What Is OPT?

Optional Practical Training (OPT)

Optional Practical Training (OPT) is temporary employment for practical training directly related to an F-1 student’s major area of study. Additional information about OPT can be found on the USCIS website.

A student is eligible to apply for a total of 12 months of OPT per higher education level. Students may use a portion of the 12-month allotment of OPT time before graduation (Pre-Completion Optional Practical Training) and a portion after graduation (Post-Completion Optional Practical Training), as long as they do not exceed 12 months total per educational level. Those who are STEM eligible may also apply for the 24-month STEM Extension 90 days prior to the completion of their Post-Completion OPT.

IMPORTANT: Students may only begin working AFTER they have received their EAD card AND the start date listed on their approved EAD card has commenced.

Note: If you do not apply for OPT at the end of your studies, you have a 60-day grace period beyond your program completion date. During this time you must either transfer your F-1 SEVIS record to another school, apply to USCIS to change your status to a different nonimmigrant classification, or depart the U.S. You cannot work during this 60-day grace period. If you depart the U.S. during this grace period, you will not be able to re-enter in F-1 status.

There are three types of Optional Practical Training (OPT):

Pre-OPT can be granted to an eligible student prior to completion of their degree program. A student who still has coursework remaining to complete his or her educational objective or degree program is limited to 20 hours per week of pre-completion optional practical training while school is in session. Students must maintain full-time enrollment during Pre-OPT. Any Pre-OPT time authorized before the student's program completion will be subtracted from the total 12 months of OPT available. Part-time Pre-OPT time will be subtracted at half the rate (i.e. 4 months part-time is equivalent to 2 months of full-time OPT).

Please be mindful of your program end date when requesting Pre-OPT as your Pre-OPT EAD Card end date cannot be altered once approved by USCIS.

Students who have completed all course requirements for their degree program except for a thesis, dissertation, or equivalent requirement may be eligible to apply for Pre-OPT on a full-time basis.

Upon completion of your degree program, you may be eligible to apply for 12-months of Post-OPT. Post-OPT is authorized full-time (over 20 hours per week). Any Pre-OPT time approved before the student's program completion date must be subtracted from the total 12 months of Post-OPT time available.

Students who have completed all course requirements for their degree program except for a thesis, dissertation, or equivalent requirement may be eligible to apply for Post-OPT.

STEM OPT is a 24-month OPT extension available to STEM majors. For more detailed information on STEM OPT, please see the STEM OPT Extension section of our website.

Students wishing to apply for OPT will need to submit an application to ISSO for an OPT recommended Form I-20. Then, the students must submit the required documents to USCIS to obtain an Employment Authorization Document (EAD).

Optional Practical Training (OPT)

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