F-1 Employment: Post-Completion Optional Practical Training (OPT)
Watch our Fall 2023 OPT Workshop (PASSCODE: @lq0c$3?) for an overview of eligibility, applying, and maintaining your F-1 status during your post-completion practical training experience!
Optional Practical Training (OPT) is a benefit of the F-1 visa that allows international students to gain work experience or training through jobs/internships that are directly related to their academic major(s) for up to 12-months per degree level.
OPT Eligibility Criteria:
- Enrolled full-time in a degree program for at least one academic year (two consecutive semesters) in a valid, lawful status
- Must have officially declared a major(s)
- Work must be directly related to major(s) area of study
- Must be in F-1 status at the time of application
- Must be physically present in the U.S. when you submit your OPT application to USCIS
You are not eligible for OPT if:
- You have been authorized for 12 months of full-time CPT at your current degree level.
- You have been previously authorized for 12 months of OPT at your current degree level or been authorized for any OPT at a higher degree level.
- You depart the U.S. during your 60-day grace period without first applying for post-completion OPT; departure in these circumstances will effectively end your F-1 visa status and render you ineligible for OPT at your most recent degree level.
Requirements:
- Post-completion OPT takes place after you have graduated or, if you are a Master’s/PhD student, once you have completed all your degree-required coursework except for your thesis/dissertation (thesis/dissertation-pending OPT).
- Post-completion OPT must be full-time (over 20 hrs./week). There is no part-time post-completion OPT. You may work more than one position, but each job must be directly related to your major(s). Both paid and unpaid positions are permissible during your post-completion OPT period.
- To start your OPT employment after your program end date on your I-20, you must first receive the physical copy of your Employment Authorization Document (EAD) in the mail and begin your job(s) on or after the start date listed on the card. You are only authorized for employment through the end date listed on your EAD card unless you qualify for the 24-Month STEM OPT Extension or another employment-permitting visa status that allows you to work beyond your post-completion OPT period.
- During the authorized initial 12 months of post-completion OPT period, you are allowed up to 90 days of unemployment. If you accrue more than 90 days of unemployment during your authorized OPT period, you will no longer be maintaining valid F-1 status.
Reporting your employment to OISA is a requirement of maintaining your F-1 status while you are on OPT. Please carefully read about the OPT reporting and requirements and contact OISA if you have any questions.
To submit your OPT application you will need:
- Copy of your new I-20 with OPT recommendation from OISA
- Completed USCIS Form I-765 (See USCIS instructions and OISA I-765 Completion Guide.)
- Copy of your valid passport
- Copy of your F-1 visa (unless you are a citizen of Canada or Bermuda); it is fine if your visa has expired
- Copy of your most recent I-94
- Copies of all your previous I-20s, especially those which show previous CPT or OPT
- Copy of your previous OPT EAD card(s) from USCIS (if applicable)
- 2 passport-style photos
- Form G-1145 e-Notification of Application/Petition Acceptance (optional)
- USCIS OPT Application Fee: $410 (Money order payable to "U.S. Department of Homeland Security" if you are applying by mail; use a credit card if you are applying online on the USCIS website.) Double check USCIS filing fees as they may be subject to change.
- OISA Post-Completion OPT SEVIS Maintenance Fee: $150 (Money order payable to "Office of International Student Affairs"; please put "Fisk Hall Room 105, 262 High Street, Middletown, CT 06459" as the address.)
- Cost of mailing your application to USCIS via FedEx, UPS, USPS Priority (if you mail in your application instead of applying online)
USCIS also has a Checklist of Required Initial Evidence for Form I-765 listed on its website. For information about money orders and paying the Form I-765 processing fee, visit our Money Orders page. The filing fee is not refundable, regardless of any action USCIS takes on your application. DO NOT MAIL CASH. You must submit all fees in the exact amounts.
How to Apply for OPT
STEP 1: Attend an OPT Workshop and Contact OISA with Any Questions
Each semester, OISA offers at least one OPT workshop. If you are planning to apply for OPT, it is important that you attend the workshop. If you do not attend an in-person or virtual OPT workshop, you must watch this recording of a previous OPT workshop before applying (PASSCODE TO VIEW RECORDING: O6ef#R5U). If, after attending or viewing the recording of the OPT workshop and reviewing the guidance on this page you still have questions about applying for this benefit of your F-1 visa status, please contact OISA.
STEP 2: Update Your Address with USCIS if You Have Applied for OPT/STEM OPT Extension Before
If you have previously applied for OPT/STEM OPT Extension or other benefits through USCIS, complete and submit the AR-11 Change of Address form on the agency's website. We recommend that you do this before you submit your post-completion OPT application to USCIS. You may submit your AR-11 Change of Address form prior to the earliest date you are permitted to apply for OPT, which is 90 days before your program end date.
If you do not update your address with USCIS, it is possible that they may send your receipt notice and EAD card to the address you used when you previously applied for post-completion OPT/STEM OPT Extension. This could happen even if you list your current mailing address on your post-completion OPT application.
STEP 3: Submit Post-Completion OPT SEVIS Maintenance Fee Payment to OISA
Please submit your money order for the $150 OISA Post-completion OPT SEVIS Maintenance Fee via the OISA secured drop box outside of Fisk Hall Room 105 or via mail to Wesleyan University Office of International Student Affairs, Fisk Hall Room 105, 262 High Street, Middletown, CT 06459.
Please note: OISA will not process your OPT Request until your Post-completion OPT SEVIS Maintenance Fee payment has been received; the fee covers the cost for OISA to process your request and continue to maintain your SEVIS record and provide you with immigration advising throughout your post-completion OPT period.
