The process at a glance
- 0190 Days Before
Request OPT recommendation from your DSO
Ask your DSO for an OPT recommendation I-20. They will enter the request in SEVIS and print an I-20 with "OPT request pending" on page 2. This I-20 is valid for 30 days for filing purposes.
- 02File I-765
Submit the OPT application to USCIS
Complete Form I-765 online or by mail with filing fee. Include: OPT I-20, passport photos, copies of previous EADs, I-94 record, and prior I-20s from your current degree level. Filing online is faster for tracking.
- 03Wait for Receipt
Receive the I-797 receipt notice
USCIS mails or emails your I-797 receipt within 2–4 weeks. This notice is your proof of pending status — you cannot work until the EAD is approved. Check USCIS processing times for I-765 (c)(3)(B).
- 04EAD Arrives
Begin working once the EAD card is in hand
Your Employment Authorisation Document (EAD) arrives 3–6 months after filing. You can start work any day on or after the start date listed on the card. Keep a digital copy at all times.
- 05Stay Compliant
Report employment within 10 days via SEVP Portal
Log into the SEVP Portal and enter your employer name, address, supervisor, and start date. Report any change of employer, address, or name within 10 days. Track unemployment days — the 90-day clock never stops.
Overview
This guide provides comprehensive information about optional-practical-training-opt-application for F-1 international students in the United States. Understanding these rules is essential for maintaining your immigration status and making informed decisions about your academic and professional future.
Eligibility and Key Requirements
To qualify, you must be maintaining valid F-1 status, enrolled full-time at a SEVP-certified institution, and have completed at least one academic year. Your Designated School Official (DSO) can confirm your eligibility and recommend you for authorization in SEVIS. Additional requirements may include a job offer in your field of study, a training plan (Form I-983 for STEM OPT), and demonstrated financial resources.
Application Process and Timelines
The application process varies by authorization type. For OPT, submit Form I-765 with a fee of $470, along with your endorsed I-20, passport photos, and previous EAD cards. The filing window opens 90 days before your program end date. CPT is authorized by your DSO with no USCIS filing required. Plan for USCIS processing times of 3-5 months.
Maintaining Compliance and Reporting
Once authorized, maintain strict compliance. Stay enrolled full-time, do not exceed 20 hours per week during semesters for on-campus work, and report changes to your DSO within 10 days. For OPT, report employment within 10 days and track unemployment days. Your DSO updates SEVIS with your compliance record.
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
The most frequent errors include applying outside the filing window, incomplete documentation, failure to report address changes, and exceeding unemployment limits. Maintain a checklist of documents, set calendar reminders for deadlines, keep copies of all forms, and communicate with your DSO before making changes.
OPT is not automatic — it is a benefit you must apply for, wait for, and comply with. The EAD card in your hand is your ticket to work; the SEVP Portal is your proof that you are using it lawfully.
Timing the OPT application: the 60/90-day window and USCIS processing
Post-completion OPT applications can be filed as early as 90 days before the program end date and as late as 60 days after the program end date. The recommended window is as early as possible within the 90-day pre-completion period, because USCIS processing times for I-765 applications currently range from 3 to 6 months. If you file at the start of the window, your OPT start date can be any date between graduation and 60 days after graduation, and you can begin working once the EAD card is in hand and the start date has arrived. If you file late (close to the 60-day post-completion deadline), you risk losing weeks or months of OPT availability while waiting for adjudication. Premium processing is available for certain OPT/EAD categories at an additional cost — check the current USCIS fee schedule. If you have a job offer that requires a specific start date, coordinate with your DSO to select an OPT start date that accounts for both the filing date and the likely processing delay.
