Optional Practical Training (OPT)

Complete the following forms:

• OPT Checklists — Contains mandatory materials that you will need to provide in order to apply for post-graduation OPT.
  • OPT Checklist for Online Application
  • OPT Checklist for Mail-in Application
• Academic Advisor Recommendation for OPT
• Student Acknowledgement of Responsibility

You are required by law to notify ISS of these changes by completing and submitting the Employment Information for OPT form.

• If you moved and changed your address, within 10 days of any change
• Employment information [employer name, address and work start date] within 10 days of any change
• Job's ending (email [email protected] the date of your last day at work)
• How the job is related to your degree 

Be sure that the employment is related to your major and appropriate to your degree level. Check with ISS if you are unsure. You are allowed to do internships and unpaid work, consultant and contract work, short-term jobs/gigs, volunteer opportunities while on OPT — as long as it is still related to your major. Remember that you have a 90-day unemployment allowance.

90-Day Unemployment Allowance: If you accrue more than 90-days of unemployment, you will be out-of-status and risk your SEVIS record being automatically terminated. You must be working at least 20 hours per week while on OPT for the work to be counted as “employment” for immigration purposes. If you work less than 20 hours per week, you are accumulating “unemployment” in the eyes of DHS.

Your Form I-20 must be signed by ISS every 6 months while on OPT. ISS would be happy to print and mail a new one to you upon request.

Plan to further your studies? Your OPT authorization will automatically be terminated if you transfer to another school in the United States or start a new course of study. Contact ISS and we can transfer your SEVIS record to that new school.

Planning to travel outside the United States while on OPT? Contact ISS first to be sure you have all the required documents to be able to re-enter the country with minimal (or no) problems. Please read and consider the information below before you make your plans.

• When you travel outside the U.S., it is recommended to have your EAD Card and a letter of offer/employment on company letterhead from your current or future employer on hand. These two documents along with your other important travel documents may be requested upon re-entering the United States. You should also be able to confidently explain how your current job relates to your degree.
• Please consult ISS with any travel questions.

It normally takes the USCIS 2–3 months to fully process an OPT application and issue the EAD (Employment Authorization Document) card. Please plan accordingly.

You cannot begin working until your OPT start date has occurred and the EAD card is in your hand.

A job offer is not required to apply for OPT; however, you should know how the proposed work you hope to find is related to your major field of study.

You may submit your application to USCIS up to 90 days before but no later than 60 days after completing your degree (your graduation date).

Here’s a helpful tool to help you determine a date.

OPT Calendar Calculator

You may be authorized to work for 12 months on OPT.

A student becomes eligible for another 12 months of Optional Practical Training when they change higher educational levels. (i.e., 12 months of OPT after a bachelor’s degree, another 12 months after a master’s degree, another 12 months after a doctoral degree).

Some students in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields may apply for an additional 24-month STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) extension.

Students approved for OPT have access, though limited, to information in their SEVIS record. The SEVP Portal allows students on authorized OPT to make the following updates:

• U.S. living and mailing address
• Physical home address
• Telephone number
• Employment information (for post-completion OPT only)
• Students on authorized STEM OPT do not have access to update employment information, only an ISS staff member can update this information in SEVIS

Once OPT has been approved, students will receive an email from [email protected] to the email listed in their SEVIS record that will guide students on how to create their SEVP Portal account.

For students participating in post-completion OPT (not OPT STEM Extension), use the Employment Information for OPT form to provide updated information to the ISS team in GEO.

IMPORTANT: Any changes must be reported within 10 days. Failure to do so may result in negative consequences imposed by the Department of Homeland Security.

Additional Resources:

SEVP Portal Overview
SEVP Portal: Overview Video