Optional Practical Training (OPT) is a 12-month work authorization that allows F-1 students to gain additional work experience after graduation in their field of study. You can work anywhere in the U.S. on OPT, so long as the employment is directly related to your field of study.
You can learn more about OPT by attending an OPT Informational Workshop. Attending an informational workshop is a requirement before you can apply for OPT.
You cannot apply for OPT without receiving an updated I-20 that has an OPT recommendation and your requested OPT start date. Do not submit an OPT application to USCIS without the OPT recommendation I-20.
We recommend that you apply as early as possible because it can take around 3 months for an OPT application to be approved by USCIS. You do not need a job offer to apply for OPT. You can apply as early as 90 days before you complete your program and up to 60 days after you complete your program.
There are options to obtain a decision within 30 calendar days through filing Form I-907 with your application and paying an additional non-refundable filing fee of $1,685.
All OPT applications must be made through the Center for Global Education. You must have attended an OPT workshop within the last academic year (previous semester or this semester) to be eligible to apply for OPT.
After you have attended a workshop, and if you will be in the eligible time window to apply for OPT, please complete our request form for an OPT I-20 appointment. You cannot apply for OPT without an updated I-20 that includes an OPT recommendation.
You can submit your application online using a USCIS online account.
You cannot apply for OPT if you have not received an I-20 from ISS that contains your OPT recommendation. Make sure you have uploaded the OPT I-20 into your online application before you pay the application fee. When you pay the application fee your online application will submit, and you will no longer be able to edit your application.
There are options to pay an additional premium processing fee (currently $1,685) for a decision within 30 calendar days. The OPT EAD card can take another 1-2 weeks to be issued after the OPT decision. If you wish to file with premium processing then you must file both the I-765 form and the I-907 form. Further instructions are on the USCIS website.
To file online you will need to set up a USCIS online account. Once you have the account, you will select “My USCIS” and then select “File a Form Online.”
As you move through the application you will be prompted about which documents you will need to upload. However, you should be ready to provide uploads and information from the following documents:
The following guidelines relate to the most confusing parts of the form, and are offered as a courtesy only. Please consult an immigration attorney if you are unsure about any aspects of the form.
Click on “File a Form Online” and then select “Application for Employment Authorization (I-765)”.
You will be filing under (c)(3)(B) Student Post-Completion OPT eligibility category. The STEM extension option is only applicable to students who are already participating in their 1-year of post-completion OPT, and applying to extend their OPT work authorization.
Select “ Initial permission to accept employment ”
Name: enter it as listed in your passport
Mailing address: your EAD card will be delivered via postal mail. It is important to use a mailing address that will be reliable for the next four months. If it is a friend’s address then make sure to add their name to the “In care of name” field of the form. If your mailing address changes before your OPT is approved then you must inform USCIS directly otherwise you may not receive your EAD.
Physical address: enter the address where you are currently living, if it is different from your mailing address. It is OK if this changes when your OPT application is pending.
Travel document: if you have a passport then you it is unlikely that you will have a travel document. You can leave this field empty if you do not have a travel document.
A-number: if you have never applied for OPT before, you may not have an A number. If you have done OPT before then type the A-number (USCIS number) from your OPT EAD card.
USCIS Online Account Number: your USCIS Account Number may be on your documentation from a prior application. If not, you can check “I do not have or know my USCIS Online Account Number.”. If you have never applied for OPT before, you may not have a USCIS Account Number.
Social Security Number (SSN): if you do not have an SSN then you can apply for one as part of this I-765 application. The card should arrive 2-3 weeks after your OPT is approved. If you have an SSN then you do not need to apply for a new card via the I-765, unless you have lost the card.
Employment Authorization Document or Government ID upload: we recommend you upload the biographical page of your passport, and your visa stamp (if applicable) into this section.
I-20, Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status upload: upload your OPT-endorsed I-20. Make sure you have signed the I-20 – in ink – in the student certification section. Student signatures on an I-20 that are electronic (typed or other digital formats) are not accepted by USCIS. It must be less than 30 days since the OPT recommendation was made on your I-20. Contact ISS if you are applying more than 30 days since your OPT was recommended.
Additional information: in most cases no additional information is needed in this field
Address any alerts or warnings and double check all data before moving to the application fee payment. Once your fee has been paid you will not be able to return to edit the form. The application fee can be paid by credit or debit card.
You should receive an electronic receipt notice by email shortly after you pay the fee and your form submits. A paper receipt notice should follow in the mail within a few weeks. If you do not receive the paper notice in the mail then you should follow up with USCIS. Non-delivery of your receipt notice is an indication that there may be a mail issue that could later affect your EAD delivery.