Optional Practical Training (OPT) is one year of employment authorization that is intended to allow students a chance to gain practical experience in their field of study. All work done under OPT must be related to the student’s degree studies.
When OPT is approved by United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the student will receive an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) which authorizes employment for a specific time period. OPT may be used during the degree program or after graduation.
OPT Eligibility Requirements
Whether a student is pursuing pre- or post-completion OPT, they must also meet the following eligibility requirements:
- 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
In addition to these eligibility requirements, pre- and post-completion OPT each have their own requirements.
Pre and Post-Completion OPT
OPT can be done during a student’s program of study (pre-completion) or after a student completes their program of study (post-completion). Please review the additional information and eligibility requirements for both OPT options.
Pre-completion OPT
- 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
Post-completion OPT
- 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
OPT Application Process
After you have reviewed and ensured that you meet eligibility requirements for OPT employment, you can follow the steps outlined in this section to help you apply and understand your responsibilities while working in an OPT position.
You are not required to have a job prior to applying for OPT. The application process takes approximately 3 to 4 months and you may use that time to search for a job.
Step 1: Attend an OPT Workshop
You must attend an OPT Informational Workshop with an ISSS advisor in the semester in which you intend to apply for OPT. You can register for an upcoming workshop in iCats , under "Events".
Step 2: Obtain your OPT I-20
You must have an OPT I-20 from ISSS to successfully apply for OPT. Applying without your OPT I-20 may result in your application being denied. To request your I-20 from ISSS, follow the steps outlined in the collapsible heading.
How To Request Your I-20 From ISSS
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Step 3: USCIS Application
Your OPT application must be submitted to USCIS within 30 days of the issuance of your OPT I-20. The ISSS advising team is available to review your application prior to submission. Please see the OPT Online Filing Instructions webpage for more information.
Step 4: Wait for Your EAD Card Before Beginning Work
Your EAD card is an essential part of your OPT job eligibility. Please review the section below to learn more.
Please note:USCIS adjudicates and approves your OPT application. They can modify your employment start date, so please keep this in mind when you are speaking with potential employers. For example: you can request June 30 as your start date but your EAD card starts on August 1. Y ou may not begin working until you have your EAD card in hand and the start date on the card has arrived.
EAD Card and Work
- 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.
OPT Employment Types
Working on OPT is a full-time work commitment of at least 20 hours per week. All employment must be related to your field of study.
Allowable Types of Employment
- 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.
Requirements During OPT
During OPT it is important that you follow requirements for travel and communicating specific changes to the ISSS team.
Notify ISSS About Specific Changes During OPT
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 .
Carry Required Documents To Travel For OPT
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.
Options after Post-Completion OPT
You receive a 60 day grace period at the end of OPT in which you can do one of the following:
- Depart the United States.
- Transfer your SEVIS record to another school. You can use the steps outlined on the transfer student immigration information page as a guide for transferring your record to another school.
- Start a new degree at Ohio University.
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Change to another legal visa status, if you are eligible. Notify ISSS if you have been approved for a new U.S. visa status so that your SEVIS record can be deactivated. Please provide a copy of the USCIS Change of Status Approval notice to ISSS via iCats .
Please note ISSS cannot provide legal advice on the change of status process. Rather, we strongly recommend consulting an immigration attorney, and you can search the American Immigration Lawyers Association's website to find an immigration attorney if needed. Immigration is federal, so it does not matter where the lawyer resides. It is more important to find someone who specializes in your inquiry.