Post-Completion OPT | International Services

Optional practical training is one type of work permission available for eligible F-1 students, allowing students to get real-world work experience related to their field of study.

While a Designated School Official (DSO) recommends OPT in SEVIS, it is the student who must apply for the work permit with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS). If the OPT is approved, USCIS will issue an Employment Authorization Document (EAD). The student must not begin working before the start date on the EAD.

Eligibility for Post-Completion OPT

A student is eligible for post-completion OPT if:

The student has been a full-time student for one academic year with the current SEVIS ID;
The student has completed a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree;
The student has not used all optional practical training available at the current level of study;
The student has not been authorized for 12 months or more of full-time CPT;
The student obtains the DSO’s OPT recommendation entered into the student’s SEVIS record and annotated on their Form I-20;
The student properly files a Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization with USCIS, in accordance with all deadlines and accompanied by the required fee and the supporting documentation as described in the form instructions.
If you are authorized for post-completion OPT, you must work part time (at least 20 hours per week) or full time in a position directly related to your academic major.

Requesting the OPT DSO Endorsement

To obtain a new I-20 recommending OPT employment, necessary to file the Form I-765 with USCIS, you must:

Meet all degree requirements as per your academic program requirements and obtain an official letter from your academic advisor indicating fulfillment of all requirements for the identified term.
Select your OPT start date within the 60 days following the last day of classes as per the graduating term.
Submit the OPT DSO Endorsement Request using the International Services Portal.
Please be aware that you must file your Form I-765 within 30 days of the date that your DSO enters the recommendation for OPT into your SEVIS record or your OPT application will be denied.

Complete the following steps within 30-days of the signature on your OPT endorsed I-20 from your DSO, and within 60 days of your program completion date.

Create a USCIS Account or Sign In to your already existing account.
Select File a Form Online, choosing the I-765, Application for Employment Authorization and using the Code: (c)(3)(B)
Complete the I-765 Form, in accordance with all filing deadlines and accompanied by the required fees and supporting documents as described in the form instructions. Form, I-765 Instructions
Required Documents to Upload:
- I-20 issued within 30-days with your DSO Post-Completion OPT endorsement
- Most recent I-94 Arrival Document
- 2 X 2 inch color photo taken within 30 days: Photo Requirements
- Valid Passport
- F-1 Visa (most recent one)
- Evidence of previously authorized CPT (CPT authorized I-20) or OPT (EAD card)
Pay the Required Application Fee: The current fee is $520 (this is subject to change). USCIS Filing Fee
Check Your Case Status: Sign In to your already existing account for details on the status of your case.
Track Your Application: Use this tool to track your application status. USCIS Case Status Online
USCIS will notify you if you need to respond to a Request for Evidence (RFE).

File Form I-765 up to 90 days before, but no later than 60 days after, your program end date. You must file your Form I-765 within 30 days of the date that your DSO enters the recommendation for OPT into your SEVIS record. All practical training must be completed within a 14 month period after your program completion date.

You may begin employment once your OPT is authorized by USCIS, you have received your Employment Authorization Document (EAD), and you are within your approved OPT dates.

Estimated Processing Time: 4 months (or more). USCIS Case Processing Times
Premium Processing: 30 business days. Current Filing Fee $1,685 (subject to change). Requesting Premium Processing Service

If you receive an EAD (Employment Authorization Document) which contains an error, you must correct the error to avoid having any problems in the future.

If your EAD card contains an error not caused by USCIS error, you must submit a new I-765 application with USCIS to request a Replacement EAD, accompanied by the required fee and the supporting documentation as described in the form instructions.
If your EAD contains an error caused by USCIS, you must submit the Typographic Error Form with USCIS and follow all instructions to mail your EAD back to USCIS (after first providing the card to your employer during the hiring process, SSN application, or driver’s license renewal).

Maintaining Status on OPT

Regulations require that international students report certain changes to their DSO to ensure information captured in the SEVP Portal and SEVIS are accurate.

OPT Requirements

You are limited to a total of 90 days without employment.
All OPT employment must be directly related to your field of study.
You must work at least 20 hours per week (there is no maximum limit on hours).
Keep proof of employment from all employers.
Report employment and address changes within 10 days.

You must submit your updates within 10 days of any of the following changes.

Start of Employment: Submit an OPT Employer Update via the International Services Portal.
End of Employment: Report this in the SEVP Portal.
Change of Employer: Report this in the SEVP Portal.
Employer Name or Address Change: Report this in the SEVP Portal.
Change of Visa Status (e.g., to H-1B): Submit the F-1 status waiver request via the International Services Portal.
Change in Residential Address: Update your address through your My Student Profile in eCampus.
Leaving the U.S. and Discontinuing OPT: Contact International Services for guidance

Students should remain in the U.S. during the entire time the application for employment is pending.

A student who is engaged in post-completion OPT who travels outside the United States temporarily (i.e., less than 5 months) can be readmitted to resume employment for the remainder of the period authorized on their EAD card, provided:

The student has not exceeded the limits on unemployment while outside the United States and is returning to resume employment.
The student presents a valid Form I-20 endorsed by the DSO within the preceding 6 months.
The student presents an unexpired Employment Authorization Document (EAD card).
The student presents a valid Passport and F-1 visa (unless exempt from the visa requirement).
The student presents a letter indicating they are currently employed.
It is important to be aware of the requirements and limitations of traveling outside the United States while maintaining F-1 status during the period in which your OPT is in requested, pending, and approved status. Please review the ICE travel requirements for additional information.

The following are considered allowable employment activities while on active OPT, provided that the employment is directly related to the student’s academic major and work is at least 20-hours per week. If a student has a variable schedule, within a month, employment hours should average at least 20-hours per week. SEVIS will count each day that an OPT student’s SEVIS record is not covered by a start or end date with an employer and infer that the student was unemployed during those days.

Type of Employment	Requirements
Single-Employer Paid Employment	You may work for one employer totaling more than 20 hours per week, and be related to your academic major.
Multiple Employer Paid Employment	You may work for more than one employer. All positions combined must total more than 20-hours per week, and be related to your academic major.
Multiple Short Term Employers	You may be employed by multiple short-term employers. You must be able to provide evidence of all employers showing that you are working an average of at least 20-hours per week.
Work for Hire	You may be engaged in work for hire, commonly referred to as 1099 independent contractor employment, performing a service based on a contractual relationship rather than an employment relationship. You must be prepared to provide evidence showing the duration of the contract periods and the name and address of the contracting company.
Self Employed Business Owner	You may start a business and be self-employed. You must be able to prove that you have the proper business licenses and are actively engaged in a business related to your degree program.
Employment through an Agency or Staffing Firm	You may be employed through an agency. You must be able to provide evidence showing that you are working an average of at least 20-hours per week while employed by the agency.
Unpaid Employment	You may serve as a volunteer or unpaid intern; where this does not violate any labor laws. You must be able to provide evidence that you performed services at least 20-hours per week.

Employment during OPT must be directly related to the student’s major area of study. An F-1 student is responsible for providing a description of how their employment relates to their major using the SEVP OPT portal.

The written explanation should include the student’s job title, employer name, major area of study, whether full-time or the average hours worked per week, and a brief explanation of how the job is directly related to the student’s studies.
The regular duties should be explained, connecting those duties and the academic major.