Optional Practical Training (OPT)

Overview

Optional Practical Training (also known as OPT) is a form of temporary work authorization that allows F-1 students in degree-seeking programs to engage in US employment and gain practical experience in their field of study. OPT does not require a job offer to apply!

Post-Completion OPT Process at a Glance

To obtain OPT, students must first request a new I-20 with OPT Recommendation from the International Student Services (ISS) office and then apply for the work authorization through U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). 

Once the OPT is approved, you will receive an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) which will allow up to *12 months of work authorization. While on active OPT, you are still considered to be in F-1 “status” and are therefore expected to report any updates to your employment or US residential address within 10 days of the change. More information on the application process and reporting obligations are discussed later on this page.

*Students that complete a degree in a qualifying STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Math) field may be eligible to apply for an additional 24 months of OPT known as STEM OPT. Students may apply for STEM OPT up to 90 days before their standard period of OPT expires.

OPT Types
Eligibility
Employment Requirements (Post-Completion OPT)
Types of Employment
Unemployment
Application Process
Reporting Requirements
Travel
After OPT Expires
FAQs

OPT Types

• Pre-Completion OPT: Any portion of OPT used before completion of the degree program.
  • Not commonly used; reach out to ISS if interested in pre-completion OPT.
  • Part-time while classes are in session (20 hours or fewer per week, cannot be averaged)
  • Full-time or part-time during breaks or vacation quarters
  • Master’s/Doctoral Students ONLY: Full-time or part-time after courses finished, while working on thesis
• Post-Completion OPT: Any portion of OPT used after the I-20 expiration date.
  • Most popular form of OPT
  • Granted on a full-time basis only (over 20 hours a week)
  • Post-completion OPT can begin as early as the day after you complete your degree requirements or (if a Master’s / Doctoral Student) after you have completed all degree requirements except for the thesis or dissertation.

Note: Eligibility for Pre- and Post-Completion OPT is based on program end date listed on your I-20, which might be different from your actual graduation date/semester.  If your current I-20 end date does not currently reflect the actual end of your program, it must be adjusted.  Reach out to ISS for information on how to adjust your I-20.

• 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.

Eligibility

To be eligible for OPT you must:

• Be enrolled full-time in a degree program for at least one academic year in a valid status. Non-degree programs such as English Language Training programs are not eligible for OPT.
• Have not used 12 months of OPT for a previous degree at the same level (e.g. you are doing an MBA and have already used your Master's level OPT after a previous MA/MS degree)
• Have not used OPT at a higher-degree level (e.g. you previously finished a PhD and now you are pursuing an MD, MBA, LLM, MS/MA etc)
• Have not used 12 months of full-time CPT at your current degree level. Part-time CPT and on-campus employment does not impact OPT eligibility.
• Be physically present in the U.S. in valid F-1 status at the time of application. If you are outside of the U.S. after your I-20 end-date and have not applied for OPT, you will lose your OPT eligibility.
• Submit the application to USCIS no more than 90 days before or 60 days after the I-20 expiration date.

Note: OPT is not employer specific, therefore you are not required to have a job offer to apply.

Employment Requirements (Post-Completion OPT)

Employment while on Post-completion OPT must adhere to the following standards:

• Relevancy: Employment must be directly related to your major field of study.
  • You must be able to describe how your work is relevant to your degree in 2-3 sentences.
  • ISS advisers are unable to determine your degree relevancy or confirm that your job is directly related; determining the relevancy is ultimately up to you.
  • If it is not clear from the job description that the work is related to your degree, it is highly recommended that you obtain a signed letter from your supervisor or manager or the employer’s hiring official stating how your degree is related to the work performed and that you keep it for your records. ISS does not require a copy of this statement.
• Hours per week: You must work a minimum of 20 hours per week.
• Location: You may engage in OPT for any US employer for the duration of OPT authorization as long as the employment meets all standards mentioned above.

