Optional Practical Training (OPT)
Optional Practical Training (OPT) is a temporary work authorization for international students to gain practical experience in their field of study. While the Office of International Student Services can recommend students for OPT, final approval is granted by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS).
To help us keep your information up to date (and stay in USCIS compliance!), please use the Update Information Form or the SEVP Portal.
Policy Guidance: https://www.ice.gov/doclib/sevis/pdf/opt_policy_guidance_042010.pdf
Types of OPT
Pre-Completion
- Eligibility: For students who have not yet completed their degree.
- Work Hours: Part-time during school sessions; full-time during official breaks.
- Limitations: Must end by the program completion date; the time used deducts from the 12-month total.
Post-Completion
- Eligibility: Up to one year of employment authorization post-studies.
- Application Window: Apply up to 90 days before and 60 days after the program end date.
- Recommendation: Apply before completing your last semester to avoid delays.
STEM Extension
- Eligibility: Available for students with degrees in eligible STEM fields.
- Duration: 24-month extension of post-completion OPT.
- Requirements: Employers must be registered with the U.S. Government E-Verify system. Apply before your OPT end date to extend work authorization for up to 180 days.
Applying for Optional Practical Training
Eligibility
- Student must have been in a valid immigration status (such as F-1) for at least one
academic year. One year of OPT is available at each level of education.
- OPT is considered part of a program of study, so students on OPT are still in F-1 status.
- A job offer is not required to apply for OPT.
- Employment must be reported to SEVIS via:
- Immigration and Customs Enforcement's "OPT Portal" or;
- International Student Services
- Employment must be reported to SEVIS via:
- It can take USCIS three to five months to issue the Employment Authorization Document
(EAD) that allows you to begin working on OPT.
- Students may apply for Premium Processing to expedite their application ($1,685)
- Once the OPT application is submitted to USCIS, it cannot be changed.
- The training must be directly related to your major area of study. See this DHS/ICE link for guidance.
Application Process
- Read the information about OPT.
- Complete the OPT training (email iss@apsu.edu for access).
- Request the OPT I-20 by completing the APSU OPT request form. Allow up to 10 business days for processing.
- Prepare the other USCIS I-765 application materials (below)
- If desired, set an appointment with OISS to file your OPT application, or wait for the new I-20 to file on your own.
- Go to the USCIS website.
- Click "Sign in" on the top right, then click "Create an Account".
- Create an Account.
- Come to your OPT appointment to file I-765, or file I-765 on your own.
Notes:
- You cannot begin work of any type until you receive your EAD.
- Begin OPT once start date has arrived. (STEM extension students may continue to work while application is pending for up to 180 days.)
- Report employment and any changes in employment or address to SEVIS
- Via ICE: SEVP Portal.
- Via ISS: Update your employment information with the Update Information Form
USCIS I-765 Application Materials
Please check the USCIS website for updates.
- Application Fee: $470 (2024 April 01).
- a 2x2, passport-style photograph (200px x 200px)
- Signed soft copies any CPT I-20s you may have.
- Signed soft copy of OPT I-20.
- Soft copy of your I-94.
- Soft copy of passport, biographical info page.
- Soft copy of past EAD(s) (if applicable)
For STEM Extensions:
- Soft copy of your diploma
- SEVP Accreditation document
- SACSCOC Accreditation document
- MSc - CSQM Students: Department Letter of Program
USCIS Application Deadlines
- Pre-completion OPT - Apply 90 days before your desired start date.
- Post-Completion OPT – Apply up to 90 days before and up to 60 days after program completion.
- STEM Extension– Apply up to 90 days before your OPT end date. Applications cannot be submitted after the end date.
Additional Info
In general, F-1 students who have been in the U.S. for no more than five different calendar years are exempt from Social Security taxes. You should be sure to bring this to the attention of your employer because many employers are not familiar with this provision of the tax laws. Students in F-1 status are subject to all other taxes that may apply, including federal, state and local. For more information, please consult with a tax professional and/or Publication 519 of the Internal Revenue Service.
F-1 students are responsible for complying with all immigration regulations, including employment regulations. Working without the proper authorization is a serious violation of nonimmigrant status in the U.S. If a student fails to comply, he or she may not be eligible for benefits normally granted to F-1 students and may jeopardize his or her stay in the U.S. Prior to accepting any employment in the US, students should consult with the Office of International Student Services.
- Employment Related to Major. OPT is intended to enhance an F-1 student academic program by providing a means to gain experience in his or her field of study. The USCIS considers working in a job that is not related to his or her major a violation of F-1 status.
- Periods of Employment. Once an F-1 student completes his or her degree, he or she cannot work on-campus or off-campus until he or she has the EAD and the start date has arrived.
- Periods of Unemployment. During post completion OPT, students may not accrue an aggregate total of more than 90 days of unemployment during any post-completion OPT carried out under the initial post-completion OPT authorization. No special permission is required to change employers or terminate employment.
- Reporting Changes Employment. An F-1 student authorized by USCIS to engage in Optional Practical Training is required to report within 10 days of any change in the following: employer name, employer address and/or, periods of employment and/or unemployment. Update your employment information with the Update Information Form
- Update Local Address. An F-1 student authorized by USCIS to engage in Optional Practical Training is required to report within 10 days of any change in the following: legal name, residential including changes from one residence hall to another or mailing address. Update your address with the Update Information Form
- Maintain the validity of your immigration documents. F-1 students should keep his or her passport valid for at least six months in to the future. F-1 students should keep his or her visa valid if traveling outside the U.S.
- Copies of Immigration Documents. F-1 students should keep copies of all immigration documents including: passport photo page, visa in passport, I-94 Form, current I-20, all copies of any I-20 issued.
- International travel before the completion of an F-1 student’s academic program. F-1 students must have the second page of your I-20 form signed by a university DSO before traveling. The signature date on your I-20 is valid for only one year of travel; check to make sure the signature is and will be valid upon return. Before leaving you must check to make sure that your student visa will still be valid upon re-entry into the U.S. If not, a new visa will need to be applied for prior to your return to the U.S.
- International travel after completion of an F-1 student’s academic program. The guidance for travel of students who have a valid visa is related to whether OPT has
been approved or not yet.
- If post-completion OPT has not been approved yet -Employment Authorization Document (EAD) card still not yet issued by USCIS, and there is not a job or a job offer, an F-1 student may leave and then re-enter the U.S. to continue to look for employment with a valid travel signature on page 2 of the OPT I-20.
- If post-completion OPT has been approved -EAD card has been issued by USCIS and there is a job or a job offer, an F-1 student may leave and re-enter the U.S. in order to begin or resume employment with a valid travel signature on page 2 of the OPT I-20.
- If your post-completion OPT has been approved and an F-1 student leaves the U.S. before getting a job or a job offer, OPT ends and the student may not re-enter the U.S. as an F-1 student.
Some additional helpful websites:
- Apply for your Social Security Number While Applying for Your Work Permit
- USCIS Form Filing Tips
- USCIS Case Status online
- USCIS Case Processing Times
- USCIS Change of Address (Make sure your documents are sent to your current address)
- How to Track Delivery of Your Green Card, Employment Authorization Document (EAD), and Travel Document
- USCIS Case Inquiry submission
- USCIS Typographic Error correction