Optional Practial Training (OPT)Center for International and Cultural Education

OPT Information

  • OPT is an off campus employment authorization designed for gaining experience in your major area of study.
  • You may apply for pre-completion OPT or post-completion OPT. Most students apply for post-completion OPT, to use after they graduate, and use Curricular Practical Training (CPT) for off campus employment prior to graduation. 
  • You must apply (date USCIS receives your application) no sooner than 90 days before the program end date on your I-20 and no later than 60 days after the program end date.
  • You must apply (date USCIS receives your application) no later than 30 days after the DSO submits the OPT recommendation in SEVIS.
  • USCIS typically takes two to three months, and sometimes more, to process an OPT application. So, you may wish to apply early.
  • The period of OPT is 12 months, which you must use within 14 months of graduation. When you apply, you must request an OPT start date that is within 2 months of graduation. You cannot change that start date after you have applied.
  • You do not need an offer of employment to apply.
  • OPT employment must be directly realted to your major field of study.
  • You may apply for OPT at each education level (bachelors, masters, doctorate).
  • If USCIS approves your application, it will send an Employment Authorization Document (OPT card) to you. You must have that OPT card before you can begin working. You may be employed only between the beginning and end date indicated on your OPT card.
  • During your 12 months of OPT, you may not be unemployed for more than 90 days. You must work at least 20 hours a week. A job or unpaid internship or volunteer work related to your major can count as employment.
  • You must report your employment to SEVIS, which keeps track of the number of days that you are unemployed.
  • You may travel outside of the U.S. during OPT. To return, you will need your passport, a valid F-1 visa, your I-20, your OPT card, and documentation showing that you have a job to return to.
  • If your major is in one of the designated STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) fields, and your employer is registered with E-Verify, then you may apply for a 24 month extension of your OPT. You must apply for the 24 month STEM OPT extension before your current OPT authorization expires.

How to Apply

Meet with Jeff Anderson (your DSO), who will:

  • Enter your OPT request in SEVIS (including your requested start and end dates).
  • Create a new I-20 with an OPT recommendation, to submit with your OPT application.
  • Help you to complete the online application.
  • Make copies of documents required for your application.
  • Review appication and documents with you, before you submit your OPT application.

You may submit your OPT application online or by mail. We recommend that you apply online.

** IMPORTANT: Do not submit your OPT application until after Jeff has reviewed it with you and verified that it is complete. **

You will need the following materials for your OPT application:

  • Application fee. (May pay by credit card, debit card, or from a U.S. bank account)
    • $470 online (recommended) / or $520 on paper
  • Passport style photo
    • CICE will take passport style photos.
    • Eyeglasses or head coverings are not allowed, except for religious reasons.
    • Must be taken within 30 days of filing your application.
  • Copy of Form I-94. (Can download from the CBP I-94 website.)
  • Copy of Form I-20 showing the OPT recommendation, signed by you and your DSO.
  • If you have done CPT, a copy of your I-20 showing that CPT authorization.
  • Copy of your pasport ID page (must be unexpired)
  • Copy of your F-1 visa (okay if expired)

Online OPT Application Process:

  • Create a USCIS online account at myaccount.uscis.gov
  • Click on "File a form online"
    • Choose "Application for Employment Authorization (I-765)
    • Click on "Start form"
  • Complete the online form with the following information:
    • Question: "What is your eligibility category?"
      • Select: "(c)(3)(B) Student Post-Completion OPT"
    • Question: "What is your reason for applying?"
      • Answer: "Initial permission to accept employment"
    • Question: "Have you previously filed Form I-765?"
      • Answer: "Yes" if you have previously applied to USCIS for any type of off-campus employment authorization
      • Answer: "No" if you have not applied previously. CPT is not considered an application to USCIS
    • Question: "Is someone assisting you with completing this application?"
      • Answer: "No"
    • Enter your. name exactly as it appears on your passport and Form I-20.
    • You may want to use a personal email address, as your Gustavus email access will expire 90 days after graduation.
    • Enter an address that is a reliable location to recieve your Employment Authorization Document (EAD) that USCIS will mail to you after your OPT is approved.
      • You may use your Gustavus address. The Gustavus Post Office will keep your PO box open until you receive your OPT card.
      • You may update USCIS if you have a new adress that is a reliable location to receive your EAD.
    • Question: "What is your A-Number?"
      • If you have not applied to USCIS before, choose "I do not have or know my A-Number"
      • If you have applied to USCIS before, your A-Number is the same as the USCIS# found on your EAD.
    • Question: "What is your USCIS Online Account Number?"
      • If this is the first time filing an online application with USCIS, you do not have a USCIE Onilne Account Number yet. You will have a USCIS Online Account Number after filing your application.
      • Most students will check the box for "I do not have or know my USCIS online account number."
    • Question: "Do you want the SSA to issue you a Social Security card?
      • Answer: "No" if you already have a Social Security number.
  • Upload Required Documents:
    • Passport style photo (must meet passport photo requirements)
    • Form I-94 Arrival and Departure Record (download from the CBP I-94 website)
    • Employment Authorization Document or Government ID:
      • Passport ID page
      • F-1 visa
      • EAD (if previously approved by USCIS for employment authorization)
    • Previously Authorized CPT (if you have done CPT)
      • Copy of your I-20 with that CPT authorization
    • I-20, Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status
      • Must be your new I-20 showing the OPT request, issued less than 30 days from the date you submit your OPT application
      • Must be signed and dated by you and your DSO
  • Do not submit your OPT application until after Jeff has reviewed it with you and verified that it is complete.
  • Make an appointment to meet with Jeff to review your OPT application
    • Bring your laptop to your appointment to access the OPT application.
    • In your USCIS account you may go to your application summary and click on "view draft snapshot".
    • After review and confirmation from Jeff, then you may pay the OPT application fee and submit your OPT application.

