Optional Practical Training (OPT) allows F-1 students to be authorized for off-campus employment, typically for one year. Students in valid F-1 status may apply for OPT to gain work experience that is directly related to their major/field of study
Types of OPT
Pre-completion OPT: OPT work authorization which occurs prior to completing your degree. You may apply for pre-completion OPT up to 90 days before your requested start date. In most cases, employment is limited to 20 hours per week during the academic term but can be full-time (40 hours per week) during vacation periods. Note: In most cases, students are advised to apply for CPT instead. Please speak with an ISSP Advisor with any questions.
Post-completion OPT: OPT work authorization which follows the completion of your degree. This is the most common form of OPT that students apply for. You may apply for post-completion OPT as early as 90 days before your I-20 program completion date or as late as 60 days after your I-20 program completion date.
Eligibility
You are eligible to apply for OPT if you:
- Are in valid F-1 status
- Have been enrolled full-time for at least one academic year (3 quarters) while maintaining F-1 status
- Have not already received 12 months of OPT at your current or a higher degree level
- Have not used a total of 12 months of full-time CPT at your current degree level
- Have completed the mandatory OPT workshop
Note: You do not need a job offer to apply for OPT work authorization Students will often apply for OPT while searching for a job related to their major field of study, especially because processing by the USCIS can take 1-2 months.
Length of OPT
OPT can be approved for a maximum period of 12 months (pre- and post-completion OPT combined). For post-completion OPT, your OPT start date can be as early as the date after your I-20 program end date or as late as 60 days after your I-20 program end date. An extension of OPT authorization beyond 12 months is possible for students whose degree’s “CIP Code” appears on the STEM list.
Processing Time
OPT applications take 1-2 months to be processed by USCIS, with most applications approved within one month (current processing times may be found online). Students are encouraged to apply as soon as possible, as you may not begin work until you have received your Employment Authorization Document (EAD) from USCIS and the EAD start date has passed.
Maintaining Status on OPT
Students on pre-completion OPT must continue to follow all the rules for F-1 students still in their program (e.g. full-time enrollment).
Students on pre-completion OPT must continue to follow all the rules for F-1 students still in their program (full-time enrollment, etc).
For post-completion OPT applicants, students are expected to work full-time during the dates printed on their EAD card, although they are allowed up to 90 days of unemployment during this time period. All changes to a student’s personal information (name, address, contact information) or a student’s employment status (job start, job end, change in hours, etc) must be reported within 10 days via iGlobal. Once you log into iGlobal from the menu on the left choose F1 employment and choose the appropriate option of Post-Completion or STEM Extension. For more information on maintaining status, please visit the Maintaining Status on OPT page.
How to Apply
- Attend an OPT Workshop within 9 months of applying for OPT.
If it has been 7-9 months since you attended a workshop, ISSP may request that you attend another workshop to ensure you are getting current information and any updates. - Log into iGlobal, select “F-1 Employment” on the left navigation, and complete the OPT Request form.
- You will be notified once the new OPT I-20 is ready within 10 business days of all e-form submissions (including Academic Advisor approvals).
- Complete all other documents and I-765 (see guidelines for completion).
- You can see the list of required documents in the OPT Request e-form.
- Submit your complete OPT e-file application to USCIS online (or file by mail).
- You must be in the U.S. to apply for OPT and you must remain in the US until USCIS has received your application
- You must upload the OPT I-20 prior to submitting the I-765 online OPT application
- Note: ISSP assesses an OPT maintenance fee of $100 upon issuance of I-20 with OPT recommendation. This fee is charged to your MyUCSC student account.
Note: ISSP assesses an OPT maintenance fee of $100 upon issuance of I-20 with OPT recommendation. This fee is charged to your MyUCSC student account.
OPT Extension
Students who have received a U.S. Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Doctoral degree in certain STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) fields are eligible to apply for a 24-month extension of their post-completion OPT. See our web page about the OPT STEM Extension for more information.