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Your OPT eligibility is based on your program completion date, not your degree conferral date:

• Summer 2 and Late Summer 2 end on August 29, 2026. If you are completing your program during the Summer 2 or Late Summer 2 Semester, you must submit your OPT request in ISS Connect at least three weeks before your grace period following program completion ends.

**If you are enrolled in one remaining course at your last semester of study, it must be in-person. You cannot take your one remaining course online.

Your OPT eligibility is based on your program completion date, not your degree conferral date:

Fall 2026 ends on December 19, 2026. If you are completing your program during the Fall Semester, you may submit your OPT request in ISS Connect beginning September 18.

You must submit the OPT request in ISS Connect at least three weeks before your grace period following program completion ends.

Your OPT eligibility is based on your program completion date, not your degree conferral date:

Spring 2027 ends on May 15, 2027. If you are completing your program during the Spring Semester, you may submit your OPT request in ISS Connect beginning February 5, 2027.

If you do not travel after September 15, 2026 AND file your OPT application with USCIS before March 18, 2027, you will not need to file an EOS with USCIS.

You must submit the OPT request in ISS Connect at least three weeks before your grace period following program completion ends.

Graduate students who have only their dissertation remaining and no regular classes may apply for OPT before completing their dissertation. However, you should plan to complete and defend your dissertation within your 12-month OPT period. If you apply for OPT while completing your dissertation, make sure your employer understands that you are still working toward completing your degree and may need to travel back to campus.

If you are completing the program during Summer 2 or Late Summer 2, which end on August 29, 2026, choose a start date between August 30, 2026 and the last day of your grace period following program completion.

Choose a start date between December 20, 2026 and the last day of your grace period following program completion.

*Law School Students: Choose a start date between December 16, 2026 and the last day of your grace period following program completion.

• Copy of passport with photograph, name, and date of birth
• Copy of most recent F-1 visa (or USCIS Approval Notice for Change of Status to F-1)
• Copy of previous EAD, if you've been issued one previously
• If you have had CPT or OPT, you need to include copies of any previous I-20s with CPT or OPT information
• Currently, you must submit a passport-style photo with the OPT application; however, USCIS may issue a Request for Evidence (RFE) for biometrics (photo and/or fingerprints).

1. Log in to , go to the Requests tab, and click on OPT.
2. Follow the instructions in the request and complete all required items, including uploading your documents. Once everything is complete, submit your request.
3. Your academic department will complete the Approver Form in your OPT request to confirm your expected program completion date. Processing time varies by College.
4. After the Approver Form is completed, your request will move from "Approver Review" status to "Submitted" status. ISS will then review your request and process your I-20. Please allow 7-10 business days from the "Submitted" date.
5. If ISS identifies any corrections that are needed, an International Student Advisor will contact you by email. You will need to make the requested corrections before ISS can record your OPT recommendation in SEVIS and issue your I-20.
6. When you receive your OPT I-20, review it carefully, print it, and sign and date it in blue ink.

IMPORTANT: You MUST have received your new I-20 with an OPT recommendation from ISS before completing this step. Do not file your application with USCIS if you have not yet received your OPT I-20. See Step 2: Request an I-20 from ISS with an OPT Recommendation.

1. Create your
2. Click on "File a Form Online"
3. Select Application for Employment Authorization (I-765)
   • Carefully read the instructions as you complete each section.
   • For guidance, refer to the Guide to Filing Your Form I-765 Online under Learning Content in your OPT request.
   • Filling Out the Form:
     • What is your eligibility category? c(3)(B) Student Post-Completion OPT
     • Why are you applying? Initial permission to accept employment
     • When filling out the questions, if a Form I-765 field has limited characters and you are unable to provide the complete text, enter the full text in the Additional Information tab.
     • Provide any previous SEVIS numbers and any previously authorized CPT or OPT and the academic level in which it was authorized in the Additional Information tab.
   • Upload Your Evidence:
     • Passport-style Photograph (Currently required, but USCIS may issue an RFE for biometrics (photo and/or fingerprints)
     • Passport page with photograph, name, and date of birth
     • Most recent F-1 visa (or USCIS Approval Notice for change of status to F-1)
     • Previous EAD, if you've been issued one previously
     • Previous I-20s showing CPT or OPT authorization
     • New I-20 with the OPT recommendation on page 2, signed by you (USCIS must receive your OPT application within 30 days of the date your OPT I-20 was issued)
   • Review and Submit Your Application
     • Carefully review your application BEFORE you pay the filing fee.
     • Once you submit payment, your application will be submitted to USCIS.
   • Applicant's Declaration & Certification
     • Provide your digital signature by typing your full legal name.
   • Pay the Fee
     • You will be directed to pay.gov.
     • Pay by ACH Withdrawal, debit or credit card.
   • You will receive confirmation that your application has been submitted.
     • All notices (receipt notice, RFE, etc) for your submitted application will post to your account. USCIS will also mail notices.

