Optional Practical Training

About OPT

NOTE: This page offers information regarding the 12-month period of standard OPT for which most students in F-1 status are eligible.  If you are seeking information about the 24-month extension of OPT for students in STEM fields, review our STEM OPT website.

Optional Practical Training (OPT) is a benefit of F-1 immigration status that permits up to 12 months of off-campus employment for the purpose of gaining practical experience in the student’s field of study (based on your major, or majors). Pre-Completion OPT is for currently enrolled students and Post-Completion OPT is for students who are applying for work authorization to begin after graduation. 

While a student may work for any employer in the U.S., the job duties must be directly related to the student’s major area of study (their major or academic program). Having a job offer is not a requirement to apply for OPT, because OPT is not employer specific. 

Processing times for the I-765 Application for Employment Authorization vary and cannot be guaranteed by ISSS. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) may take more than 90 days to adjudicate an application. Their processing times are subject to change without notice. For more information regarding post-completion OPT, see the OPT Presentation located at Forms & Resources.  

ISSS holds OPT information sessions during the academic year. Attendance at one OPT information session is highly recommended (see the schedule at Announcements). After students have attended an OPT information session and reviewed all available OPT materials on our website, they are encouraged to meet with the ISSS staff to ask their specific questions and discuss the topic further.

Who Needs OPT?

International students in F-1 status must have employment authorization to engage in off-campus employment or training experiences. If you have an experience that does not qualify for Curricular Practical Training (CPT), then you will need to apply for pre-completion or post-completion OPT.

Accepting any kind of compensation from an off-campus employer without employment authorization is a violation to a student’s nonimmigrant status and can lead to the loss of visa status. 

Examples of compensation may include the following:

• Any form of payment
• Travel allowance
• Food stipend
• Room and board

Determining the necessity for employment authorization goes beyond if the opportunity is paid or not. If you will provide a service on behalf of a company/organization, then authorization will be required. Check with ISSS before engaging in any opportunities to determine whether employment authorization is required.

Eligibility

• You must be physically present in the United States at the time you apply for OPT. You cannot apply while outside the U.S.
• Recent graduates cannot apply for OPT if they depart the U.S. after their program end date, as they will no longer be maintaining their F-1 status once they leave the country. The program end date is found on page 1 of the I-20.
• You are eligible to begin OPT employment only after both are true:
  • you have received an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) card from USCIS; and
  • the start date on the EAD card has been reached.

Pre-Completion OPT

• Must have been enrolled as an F-1 student for at least one academic year by the requested start date and must be enrolled for at least one semester after the pre-completion OPT period.
• Pre-completion OPT counts toward the 12 months of standard work authorization.
• Part-time pre-completion counts at a half rate against the total available 12 months.

Post-Completion OPT

• Must have been enrolled as an F-1 student for at least one academic year prior to degree completion.
• Must not have used full-time pre-completion OPT for 12 months during program, or full-time CPT for 12 months.

Updated on 03/17/2026