After You Apply

OPT receipt. Soon after receiving the application, USCIS should send a receipt by email, and later a paper receipt by mail. 

Check on the status of your OPT application. Go to USCIS case status online and enter your receipt number. You may also sign up to receive alerts from USCIS regarding your application. You may also call the USCIS Contact Center at 800-375-5283.

Processing time. It may take between two to three months, and sometimes more, for USCIS to process an OPT application. You may go to USCIS Case Processing Times and choose "I-765 Application for Employment Authorization" and "Potomac Service Center" to get an estimate, though the range of time varies.

Premium Processing. For an additional fee of $1,685, USCIS will guarantee processing within 30 business days. For more details you may go to USCIS: How Do I Request Premium Processing? There is no other way to expedite cases that have been pending for less than 5 months.

OPT start date. When you apply for OPT, you request a start date, which you cannot change. If your OPT application is approved after the start date that you requested, then USCIS will use the date of approval as the OPT start date, instead of the date that you requested.

Change of address. If you have a new mailing address that is a reliable location to receive your OPT card, then you should email your new address to Jeff, to update in SEVIS. You should also go to the USCIS Change of Address page and provide your new address. If you do that, then USCIS should send your OPT card to your new address. On the USCIS Change of Address form, you should choose "I765" as the "Form Number" and choose "I765 - Based on a request by a qualified F-1 academic student [(c)(e)]" as the "Form Sub Type".

OPT SEVIS Reporting Requirement. You must report your address and employment information to SEVIS, within 10 days. You may report the information to Jeff, using the OPT-SEVIS Reporting Requirement form (Jeff will send a link to you), or reporting it directly through the SEVP Portal. You can find more information at SEVP portal help or SEVP portal student user guide.

OPT employment requirement. Immigration laws prohibit you from being unemployed for more than 90 days during your period of OPT. Therefore, reporting your employment information to SEVIS is very important. If you do not report employment information to SEVIS within 90 days of your OPT start date, then SEVIS may terminate your SEVIS record, which cancels your OPT and F-1 status. If you accrue more than 90 days of unemployment during your period of OPT, DHS will consider you to be "out of status" and immigration laws require you to leave the U.S. or apply to change your status. A job or unpaid internship or volunteer work related to your major can count as employment, and should also be reported to SEVIS, to avoid the 90 day unemployment restriction.

Social security and medicare taxes. You are exempt from paying social security and medicare taxes for the first 5 years you are an F-1 student. Any part of a year counts the same as a full year. If you began as an F-1 student in the U.S. before 2016, then you may have to pay social security and medicare taxes in 2020, as you will have been here for more than 5 years. If you have been here 5 years or less, you should check with your employer (usually the Human Resources or Payroll Department) to make sure that they do not withhold social security and medicare taxes from your pay. If they withhold social security and medicare taxes from your pay, it is hard to get it back. Your employer should not object, as it can save them money. You may cite IRS Publication 519, U.S. Tax Guide for Aliens to show your employer that they should not withhold social security and medicare taxes, if you have been here 5 years or less. In the menu on the IRS website, click on “Students and Exchange Visitors” under “Social Security and Medicare Taxes”. You will see the following (relevant language in italics):

"Students and Exchange Visitors. Generally, services performed by you as a nonresident alien temporarily in the United States as a nonimmigrant under subparagraph (F), (J), (M), or (Q) of section 101(a)(15) of the Immigration and Nationality Act are not covered under the social security program if the services are performed to carry out the purpose for which you were admitted to the United States. This means that there will be no withholding of social security or Medicare taxes from the pay you receive for these services. These types of services are very limited, and generally include only on-campus work, practical training, and economic hardship employment. Social security and Medicare taxes will be withheld from your pay for these services if you are considered a resident alien as discussed in chapter 1, even though your nonimmigrant classification (“F,” “J,” “M,” or “Q”) remains the same." (IRS Publication 519)

Tax returns. If the tax year was your 5th year or less in the U.S. as an F-1 student, then you will complete the non-resident tax return. If you have been in the U.S. more than 5 years as an F-1 student, then you may be considered a resident for tax purposes and will complete the same return as U.S. citizens and permanent residents. You may get tax forms on the IRS website. You can see your Gustavus W-2 form on MyGustavus. Sprintax and Glacier Tax Prep do non-resident tax returns, for a fee, and could be good options for you after graduation.

Post OPT plans. While you are on OPT and planning for your future, Jeff is happy to advise you on STEM OPT (if your major is a STEM major), H-1B strategy, transferring to graduate school, and more.

What to Tell Prospective Employers

  • You have applied or will apply to United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for Optional Practival Training (OPT) employment authorization.
  • There is nothing extra that your employer needs to do.
  • When approved, you will receive an Employment Authorization Document (EAD or OPT card) that will satisfy the documentation requirements for Form I-9 (an immigration form that all employees complete) and will show that you can legally work there.
  • Your OPT employment authorization will be for one year.
  • If your major is in a STEM field (see below), and your job is related to that STEM major, then you can applly to USCIS for an additional two years of STEM OPT.
    • Computer Science
    • Biology
    • Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
    • Mathematics
    • Statistics
    • Chemisty
    • Geology
    • Physics
    • Environmental Studies
  • For STEM OPT, you and your employer must complete a Form I-983 Training PLan, and your employer must be registered with the E-Verify employment verification system. There is nothing else that your employer needs to do.
  • During your period of OPT, your employer may apply to USCIS for up to six years of H-1B employment authorization, if your position requires at least a bachelor's degree in a specific field.
  • In the future, you may be eligible to apply to become a U.S. Lawful Permanent Resident (Green Card), based on employment, family, or another category.