Evidence requirements: what to include for a complete I-765 package
A complete post-completion OPT application includes: (1) Form I-765 with the correct eligibility code — (c)(3)(A) for pre-completion OPT, (c)(3)(B) for post-completion OPT; (2) the filing fee (check the current USCIS fee schedule); (3) two passport-style photos with your I-94 and SEVIS ID written in pencil on the back; (4) a copy of your most recent I-20 endorsed for OPT by your DSO within the last 30 days; (5) a copy of all previous EAD cards (if any); (6) a copy of each I-20 you have received in your current degree program, including transfer-in I-20s; (7) copies of F-2 dependent EAD cards and I-20s (if applicable); (8) a copy of your passport identity page and visa page. The application package should be mailed to the correct USCIS Lockbox facility based on whether you are filing by mail or online. Filing online through a USCIS online account allows instant tracking and reduces mailing errors. Regardless of filing method, keep digital copies of everything — including the check or payment receipt — in case USCIS loses any document.
Working conditions during OPT: unemployment limits, reporting, and travel
During initial 12-month OPT, you can accrue no more than 90 total days of unemployment. During the STEM OPT extension (24 months), an additional 60 days of unemployment is allowed, bringing the total permitted unemployment across the entire OPT+STEM period to 150 days. You must report your employer information, address, and status changes to your DSO within 10 days through the SEVP Portal. Travel during OPT requires: (1) a valid I-20 with a DSO travel signature dated within the last six months (12 months during STEM OPT); (2) a valid F-1 visa stamp in your passport (or automatic revalidation if eligible); (3) your EAD card if returning after OPT start. If you are re-entering the US without a job offer, the CBP officer may question your intent to return to studies. Having a job offer letter or evidence of active job search strengthens your case. If your OPT application is pending and you travel, carry the I-797 receipt notice along with your endorsed I-20.
Amending the OPT start date and what happens if the application is denied
Once your OPT I-765 is receipted by USCIS, you cannot change the requested OPT start date. The start date was set when the application was filed based on the DSO’s OPT recommendation I-20. If USCIS denies the OPT application (common reasons include missing signatures, incorrect fee, ineligible eligibility code, or prior 12-month full-time CPT), you must re-file with a corrected package and a new OPT recommendation I-20 from your DSO — assuming you are still within the 60-day post-completion filing window. If the denial comes after the 60-day window, you cannot re-file and have lost OPT eligibility for that degree level. If this occurs, explore STEM OPT if available from a later degree, or consider other work authorization paths such as cap-exempt H-1B, O-1, or further CPT in a new degree program. A denied application does not automatically terminate SEVIS status, but you must stop any work you began under the invalid authorization and depart the US within your grace period if your status expires.
Flashcards
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What you learned
End-of-guide quiz
3 questions
- 01
You graduate on 15 May. Your EAD start date is 1 July. You find a job starting 15 August. How many unemployment days do you accrue before starting?
- 02
Your OPT I-765 is denied because you filed with an incorrect fee. You are still within the 60-day post-completion window. What happens?
- 03
Which type of work does NOT qualify as "directly related to your degree" for OPT reporting?
0 / 3 answered
Official sources
Verify rules, fees, and forms on first-party government sites. This guide is educational and not a substitute for your DSO, solicitor, or licensed adviser.
Procedural deep-dives
For statutes, forms, deadlines, and evidence standards, use these legal owners on MyCaseworks.
- US student visas hub
F-1, CPT, OPT, and STEM OPT procedural guides in one place.
- F-1 document checklist 2026
What to assemble for I-20, DS-160, and the consular interview.
- OPT & STEM OPT complete guide
Post-completion work authorisation after you graduate.
Frequently asked questions
How long does the application process take?+
Processing times vary by application type. OPT applications typically take 3-5 months, while H-1B petitions follow an annual cycle with an April 1 filing date.
Can I work while my application is pending?+
In some cases, work authorization may be extended while pending. Check specific rules with your DSO. For OPT, you cannot work until your EAD card is approved.
What happens if my application is denied?+
You may have options including reapplying, filing an appeal, or making alternative plans. Consult with your DSO and an immigration attorney immediately.
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