Optional Practical Training

• Can be granted for part-time (less than 20 hours per week) employment during the semesters
• Can be granted for part-time or full-time (20 or more hours per week) during the summer
• Each segment requires a separate application with a full application fee
• Students are eligible after completing one year of full-time study
• OPT must end before program end date on I-20 form
• Students must continue to enroll full-time during semesters

• Student must be in valid F-1 immigration status at the time of application
• Student must be present in the U.S. at the time of application
• Employment must be directly related to student’s major area of study
• Student must not have previously been granted OPT at the same, or a higher, degree level
• Student must not have used a full year of full-time CPT in current degree program

1. Ask your appropriate department contact to download and complete the OPT Recommendation form available on the forms page . Once completed, they can email it to you. 
2. Log into iCats and submit the "OPT: Optional Practical Training Request" e-form, found under F-1 Practical Training. You will need to upload the OPT Recommendation form referenced in the previous step.
3. Wait for the email from ISSS that your request has been processed. Your OPT Recommendation I-20 form will be attached. You will need this form before you can proceed.

• After your I-20 end-date and before you receive your EAD Card, you may not be employed on campus.
• You must stop your employment when the end date on the EAD card is reached. 
• The EAD is not employer specific, so you may change employers.

Additionally, the ISSS team recommends that you keep documentation (job offer letters, pay slips, or W-2 tax forms) from all of your employers.

• Multiple employers: Students may work for more than one employer, but all employment must be related to the student’s degree program.
• Short-term multiple employers (performing artists): Students, such as musicians and other performing artists, may work for multiple short-term employers. The student should maintain a list of all employers, dates of employment, and hours worked. If requested by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), students must be prepared to provide evidence showing a list of all employment.
• Work for hire: This is also commonly referred to as 1099 employment, where an individual performs a service based on a contractual relationship rather than an employment relationship. If requested by DHS, students must be prepared to provide evidence showing the duration of the contract periods and the name and address of the contracting company.
• Self-employed business owner: Students on post-completion OPT may start a business and be self-employed.  The student must be able to prove that he or she has the proper business licenses and is actively engaged in a business related to the student’s degree program. Contact OHIO's Center for Entrepreneurship for guidance on this process. (Self-employment is notallowed while on the STEM OPT extension ). Before starting a business, students should consider what will happen to it when the OPT ends.
• Employment through an agency: Students on post-completion OPT must be able to provide evidence showing they worked an average of over 20 hours per week while employed by the agency.
• Unpaid employment: Students may work as volunteers or unpaid interns when this does not violate any labor laws. See the Unpaid Employment section on the F-1 Student Employment page for important details.

You must notify ISSS of any changes to certain information within  10 days of the change.  ISSS will update your information in the SEVIS system. Below is the data you must keep updated:

• Your name and physical address
• Your employer's name, address and your employment status
• Any change to your immigration status

To report a change in address, you will need to log in to your MyOHIO Student Center.  Be sure you update the "SEVIS U.S." address type.

To report a change in employment, please complete the "OPT: Report New Employment" and "OPT: Report End of Employment" e-forms in iCats .  

To travel outside of the U.S. and reenter following travel while authorized for OPT, you must carry:

• A valid passport (your passport must be valid 6 months into the future at all times)
• A valid U.S. F-1 visa (Except for Canadian citizens)
• A valid EAD card
• A valid form I-20 with international student advisor signature on page 3 ( signatures are valid for 6 months )
• If you need a new travel signature, please request it via iCats .
• Evidence of your current employment in the form of a letter from your employer

Port-of-Entry officials sometimes get confused about whether entry is allowed with a pending OPT application. If you travel and return to the U.S. while your application is pending, we recommend that you refer the official to this Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) webpage  if you encounter any complications.  

Please note that any entry to the United States is up to the discretion of the Customs and Border Patrol at the initial border entry point.