F-1 Optional Practical Training (OPT) | Study in the States

F-1 Optional Practical Training (OPT) | Study in the States
SEVIS Help Hub
F-1 Optional Practical Training (OPT)
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SEVIS Help Hub
Student Records
F/M Student Employment
F-1 Optional Practical Training (OPT)
F-1 Optional Practical Training (OPT)
Quick Links:
Overview
Recommend Optional Practical Training
Edit OPT Request
Cancel/Withdraw OPT Request
Report OPT Participation
Post-completion OPT and Unemployment
OPT-Related SEVIS Alerts and Lists
View OPT Employment Information
H-1B Cap-Gap Extension of OPT
Correcting OPT Data: Correction Requests and Data Fixes
F-1 students often want to work. However, employment opportunities are limited, and strict rules apply. This document discusses different types of optional practical training (OPT) including: required forms, processes, and updating SEVIS.
What is Optional Practical Training?
Optional practical training is one type of work permission available for eligible F-1 students. It allows students to get real-world work experience related to their field of study.
While a Designated School Official (DSO) recommends OPT in SEVIS, it is the student who must apply for the work permit with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS). If the OPT is approved, USCIS will issue an Employment Authorization Document (EAD). The student must not begin working before the start date on the EAD.
Regulations and Policy Guidance
Complex rules and guidance apply to OPT. Any OPT requests entered into SEVIS must comply with federal regulations. DSOs must understand the following regulations and policy guidance:
8 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 214.2(f)(10) through (13)
8 CFR 274a.12(c)(3)
SEVP Policy Guidance on OPT
SEVP Policy Guidance: Practical Training – Determining a Direct Relationship between Employment and a Student’s Major Area of Study
OPT Types
There are three general types of OPT:
Type
Description
OPT
For students engaged in post-secondary schools or at conservatories. Twelve months of Regular OPT is available for each higher level of study. (For example a student may have 12 months for a bachelor’s degree and another 12 months for a master’s degree.)
Pre-Completion OPT:
Any portion of OPT used
before
the student’s Program End Date. It may be part-time or full-time.
Post-Completion OPT:
Any portion of OPT used
after
the student’s Program End Date. It must be at least 20 hours per week or full-time.
24-month (STEM) OPT Extension
For students who majored in designated Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) degrees approved by DHS. This type of OPT is a 24-month extension of OPT.
Cap-Gap OPT Extension
For students whose prospective employers filed a qualifying H-1B-cap subject petition.
OPT Request Statuses
The table below lists the statuses used to identify the stages of OPT requests in SEVIS.
Status
Status Meaning
Requested
DSO requested OPT in SEVIS on behalf of the student, but USCIS has not yet received the Application for Employment Authorization (Form I-765).
Pending
USCIS has received the Form I-765.
Approved
USCIS has approved the Form I-765.
Denied
USCIS has denied the Form I-765.
Canceled
DSO or a scheduled SEVIS maintenance job canceled the practical training request in SEVIS.
Withdrawn
USCIS approved the student’s request to withdraw the Form I-765.
OPT Eligibility
A student is eligible for OPT if:
The student has been a full-time student for one academic year in an SEVP-certified:
College
University
Conservatory
Seminary
The student is not studying English as a Second Language.
The student’s proposed employment relates to the student’s major area of study. For more information see
SEVP Policy Guidance: Practical Training – Determining a Direct Relationship between Employment and a Student’s Major Area of Study
The student has not used all optional practical training available at the current level of study.
The student has not been authorized for 12 months or more of full-time Curricular Practical Training (CPT).
Full-time CPT at a previous school at the same program level counts toward the CPT 12month total affecting OPT. CPT at another program level does not affect OPT.
OPT Process at a Glance
Remind your F-1 students:
Not to file the Form I-765, “Application for Employment Authorization,” until you have recommended OPT in their SEVIS records, and they have the updated Form I-20 with the OPT recommendation.
They must file within the 30-day period after your DSO OPT recommendation.
If a student submits the Form I-765 on paper or electronically before you recommend the OPT or after the 30-day post-DSO recommendation period:
USCIS will deny the application. (Federal regulations require the DSO OPT recommendation on the student SEVIS record before the Form I-765 is submitted.)
The student will lose the application fee.
The student will have to reapply for OPT and pay the fee again.
IMPORTANT:
Making these mistakes can dramatically delay the final USCIS authorized OPT start date.
The OPT application process involves many players and several steps:
Step
Users Actions
Student follows school processes to submit an OPT request to the DSO.
