Optional Practical Training (OPT)

The OISS office currently recommends filing the I-765 online. Prior to your meeting with an immigration advisor, please fill out the I-765 form online. You will be able to upload your scans directly to the application and pay with a credit or bank card. No need to print anything in advance. Please do not "review & submit" the application until you meet with an advisor.

Complete the following documents and bring them all to an appointment with an OISS advisor if mailing documents to USCIS.

1. Check or money order payable to "U.S. Department of Homeland Security" for $410
2. 12-month OPT Recommendation Form (PDF) signed by academic advisor
3. Completed and signed Form I-765 (PDF) (typed)
   • Part 2 Question 5. Your U.S. Mailing Address: use an address that you may receive mail for the next 4 months.
   • Part 2 Question 27: Eligibility Category: please list (c) (3) (B)
4. 2 NEW passport photos - print your name and I-94 number on the back of each photo
5. Copies of passport, I-94, visa
6. Copies of previous I-20s with CPT, if any
7. Previous EAD, if any
8. Form G-1145 (PDF), E-Notification of Application/Petition Acceptance (optional)

During your OISS appointment we will assist you in preparing the OPT package for you to mail. It's advisable that you send the document immediately after leaving the OISS office and use Priority mail to ensure that your package arrives at USCIS safely and timely.

You may check your case Processing Times.

You may begin work only after receiving your Employment Authorization Document (EAD) and the dates on your EAD are effective.

Note that you have a 60-day grace period after your OPT expires to stay in the U.S., transfer to another school or change status (employment not allowed during this period).

• Post-completion OPT may be authorized for a maximum of 12 months upon completion of a course of study.
• OPT can only be authorized once per degree level (ex. Bachelor's, Master's, Doctorate).
• Graduate certificates count as Master's level.
• Must obtain a job in your most recent field of study.
• During 12-month standard OPT, employment includes full-time, part-time, volunteer and unpaid work.
• Cannot exceed 90 days of unemployment during the 12 months OPT authorized period.
• If you are planning to apply for the STEM 24-month extension in the future, please note that your employer must be enrolled in the E-verify program in order to continue working with them.
• F1 visa students granted a 24-month STEM OPT extension may not accrue an aggregate of more than 150 days of unemployment during the total of 36-month OPT period.

You must report changes through the SEVP Portal within 10 days if any of the following changes occur:

1. Legal Name
2. Residential address (post office box not acceptable)
3. New employer name and address
4. Ending OPT early due to change of status (H-1B) or leaving the U.S.

Be sure to provide a clear description of how your employment relates to your field of study whenever you report changes in employment. See sample explanations of a direct relationship below:

List Bachelor’s in EE and Master’s in Music examples from the guidance below (pages 4-5)

OPT Directly Related Guidance

Bring the following documents with you when traveling outside the U.S. on OPT

• Valid passport
• Valid U.S. F-1 visa to re-enter the U.S.*
• OPT I-20 with a travel signature by an OISS advisor within the last 6 months
• EAD and letter of employment**

*A valid U.S. F-1 visa is not required to re-enter the U.S. if you travel to Canada, Mexico or the adjacent islands for 30 days or less (excluding Cuba). Citizens of Syria, Sudan and Iran must always have a valid visa. Canadian citizens do not require a visa.

**If you leave the U.S. before you receive your EAD card, be sure to make an arrangement to have this mailed to you while abroad or scan/email you a copy.

Counting Days of Unemployment While Traveling

Unemployed: Time spent travelling abroad while unemployed counts towards the 90 days of unemployment.

Employed: Traveling outside the U.S. while employed (either during a period of leave authorized by an employer or as part of your employment) does not count as unemployment.

You can take courses while on OPT as long as you are part-time and are not seeking a degree. If you are seeking a new degree, you will need to cancel your OPT and receive a new I-20 to pursue full-time study in the new degree program.

Starting a New Degree

In order to start a new degree, you will need to receive admission and contact OISS to transfer out your SEVIS record if the degree is at a new school. On the transfer release date (new school) or the date a new I-20 is created (St. Thomas only), your OPT will end regardless of if your EAD is valid into the future.

