Lana Oconnell
International students in the US with valid F1 immigration status are permitted to work off-campus in Optional Practical Training (OPT) status during and after completion of their degree. OPT is a type of work permission available for eligible F-1 students, allowing them to gain real-world work experience related to their field of study. Students can apply for OPT after being enrolled for at least 9 months, but they cannot begin employment until they receive their Employment Authorization Document (EAD) and have been enrolled for at least a year. F-1 students may also be eligible for a 24-month extension of their post-completion OPT employment authorization if they have earned a degree in certain STEM fields.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Who is eligible for OPT? | F-1 students who have been full-time students for at least one full academic year and are seeking employment in their field of study. |
| How long does OPT last? | 12 months, with the possibility of a 24-month extension for students with degrees in certain STEM fields. |
| Can students work during OPT? | Yes, students can work part-time (20 hours or less per week) while school is in session and full-time when school is not in session. Students can also work as volunteers or unpaid interns for at least 20 hours per week. |
| When can students apply for OPT? | Students can apply for OPT after being enrolled for at least 9 months, but they cannot begin employment until they have been enrolled for at least one year. |
| What is the application process for OPT? | Students must apply for a work permit with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) and receive an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) before starting work. The application process can take up to 90 days. |
| Are there any restrictions on OPT employment? | Yes, OPT employment must be directly related to the student's major field of study and must be authorized by the Designated School Official (DSO) and USCIS prior to starting work. |
| What happens if a student doesn't find a job during OPT? | Students on post-completion OPT may have up to 90 days of unemployment. If a student accumulates 90 days or more of unemployment, they are in violation of their F-1 status and must leave the U.S., transfer to another school, or change their visa status. |
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What You'll Learn
Requirements for international students to work in the USA on OPT
International students in the US on an F1 visa are permitted to work off-campus in optional practical training (OPT) status during and after completion of their degree. The OPT is temporary employment directly related to an F-1 student's major area of study.
- Students must be enrolled in an "academic" educational program, a language-training program, or a vocational program.
- The school must be approved by the Student and Exchange Visitors Program, Immigration & Customs Enforcement.
- Students must be enrolled as full-time students at the institution.
- Students must be proficient in English or be enrolled in courses leading to English proficiency.
- Students must have sufficient funds available for self-support during the entire proposed course of study.
- Students must maintain a residence abroad with no intention of giving it up.
- 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 must apply for OPT after being enrolled for at least 9 months.
- Students must receive their Employment Authorization Document (EAD) from USCIS and must have been enrolled for at least a year before beginning employment.
- Students must not begin working before the start date on the EAD.
- Students must work at least 20 hours per week during post-completion OPT.
- Students must not work on a terminated EAD.
- Students must ensure that their OPT request in SEVIS is valid for no longer than 180 days, or it will be automatically canceled.
- Students must file Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization with USCIS, along with the required fee and supporting documentation.
- Students must request that their designated school official (DSO) at their academic institution recommend the 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).
- Students must ensure that their OPT is directly related to their major area of study.
- Students with a STEM degree on the STEM Designated Degree Program List may apply for a 24-month extension of their post-completion OPT employment authorization if they are employed by an employer enrolled in and using E-Verify.
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STEM OPT extension
International students on an F-1 visa are eligible to work in the USA under certain conditions. One such condition is that they 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.
F-1 students may engage in off-campus employment in three types of situations, one of which is the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Optional Practical Training (OPT) Extension. The STEM OPT Extension is a 24-month extension of the standard OPT program, which allows students to work in the US for up to 12 months after graduation. To qualify for the STEM OPT Extension, students must hold a bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree in a STEM field from an accredited US college or university. The degree must be on the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List at the time of application, rather than at the time the student received the degree.
Students must also be employed by an employer enrolled in the USCIS E-Verify employment eligibility verification program and must work a minimum of 20 hours per week. The employer must also provide a formal training program related to the student's academic learning. To apply for the STEM OPT Extension, students must submit Form I-20, Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status, endorsed by their Designated School Official (DSO), as well as a copy of their STEM degree.
It is important to note that F-1 students cannot qualify for STEM OPT extensions unless they will be bona fide employees of the employer signing Form I-983. Additionally, students with pending STEM OPT extension applications are not eligible for the increase of the automatic extension period under 8 CFR 274a.13(d). If a student's OPT period expires while their extension application is pending, their employment authorization will be automatically extended for 180 days until USCIS adjudicates their STEM OPT extension application.
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Types of employment allowed on OPT
International students on Optional Practical Training (OPT) can engage in various types of employment, depending on their visa status and the requirements of their program. Here are the types of employment allowed on OPT:
Pre-completion OPT:
Students on F-1 visas can apply for pre-completion OPT after being lawfully enrolled full-time 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). During the school year, students can work up to 20 hours per week and full-time when school is not in session. Pre-completion OPT can be paid or unpaid training related to the student's major field of study. It can include multiple employers, short-term gigs, self-employment, contract work, or work for hire.
Post-completion OPT:
Post-completion OPT authorizes students for full-time OPT participation of 20 hours or more per week. Similar to pre-completion OPT, this can be paid or unpaid and include multiple employers, gigs, self-employment, contract work, or work for hire. All employment must be directly related to the student's major field of study and commensurate with the degree level.
STEM OPT Extension:
Students with degrees in certain Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields may apply for a 24-month extension of their post-completion OPT. To be eligible, students must meet specific requirements, including being employed by an E-Verify employer and having received an initial grant of post-completion OPT based on their STEM degree.
Volunteering and Unpaid Internships:
Students on OPT can also engage in volunteering or unpaid internships, provided these do not violate any labor laws. This option is available for both pre-completion and post-completion OPT, but students must ensure they work at least 20 hours per week and that the work is directly related to their major field of study.
Self-Employment and Business Ownership:
Students on OPT may start their own business and be self-employed. In this case, they must work full-time and ensure their business is properly licensed and related to their degree program.
It is important for students on OPT to carefully follow the regulations and requirements for employment, as working without authorization can have serious consequences, including removal from the country.
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Rules and restrictions for employment on OPT
F-1 Optional Practical Training (OPT) is 12-month work authorization available to international students who have been full-time students for at least two consecutive semesters and plan to seek employment in the United States in their field of study. Students must apply for OPT in their last semester.
To be eligible for OPT, students must be enrolled in 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 must also be lawfully enrolled on a full-time basis for one full academic year before applying for pre-completion OPT.
During pre-completion OPT, students 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, students must work part-time (at least 20 hours per week) or full-time. Students on the initial 12-month OPT may work as volunteers or unpaid interns, provided that the work is at least 20 hours per week and does not violate any labor laws. Students must be actively seeking employment during their OPT authorization, and they must report their employment to the designated school authority.
Students who have earned a degree in certain Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields may apply for a 24-month extension of their post-completion OPT employment authorization. To be eligible, students must be employed by an employer enrolled in and using E-Verify, and they must have received an initial grant of post-completion OPT employment authorization based on their STEM degree. If a student's OPT period expires while their STEM OPT extension application is pending, their employment authorization will be automatically extended by 180 days.
It is important to note that F-1 students may not work off-campus during their first academic year but may accept on-campus employment subject to certain conditions and restrictions. After the first academic year, F-1 students may engage in off-campus employment, including STEM OPT, on a case-by-case basis due to special situations such as severe economic hardship. Any off-campus employment must be related to the student's area of study and authorized by the Designated School Official and USCIS before starting work.
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Application process for OPT
The application process for OPT involves several steps and can take between 1 and 5 months to complete. Here is a detailed breakdown of the process:
Step 1: Eligibility Requirements
Before applying for OPT, ensure you meet the eligibility criteria. You must have completed at least one full academic year of full-time study and be in valid F-1 status at the time of application. Additionally, you must not have used 12 months or more of full-time Curricular Practical Training (CPT) at the same degree level, and you must not have previously used Post-Completion OPT for the same degree level.
Step 2: Recommendation from Designated School Official (DSO)
Request that your DSO at your academic institution recommend OPT. They will make this recommendation by endorsing your Form I-20, Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status, and noting it in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS).
Step 3: Complete the OPT Certification Course
Before submitting your OPT I-20 request, you may need to complete the OPT Certification Course. This course is self-enrollable and will provide you with important information about the OPT process.
Step 4: Submit OPT I-20 Request
After completing the OPT Certification Course (if required), you can submit your OPT I-20 request. An International Center advisor will review your request and send the OPT recommendation to SEVIS electronically, generating a new I-20. This process typically takes around two weeks.
Step 5: File Form I-765
Once you have received your new I-20 with the OPT recommendation, you must file Form I-765, "Application for Employment Authorization," within 30 days. Submit this form to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), along with the required fee and supporting documentation. You can file Form I-765 online or on paper, but ensure you do not begin your OPT before your Form I-765 is approved and you receive your Employment Authorization Document (EAD).
Step 6: Receive I-797 Notice of Approval and EAD Card
Within 1 to 3 months, you should receive an I-797 Notice of Approval letter and your EAD card. Check the information on your EAD card carefully, and if there are any errors, contact an advisor. Your EAD card confirms your OPT approval and allows you to begin working on the "Valid From" date printed on the card.
Step 7: Report Changes to DSO
While on OPT, you are required to report any changes, such as legal name changes, address changes, or employment changes, to your DSO. Additionally, you must periodically confirm your information with your DSO, even if there have been no changes.
Please note that there may be additional considerations for students in specific situations, such as graduate students with thesis/dissertation requirements remaining or students pursuing STEM degrees. It is important to carefully review all instructions and seek guidance from your academic institution's international office or advisor when navigating the OPT application process.
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