DSO confirms eligibility, enters the request in SEVIS and issues the Form I-20.
DSO signs the Form I-20 and gives to the student.
Status of the OPT request in SEVIS immediately changes to Requested.
Note:
Any OPT status updates to SEVIS are automatic and require no action on the part of the DSO.
Required paperwork:
Student signs the Form I-20.
Student completes an Application for Employment Authorization (Form I-765). The Form I-765, fee, and supporting documentation must be filed with USCIS within 30 days of the DSO’s recommendation.
Note:
The Form I-765 is available on the USCIS website
. The web site provides submission instructions.
Upon receipt of the Form I-765, USCIS issues a Receipt Notice (Form I-797) that contains the receipt number assigned to the case.
Through an interface with USCIS, the status of the OPT request in SEVIS changes to Pending.
If USCIS needs more information, the student will receive a Request For Evidence (RFE), which states what information is needed and the deadline for submitting it. The student must respond by the deadline.
USCIS then makes a decision on the application:
If the application is approved, USCIS issues an EAD and the OPT Request status in SEVIS changes to Approved.
If the Form I-765 is denied, the OPT Request status in SEVIS changes to Denied.
Student receives the EAD and can begin work once the authorized date arrives.
When the student is hired, the student reports the employer information to the DSO.
Note:
While on OPT, the student must report to the DSO within 10 days any changes in the student’s name or address, and employment information.
DSO must update SEVIS within 21 days with the employment information and any name or address changes.
Any F-1 Optional Practical Training request in Requested status longer than 180 days is automatically canceled by SEVIS.
Form I-765 Filing Deadlines Once DSO Requests OPT in SEVIS
Day 1
Day 30
After Day 30
DSO requests OPT in SEVIS
30-day countdown begins
30-day countdown ends
USCIS must receive the application
Applications received by USCIS after day 30 will be denied
If the student does not file a Form I-765, the DSO should cancel the OPT request in SEVIS.
DSOs must be mindful of several key dates when entering OPT in SEVIS.
Key Dates
DSOs must be mindful of several key dates when entering OPT in SEVIS.
Post-Completion OPT Planning Tool
: This Excel spreadsheet allows users to calculate the amount of OPT available for a student and generates suggested timelines for a student, based on the Program End Date and the desired OPT start date.
Recommend OPT
SEVIS will not allow DSOs to request overlapping segments of OPT. You must specify if the OPT is pre-completion or post-completion OPT and must be either full or part part-time.
DSOs should verify and, if necessary, shorten the program end date on the Form I-20 before recommending a student for post-completion OPT
If a DSO is recommending OPT for a student who plans to split their OPT time between degree programs at the same education level, you should explicitly note in SEVIS that the student is requesting to split their OPT time. The requested OPT validity dates for each particular degree program should be limited to the planned duration of OPT for that program.
To recommend OPT:
1.    Go to the
Student Information
page.
2.    Click
OPT Request
. The
OPT Employment
page opens.
3. Click
New OPT Request
. The
Add OPT Employment
page opens.
4. Enter information relevant to the OPT authorization.
Field
Description
The student has met or will meet the one full academic year requirement by the employment start date.
Click the checkbox to indicate the student has met the enrollment requirement.
This is a required field.
*OPT Type
Select either:
Pre-Completion: All employment occurs before the Program End Date.
Post-Completion: All employment occurs after the Program End Date.
This is a required field.
*Full-Time/Part-Time
Select either:
Part-Time: Select if Pre-Completion OPT occurs when school is in session.
Full-Time: Select full-time if:
Pre-Completion OPT occurs when school is not in session.
Employment is Post-Completion OPT.
This is a required field.
*Start Date
The date that OPT authorization starts.
This date cannot be before the student has completed one academic year of full-time study
A student can split their OPT time between degree programs at the same education level (for example, they intend to use six months of OPT after completing a master of fine arts degree and the remaining six months of OPT after completing a master of music degree).
The requested OPT validity dates for each particular degree program should be limited to the planned duration of OPT for that program. If the student would like to request less than the maximum validity period of post-completion OPT available for each degree program, you should explicitly note in SEVIS that the student is requesting to split their OPT time.
If you initially request 12 months of OPT based on one degree program, the student will be unable to later request OPT based on a different degree program at the same education level.
Format:
MM/DD/YYYY.
Post-Completion OPT:
Start Date must be on or after the Program End Date. It cannot be more than 60 days after the Program End Date.
This is a required field.
*End Date
The date the OPT authorization is to end.
