OPTIONAL PRACTICAL TRAINING (OPT)

OPT is granted for a total of up to 12 months per degree level. Thus, a student can get OPT against a Bachelor's degree, another OPT against Master's degree, and another OPT against a PhD degree.  For those students majoring in specific STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) majors with designated CIP codes by the Department of Homeland Security, there can be an additional 17 months of OPT beyond the initial 12 months if all eligibility qualifications for a STEM extension are met. 

For more detailed information on OPT STEM extension, please refer to the 'F-1 OPT 17-Month Extension Guidelines.'  This 17 month rule can only be applied once, not for each degree level like the initial 12 month OPT.

There are two types of OPT :

o   pre-completion OPT

o   post-completion OPT 

Click here to view an official USCIS annoucement on pre-completion OPT and post-completion OPT along with OPT extension for qualified students.

A job offer is not required at the time of OPT application as long as the employment is in the student's field of study.  All OPT applications must be filed with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). USCIS processing time varies in average from 2 months to 4 months depending on the season when you apply.  You may check USCIS website regarding the current processing time by clicking here.  Students must NOT start working unless he/she receives an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) from USCIS. 

OPT automatically terminates when the student transfers to another College/University or begins to study full time at another educational level.

Students who are in an English Language Training (ESL) program are not eligible for practical training.