Students on OPT who intend to continue in F-1 status must be admitted to a new academic program and obtain an I-20 before the 60th day following the end of your OPT.

Please note that if you transfer to a new school, you are allowed to remain in the U.S. for up to 5 months between the time your OPT ends and the new program of studies is to begin as long as you have already received your new I-20; if the time period is greater than 5 months, you will be required to leave the U.S. and can only re-enter within 30 days of the start of your new program of study.

The OISS office currently recommends filing the I-765 online. Prior to your meeting with an immigration advisor, please fill out the I-765 form online. You will be able to upload your scans directly to the application and pay with a credit or bank card. No need to print anything in advance. Please do not "review & submit" the application until you meet with an advisor.

You still need to have the I-983 ready before your meeting with an advisor (see below for instructions if mailing the application to USCIS).

1. Check or money order for $410, payable to “U.S. Department of Homeland Security”
2. Completed and signed FORM I-983 (see here for Instructions for I-983)
   • Example Form I-983 (can provide to your employer as an example of what to fill out for Section 5)
3. Completed and signed Form I-765 (typed) 
   • Part 2. Question 5. Your U.S. Mailing Address: use an address that you may receive mail for the next 4 months.
   • Question 27: Eligibility Category: please list (c) (3) (C)
4. Two NEW color, passport-style photographs - print your name and I-94 number on the back of each photo.
5. Copies of passport, visa, I-94
6. Copy of the front and back of your current and previous EAD’
7. Copy of previous OPT I-20’
8. Evidence that your degree meets the STEM degree/major requirements (include both)
   • Official transcript from Registrar's office
   • Copy of the diploma that shows your degree level and program of study
9. Job offer letter (printed on letterhead) with a registered E-verify organization
10. For the option of receiving an email and/or text message information that USCIS has accepted your application or petition, please complete G-1145.

You must report changes through the SEVP Portal within 10 days if any of the following changes occur:

1. Legal Name
2. Residential address (post office box not acceptable)
3. Ending OPT early due to change of status (H-1B) or leaving the U.S.

In Addition to the above requirements, if you are approved for the 24-month STEM Extension you must complete a new Form I-983 and also notify OISS of the following changes:

1. Change in Employer and EIN
2. Reduction in student compensation that is not tied to a reduction in hours worked
3. Significant decrease in hours/week that a student engages in a STEM training opportunity
4. Changes to the employers' commitments or student's learning objectives as documented on the Form I-983.

Students on the 24-month extension must also submit an annual self-evaluation about the progress of the training experience. More information regarding the self-evaluation can be found here.

Bring the following documents with you when traveling outside the U.S. while on STEM OPT

• Valid passport
• Valid U.S. F-1 visa to re-enter the U.S.*
• STEM OPT I-20 with a travel signature by an OISS advisor within the last 6 months
• EAD and letter of employment

*A valid U.S. F-1 visa is not required to re-enter the U.S. if you travel to Canada, Mexico or the adjacent islands for 30 days or less (excluding Cuba). Citizens of Syria, Sudan and Iran must always have a valid visa. Canadian citizens do not require a visa.

Time spent outside of the U.S. while employed does not count towards the unemployment limits below.

If you are on the 24- month STEM extension you are allowed a total of 150 days of unemployment between your 12- month OPT and 24- month extension.

You can take courses while on STEM OPT as long as you are part-time and are not seeking a degree. If you are seeking a new degree, you will need to cancel your STEM OPT and receive a new I-20 to pursue full-time study in the new degree program. In order to start a new degree, you will need to receive admission and contact OISS to transfer out your SEVIS record if the degree is at a new school. On the transfer release date (new school) or the date a new I-20 is created (St. Thomas only), your STEM OPT will end regardless of if your EAD is valid into the future.

• Students on STEM OPT who intend to continue in F-1 status must be admitted to a new academic program and obtain an I-20 before the 60th day following the end of your STEM OPT. Please note that if you transfer to a new school, you are allowed to remain in the U.S. for up to 5 months between the time your STEM OPT ends and the new program of studies is to begin as long as you have already received your new I-20; if the time period is greater than 5 months, you will be required to leave the U.S. and can only re-enter within 30 days of the start of your new program of study.