Optional Practical Training

All OPT must be directly related to the students major area of study. F-1 students may be eligible to participate in OPT in two different ways: 

• Pre-completion OPT: Students may apply to participate in pre-completion OPT after they have been lawfully registered on a full-time basis for one full academic year at a college, university, conservatory, or seminary that has been certified by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Students do not need to have had F-1 status for one full academic year; they can satisfy the “one full academic year” requirement even if they had another nonimmigrant status during that time. 

If students are authorized to participate in pre-completion OPT, they may work part-time (20 hours or less per week) while school is in session. Students may work full-time when school is not in session.           

• Post-completion OPT: Students may apply to participate in post-completion OPT after completing their program of study. If students are authorized for post-completion OPT, they may work part-time (20 hours or less per week) or full- time (more than 20 hours per week). 

If a student participated in pre-completion OPT, USCIS will deduct that amount of time from their post-completion OPT authorization period. For example, if a student participated in 10 months of pre-completion OPT, they would be eligible for only up to 2 months of post-completion OPT.   

Students ARE eligible for OPT if the student:  

• Completes two, full-time semesters (fall and spring).  
• Time spent on an approved full-time study abroad program may be counted toward the two-semester requirement if the student has completed one semester in the U.S. before studying abroad.  
• Work must directly related to the students major. 

Students are NOT eligible for OPT if the student: 

• is in violation of their F-1 status. 
• will not have completed two full-time semesters of study by the requested employment start date. 
• were previously authorized for 12 months of full time Curricular Practical Training at the same degree level. 
• were previously authorized for 12 months of Optional Practical Training at the same degree level. Only one OPT is allowed per degree level.  

OPT does not require a job offer to apply.  After the application documents are submitted and reviewed by the International Students Services Office, students will complete submission online or mail paper application documents to the USCIS Service Center. The processing time varies and can take up to 100 days. The online application fee is $470 and the paper application fee is $520.  The fee is payable by credit card only for online application.  If a paper application is completed, this fee is payable by personal check, money order, or bank check.

OPT applications must be RECEIPTED BY USCIS no earlier than 90 days prior to and no later than 60 days from the program completion date (i.e. I-20 end date). 

Instructions for Completing the OPT Application:

1. Use a Laptop or Desktop – Avoid using a mobile phone to complete the forms.
2. Download the Required Forms – Save the undergraduate or graduate forms to your computer.
3. Complete the Forms – Open the fillable PDF forms and type in your information.
4. Save Your Work – Ensure all information is entered correctly before saving the forms.
5. Submit the Forms:
   • Option 1: Print the completed forms and deliver them to the appropriate person or office in person .
   • Option 2: Email the completed forms to the designated person or office.
6. Final Submission – Send all completed forms to the International Student Services Office for processing.

• Problem with driver’s license renewal (in most cases, the license cannot be renewed until OPT is approved) 
• May not receive the OPT request dates—If the application is pending past your requested start date, USCIS should still give the entire period you are eligible from the date the application is approved. 
  • However, depending on how late students apply, they may not get the full 12 months that they were initially eligible for due to the 3~5 month processing time. By law, post-completion OPT must end by the  14th  month after the program end date, so if the OPT period goes beyond that mark due to late adjudication, the OPT end date will be cut short to the 14th month mark. 
• Rejection of late application—By the time students find out that their application was rejected and try to reapply, they may be ineligible due to being past 60-days from their I-20 end date. 

NOTE: If a student’s current I-20 end date is in a future semester, the end date will be shortened to reflect the anticipated completion at the time a student’s OPT recommendation I-20 is issued.

• DO NOT continue working in an on-campus student position once the student has completed their academic program. 
• DO NOT promise an employer a specific start date or sign an employment contract with a specific start date unless the Employment Authorization Document (EAD) has been received.  
• DO NOT begin working before receiving the EAD or before the start date on the EAD.   
• DO NOT continue working after the expiration date unless there is another applicable work authorization. 
• Maintain evidence for EACH job that the employment is directly related to the student’s degree.  Have proof of the position held, the duration of the position, job title, contact information for the supervisor or manager, and a description of the work.  If it is not clear from the job description, obtain a signed letter from the employer’s hiring official, supervisor, or manager stating how the student’s degree is related to the work performed.

• Paid Employment: Students may work part-time (at least 20 hours per week) or full-time (more than 20 hours per week). 
• Multiple Employers: Students may work for more than one employer, but all employment must be related to the program of study shown on the I-20. 
• Short-Term Multiple Employers (performing artists): Students, such as musicians and other performing artists, may work for multiple short-term employers (gigs). The student should keep a list of all gigs, dates, and durations.
• Self-Employed Business Owner: Students on OPT may start a business and be self-employed. The student must be able to prove that he or she has the proper business licenses and is actively engaged in a business related to his or her degree program. 
• Employment through an employment agency: Students must be able to provide evidence showing that they worked an average of at least 20 hours per week while employed by the agency. 
• Unpaid employment: Students may work as volunteers or unpaid interns where this practice does not violate any labor laws. The work should be at least 20 hours per week for students on post-completion OPT. A student must show evidence from the student’s employer to verify that he or she worked at least 20 hours per week during the period of employment. 

To maintain your F-1 status, all students on OPT (whether employed or not) are required to report the below information to the FHSU International Student Services Office and update in the SEVP Portal within 10 days of the change. SEVP will send students an email once their OPT is approved to set up an account. 

• A change in your name or address of residence 
• Once employed, the name/address of your employer 
• If you have more than one employer, you must provide each employer’s name and address 
• The name and address of any new employer 
• Any change to an employer’s name and/or address 
• Any period of unemployment, including those days between the end of one job and the beginning of the new job 
• If you decide not to use OPT and depart the U.S. to return home or to another country 
• Any change to a new or different non-immigrant status in the U.S., such as H-1, or obtaining Permanent Residence status

• Look for and accept employment that is directly related to a student’s field of study. 
• Comply with OPT reporting requirements. 
• Students must not accumulate more than 90 days of unemployment while on post-completion OPT.  
• Paid and unpaid OPT employment must be reported in order to avoid accrual of unemployment.  Unpaid internships and volunteer work must not violate any labor laws, must be directly related to the student’s field of study, and must be at least 20 hours per week. 
• Student must exit the U.S. within 60 days after the expiration of the EAD (if properly maintained status). To remain in the U.S., students must change education levels at the same school, transfer out, or apply for a change of status. 
• Students may extend their duration of status and possibly their work authorization if they file a timely H-1B petition and change of status request. See more details below on  H-1B Cap-Gap OPT Extension. 

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (not ISSO) will be responsible for determining if a student’s status has been violated by exceeding the permissible period of unemployment.  DHS may deny future immigration benefits and/or may terminate a student’s SEVIS record if the student fails to maintain the proper period of employment.

It is strongly encouraged that students maintain health insurance while on OPT.  One option international students on OPT have is to re-register on their own in the United Healthcare Student Resources plan. Students can register in other health insurance plans depending on their individual needs.

Students can apply for a STEM extension if their degree is in the field of science, technology, engineering, or math. Contact the International Student Services Office for more information.  

The cap gap extension is a period in which an eligible F-1 student’s status is automatically extended to bridge the gap between the end of the F-1 status and the start of the H1B status. If the student is in a period of authorized post-completion OPT on or after the date the H1B petition is received by USCIS, the student’s post-completion OPT is also automatically extended.

The student must be the beneficiary of an H1B petition that: 

• is subject to the annual H1B cap; 
• is timely filed (before your F-1 status expires); 
• requests an employment start date of October 1; AND 
• requests a change of status (instead of consular notification) 

The student must not have violated terms or conditions of his/her F-1 status.  The cap gap extension applies to all F-1 students regardless of their major.  

SEVP strongly recommends that students do not travel outside the U.S. during the cap gap extension.  USCIS may consider the change of status application to H1B abandoned and could deny the application.  Also, regulations require a student on OPT to have an unexpired work authorization document (EAD) to be admissible to return to the U.S.  During the cap gap extension, students will not have a valid EAD to carry and may have trouble re-entering the U.S.