Types of Employment

The following types of employment are allowed while on OPT:

• Regular paid employment in a position directly related to your program of study: You may work for multiple employers, as long as all employment is directly related to your program of study.
• Payment by multiple short-term multiple employers (i.e. “gigs”): Students, such as musicians and other performing artists, may work for multiple short term employers (gigs). The student should maintain a list of all gigs, the dates and duration.
• Work for hire: SEVP says, "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 should 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: You may start a business and be self-employed while on OPT, however you must be able to prove that you have the proper business licenses and are actively engaged in a business related to your degree program.
• Employment through an agency: SEVP says, "Students on post-completion OPT must be able to provide evidence showing they worked an average of at least 20 hours per week while employed by the agency."
• Volunteers or unpaid interns: You may work as a volunteer or unpaid intern, where this practice does not violate any *labor laws. The work should be at least 20 hours per week, and you should be able to provide evidence, acquired from your employer, to verify that you worked at least 20 hours per week during the period of employment.

*See Fact Sheet #71: Internship Programs Under The Fair Labor Standards Act; U.S. Department of Labor

Unemployment

During Post-Completion OPT, you may be unemployed for a maximum of 90 days.

• The unemployment “clock” begins counting down on the day your OPT becomes active (i.e. the OPT start-date printed on your EAD).
• To stop the unemployment clock from ticking, you must report employment through your SEVP Portal.
• Unemployment days are automatically counted in SEVIS and are based on your employment reporting. Each day without employment information (including weekends) will count as a day of unemployment. Students who fail to report employment (even when employed) will appear unemployed in SEVIS until an employment report is made.
• If you accrue more than 90 days of unemployment, you must take one of the following actions to avoid *violating your F-1 status:
  • Depart the US immediately
  • Gain admission into a new US program at an SEVP-certified school and request a SEVIS transfer or Change of Education Level from the ISS office.
  • Take action to otherwise maintain legal status (i.e. apply for a change of status with USCIS)

*A student who has accrued more than 90 days of unemployment and does not take one of the actions mentioned above may be denied future immigration benefits. Additionally, ICE / SEVP may terminate a student’s F-1 record if it fails to show that the student maintained the proper period of employment.

Application Process (Post-Completion OPT)

Application Timeline

USCIS will accept your application up to 90 days before your I-20 expiration date and through the end of your 60-day grace period. Submitting your application outside of this period will result in denial of your application.

 
OPT Start and End Date

Your requested OPT start-date date must fall within your 60 day grace period and your end-date can be no more than 12 months after your requested start-date.

• If USCIS does not approve your application before your requested start-date passes, your approved start-date will be the date USCIS approves your application.
• You are not required to begin employment on your requested / approved start-date, however any time spent unemployed while the OPT is active will count against the 90-day unemployment limit.
• Once your application is submitted to USCIS, it is nearly impossible to change the requested start-date.
• You cannot legally begin employment until you receive the EAD and the start-date has been reached.
• All on-campus employment must end once your I-20 expires and cannot resume until you receive the EAD and the start-date has been reached, provided the on-campus position is in your major field of study as listed on the I-20.
• You should plan to submit your OPT application as early as possible; even if you’re requesting the latest start-date possible.

Use this time and date calculator to determine your application timeline and start date range.

STEP 1: Obtain a new I-20 with OPT Recommendation from the International Student Services (ISS) Office

Note: Submission of your OPT application to USCIS without the OPT Recommendation from ISS will result in denial of your application, loss of $410, and possible loss of your OPT benefit. Therefore, it is crucial that you complete STEP 1 before submitting your documents to USCIS.

The OPT Recommendation is an entry made on your SEVIS record by the ISS office which results in a new I-20 (“OPT I-20”) that you must use to request OPT authorization from USCIS. Before requesting the OPT Recommendation from ISS, you’ll first need to obtain one of the following documents from your academic department:

• Graduation Confirmation Letter. This letter must be issued by your academic department and should include the following:
  • U of M letterhead
  • Your full name and university ID number
  • Confirmation of your current enrollment
  • Administrator name and contact information
  • Administrator signature (hand written or certified E-Signature)
• Proof that you are in the dissertation-only, thesis-only, or final project-only stage of your degree. All classroom hours should be completed.
• Signed/approved intent to graduate form, signed by your Academic Advisor with estimated date of graduation.
• Proof of recent graduation.

Completing the OPT Application in Slate

Submit the OPT request in Slate. You’ll be prompted to upload your Graduate Confirmation Letter (or other documentation, if applicable) and provide the name / contact information for your department administrator. Once your request is submitted, please allow up to 7-10 business days for ISS to issue your new I-20 with OPT Recommendation. Once you receive the new I-20, you must print, sign and date at the bottom of page 1.

Step 2: Assemble Documents

Once you’ve printed and signed your new I-20 with OPT Recommendation, you should assemble the following documents:

Step 3: File your Application Online or by Paper

For more OPT information, please visit the USCIS website

Online I-765 Guidance

The information below serves as a general guide to completing your I-765. Please note that this guide does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice.

Reason for Applying?

• What is your reason for applying?
  • Select “Initial permission to accept employment”
• Have you previously filed Form I-765?
  • If you have previously filed an I-765, select “Yes”. If you have not previously filed an I-765, select “No”.

Preparer and Interpreter Information

• Is someone assisting you with completing this application?
  • Select “No”

Your Name

• What is your current legal name?
  • Enter your name as it appears on your Form I-20
• Have you used any other name since birth?
  • If “Yes”, provide the other names you have used. If “No”, continue to the next section.

Your Contact Information

• How may we contact you?
  • Enter your daytime telephone number, mobile number, and email address
• What is your current U.S. mailing address?
  • This is where your EAD will be sent. You must enter an address that will be valid for the next 4-5 months. If your address will change, you can ask a friend, relative or employer if you can add their name and U.S. address. EADs will not be sent abroad. If you use a friend, relative or employer’s address, you must write their full name in the “In Care of Name (if any)” field.
• Is your current mailing address the same as your physical address?
  • Select “Yes” or “No”

Describe Yourself

• What is your gender?
  • Select the gender as reflected on your passport
• What is your marital status?
  • Select your current marital status

When and Where Were You Born?

• What is your city, town, or village of birth?
  • Complete the information as is listed on your passport/birth certificate
• What is your state or province of birth?
  • Complete the information as is listed on your passport/birth certificate (if it applies to you)
• What is your country of birth?
  • Complete the information as listed on your passport/birth certificate
• What is your date of birth?
  • Insert your date of birth (MM/DD/YYYY)

Your Immigration Information

• What is your country of citizenship or nationality?
  • Insert the name of your country of citizenship. If you hold multiple citizenships or nationalities, select “add country” to ensure all countries of citizenships or nationalities are reflected.
• What is your Form I-94 Arrival-Departure Record Number (if any)?
  • Your I-94 Arrival-Departure Record Number can be retrieved here.
• When did you last arrive in the United States?
  • List your arrival date, place of arrival and status at arrival. You can refer to your most recent I-94 for this information
• What is the passport number of your most recently issued passport?
  • Please refer to the biographical page of your passport
• What is your travel document number (if any)?
  • Note: most F-1 students would not have a travel document separate from their passport
• What is the expiration date of your passport or travel document?
  • Please refer to the biographical page of your passport
• What country issued your passport or travel document?
  • Please refer to the biographical page of your passport
• What is your current immigration status or category?
  • Select “F1 – Student, Academic or Language Program
• What is your Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) Number (if any)?
  • Your SEVIS number can be found on the upper left-hand side of your most recent I-20

Other Information

• What is your A-Number?
  • You can list your A-number (if you have one) or select “I do not have or know my A-number”.
  • Note: Most F-1 students will not obtain an A-Number until after being approved for Post Completion OPT. If you have previously been granted OPT, your A number is the “USCIS #” listed on your previous EAD card.
• What is your USCIS Online Account Number (if any)?
  • You can list your USCIS Online Account Number (if you have one) or select “I do not have or know my USCIS online Account Number.”
• Has the Social Security Administration (SSA) ever officially issued a Social Security Card to you?
  • If you have a Social Security Number, select “Yes”, and enter your Social Security Number. If you do not have a Social Security Number, select “No”. You will then be asked if you want the SSA to issue you a Social Security Card to which your response will be “Yes”. You will need to agree to the “Consent for Disclosure” and provide your father’s and mother’s birth names (first and last names at birth).

After Applying

• Receipt Number: After your application is successfully submitted online, you will receive a receipt number immediately. You can check the status of your application by entering this receipt number on the USCIS Case Status Page or by logging into your USCIS account.
• Contact ISS if you:
  • have questions regarding your OPT dates
  • don’t graduate as planned
  • are unable to submit your OPT application within 30 days of the OPT recommendation on your I-20
  • receive an RFE or rejection.
• OPT Processing Time: Currently, USCIS may take between 2-3 months (from the receipt date) to process your OPT application. Once your application is approved, you will receive your EAD at the address listed on your I-765.

Reporting Requirements

During your period of OPT, you are required to report any changes to your name, US residential address, or employment (including interruptions to employment) within 10 days of the change. Failure to report these changes within the appropriate time frame can have negative consequences on your immigration record.

Employment reports will require the following information:

• Employer Name
• Employer Address
• Employment Start-date
• Employment End-date (if applicable at the time of reporting)
• Average number of hours / weeks
• A 2-3 sentence description of how the employment is relevant to your University of Memphis degree

Reminder: Unemployment days are automatically counted in SEVIS and are based on your employment reporting. Each day without employment information (including weekends) will count as a day of unemployment. 

Important!
Students who fail to report employment (even when employed) will appear unemployed in SEVIS until an employment report is made. If you accrue more than 90 days of unemployment in SEVIS, your F-1 record and OPT may be terminated by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP).

Reporting Procedures

SEVP Portal (US Residential Address and Employment Changes)
The SEVP Portal is an online tool that allows F-1 students on OPT to report changes in US residential address, contact information and employment information. See SEVP Portal Help for more detail. 

• Once your OPT is approved and the start-date has been reached, you will receive an email from do-not-reply.SEVP@ice.dhs.gov to the email address listed in SEVIS. The subject line of the email will be: Optional Practical Training Approval - the next step. Create an SEVP Portal account. 
• If you do not receive a notification after your OPT start-date has passed, you should:
• Check your spam or junk mail folders.
• Contact ISS to:
  • Confirm that the correct email address is in their SEVIS record.
  • Request that the portal resend the account creation email.

Other Changes
Changes to your name, citizenship, immigration status or early departure can be reported directly to the ISS by email to theworld@memphis.edu.

• If you change your immigration status, provide evidence (e.g. approval notice, I-94 card, entry stamp, green card) of the new status to ISS so that we can update your SEVIS record accordingly.
• If you decide to end your period of OPT early, please provide documentation of your departure so ISS can update your SEVIS record accordingly.

Travel and OPT

While on OPT you are still considered to be in F-1 status and sponsored by the University of Memphis. Therefore, any international travel will remain subject to the F-1 regulations. 

Other Travel Considerations

• It is NOT advisable to enter the US under a tourist status such as ESTA or B1/B2 while the OPT is pending or approved. Doing so is considered a change of status which will likely result in rejection of your OPT application (if pending) or termination of your active F-1 Status / OPT.
• If you file by paper, all USCIS correspondence, including any Request for Evidence (RFE), will be delivered to the mailing address listed on the I-765. If you are outside of the U.S. and unable to receive it, it may be difficult to resolve the RFE in a timely manner.

After OPT Expires

F-1 students are entitled to a 60 day grace period following the expiration of their OPT as long as they do not accumulate 90 days of unemployment.

During this period you may:

• Prepare for departure
• Travel within the United States
• Request a Change of Education Level (if admitted to a new program at the University of Memphis)
• Request a transfer of your F-1 record to another SEVP certified school
• Apply for a Change of Status to another visa status (if eligible)

Other items to note:

• If you depart the United States before the end of your grace period, the rest of the grace period will be forfeit.
• During this period you may NOT engage in employment or study.
• If you fail to depart during your grace period, this could adversely impact your ability to re-enter the United States under a different nonimmigrant or immigrant classification in the future.
• SEVP account Closure Six Months After OPT Authorization Ends: The SEVP Portal remains available to students for 6 months after their OPT ends. Prior to their portal account closure, students should log in to their portal account to print or save a copy of their portal record for future reference.

FAQs

When can I apply for OPT?
You may apply up to 90 days before completion of coursework but no later than 60 days after degree-completion. You should not wait for a job offer to apply.

Can I expedite my OPT application with USCIS?
No. USCIS does not expedite OPT applications.

How long will it take to receive the EAD?
USCIS generally approves OPT within 2-3 months. Once the application is approved, it can take a few weeks for the card to be produced and delivered. USCIS will provide a tracking number once the card has been placed in the mail.

Can I start working after I’ve submitted my OPT application to USCIS?
No. You may not legally begin employment until you receive the EAD and the start-date has been reached.

Can I remain in the U.S. while my OPT application is pending?
As long as you file your application before the end of your 60 day grace period, you may legally remain in the US for the entire USCIS processing period (even if that period exceeds the 60 day grace period). However, you may not legally begin employment until you receive the EAD and the start-date has been reached.

If I earn another degree, am I eligible for 12 more months of OPT?
International degree-seeking students are eligible for up to 12 months of OPT per higher degree level. This means, you are eligible for 12 months of OPT after completion of a US bachelors, master's and PhD.

Do I still need the F-1 visa while on OPT?
Yes. While on OPT you are still considered to be in F-1 status and therefore need a valid F-1 visa to enter the US.

How do I report employment or changes to my US Address while on OPT?
You may report changes to US address and employment information through the SEVP Portal. Changes must be reported within 10 days of the change. See SEVP Portal Help for more detail.

What will my employer need from me? Can I change employers?
Your employer may request a copy of your EAD as well as other documentation (such as the SSN). Your employer will inform you of their documentation requirements. 

You may change employers or hold multiple positions while on OPT as long as each position is relevant to your U of M degree and you report it through the SEVP Portal.

What if I want to go back to school during my OPT?
OPT allows part-time study, however if you wish to begin a full-time program, you must end your OPT early and obtain a new I-20. Once the I-20 for the new program is issued, any remaining OPT will be forfeit.

What happens if I exceed 90 days of unemployment?
If you accrue more than 90 days of unemployment, you must take one of the following actions to avoid violating your F-1 status:

• Depart the US immediately
• Gain admission into a new US program at an SEVP-certified school and request a SEVIS transfer or Change of Education Level from the ISS office.
• Take action to otherwise maintain legal status (i.e. apply for a change of status with USCIS)

What happens when my OPT expires?
As long as you haven’t accumulated 90 days of unemployment, you are entitled to a 60 day grace period which begins the day after your OPT expires.

During this period you may:

• Prepare for departure
• Travel within the United States
• Request a Change of Education Level (if admitted to a new program at the University of Memphis)
• Request a transfer of your F-1 record to another SEVP certified school
• Apply for a Change of Status to another visa status (if eligible)

Can I extend my OPT?
Students who have earned a qualifying STEM degree may be eligible for the 24 month STEM Extension. 

Students whose employers have filed a timely change of status to H-1B petition may qualify for the CAP-GAP Extension.

If you do not qualify for the STEM Extension and would like to continue working beyond your OPT expiration date, please talk to your OPT employer about alternative options (e.g. visa sponsorship, working while outside of the US, etc.)