Optional Practical Training (OPT) FAQs
Q. What is an OPT?
A. OPT stands for Optional Practical Training. Foreign students who enter the U.S. as bona fide students qualified to pursue a full course of study may undertake practical training. The training must be directly related to the student’s major of study. The OPT can be either pre- or post-completion of studies.
Q. What is the Pre-Graduation Practical Training?
A. There are two kinds of Pre-Graduation Practical Training that are permissible. They are:
Q. How long can an OPT last?
A. Generally a student is eligible for a total period of 12 months of practical training per educational level. However, there are two exceptions to the 12-month limit on OPT:
Q. What are the eligible STEM degrees?
A. The STEM degrees are listed on the STEM Designated Degree Program List. It includes the following courses of study:
Q. Is there any requirements on the employer to hire employees applying for a 17 months OPT extension?
A. Yes. The employers must be enrolled in E-Verify.
Q. What is the E-verify program?
A. The E-verify program is a free web-based system operated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in partnership with the Social Security Administration (SSA). It is available for employers in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The employer could use the E-verify system to determine the employment eligibility of new hires and the validity of their Social Security Numbers. The E-verify Systems will compare information contained on the Employment Eligibility Verification Form I-9 with records contained in SSA and DHS databases to help employers verify identity and employment eligibility of newly-hired employees.
Q. I have accomplished my exchange program in the U.S. for a half academic year on F-1 status. Am I eligible for the 12 months OPT?
A. No. A student must have been in F-1 status for at least one full academic year in order to receive permission for OPT.
Q. What are the procedures for the application of the OPT?
A. According to the rules set out by the USCIS, to apply for an OPT a student must:
Q. What is the filing fee for the Form I-765 application?
A. Starting November 23, 2010, the filing fee is $380. Always check USCIS.gov for the most recent fee schedule as fees can change.
Q. If my EAD is denied, can I appeal?
A. If a work authorization application is denied, the student has no right to appeal. Generally speaking, a denial of EAD is unlikely to happen if the student has the designated school official’s recommendation.
Q. When can I start to apply for the OPT?
A student may apply for pre-completion OPT up to 90 days prior to competing one full academic year, provided that the period of employment will not begin until after the completion of the full academic year.
Q. Can I extend my pre-graduation OPT when I was granted less than 12 months period of OPT?
A. Yes. Students who wish to continue in a pre-graduation practical training program may apply for further authorization under the procedures provided above in Question 6 provided he or she has not met the 12-months ceiling on OPT and the student has not engaged in 12 months of full-time curricular practical training.
Q. I now plan to transfer into a higher educational level. Am I eligible for another 12 months period of practical training?
A. Yes. A 12 months OPT will be granted per educational level.
Q. Can I extend my 17-month STEM OPT? If yes, what documentation do I need?
A. Yes you can. To extend the 17 month STEM OPT, the student must file a Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization Document (EAD), Form I-20 endorsed by the DSO, a copy of the STEM degree, and the required application fee with USCIS.
Q. What if my post-completion OPT has expired while my extension application is pending in the USCIS?
A. If that is the case, you will receive an extension of employment authorization for no more than 180 days after your current employment expires.
Q. Do I need to extend my OPT of I have been granted the “cap-gap” relief?
A. No. The OPT authorization will be automatically extended until October 1st of the fiscal year for which H-1B status being requested. The F-1 students whose OPT will expire before the start date of a petition filed under the H-1B cap could remain in the U.S. and work through the beginning of their H-1B employment on October 1st.
Q. Will the automatic extension of OPT status apply to F-2 dependents?
A. Yes.
A. OPT stands for Optional Practical Training. Foreign students who enter the U.S. as bona fide students qualified to pursue a full course of study may undertake practical training. The training must be directly related to the student’s major of study. The OPT can be either pre- or post-completion of studies.
Q. What is the Pre-Graduation Practical Training?
A. There are two kinds of Pre-Graduation Practical Training that are permissible. They are:
- Practical training during the student’s annual vacation and at other times when school is not in session, if the student is attending a college, university, seminary, or conservatory, and is eligible to register for the next term or semester (and intent to do so); or
- Practical training during the school year, provided that employment does not exceed 20 hours per week while school is in session.
