Optional Practical Training (OPT)
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration services (USCIS) permit lawful F-1 students the opportunity to gain practical work experience in their field of study after completing their program of study. This experience is called Optional Practical Training (OPT). By law, OPT must be approved by International Services and submitted to USCIS within 60 days of degree program completion. F-1 visa holders become eligible for another year of OPT when they change to a higher degree level.
Graduating students can apply for OPT up to 90 days before the completion of their program or within 60 days after the completion of their program at Թͷ. Please be aware that it takes approximately 90 days for USCIS to process an OPT application. It is illegal to begin employment before you receive the Employment Authorization Document (EAD)and you are only permitted to work within the dates specified.
After graduation and once OPT has been approved, an email will be sent to you by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) which provides a link toSEVP Portal Help.
OPT Resources
Eligibility Requirements
You must have:
- Valid F-1 status.
- Lawfully enrolled full-time for at least one academic year.
- Used less than one year of full time Curricular Practical Training (CPT).
- Have NOT completed a full year of OPT at your current degree level.
- Employment is related to your course of study
How to Apply for OPT
- OPT Recommendation Form signed by your Academic Advisor.
- Select tentative OPT start date which must be within 60 days of your program end date.
- Meet with International Services Coordinator.
- Print and complete the required
- Make legible copiesof :
- Passport pages
- F-1Admission Stamp
- Visa page
- Electronic I-94
- Copies of all previous Form I-20 from all schools
- Copy of previously issued Employment Authorization Documents
- Two recent passport pictures.
- A check or money order for $410 payable to Department of Homeland Security.
- A new I-20 Form will be issued with OPT Request notated on page 2.
- Submit a copy of new OPT I-20 Form along with all documents, check, passport pictures and forms (except OPT Release Form) to USCIS.
- Keep a copy of all documents submitted to USCIS.
- After graduation and once OPT has been approved, an e-mail will be sent to you by Student and Exchange Visitor Program which provides a link to
Submitting Your OPT Application to USCIS
Your OPT application andall ofthe required documentation must be sent to the USCIS Service Center Lockbox facility. You must mail the application within 30 days of the date the I-20 recommending OPT was issued; it must be received by USCIS no later than 60 days after the program completion date indicated on your I-20 requesting OPT.
Your OPT application must be sent to the USCIS Service Center Lockbox which has jurisdiction over the address listed on the I-765. This can be found on the USCIS site:
Optional: For email notification of your application receipt at the Lockbox facility, complete Form and submit along with yourapplication packet by registered mail
On April 12,2021USCIS announced that F-1 students seeking OPT can now file their I-765 online.
Belowis recommended steps for completing the I-765 application Online
- Create your online USCIS account:
- Prepare the following documents
- Digital 2X2 color passport photo that meets USCIS specification
- A scan of your passport page
- A scan of your visa page
- A scan of the front and back of any previous EAD cards (if applicable)
- A scan of any previous I-20 Forms from all schools
- A digital copy of your new I-20 Form with an OPT recommendation
- A scan of your most recent I-94 Form -
- A credit card with which you can pay the filling fee
- File a form online -
Note: If you choose to file your OPT application online, we recommendyou shouldproceedthe online application very carefully. The system allows you to submit your application without all required evidence, which can lead to Request for Evidence or denials. You should prepare all required documents which must be uploaded before submitting the online OPT application.
You should receive a 1-797 receipt notice of action within 2-3 weeks of mailing your application to . The receipt notice has your case/receipt number printed on it with the following format EAC-XX-XXX-XXXXX. You can track the progress of your OPT application at . Paying your OPT fee by check is another way to keep up with your application progress.
In a situation where a student receives a “Blue Colored Paper Request for Evidence”, all you need to do is to respond directly to USCIS with requested information within the time specified.Contact the International Services Coordinator for assistance with an RFE.
Once your OPT application has been approved, you will first receive an approval notice and the Employment Authorization Card should arrive by mail in about a week. Check your card to make sure that information such as your name, date of birth, and OPT dates are correctand scan a copy to the International Services Coordinator.
Sample EAD Card:
In addition, an e-mail will be sent to you by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program which provides a link to
You may work for more than one employer and/or change employers during your period of authorized OPT. The employment you select for your OPT must be directly related to your major field of study. While on OPT, you are still in F-1 status and subject to F-1 regulations.
Travel outside the U.S. prior to receipt of the EAD may constitute an abandonment of an OPT application, causing it to be cancelled and prohibiting your re-entry to the U.S.
If you travel during your OPT, you will need:
- A properly endorsed Form I-20 (withinthe last 6 months)
- Your EAD card
- Letter of Employment:
- on company letterhead and signed by a company official
- stating a brief job description showing relation to your current major
- stating dates of employment: beginning & ending (must match EAD)
- stating the number of hours per week: full or part time
Upon expiration of your EAD/OPT, you have a 60-day grace period during which you must depart the US, obtain a new Form I-20 for further study, extend the duration of your OPT or secure another immigration status.
Note: Beginning a new full-time degree program of study and transferring of your SEVIS record to another school during OPT automatically voids OPT.
- Must have employer name and address
- Employer name change
- Loss of employment
- Address change
- Change of status
- Transfer to another program
OPT can be extended for an additional 24 months. To be eligible for the 24-month OPT extension, you must have completed a degree in Sciences, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM degrees) and major is included on the STEM degree program list. For more information, see the links attached: aԻ .
Eligibility Requirements:
You must:
- Have valid F-1 status.
- Be a STEM student.
- A copy of your diploma.
- Youremployernameaslisted in E-Verify.
- Your employer’s E-Verify Company Identification Number.
- Two passport pictures
- OPT 24-Month Extension Form
- $410 Fee: check or money order payable to Department of Homeland Security
- Copy of previous Employment Authorization Card.
- Submit paperwork to International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) with a prepaid return envelope (Express Mail or DHL)
Authorization:
- A STEM OPT Form I-20 will be issued to you.
- Upon USCIS’s approval of your request for STEM OPT Extension, you will be issued an Employment Authorization Document (EAD).
- If filed in a timely manner, you can continue working for up to 180 days before the arrival of your new EAD card.
Validating SEVIS Record
STEM OPT beneficiaries are expected to make sure that every six (6) months their SEVIS record is up to date.
CCSU expects all STEM OPT beneficiaries to complete and STEM OPT Report Formevery 6 months even when there are no material changes with employer or self. Material change include but is not limited to:
- Change of Employer
- Change of Employer EIN
- Change of Employer address
- Change to hours/week of work schedule and leaving objectives
- Change in your legal name
- Change in your residential mailing address
Material change notification must be completed within 10 days of occurrence.
Submit all updated and STEM OPT Report Formto warnerd@wcsu.edu
OPT Summary
- OPT takes about three (3) months to process.
- Apply during your last semester.
- 90 Days Rule: There should not be an accumulation of 90 days of unemployment during 12 month period of OPT.
- Work in field of major.
- Can work for one/more employer.
- Can start your own business in field of study with proper business documents and work full time.
- Volunteer with proper documentation (At least 20 hours/week).
- Required to report:
- Employer name and address within 10 days of employment.
- Employer name change.
- Your Address change.
- OPT Extension
- Employer must have E-Verify number.
- Check eligibility on STEM list.
- New OPT application.
- Copy of diploma