Lana Oconnell
International students in the US with an F-1 visa are eligible for Optional Practical Training (OPT) to gain work experience in their field of study. Students can apply for pre-completion OPT after completing one academic year of full-time study and work up to 20 hours per week. After graduating, they can apply for post-completion OPT, which requires working at least 20 hours per week. Students with STEM degrees can apply for a 24-month extension of their post-completion OPT, allowing them to gain valuable work experience and enhance their career prospects. The OPT process involves various requirements and forms, including the Form I-765 and recommendations from Designated School Officials (DSOs).
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What You'll Learn
Eligibility criteria for post-completion OPT
Optional Practical Training (OPT) is a type of work permission available for eligible F-1 students. It allows students to gain real-world work experience related to their field of study. To be eligible for OPT, students must be in full-time F-1 status for at least one academic year. Students can apply for pre-completion OPT after being lawfully enrolled on a full-time basis 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) to enrol F-1 students. Students can work 20 hours or less per week while school is in session and full-time when school is not in session.
Post-completion OPT can be applied for after completing studies. Students must work part-time (at least 20 hours per week) or full-time. Students with a timely filed H-1B petition and change of status request may be eligible for a cap-gap extension if their F-1 status and employment authorization expire before the change to H-1B status. This allows students to remain in the U.S. during the "gap".
Certain F-1 students who receive degrees in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields may apply for a 24-month extension of their post-completion OPT. 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 and using E-Verify, and have received an initial grant of post-completion OPT employment authorization based on their STEM degree.
To apply for OPT, students must submit Form I-765, "Application for Employment Authorization," within 30 days of the DSO OPT recommendation. Students must also have an updated Form I-20, "Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status," with the OPT recommendation. If a student submits Form I-765 before the DSO recommendation or after the 30-day period, USCIS will deny the application, and the student will lose the application fee.
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STEM OPT extension requirements
International engineering students with an F-1 visa have access to a 12-month standard Optional Practical Training (OPT) period. They may also apply for a 24-month STEM OPT extension.
- The student must have earned a bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree from a school that is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education-recognized accrediting agency and is certified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) at the time of submitting the STEM OPT extension application.
- The student's degree must be in a qualifying STEM field, as listed on the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) STEM Designated Degree Program List at the time of application.
- The student must be employed by an employer enrolled in USCIS' E-Verify employment eligibility verification program.
- The employer must provide a bona fide employer-employee relationship with the student, including sufficient resources and personnel to deliver appropriate training.
- The student must work with their employer to complete Form I-983, which outlines the training plan and its direct relationship to the student's qualifying STEM degree.
- The employer must pay the student a salary commensurate with that of similarly situated U.S. workers.
- The student must work a minimum of 20 hours per week and receive formal training and learning objectives.
- The student must report to their Designated School Official (DSO) every six months to confirm their information, even if it has not changed.
- The student must not be unemployed for more than a limited number of days during their OPT period.
- The student must not transfer to another school or begin studies at another educational level during their OPT period, or their authorization will automatically terminate.
- The student must submit Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, within specific timelines: up to 90 days before their current OPT employment authorization expires and within 60 days of the date the DSO enters the OPT recommendation into their Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) record.
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Pre-completion OPT work hours
F-1 students can apply for Optional Practical Training (OPT) to get real-world work experience related to their field of study. OPT is available for eligible F-1 students who have been lawfully 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 enrol F-1 students.
Students who are authorized to participate in pre-completion OPT can work 20 hours or less per week while school is in session. They may work full-time when school is not in session. If a student has already received one year of full-time (40 hours per week) pre-completion OPT, the total time of full-time OPT available will be reduced by one year. If a student has received one year of part-time (20 hours per week) pre-completion OPT, the total time of full-time OPT available will be reduced by six months.
Students on pre-completion OPT cannot exceed the allowed cumulative hours per week. They may work for more than one employer, but all employment must be related to their major field of study. Students can also work as volunteers or unpaid interns, as long as it does not violate any labour laws.
Students on OPT may also start a business and be self-employed. In this case, the student must work full-time and be able to prove that they have the proper business licenses and are actively engaged in a business related to their degree program.
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OPT EAD card correction process
F-1 students with degrees in certain Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields can apply for Optional Practical Training (OPT) to gain work experience related to their field of study. The OPT application process is complex and involves several steps and players.
If you have received an EAD card with incorrect information, there are a few steps you can take to correct it. Firstly, determine whether the error was made by USCIS or another party. If the error was made by USCIS (e.g., a typo in the name or incorrect birth date), you must return the original EAD card to USCIS for correction. They will issue a corrected EAD within 30–45 days of receiving the incorrect EAD.
If you are unsure whether the error was made by USCIS or have any questions, you can contact them directly. Before initiating the correction process, consider any other processes or applications that may be relevant to your situation, such as applying for a driver's license or travelling.
If your EAD card is lost, stolen, or destroyed, you may request a replacement by following the instructions provided by USCIS. Additionally, if you have moved addresses between applications, you may face mailing issues. In this case, you should update your address with USCIS using the online AR-11 form to ensure your EAD card is mailed to the correct address.
If your OPT information in SEVIS does not match the applications filed with or decisions made by USCIS, DSOs can request to have the record corrected. There are two ways to correct data in a student record.
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OPT application processing times
The OPT application process involves several steps and can take a few months to complete. The first step is to request that your designated school official (DSO) recommends OPT by endorsing your Form I-20, Certification of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status. Then, you must file Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, with USCIS, along with the required fee and supporting documents. You may not begin your pre- or post-completion OPT until after your Form I-765 is approved and you receive your Employment Authorization Document (EAD).
The processing time for OPT applications can vary. Generally, it can take anywhere from 1 to 5 months, with most applications processed within 90 days. However, some sources state that it can take up to 150 days or even longer. It is important to note that if you submit mounted or retouched images with your application, it may delay the processing time. Additionally, if you are concerned about long processing times, you may consider USCIS Premium Processing, which can expedite your application for a high price.
To check the current processing times, you can visit the USCIS website and select "Form I-765" and "Based on a Request by a Qualified F-1 Academic Student [(c)(3)]" with "Potomac Service Centre". You can also refer to the academic calendar when applying for OPT to ensure that your application is submitted within the required time frame.
It is recommended that students apply as early as possible to allow for sufficient processing time. Additionally, students should carefully review all application requirements and instructions to avoid any delays or issues with their OPT application.
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Frequently asked questions
International engineering students are eligible for a 12-month OPT period.
STEM students are eligible for a 24-month extension of their OPT period, for a total of up to 36 months.
You can apply for a STEM OPT extension if you have earned a bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree from an accredited U.S. college or university.
To apply for OPT, you must have completed at least one full academic year of full-time study, be at the end of your academic program, and not have previously used OPT for the same degree level.
You may not begin your OPT employment until your Form I-765 has been approved and you have received your Employment Authorization Document (EAD).
