Optional Practical Training
Optional Practical Training (OPT) allows F-1 international students to engage in temporary employment in order to gain practical experience in their field of study. While OPT is recommended by the Office of International Student and Scholar Services (OISSS), it is an application that is sent to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for processing and approval.
There are multiple types of OPT:
- Pre-Completion OPT – granted before your degree completion, counts against your post-completion OPT allotment. OISSS does not recommend using pre-completion OPT.
- Post-Completion OPT – granted after your degree completion, eligible for 12 months of post-completion OPT for each degree level earned.
- STEM extension OPT& – granted to students who have earned a STEM qualified degree, eligible for an additional 24 months of STEM extension OPT but only twice per lifetime.
Eligibility
In order to be eligible for post-completion OPT, you must:
- Have maintained your F-1 status.
- Have been enrolled for at least one academic year (fall and spring semester).
- Have applied for graduation at Bradley by the time of application.
- Have not been approved for 12+ months of full-time CPT.
- Have not been approved for OPT at the same degree level.
- File your application with USCIS no more than 90 days before your program completion and no more than 60 days after your program completion.
- File your application with USCIS no more than 30 days after the DSO recommendation on your new I-20.
Reminders
- If you don’t believe you will complete your degree requirements (i.e. passing a class or comprehensive exam, finishing research) by the end of the term then you should not apply for post-completion OPT.
- Double-check your application and make a personal copy of your entire packet before you mail it to USCIS.
- When you send your OPT application to USCIS, make sure that you use a tracking number. When the packet has been received, make sure you have proof of the delivery saved.
- It will take at least 90 days for USCIS to adjudicate your application.
- You cannot start employment until you have been approved for OPT and you have received your Employment Authorization Document (EAD) and the start date on your card has passed.
- Once USCIS receives your OPT application, you cannot change your requested OPT start date. Please see the application timeline for your OPT Start Date Range.
- It is not recommended to cancel an OPT application once it has been receipted by USCIS.
- While on OPT, you must maintain your F-1 visa status; this includes reporting any changes to OISSS within 10 days.
- Full-time employment in terms of your immigration equates to at least 20 hours per week; anything below 20 hours is part-time.
- You are responsible for keeping track of your unemployment; you are not allowed to accrue more than 90 days of unemployment while on post-completion OPT.
Application Timeline
The earliest you can apply for OPT is 90 days before your program end date. It will take the USCIS Service Center approximately 3-5 months to process your application, so we recommend that you apply early.
The absolute latest you can apply for OPT is 60 days after your program end date and it is your responsibility to ensure that all application materials are received by USCIS prior to the end of your grace period. Please note that students who wait to apply until this time may be rejected or will lose time on their OPT authorization. It is recommended that students apply for OPT before their program end date/graduation.
You can pick your start date for your OPT the day after you graduate or up to 60 days after graduation.
Fall 2020
| Earliest Date to Apply for OPT | Program End Date | OPT Start Date Range |
|---|---|---|
| September 20, 2020 | December 19, 2020 | December 20, 2020 – February 17, 2021 |
January Interim 2021
| Earliest Date to Apply for OPT | Program End Date | OPT Start Date Range |
|---|---|---|
| October 20, 2020 | January 18, 2021 | January 19, 2021 – March 19, 2021 |
Spring 2021
| Earliest Date to Apply for OPT | Program End Date | OPT Start Date Range |
|---|---|---|
| February 14, 2021 | May 15, 2021 | May 16, 2021 – July 14, 2021 |
May Interim I 2021
| Earliest Date to Apply for OPT | Program End Date | OPT Start Date Range |
|---|---|---|
| March 6, 2021 | June 4, 2021 | June 5, 2021 – August 3, 2021 |
May Interim II or Summer I 2021
| Earliest Date to Apply for OPT | Program End Date | OPT Start Date Range |
|---|---|---|
| April 10, 2021 | July 9, 2021 | July 10, 2021 – September 7, 2021 |
Summer II 2021
| Earliest Date to Apply for OPT | Program End Date | OPT Start Date Range |
|---|---|---|
| May 14, 2021 | August 13, 2021 | August 14, 2021 – October 12, 2021 |
Fall 2021
| Earliest Date to Apply for OPT | Program End Date | OPT Start Date Range |
|---|---|---|
| September 19, 2021 | December 18, 2021 | December 19, 2021 – February 16, 2022 |
Procedure
There are two steps to apply for post-completion OPT:
- Apply for an OPT recommended I-20 with OISSS –
- Apply for graduation on your Webster account
- Speak with your Academic Advisor or Graduate Coordinator regarding your degree completion. Once you have confirmed with your advisor that you are on track to graduate, you can continue with the request.
- Complete and submit the Post-Completion OPT I-20 Request
- Apply for OPT authorization with USCIS –
- Include the following materials in your OPT application packet (ordered from on top to on the bottom)
- Two passport-style photos
- Must be less than 30 days old
- On the back, lightly write your name in pencil or felt-tip pen
- Check or money order for $410.00 (always make sure to check the fee on USCIS before sending)
- Sample of how to complete a check or money order
- Made payable to U.S. Department of Homeland Security
- Two passport-style photos
- Form G-1145 “e-Notification of Application/Petition”
- Not required but recommended
- USCIS will send you an electronic confirmation of your application when it’s received
- Form I-765 “Application for Employment Authorization”
- Sample of the Form I-765
- It is recommended that you complete the form online and then print and sign
- If you need to hand-write something in, use black ink
- Copy of the new I-20 with the OPT recommendation on the 2nd page
- Must be less than 30 days old
- Make sure to sign on the first page
- Copies of all Bradley I-20s issued to you
- Ordered newest on top to oldest on the bottom
- Not required but highly recommended, especially if you have previous CPT/OPT authorization
- Copy of passport biographical and expiration page(s)
- Copy of F-1 visa
- Copy of most recent Form I-94
- Include the following materials in your OPT application packet (ordered from on top to on the bottom)
- Binder clip (not staple) the materials together and submit the packet to the appropriate lockbox destination
- If sending by regular mail (USPS), send to:
USCIS
P.O. Box 805373
Chicago, IL 60680 - If sending by express courier service (FedEx/DHL/UPS), send to:
USCIS
Attn: I-765 C03
131 South Dearborn - 3rd Floor
Chicago, IL 60603-5517
- If sending by regular mail (USPS), send to: