Douglas Olsen
Students on OPT can work in paid or unpaid positions, but all jobs must be related to their degree of study. Students can work for multiple employers, including short-term gigs, self-employment, contract work, or work for hire. OPT employment must be directly related to the student's major field of study and commensurate with the degree level. Students can engage in paid employment or serve as volunteers, unpaid interns, researchers, or community service workers, as long as it does not violate any labor laws. Pre-completion OPT can be authorized part-time (up to 20 hours per week) or full-time (21 hours or more per week) during studies or immediately after degree completion. Post-completion OPT authorizes students for full-time OPT participation (20 hours or more per week).
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| OPT type | Pre-completion OPT, Post-completion OPT |
| OPT definition | Optional practical training for F-1 students |
| Pre-completion OPT | Authorised part-time (up to 20 hours per week) or full-time (21 hours or more per week) |
| Post-completion OPT | Authorises full-time OPT participation (20 hours or more per week) |
| Eligibility | F-1 international students in undergraduate or graduate programs who have been in valid F-1 status for one academic year |
| Application requirements | No job offer needed; submit OPT I-20 Request E-Form; pay BIO Post-Completion Services Fee of $250 |
| Employment type | Paid or unpaid; multiple employers; self-employment; contract work; short-term gigs; work for hire; internships; volunteering |
| Employment conditions | Must be directly related to the student's major area or field of study; minimum of 20 hours per week; students must be working or actively seeking employment |
| STEM extension | Students with STEM degrees can apply for a 24-month extension of post-completion OPT; must have paid employment with an E-Verify employer |
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What You'll Learn
Paid vs. unpaid work
Optional Practical Training (OPT) is a program designed to help F-1 international students gain practical work experience in their field of study. Students can participate in OPT before completing their academic studies (pre-completion) or after (post-completion). During this time, they can engage in paid or unpaid work, provided it is related to their major field of study.
Paid Work
Students on OPT can work paid jobs, either part-time (up to 20 hours per week) or full-time (20 hours or more per week). They can work for multiple employers, including short-term gigs, and can change employers as many times as they wish. However, the total number of hours worked across all jobs must be at least 20 hours per week for the employment to be considered active. Students must also ensure that their work is directly related to their major area of study and commensurate with their degree level.
Unpaid Work
Students on OPT can also engage in unpaid work, such as volunteering or internships. This work must still be related to their field of study, and students should obtain a contract or agreement from their supervisor outlining their job description and time commitment. Unpaid work should not violate any labor laws, and students should ensure they are complying with any relevant regulations, such as the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Additionally, students should carefully document their volunteer work, including the nature of the work and the hours worked, as this may be required as proof of their OPT activities.
It is important to note that students on OPT must report their employment through the SEVP portal, and any unemployment time may accrue and impact their status. Pre-completion OPT students have more flexibility, as they can work without accruing unemployment days, while post-completion OPT students can only accrue up to 90 days of unemployment during the entire 12-month OPT period.
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Pre-completion OPT
To be eligible for pre-completion OPT, students must meet the following criteria:
- Currently hold F-1 status.
- Begin and end their OPT during their enrolled course of study.
- Have been enrolled in a full course of study for one academic year (three quarters).
- Have a declared major. Pre-major students are not eligible.
- Have not been authorized for 12 months of full-time Curricular Practical Training (CPT).
- Have not previously completed 12 months of full-time OPT at the same degree level.
Students can apply for pre-completion OPT authorization on a part-time basis (up to 20 hours per week) or full-time basis (21 hours or more per week) during their studies. The type of authorization depends on the request submitted in the OPT application and is reflected in the Employment Authorization Document (EAD).
Students can work for multiple employers, including short-term gigs, self-employment, contract work, or work for hire, as long as the cumulative number of hours is within the authorized limit. Pre-completion OPT can be paid or unpaid, but it must always be related to the student's field of study. There is no limit on unemployment time during pre-completion OPT, and students are not required to report their employer information.
To apply for pre-completion OPT, students must first complete the OPT module and ensure they meet the eligibility requirements. They will need to provide information such as the name and email address of their academic advisor. Students can then request an OPT recommendation I-20 for pre-completion OPT and submit their OPT application to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) within 30 days of receiving their I-20. It is important to carefully review the application to avoid delays or denial.
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Post-completion OPT
To be eligible for post-completion OPT, students must have been in valid F-1 student status for one academic year. They can apply as early as 90 days before reaching this requirement. However, applications received 60 days or more beyond the academic program completion date will not be accepted.
The OPT application process involves several steps and players. Firstly, the student must request an OPT recommendation I-20 for post-completion OPT. Once the request and electronic confirmation from the department are received, it takes 7 business days to process. After receiving the updated I-20, the student must print, sign, and date it.
Next, the student must file Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, with USCIS, along with the required fee and supporting documentation. USCIS will deny the application if Form I-765 is submitted before the DSO recommendation or after the 30-day post-DSO recommendation period. The application may also be denied due to incompleteness, errors, or payment issues.
Once the OPT is approved, students must confirm that the start and end dates on their Employment Authorization Document (EAD) are accurate. They must also have a Social Security Number to get paid. While on OPT, students must report their employer information to the US government. They are expected to be employed and can accrue a maximum of 90 days of unemployment during the entire 12-month OPT period.
Students with a STEM-qualifying degree can apply for a 24-month extension of their post-completion OPT. They must meet certain requirements, such as being employed by an employer enrolled in and using E-Verify.
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Volunteering and internships
Volunteering
Volunteering is a good way to gain experience and enhance your resume, but it must be related to your field of study. It is recommended that you get a contract or agreement from your supervisor outlining your job description and time commitment. It is also important to note that volunteering should not be listed as OPT employment if it is not directly related to your course of study.
Internships
Unpaid internships are a great option for OPT students as they can stop the OPT unemployment clock while you job hunt and enhance your resume. Like volunteering, internships must be related to your field of study and you should be working at least 20 hours per week for them to count as OPT employment.
There are a variety of internships available for OPT students in fields such as Computer Science, Business, Data Analytics, Engineering Management, Technology, STEM, Marketing, Human Resources, Organizational Psychology, Finance, Digital Marketing, Procurement, and Education.
It is important to keep records of your internships and volunteering, including contracts, job descriptions, and evidence of hours worked, as these may be requested by USCIS when applying for future immigration benefits.
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STEM OPT extensions
F-1 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. This extension is available to students who are currently in a period of approved post-completion OPT and have a STEM-qualifying degree. The student must have a degree in an eligible STEM field from a Student and Exchange Visitor Program-certified school that is accredited when they submit their STEM OPT extension application.
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. The student's degree must be on the STEM Designated Degree Program List at the time of their application, rather than at the time they received the degree. The "related field" language in the STEM definition means that a degree may be considered a STEM field even if it is not within the two-digit series for engineering, biological sciences, mathematics, or physical sciences.
Students may not apply for STEM OPT extensions during the 60-day grace period following an initial period of regular post-completion OPT. To qualify for a 24-month STEM OPT extension, an F-1 student must be participating in an initial period of regular post-completion OPT. Students who obtain a 24-month STEM OPT extension are allowed a maximum of 150 days of unemployment.
If a student completes one period of OPT, including a STEM OPT extension, and then pursues a second period of OPT based on earning a second degree at a higher educational level, the student will be eligible for the authorized 90-day and 150-day periods of unemployment at both educational levels. Students may participate twice in the STEM OPT extension over the course of their academic career.
To apply for the STEM OPT extension, students must submit the I-765 application and pay the application fee twice. If a student's OPT period expires while their extension application is pending, their employment authorization will be automatically extended for 180 days.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, OPT students can have an unpaid job as long as it is related to their major field of study and does not violate any labor laws.
Unpaid work under OPT can include internships, volunteer work, research, or community service, as long as it is related to the student's field of study.
Yes, students must ensure that the unpaid work does not violate any labor laws, including the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). It should typically be with a non-profit organization or charity.
OPT students must work at least 20 hours per week in their unpaid job for it to count as active employment. Working less than 20 hours per week will be counted towards unemployment accrual.
Yes, OPT students can work in both paid and unpaid positions, and they can change employers as many times as they wish, as long as all jobs are related to their degree of study.