Format:
MM/DD/YYYY
Pre-Completion OPT:
Cannot be after the Program End Date.
Post-Completion OPT:
Cannot enter a date more than 12 months after the Employment Start Date.
This is a required field.
Student Remarks
Enter or update remarks regarding the student’s planned employment. Use this field to convey important information you think the student or government officials need to know. USCIS has noted they want to see how the planned employment relates to the student’s major course of study. For example: student will pursue training .related to studies.
This field is limited to 1,000 characters.
Note:
Comments entered here overwrite any existing remarks that print in the Remarks field on Page 1 of the Form I-20.
Employment Remarks
Enter any applicable remarks about the student’s employment. This field is limited to 250 characters.
These remarks do not print on the Form I-20.
5. Review the information. Click either
or
Cancel
Cancel:
Returns to the
OPT Employment
page without saving.
Save:
Submits the OPT request. An
Update Successful
message displays.
To recommend an additional period of OPT, click
New OPT Request
and repeat Steps 4 and 5.
The start and end dates for segments of OPT cannot overlap.
Click either
Print I-20
or
Return to Employment List
Print I‑20
: Prints the Form I‑20 with the OPT recommendation.
Once the Certificate of Eligibility (Form I-20) has been submitted, the DSO must sign page one of the form.
Form I-20 is given to the student.
Find more information on allowable electronic signatures and Form I-20 transmission in SEVP’s policy guidance
Use of Electronic Signatures and Transmission for the Form I-20
Return to Employment List
: Returns the user to the
OPT Employment
page. The newly added OPT employment
will be on the list.
Review the information on the
OPT Employment
page. To make changes to the existing OPT request,
click
Edit
. (See Edit OPT Request below for detailed edit instructions.)
Click either
Print I-20
or
Return
Print I-20
: Prints the Form I-20.
Return
: Returns the user to the Student Information page.
OPT information can be edited depending on the status of the OPT request:
Request Status
Editable Fields
Requested
Full-time/Part-time
Fulfillment of 1-year requirement
Employment Remarks
Student Remarks
Pending
Full-time/Part-time
Fullfillment of 1-year requirement
Employment Remarks
Student Remarks
Approved
Employer Name
Employer Address
Explanation for relationship to course work
Employment Remarks
Student Remarks
To edit an OPT request:
1. Click
OPT Request
on the
Student Information
page. The
OPT Employment
page opens.
2. Click
Edit
to the right of the OPT segment to be edited. The
Edit OPT Employment
page opens.
3. Make any necessary edits:
Field
Description
*The student has met or will meet the one full academic year requirement by the employment start date.
Click the checkbox to indicate the student has met the enrollment requirement.
This is a required field.
*Full-Time/Part-Time
Select either:
Part-Time:
Select if Pre-Completion OPT occurs when school is in session.
Full-Time:
Select full-time if:
Pre-Completion OPT occurs when school is not in session.
Employment is Post-Completion OPT.
This is a required field.
Student Remarks
Enter or update remarks regarding the student.
Note:
Comments entered here overwrite any existing remarks that print in the Remarks field on page one of the Form I-20.
Employment Remarks
Enter any applicable remarks about the student’s employment.
4. Click either
or
Cancel:
Cancel
: Returns the user to the OPT Employment page without updating the employment segment.
Save:
Updates this employment request in the student’s record. An
Update Successful
message indicates if the edit was successful. Click either
Print I-20
or
Return to Employment List
Print I 20
: Prints the Form I-20 with the OPT recommendation.
Once the Certificate of Eligibility (Form I-20) has been submitted, the DSO must sign page one of the form.
Form I-20 is given to the student.
Find more information on allowable electronic signatures and Form I-20 transmission in SEVP’s policy guidance
Use of Electronic Signatures and Transmission for the Form I-20
Return to Employment List
: Returns to the
OPT Employment
page.
An OPT request can be canceled in SEVIS
ONLY
if the OPT Request is in Requested status.
OPT REQUEST STATUS IN SEVIS = Requested
OPT REQUEST STATUS IN SEVIS = Pending
P/DSO can cancel OPT in SEVIS.
OPT request status changes to Canceled.
Do not cancel OPT request if the student has mailed the Form I-765 to USCIS.
P/DSO cannot cancel OPT in SEVIS.
Student must write USCIS to withdraw the Form I-765.
After processing by USCIS, OPT request status in SEVIS changes to Withdrawn.
Cancel OPT Request
To cancel an OPT request:
1.      Go to the
Student Information
page.
2.      Click
OPT Request
. The
OPT Employment
page opens.