What is post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT)?
It is employment directly related to your field of study, following the completion of your academic degree. It is NOT your graduation date, which is the date when �鶹ֱ�� recognizes those who have recently completed their studies. The completion date would be the student's program end date as scheduled on the School’s academic calendar.

Who is eligible for post-completion OPT?
You are eligible to apply for post-completion OPT authorization if you:

1. have been a full-time student for at least one full academic year;
2. are currently in lawful F-1 status;
3. have completed all course requirements for your degree program;
4. have not been previously authorized for 12 months of optional practical training during continuous study in the U.S. at the same educational level; and
5. have not been authorized for 12 months or more of full-time curricular practical training

What is the maximum amount of time that can be authorized for Optional Practical Training?
The maximum amount of time that can be granted is 12 months of full-time employment authorization per educational level to all qualified students on an F-1 visa.

When should I apply for Optional Practical Training?
F-1 students may apply for OPT no earlier than 90 days before their program completion date and no later than the end of their grace period following program completion (as long as you do not leave the U.S. during the grace period and are in F-1 status in the U.S. at the time of application). It is strongly recommended that you file your OPT application once you are within the 90-day period before your degree completion date, as processing times are long.

Can I travel on my grace period between graduation and OPT filing?
If you do not apply for OPT, but travel outside of the U.S. after your official completion date (during the grace period), you will have negated your eligibility to apply, as you will not be able to return under F-1 status.

What happens if I apply for OPT prior to program end date and fail to complete the degree requirements and must retake one of the classes?
This depends on quite a few factors. If your OPT application has not been adjudicated by USCIS you may withdraw the application. ISS staff will adjust your SEVIS record and cancel the OPT electronically. If the employment authorization has been approved already by the time you become aware of the failing grade, it will be too late to withdraw. In this case you will need to retake the class in order to complete the degree requirements. At the same time you must keep your OPT but may use it for part-time employment only, while enrolled in the course. After completion of the degree requirements you may work full-time for the remainder of your OPT. It is strongly recommended to contact ISS immediately for guidance.

Do I need a job offer to apply for post-completion Optional Practical Training?
No, you do not need a specific job offer to apply for OPT; it is a granted benefit and a legal extension of your F-1 status and lawful stay in the United States.

How do I choose my OPT start date?
You will request a start date that falls within your grace period following program completion. For example, if you completed your studies on May 15, you may request an OPT start date of May 16, or any other date within your grace period. Your employment end date will be 12 months after the start date, but no later than 14 months after your program completion date. You will provide your requested OPT start date in your OPT request in ISS Connect. The International Student Advisor will submit your OPT dates electronically to SEVIS and issue you a new I-20 with the OPT recommendation and the expected employment start and end dates. If USCIS approves your application after your requested OPT start date, then USCIS will change your start date to the date of approval.

May I start working as soon as I file my application for Optional Practical Training with USCIS?
No, you may not begin legal employment until it has been authorized by USCIS and you have received your Employment Authorization Document (EAD).

When can I begin working?
You may begin working only on the start date printed on your EAD card. You must receive the card prior to commencing employment. We advise students to file early to avoid delays.

Can I travel while on Optional Practical Training or before the approval?
If you have completed your studies and leave the U.S. before Optional Practical Training is approved, your application will be considered abandoned. You can travel as long as you have the following:

• Valid passport (must be valid for at least 6 months into the future)
• Valid/unexpired F-1 visa
• Form I-20 issued for OPT and signed for travel (travel signature is valid for 6 months)
• Unexpired EAD
• Proof of employment. The proof of employment would be a job letter from your current employer, or a job offer.

The time spent abroad during authorized Optional Practical Training while unemployed impacts the 90-days limit for unemployment.

When do I need to file my OPT with USCIS? Is there any deadline?
You must file your OPT with USCIS within 30 days from the OPT I-20 issue date. In the event it was filed later than that, your OPT application will be denied. The OPT I-20 is only valid for 30 days.

What will my non-immigrant status be while on post-completion Optional Practical Training?
You will remain on F-1 status even though you have completed your studies and are working full-time. Optional Practical Training is viewed as an “extension” of your F-1 non-immigrant visa status.

What is the ISS OPT Administrative Fee?
While you are on OPT, you remain in F-1 non-immigrant status and ISS staff will continue to provide you with immigration and advising support. The $125 ISS OPT Administrative Fee will cover the expenses of mandatory SEVIS compliance and SEVIS record management after your graduation. Please note that this fee can only be paid online in the OPT Request in ISS Connect. We cannot accept this fee payment by phone, fax, email, check, cash or money order. The fee is non-refundable once the I-20 with the OPT recommendation has been issued. This fee is separate from the application fee paid directly to USCIS.

In addition to providing you with advising while you are on OPT, we will continue to process requests, including:

• I-20s updated with employment info
• Travel Signatures
• Letters
• Cap-gap extension I-20s (if applicable)

How many times is it possible to get Optional Practical Training while studying in the United States?

• If you complete 12 months of Optional Practical Training and go directly to a higher educational level, you will be eligible for another 12 months of OPT upon completion of your next higher degree.
• The final May 2016 OPT STEM rule allows F-1 students who obtained a degree in a government approved STEM field in the last 10 years, regardless of immigration status held at that time; and have since completed a degree in a non-STEM field; and are currently on post-completion OPT may be eligible to apply for a STEM OPT extension based on that prior degree if they meet all other required criteria.
• Under the 24-month rule, F-1 students who had already obtained one STEM OPT extension become eligible for a second STEM OPT extension (total of two lifetime STEM OPT extensions) after:
  • Earning another qualifying STEM degree at a "higher degree level" and
  • Obtaining a new initial 12-month period of Post-completion OPT based on that higher degree.

What counts as unemployment time?
Each day during the period when the OPT authorization begins and ends that the student does not have qualifying employment (see the 6 categories below for the qualifying employment, including unpaid internship or volunteering work) counts as a day of unemployment.

How does travel outside the U.S. impact the period of unemployment?
If a student whose approved period of OPT has started travels outside of the United States while unemployed, the time spent outside the U.S. will count as unemployment. If the student travels while employed (vacation or business trip), the time spent outside the U.S. will not count as unemployment.

What are the consequences of exceeding the period of unemployment?
A student who has exceeded the unemployment limit while on post-completion OPT has violated his or her visa status unless he or she has taken one of the following actions:

1. Applied to continue his or her education by a change of educational level or transferring to another School.
2. Departed the U.S. in a timely manner.

What type of work can I do while authorized for the post-completion Optional Practical Training?
The work must be directly related to your major field of study. For students who are not on STEM OPT the employment may include:

1. Paid employment (part-time or full-time) (at least 20 hrs. per week)
2. Multiple employers (the student on OPT may work for more than one employer, but all employment must be related to the student’s degree program)
3. Work for hire (service performed on contractual relationship)
4. Self-employed business owner (students on OPT may start a business; proper business license is required, as well as business activities related to the student’s degree program)
5. Employment through a Staffing Agency/Consulting Company (at least 20 hrs. per week)
6. Unpaid employment (students may work as unpaid interns for at least 20 hrs. per week)

What are my reporting requirements under OPT?
Students on all types of OPT, including Post-completion, the STEM OPT extension, and the Cap-Gap Extension, have mandatory reporting requirements, as outlined on our website and in ISS Connect.

