Douglas Olsen
International students in the US on an F-1 visa have the option to apply for Optional Practical Training (OPT) to gain work experience in their field of study. OPT is available both before and after completion of studies, and students can apply for a 12-month OPT at each degree level. Students with degrees in certain STEM fields may be eligible for a 24-month extension of their OPT. The OPT application process can be complex and time-consuming, and delays can occur if the required forms are not submitted correctly or on time. International travel during the OPT application process is allowed but not recommended due to the risk of complications with USCIS communications and potential visa issues. This paragraph introduces the topic of how to delay your OPT as an international student in the USA, highlighting key considerations and potential challenges.
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What You'll Learn
Eligibility requirements for F-1 students
To be eligible for an F-1 student visa, you must be enrolled as a full-time student at an accredited academic institution in the United States. This includes colleges, universities, seminaries, academic high schools, and elementary schools. Your school must be authorized by the U.S. government to accept foreign students and be certified by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP).
To maintain your F-1 status, you must be proficient in English or be enrolled in courses leading to English proficiency. Additionally, you must demonstrate that you have sufficient funds to support yourself throughout your entire course of study. You must also maintain a residence abroad that you do not intend to give up.
If you are an F-1 student, you may be eligible for Optional Practical Training (OPT), which allows you to gain work experience in your field of study. To apply for OPT, you must first receive a recommendation from your Designated School Official (DSO) and then submit Form I-765 to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS). If your OPT application is approved, USCIS will issue an Employment Authorization Document (EAD), and you can begin working in your field.
It is important to note that working without authorization can have serious consequences, including removal from the country. Additionally, if your F-1 visa expires while you are outside the United States, you must obtain a new visa before re-entering the country. Travel during the OPT application process is allowed but not recommended due to potential risks and the unpredictable nature of U.S. immigration policy.
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Pre-completion OPT
To apply for pre-completion OPT, students should first request a recommendation from their Designated School Official (DSO). The DSO will endorse the student's Form I-20, Certification of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status, and make a notation in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). Students should then submit Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, to USCIS, along with the required fee and supporting documentation. Students choosing to file online should review the instructions on the USCIS website and create a USCIS Online Account. It is important to carefully consider the mailing address included on the form, as important correspondence, including the EAD, will be sent to that address.
Students must not begin their pre-completion OPT until their Form I-765 has been approved and they have received their Employment Authorization Document (EAD). During the OPT period, F-1 students must notify their International Student Advisor of any employment activities, including the commencement and termination of employment, as well as any changes in employment details. Students must also provide an explanation of how each job is directly related to their major and program of study.
It is important to note that if a student has already received one year of full-time pre-completion OPT, the total time of full-time optional practical training available at the same education level will be reduced by one year. In this case, the student would not be entitled to any period of post-completion OPT employment authorization.
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Post-completion OPT
To apply for post-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 enrol F-1 students. Students must then submit Form I-765, which authorises employment in the US, within 30 days of receiving a recommendation from their Designated School Official (DSO) and before their DSO requests OPT in SEVIS. Students must also have received their physical Employment Authorisation Document (EAD) from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) before starting work.
Students on post-completion OPT are expected to be employed and can be unemployed for a maximum of 90 days. For the first 12 months, employment does not have to be paid, and students who are self-employed, interning, or volunteering in a position directly related to their academic field for an average of 20 hours per week are considered "employed". For the 24-month STEM OPT Extension, employment must be paid.
Students with a degree in certain Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields may apply for a 24-month extension of their post-completion OPT employment authorisation if they are employed by an employer enrolled in and using E-Verify and received an initial grant of post-completion OPT employment authorisation based on their STEM degree.
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STEM OPT extension
International students in the USA on an F-1 visa are eligible for Optional Practical Training (OPT) to gain work experience in their field of study. 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. This is known as the STEM OPT extension.
Eligibility for STEM OPT Extension
To be eligible for the STEM OPT extension, you must meet the following requirements:
- Be an F-1 student who has 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 your STEM OPT extension application.
- Have a degree in a STEM field that is included in the U.S. Department of Education's Classification of Instructional Program (CIP) taxonomy, such as engineering, biological sciences, mathematics, and physical sciences, or a related field.
- Be employed by an employer who is enrolled in and using USCIS' E-Verify employment eligibility verification program.
- Have received an initial grant of post-completion OPT employment authorization based on your STEM degree.
- Comply with all requirements for maintaining your student status, including not working on a terminated EAD.
Application Process for STEM OPT Extension
To apply for the STEM OPT extension, follow these steps:
- Request that your Designated School Official (DSO) at your academic institution recommend the OPT by endorsing your Form I-20, Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status, and making the appropriate notation in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS).
- Ensure that your DSO makes the recommendation within 30 days, as USCIS will deny the application if the Form I-765 is filed before or after this period.
- File Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, within 30 days of your DSO's recommendation.
- Include a copy of your STEM degree with your application.
- Submit your STEM OPT extension application on time to automatically extend your employment authorization for 180 days while your application is pending.
Travel During OPT and STEM OPT Extension
Travel outside the United States during the OPT and STEM OPT extension periods is possible but carries certain risks. If your F-1 visa has expired, you must obtain a new one before re-entering the country. Additionally, re-entering the United States in a status other than F-1 will invalidate your F-1 status and OPT authorization. If your OPT or STEM OPT Extension application is pending, you will not be able to apply for a new F-1 visa until the application is approved. Therefore, it is recommended to enter the United States through the San Francisco International Airport (SFO) Port of Entry whenever possible.
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Travel during OPT application
Travel during the OPT application process is allowed but not recommended, as it poses certain risks. If you choose to travel while your application is pending, you must ensure that you are monitoring your mail. Sign up for an account with USCIS Case Status online, and communicate your travel plans with BIO.
If your OPT application is denied while you are outside the US, you will not be able to re-enter or reapply, and your F-1 status will end. If your F-1 visa has expired, you will need to reapply for an F-1 visa with your EAD card and proof of employment. If your OPT application is approved while you are outside the US, you will need to arrange for your EAD card to be sent to you in order to re-enter the country.
Students on STEM OPT extensions, or those with pending applications, may travel abroad and seek re-entry to the US in F-1 status during the STEM OPT extension period if they have a valid F-1 visa that permits multiple entries and a current Form I-20 Certificate of Eligibility endorsed for re-entry by the DSO within the last six months.
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 (typically Oct. 1), you may be eligible for a cap-gap extension.
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Frequently asked questions
OPT stands for Optional Practical Training, a type of work authorization available to F-1 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.
You must apply for OPT through the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). You will need to fill out Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, and pay the required fee. You will also need a recommendation from your school on page 2 of your Form I-20, Certification of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status.
You can apply for OPT as early as 90 days before your graduation and up to 60 days after your Form I-20 program end date. It is recommended to apply as early as possible to ensure you receive your Employment Authorization Document (EAD) on time.
Yes, but it is not recommended as there are risks involved. You will need to monitor your mail and respond to any Requests for Evidence by the deadline. If your OPT application is denied while you are outside the United States, you will not be able to re-enter or reapply.
If your F-1 visa expires, you will need to obtain a new one before re-entering the United States. You will not be able to apply for a new F-1 visa until your OPT or OPT STEM Extension application is approved and you have received your EAD.
