them to work before or after completing their academic studies. The standard OPT provides 12 months of employment authorization, which can be used either before or after graduation, or split between the two.
The OPT STEM extension is an additional 24-month period of employment authorization available to students with degrees in certain Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields. To be eligible for the OPT STEM extension, students must meet several requirements:
- Hold a bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree included on the STEM Designated Degree Program List.
- Be employed by or have a job offer from an employer enrolled in the E-Verify program.
- Have received an initial grant of post-completion OPT employment authorization based on their STEM degree.
- Submit the OPT application before the expiration of the current post-completion OPT.
- Have fewer than 90 days of unemployment while on OPT.
Students can apply for the OPT STEM extension by submitting Form I-765, along with the required documents, fees, and recommendations. The application process should begin three to four months before the current OPT expires, and the application must be received by USCIS no later than 60 days after the current OPT expiration date. Students may apply for a second STEM extension based on a previously conferred STEM degree or after completing a new STEM-eligible degree at a higher education level.
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Frequently asked questions
Optional Practical Training (OPT) is temporary employment that is directly related to an F-1 student’s major area of study.
To be eligible for OPT, an international student must have been a full-time student for one academic year at a college or university certified by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). They must not be studying English as a second language and must seek employment related to their major area of study.
International college students can apply for OPT by submitting Form I-765 and Form I-20, the Certificate of Eligibility, to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS). The Designated School Official (DSO) at the student's academic institution must recommend OPT by endorsing Form I-20. Students must apply within 30 days of receiving the DSO OPT recommendation and no later than 60 days after the program end date.
OPT provides international college students with the opportunity to gain valuable work experience in their field of study, allowing them to contribute to the U.S. economy and benefit American businesses. It also enables students to remain in the United States while seeking employment and provides flexibility in terms of job location and concurrent employment.
OPT is subject to strict rules and federal regulations. Students must not begin working before receiving their Employment Authorization Document (EAD) and must comply with F-1 status requirements. Additionally, OPT employment must be directly related to the student's major field of study and meet minimum hourly requirements.