STEP 4: Submit OPT Request in ISS Portal
Before you begin your OPT Request in the International Student and Scholar (ISS) Portal (found within the "F-1 Student Requests" tab in the portal), please gather the following documents and payments:
- Completed USCIS Form I-765 (Required - Even if you are applying online, complete the form and upload it to your OISA OPT Request so a staff member can review it for any errors and provide feedback.)
- Completed USCIS money order (Required if you are applying via mail; if you are applying on the USCIS website, please upload a statement to your OISA OPT Request explaining you will apply online.)
- Completed OISA money order (Required)
- Copy of most recent I-94 record (Required)
Once you have submitted a complete OPT Request in the ISS Portal, an OISA staff member will review it, confirm your eligibility, and create a new I-20 with an OPT recommendation for you. Please allow 7 business days for processing.
DO NOT SUBMIT YOUR OPT APPLICATION TO USCIS UNTIL AFTER YOU RECEIVE YOUR NEW I-20 WITH OPT RECOMMENDATION FROM OISA. If you fail to follow these instructions, your OPT application could be denied and you could miss out on this post-completion benefit of your F-1 status.
STEP 5: Receive and Review Your I-20 with OPT Recommendation
After OISA processes your request, you will receive a confirmation email and an updated I-20 with OPT recommendation. The recommendation date is listed next to the Designated School Official (DSO) signature on page 1. Please check page 1 of your I-20 to confirm your Wesleyan major(s) is listed correctly and page 2 to make sure your requested OPT start and end dates are also correct. Then sign by hand and date on page 1 in the "Student Attestation" section.
Please note: The OPT recommendation on page 1 of your I-20 is only valid for 30 days. USCIS must receive and receipt your OPT application within 30 days of the recommendation date on your new I-20.
STEP 6: Submit Your OPT Application to USCIS
Decide if you will submit your OPT application by mail or on the USCIS website with the online Form I-765. If you are mailing in your OPT application, send your materials by certified mail with return receipt requested, or express mail, to the appropriate USCIS filing location based on your mailing method. Use the Procedures for Filing your OPT Application guide and USCIS' I-765 Instructions and Checklist of Required Initial Evidence for Form I-765 to make sure you correctly complete your application and include all required materials and documentation.
Be sure to make a copy of your entire OPT application package, including Form I-765 and all your other documents you are required to submit. If you are mailing your application to USCIS, keep a copy of your money order and tracking number on your mailing receipt for future reference. If you are filing online, see below for relevant guidance.
Please note: USCIS will accept your application up to 90 days before and up to 60 days after your program end date and within 30 days of the OPT recommendation date listed next to the DSO signature on page 1 of your new I-20. Your application will be rejected or denied if received outside of this filing window. USCIS uses Coordinated Univerisal Time (UTC) to determine the date and time that you file your application. If you are filing your application close to the end of your 150-day application window, make sure to check UTC in advance and submit your application prior to the deadline!
Filing Your OPT Application Online
As of April 12, 2021, F-1 students have the option to file their OPT (pre-completion/post-completion) and 24-Month STEM OPT Extension applications online via the USCIS website. You can read USCIS' announcement about this new filing option here.
Here are some general guidelines about filing your OPT application online:
- Just as you would do if you were mailing in your application to USCIS, you must receive a new I-20 with an OPT recommendation from an OISA staff member before you can apply online.
- USCIS has not yet provided guided steps for completing form I-765 online and submitting the required supporting documents when applying for OPT/STEM OPT via their website. It is very important that you carefully read each screen, enter your correct information for each field, and upload copies of the required documents for your OPT application.
- If you fail to submit a complete OPT application online, you could receive a Request for Evidence (RFE), rejection, or denial from USCIS. If this happens, contact OISA via email at oisa@wesleyan.edu and request advising support.
- Do not mail anything to USCIS if you are filing online.
Please note: Processing times for OPT applications, whether submitted online or via mail, remain the same according to USCIS.
Reminder: USCIS uses Coordinated Univerisal Time (UTC) to determine the date and time that you file your application. If you are filing your application close to the end of your 90-day application window, make sure to check UTC in advance and submit your application prior to the deadline!
Tracking Your OPT Application
The USCIS processing time of OPT applications can vary. USCIS is not required to adjudicate OPT applications within a specific timeframe, nor is there a way for OISA to inquire about pending cases. We understand that the waiting period can be very difficult. Since November 2020, the USCIS lockbox in Texas has had significant delays in processing and sending receipt notices. On January 8, 2021 USCIS changed the address to the Chicago lockbox for all types of OPT applications, as part of their plan to address the backlog.
Check USCIS Case Processing Times to find out how long I-765 applications are taking.
We recommend the following actions for tracking the status of your OPT application:
- Track your USCIS Case Status Online by entering your receipt number as listed on your I-797 "Notice of Action" that will be mailed to the address you list on your I-765. Your receipt notice should be delivered within one month of USCIS receiving your OPT application.
- Sign up for a USCIS account to receive updates and submit inquiries for individualized responses to your case.
- Track your EAD card delivery by signing up for a USPS informed delivery account.
- If your case has been pending outside USCIS's listed case processing time for I-765 applications, enter your information in the USCIS E-Request online "Case Outside Normal Processing Time" option.
- Speak with your prospective employer early in the process about the possible need for flexibility in regard to your start date.
Reporting Your OPT
Once you receive your EAD card from USCIS and start your OPT job(s), you are required to report your employment to OISA within 10 days. Please carefully read our OPT: Reporting and Requirements page for guidance on how to report your employment and maintain your F-1 status.
Additional OPT-related Guidance & Resources
Please read the following pages on our website for guidance on travel during post-completion OPT/STEM OPT, the 24-Month STEM OPT Extension, and the Cap Gap Extension for alumni applying to change to H-1B visa status: