International Student Advising
Office of International Programs

Optional Practical Training (OPT)

WHAT IS OPTIONAL PRACTICAL TRAINING?

OPT is a period of work authorization (maximum one calendar year) open to F-1 students.  There are two types of OPT:  pre-completion (before finishing the degree program) and post-completion (after graduation).  Most students choose post-completion.  It is the student’s responsibility to apply for OPT.

 

 

AM I ELIGIBLE FOR OPT?

OPT applicants must be:  enrolled full-time for one academic year (at least one fall and one spring semester, summer enrollment is not included) before beginning OPT; in good academic standing; maintaining F-1 status.

(www.roosevelt.edu/isa/f1_status.htm). 

 

HOW MUCH OPT CAN I USE?
Students are eligible for a cumulative maximum of 12 months of OPT for each new degree level including Associate, Bachelor, Master, and Doctoral.  Pre- and post-completion OPT cannot exceed one calendar year for each degree level.  For example, if a student applies for and receives approval for 6 months of pre-completion OPT; he or she can apply for only 6 months of post-completion OPT.

Similarly, if a student wishes to divide his or her OPT between two degrees of the same level; he or she may do so.  For example, a student may use 4 months of pre-completion during her first Master’s degree and then use the remaining 8 months as post-completion OPT following her second Master’s degree.  Keep in mind that the 12 month limit applies to the application dates.  If a student is approved for 12 months of pre-completion OPT but he only works for 3 months, he will not be eligible to apply for another period of 9 month OPT.  Any time approved for and left unused cannot be regained.   

For post-completion OPT, only full-time employment can be requested.  Once an application for OPT has been approved by USCIS and the Employment Authorization Document (EAD) is issued, it is difficult to change or cancel.  You must select the date you would like to begin and end OPT.  Post-completion OPT must begin within 60 days of your program completion date.

WHEN SHOULD I APPLY? 

For post-completion OPT, applications can be received by USCIS up to 90 days before the graduation/program end date.  Although students can apply after they graduate (only during the 60-day grace period) it is advisable to apply before graduation.

 

As of April 8, 2008, F-1 students can now apply for post-completion OPT up to 60 days following their program completion date (within the grace period).  The application can still take up to 90 days to process once it is received by USCIS and the 12-month post-completion OPT can only be used within the 14 months following the program completion date.  Therefore, applications submitted after the program end date will probably result in a partial forfeit of the 12-month maximum OPT.  The 30-day filing rule still applies.  The USCIS must receive the application within 30 days of the signature on the I-20.     

Recommended times to submit applications to USCIS:

May graduates: early February

August graduates: variable, depending on completion date but generally mid-May

December graduates: mid-September

HOW DO I APPLY?
Submit the following documents to OIP in order to receive a new I-20 with OPT recommendation, which is required for the OPT application.

1. Academic Advisor Letter signed by your academic advisor on RU letterhead, or ask your advisor to send an email letter directly to the International Student Advisor. (Sample Letter).
2. OPT Request Form
3. Completed I-765 (available in OIP or online www.uscis.gov under

"Immigration Forms”).  Pay close attention to item line 16 – different codes correspond to different types of OPT.  For post-completion, enter (c) (3) (B).  For pre-completion, enter (c) (3) (A).  For STEM qualified 17-month extension (see below for details), enter (c) (3) (C). 

You can pick up two original I-20s three (3) full business days after you submit the above documents. One original copy is for you to mail to USCIS with your OPT application; and the other one is for you to keep with your passport and other important travel documents.

WHAT DO I DO NEXT?
Mail the following documents directly to USCIS to apply for EAD card. USCIS will mail your EAD card to your home address. If you move and change your address before you receive your EAD card, you must call the National Customer Service Center at 1-800-375-5283 to update your address.

1. Completed I-765 application form. You may also complete and submit this form online (pay with credit card) at www.uscis.gov.
2. Money order or personal check payable to “Department of Homeland Security” for $340.
3. Two "passport"-style color photos with a white background taken no earlier than 30 days before submission to USCIS. The photos should show a full-frontal facial position. The photo should not be larger than 2 x 2 inches, with the distance from the top of the head to just below the chin about 1 1/4 inches. Lightly print your name on the back of each photo in pencil.
4. One original copy of I-20 with OPT endorsement on page 3, and copies of all previous I-20s.
5. Copy of your passport information page (with picture, biographical information, and expiration date).
6. Copy of all US visas (all types).
7. Copy, front and back, of Form I-94 arrival/departure card, indicating F-1 (usually stapled in your passport)  
8. Copy of your most recent EAD, front and back (only if you have previous USCIS work authorizations)

FedEx and other express mail services generally do not deliver to P.O. boxes. Therefore, we recommend sending applications via “Registered Mail” so that you have a tracking number. After USCIS receives your application, they will mail you a “Receipt Notice” with an LIN# which is a tracking number you can use to check the status of your application online https://egov.uscis.gov/cris/jsps/index.jsp. Mail application and all required supporting documents to:

USCIS Service Center
P.O. Box 87765
Lincoln, NE 68501-7765

WHEN CAN I START MY OPT EMPLOYMENT?
You cannot begin employment until AFTER you receive your EAD card AND until the start date listed on the EAD card.

 

OPT TRAVEL ADVISORY

Traveling outside of the U.S. while on OPT is risky – there is no guarantee that students on OPT will be allowed back into the U.S.  The Employment Authorization Document (EAD) card is not a travel document, so the I-20 (with current travel signature) must still be presented at the port of entry.  Students who have OPT authorization but who are not employed at the time of travel are at risk the most.  If travel is necessary, carry all of the following documentation:

 

1. EAD card
2. I-20 with current travel signature from the International Student Advisor
3. Employer letter (or a letter from OIP if unemployed), confirming your OPT status and stating the purpose of your travel

Note: If you do not possess a current, valid visa at the time of travel, you may encounter difficulty obtaining a new visa for re-entry to the U.S. OIP cannot guarantee re-entry to the U.S. while on OPT.

STUDENTS CURRENTLY ON OPT– Please see reporting requirements and other important updates, effective April 8, 2008 (STUDENTS CURRENTLY ON OPT).