3. Click
Cancel Request
next to the segment of OPT you want to cancel. A
Confirm Cancelation of Request
page opens.
4. Click either
Yes
or
No
No:
Returns the user to the OPT Employment page without canceling the OPT request.
Yes
: Cancels the OPT request. An Update Successful message verifies that the update was successful. Click either
Return
to
Employment List
or
Print I-20
Click
Print I-20
to print the Form I-20.
Click
Return to Employment List
to return to the
OPT Employment page
; and then click either
Return
or
Print I-20
Click
Print I-20
to print the Form I-20.
Click
Return
to return to the
Student Information
page.
The student’s OPT status in the Student Requests section updates to Canceled.
Withdraw OPT Request
Once an OPT request status changes to Pending, the student must write USCIS to withdraw the OPT application. The request must:
Be sent to the USCIS Service Center processing the application. The address is on the USCIS-issued Receipt Notice sent to the student.
Include the receipt number USCIS assigned the case when it was filed.
While on OPT, a student is required to report the following to their DSO:
Change in student’s legal name.
Change in student’s address while on OPT.
Changes in employment or interruption of employment.
Students can enter employment information using the SEVP Portal or DSOs can update SEVIS to reflect the changes. Employment information must be updated in a timely manner.
For additional related information, see:
8 CFR 214.2(f)(12)(ii)(E)
SEVP OPT Policy Guidance
F-1 Add, Edit, Delete Optional Practical Training (OPT) Employer
View Employment Information
Unemployment Counter
SEVIS and the SEVP Portal
SEVP Portal Student User Guide
DSOs are expected to add, edit, or delete employer information in a timely manner.
While students are not required to have an employer when OPT is requested in SEVIS, students authorized for post-completion OPT are expected to be employed. A student on post-completion OPT can be unemployed for a total of 90 days.
A student whose record lacks employer information is considered unemployed.
SEVP officials can manually terminate a student who accrues 90 total days of unemployment.
See the
Unemployment Counter
article on the SEVIS Help Hub for more information.
The following Alert List and Student Lists in SEVIS help DSOs monitor and manage students on OPT:
Alert/List
Description
Accrued Unemployment Days for Students on Approved OPT or STEM
This Alert List shows:
SEVIS ID
Surname/Primary Name
Given Name
OPT Type (Post-completion or STEM OPT)
OPT Actual Start Date
OPT Actual End Date
Currently Employed
The number of days of unemployment allowed
The number of days of unemployment used
The number of days of unemployment remaining
Note
: All employer start and end dates must be within the employment actual start and end dates. If employer dates fall outside the actual start and end dates the student will appear on this list and as unemployed.
Students with Requested, Pending, or Approved Optional Practical Training (OPT)
This Student List shows:
Active indicator
SEVIS ID
Visa Type
Surname/Primary Name
Given Name
DSO Recommended Start and End Dates
Actual OPT Start and End Dates
Student's Email Address
OPT Type
Request Status
Receipt Number
Students Terminated for Exceeding the Maximum Number of Days of Unemployment
This Student List shows:
SEVIS ID
Class of Admission
Surname/Primary Name
Given Name
Termination Date
OPT Type
DSOs can view a student’s OPT information on the following pages, which are accessed through the View section of the Student Information page:
Request/Authorization Details
page
Lists only current authorizations.
Employment Information
page: Lists all employment authorizations linked to the SEVIS ID.
For additional related information, see
View Employment Information
SEVIS will automatically extend post-completion OPT or 24-month science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) extension of OPT if:
On or after April 1, an employer files an eligible H-1B petition to change the student’s status.
The requested start date for the H-1B is October 1.
The student’s OPT or 17-month OPT extension ends on or after April 1.
Review the
F-1 Cap Gap Extension
article for information on how to add or edit cap gap information on a record.
If OPT information in SEVIS does not reflect applications filed with or decisions made by USCIS, DSOs can ask to have the record corrected. There are two ways to correct data in a student record.
Method
What Can be Fixed
Correction Request
This option is used to request changes (using SEVIS) for the following:
Status of OPT Request.
Employment Start Date.
Employment End Date.
SRC Ticket (Data Fix)
This option is used for more complicated issues and requires DSOs to contact the SEVP Response Center (SRC) via phone at 703-603-3400 or 1-800-892-4829, or via email at SEVP@ice.dhs.gov. Types of OPT-related data fixes include:
Adding retroactive OPT to a record.
Changing the OPT request status for an OPT request that is already in Approved status.
Any data fix that cannot be submitted in a correction request.
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