Opt Application Options For International Students Post-Masters

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. OPT is authorized by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and allows students to apply their knowledge in a practical work setting off-campus. Students may apply for 12 months of OPT per degree level, with the option of a 24-month extension for qualifying fields of study, such as STEM. The application process involves submitting Form I-765, accompanied by the required fee and supporting documentation. It is important to note that OPT must be used directly after graduation and cannot be saved for later.

OPT application process and timing

International students on an F-1 visa can apply for Optional Practical Training (OPT) to work in the US. OPT is a temporary employment authorization that allows students to gain practical experience directly related to their major area of study. Students can apply for up to 12 months of OPT employment authorization before completing their academic studies (pre-completion) and/or after completing their studies (post-completion).

OPT Application Process:

• The student must have been lawfully enrolled full-time for one full academic year at a college or university certified by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) to enroll F-1 students.
• The student's Designated School Official (DSO) recommends OPT by endorsing their Form I-20, "Certification of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status," and making the appropriate notation in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS).
• The student must file Form I-765, "Application for Employment Authorization," with USCIS, accompanied by the required fee and supporting documentation.
• The student may not begin their OPT until after USCIS approves their Form I-765 and they receive their Employment Authorization Document (EAD).
• Students with degrees in STEM fields may be eligible for a 24-month extension of their 12-month post-completion OPT.

OPT Timing:

• Pre-completion OPT: Students may apply for pre-completion OPT after being lawfully enrolled full-time for one full academic year. They can work up to 20 hours per week while school is in session and full-time when school is not in session.
• Post-completion OPT: Students may apply for post-completion OPT after completing their studies. They must work at least 20 hours per week, either part-time or full time.
• The total period of OPT (pre-completion and post-completion) cannot exceed 12 months per degree level.
• OPT must be used directly after graduation and cannot be saved for later.
• Students can apply for OPT up to 90 days before or up to 60 days after the completion of their degree.

OPT eligibility requirements

International students with an F-1 visa status can apply for Optional Practical Training (OPT) to work, intern, or volunteer in the US. OPT is a temporary employment authorization that allows students to gain practical work experience by applying the knowledge and skills from their program of study.

To be eligible for OPT, you must meet the following requirements:

• You must be an F-1 student, which means you must have a valid F-1 visa and be enrolled full-time in a college, university, conservatory, or seminary that is certified by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) to enroll F-1 students.
• You must have completed one full academic year (two semesters) of lawful enrolment at your school.
• You must have maintained your F-1 status during your studies.
• You must apply for OPT through your school's Designated School Official (DSO), who will recommend OPT by endorsing your Form I-20, "Certification of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status."
• You must properly file Form I-765, "Application for Employment Authorization," with the required fee and supporting documentation.
• Your employment must be directly related to your major area of study.
• You must work at least 20 hours per week during your OPT period.
• You must not begin working until you receive your Employment Authorization Document (EAD) and the start date on the card.

Additionally, if you are applying for the 24-month STEM OPT Extension, you must meet the following criteria:

• You must have a degree in a STEM field of study (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) as reflected by the CIP code on your Form I-20.
• Your STEM degree must have been conferred within the last 10 years by an institution certified by the SEVP and accredited by the US Department of Education.
• You must first apply for the standard Post-Completion OPT authorization and then apply for the 24-Month STEM OPT Extension within the final 90 calendar days of your Post-Completion OPT period.

Pre-completion OPT

F-1 students who plan to work in the US can apply for Optional Practical Training (OPT), a temporary employment authorization that provides an opportunity to apply knowledge gained in the classroom to a practical work experience off-campus. OPT is a benefit of your F-1 visa status and not a separate work visa or visa category. You continue to be in F-1 student visa status while you are on OPT and must abide by all F-1 regulations during your OPT period.

To apply for pre-completion OPT, you must request that your designated school official (DSO) at your academic institution recommend the OPT. Your DSO will make the recommendation by endorsing your Form I-20, Certification of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status, and making the appropriate notation in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). You will then need to file Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, with USCIS, accompanied by the required fee and supporting documentation. You may apply for pre-completion OPT up to 90 days before your requested start date, and USCIS typically takes 3 to 5 months to process the application.

It is important to note that all periods of pre-completion OPT will be deducted from the available period of post-completion OPT. Additionally, if you have already received 12 months of full-time (40 hours per week) pre-completion OPT, you will not be entitled to any period of post-completion OPT employment authorization.

Post-completion OPT

International students with an F-1 visa status can apply for Optional Practical Training (OPT) to gain temporary employment directly related to their major area of study. OPT is not a separate work visa but a benefit of the F-1 visa status, and students can be authorised for up to 12 months of OPT per degree level.

To apply for post-completion OPT, students must file Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, with USCIS, along with the required fee and supporting documentation. Students must also receive their Employment Authorization Document (EAD) and wait for the start date on the card before starting work.

OPT extension

International students on an F-1 visa can apply for Optional Practical Training (OPT) to work in the US. OPT is a temporary employment authorization that provides an opportunity to apply knowledge gained in the classroom to a practical work experience off-campus. Students are eligible for 12 months of OPT per degree level. OPT can only be used once per higher degree level, even if you have multiple degrees at that level.

Now, for the OPT extension. Students with degrees in a STEM field may be eligible for a 24-month extension of their 12-month post-completion OPT. To qualify for the STEM OPT extension, an F-1 student must hold a bachelor's degree or a higher degree in an eligible STEM field from a SEVP-certified school that is accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the US Department of Education. The student's employer must be enrolled in USCIS' E-Verify employment eligibility verification program. The student must work with their potential employer to complete Form I-983, which must include how the training opportunity is directly related to the student's qualifications.

If you file your STEM OPT extension application on time and your OPT period expires while your extension application is pending, your employment authorization will be automatically extended by 180 days. This automatic extension ends once USCIS adjudicates your STEM OPT extension application.

If you are an F-1 student with a timely filed H-1B petition and change of status request, and your F-1 status and employment authorization will expire before the change of status to H-1B occurs (usually on 1 October), you may be eligible for a cap-gap extension.

Frequently asked questions