How do I report my employment under OPT?
When your OPT goes into effect, you will receive a link from SEVP from Do-NotReply.SEVP@ice.dhs.gov to create your SEVP Portal account. The SEVP Portal allows you to:

• View details about your OPT
• Report changes to your address, telephone number, and employer information
• View and update data on all employers in one place

In the , SEVP expanded the responsibilities of Designated School Officials (DSO) to review and determine the direct relationship between the OPT holder’s field of study and the work they will do during post-completion OPT. “DSO must make a determination of whether there is a direct relationship between the job and the major area of study" (SEVP Policy Guidance, September 27, 2019).

In light of the Policy Guidance, an OPT holder, reporting OPT employment, should proceed as follows:

1. Report employment on OPT in
2. Submit the Report OPT Employment and Request a New I-20 request in for a new I-20 reflecting OPT employment.

Please note, ISS DSO reserves the right to request additional evidence demonstrating the direct relationship between your field of study and the job duties you are going to perform. If the correlation is not evident from your explanation in the request and in SEVP Portal, we may ask for a job description or list of duties. Once you submit your request in ISS Connect, your I-20 will be processed within 7-10 business days.

What happens after the end date of my Post-Completion Optional Practical Training?
You have a grace period of 60 days, or 30 days if you've traveled and reentered the U.S. after September 15, 2026 (see Elimination of D/S), to:

1. depart the U.S.;
2. apply to continue in another educational program at �鶹ֱ�� or another school; or
3. change to another nonimmigrant status (consult with an immigration attorney)

What if my employer wishes to extend my employment beyond the OPT end date?
You may be eligible for a Cap-Gap Extension if your employer has filed an H-1B petition for a change of status in the U.S. on your behalf and you have received an H-1B receipt notice or approval notice, but your OPT expires before your H-1B employment start date of October 1. A Cap-Gap Extension will allow your employment eligibility to be extended until April 1 of your H-1B fiscal year. Although the Cap-Gap Extension is automatically granted by law, the student must submit a New I-20 for Cap-Gap Extension request in in order to be issued a new I-20 with an extended OPT end date (April 1). The I-20 will serve as the only proof of employment eligibility (EAD card will not be extended) until H-1B comes into effect.

Can OPT be extended?
The OPT Final Rule published by the Department of Homeland Security in the Federal Register effective May 10, 2016 allows a 24-month extension of the Post-completion OPT. The final rule allows F-1 students who are currently on OPT after earning a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics () to apply for 24 months of additional OPT if they have a job or job offer from an employer and meet all other required criteria.

Is there any special paperwork for filing for STEM OPT?
Students and their employers will have increased reporting requirements, along with a formal training plan documented on the U.S. government . Read more about STEM OPT on the .

When should I apply for STEM OPT extension?
Students cannot apply for a STEM OPT extension during the grace period following the initial 12-month period of post-completion OPT. Students can file for STEM OPT no earlier than 90 days before their OPT end date and must file for STEM OPT before OPT expires. Students who file a timely STEM OPT extension application may continue working for up to 180 days beyond the OPT expiration date while the STEM OPT application is pending.

We do not recommend traveling outside the U.S. while OPT is pending. To reenter the U.S., you will need your EAD card and a job offer, in addition to your passport, valid F-1 visa, and I-20 signed for travel. Traveling while your application is pending also carries the risk of missing a Request for Evidence (RFE) from USCIS, including a request for a Biometrics Services Appointment.

Please note: If you did not apply for OPT, but traveled outside the U.S. during your grace period, you will have negated your eligibility to apply for OPT. OPT regulations require you to be physically present in the U.S. and maintaining F-1 status when you apply for OPT.

Travel on OPT is possible, but it is strongly recommended that you secure a job first. You will be unable to reenter the U.S. in F-1 status if you exceed the 90-day unemployment clock. For reentry, you will need the following documents:

• Valid I-20 issued for OPT endorsed with a current travel signature (issued within 6 months before your return)
• Valid passport (must be valid for at least 6 months into the future)
• Valid/unexpired F-1 visa (Canadian and Bermudian citizens are exempt)
• Employment Authorization Document (EAD)
• Job Letter

Check the for more information about reentry for F-1 visa holders.