Q. How long can an OPT last?
A. Generally a student is eligible for a total period of 12 months of practical training per educational level. However, there are two exceptions to the 12-month limit on OPT:
- First, certain F-1 students who are beneficiaries of H-1B petitioner and who are unable to commence employment until the next fiscal year because the H-1B cap has been met are now eligible for an automatic extension of study and of OPT work authorization;
- Second, college graduates in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields of study will in certain cases be eligible for a 17-months extension of OPT.
Q. What are the eligible STEM degrees?
A. The STEM degrees are listed on the STEM Designated Degree Program List. It includes the following courses of study:
- Computer Science Applications
- Biological and Biomedical Sciences
- Actuarial Science
- Mathematics and Statistics
- Medical Scientist
- Science Technologies
- Physical Sciences
- Engineering Technologies
- Military Technologies
- Engineering
Q. Is there any requirements on the employer to hire employees applying for a 17 months OPT extension?
A. Yes. The employers must be enrolled in E-Verify.
Q. What is the E-verify program?
A. The E-verify program is a free web-based system operated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in partnership with the Social Security Administration (SSA). It is available for employers in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The employer could use the E-verify system to determine the employment eligibility of new hires and the validity of their Social Security Numbers. The E-verify Systems will compare information contained on the Employment Eligibility Verification Form I-9 with records contained in SSA and DHS databases to help employers verify identity and employment eligibility of newly-hired employees.
Q. I have accomplished my exchange program in the U.S. for a half academic year on F-1 status. Am I eligible for the 12 months OPT?
A. No. A student must have been in F-1 status for at least one full academic year in order to receive permission for OPT.
Q. What are the procedures for the application of the OPT?
A. According to the rules set out by the USCIS, to apply for an OPT a student must:
- Request a recommendation from the Designated School Official (DSO) for the practical training;
- File Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization Document (EAD) with the USCIS. If approved, the student will be issued an EAD.
Q. What is the filing fee for the Form I-765 application?
A. Starting November 23, 2010, the filing fee is $380. Always check USCIS.gov for the most recent fee schedule as fees can change.
Q. If my EAD is denied, can I appeal?
A. If a work authorization application is denied, the student has no right to appeal. Generally speaking, a denial of EAD is unlikely to happen if the student has the designated school official’s recommendation.
Q. When can I start to apply for the OPT?
A student may apply for pre-completion OPT up to 90 days prior to competing one full academic year, provided that the period of employment will not begin until after the completion of the full academic year.
- A student may apply for post-completion OPT up to 90 days prior to the program end-date but no later than 60 days after the program end date.
- A student may apply for an OPT extension at any time prior to the expiration date of their current OPT period.
Q. Can I extend my pre-graduation OPT when I was granted less than 12 months period of OPT?
A. Yes. Students who wish to continue in a pre-graduation practical training program may apply for further authorization under the procedures provided above in Question 6 provided he or she has not met the 12-months ceiling on OPT and the student has not engaged in 12 months of full-time curricular practical training.
Q. I now plan to transfer into a higher educational level. Am I eligible for another 12 months period of practical training?
A. Yes. A 12 months OPT will be granted per educational level.
Q. Can I extend my 17-month STEM OPT? If yes, what documentation do I need?
A. Yes you can. To extend the 17 month STEM OPT, the student must file a Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization Document (EAD), Form I-20 endorsed by the DSO, a copy of the STEM degree, and the required application fee with USCIS.
Q. What if my post-completion OPT has expired while my extension application is pending in the USCIS?
A. If that is the case, you will receive an extension of employment authorization for no more than 180 days after your current employment expires.
Q. Do I need to extend my OPT of I have been granted the “cap-gap” relief?
A. No. The OPT authorization will be automatically extended until October 1st of the fiscal year for which H-1B status being requested. The F-1 students whose OPT will expire before the start date of a petition filed under the H-1B cap could remain in the U.S. and work through the beginning of their H-1B employment on October 1st.
Q. Will the automatic extension of OPT status apply to F-2 dependents?
A. Yes.