** This article about OPT Guide is part of series of articles about F1 Visa. Refer to Table of Contents at end of this article**
Today lets look at basic OPT rules for international students.
What is OPT?
Optional Practical Training (OPT) is work authorization available to international students in USA.
To be eligible for OPT students should have been in valid F-1 status for at least two consecutive semesters.
OPT Application Deadline
The earliest you can apply for OPT is 90 days before your course completion date.
The latest date the USCIS will accept your application is 60 days after your course completion date.
Example
- Your I-20 currently expires on – Dec/9/2011
- You can choose an OPT start date as early as – 12/10/2011
- you can choose an OPT start date as late as – 2/7/2012
The rule sets new deadlines for filing Form I-765 for post-completion OPT. An I-765 for standard post-completion OPT can be filed up to 90 days before the program end-date and up to 60 days after the program end-date, provided that it is filed within 30 days of the date the DSO enters the OPT recommendation into SEVIS.
Applications for the 17-month STEM extension must be filed before the current OPT expires.
OPT Rules
- 12 months of OPT is available after completing each higher level degree program.
- Bachelors – 12 months
- Masters – 12 months (MS, MBA, etc)
- PhD – 12 months
- If you complete MS and MBA, you can get only 12 months of OPT.
- A job offer is not required to apply for OPT.
- After you find a job, you must inform your university international office about you new job.
- After OPT start date, you cannot stay unemployed for no more than 90 days (total and even between jobs).
- There are no limits on job location within USA (Hawaii and Alaska counts)
- If you change jobs during OPT, inform your univeristy international office about new job.
- During OPT, you will be in F1visa (OPT is considered to be part of the program of study).
- Check OPT processing and approval time by USCIS in the processing center where your application will be submitted.
- No premium processing for OPT is available.
- OPT Card or Employment Authorization Document (EAD) that allows you to begin working on OPT.
- After graduation, you cannot work until you have the EAD in your hand and start date of OPT.
STEM – 17 Months OPT Extension
- OPT can only be extended beyond 12 months (for up to 17 additional months), if you meet the following three conditions:
- Your OPT is based on a US Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Doctoral in a STEM major (Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics.
- Your employer subscribes to E-Verify.
- You are currently authorized for OPT and working in a job related to your field of study
- Only one 17-month STEM extension is granted ONCE, regardless of additional degrees awarded or level of degrees.
- New STEM extension EAD card begins the day after the expiration of the 12 month EAD card and ends 17 months later, no matter the date of adjudication.
- 17-month extension will be granted in one EAD card period and cannot be split into smaller periods.
- It is possible to change employers during the 17 months. The new employment must meet the STEM extension requirements.
- Students whose applications are received before the EAD card expires will be able to continue employment while the extension application is pending until they receive the final decision from USCIS on the application or for 180 days, whichever comes first. It is possible to change employment while application is pending, as long as the new employment meets STEM extension requirements.
- If extension application is denied, student will still have the 60-day grace period after expiration of the 12-month EAD card.
More information at SEVIS Policy Guidance
STEM Extension Requirements
- You must currently be on post completion 12-month OPT.
- Verified completion of a degree on the STEM Designated Degree Programs List.
- The CIP code is found on top of page 3 of the I-20, next to “Primary Major.”
- Employment Requirements:
- Paid or Unpaid
- At least 20 hours per week
- Directly related to field of study and appropriate to degree level obtained
- Employer Requirements:
- Registered with the U.S. Government E-Verify employment verification system
- Agrees to report any termination of employment within 48 hours to OIS.
- An additional 30 days of unemployment time will be available during the extension, combined with the 90 days granted during initial 12-month. The aggregate total allowed is 120 days during the possible 29 months.
Travel while on OPT
Required documents to re-enter the U.S. while on OPT and STEM OPT
- STEM extension OPT I-20 with page 3 endorsed for travel; travel endorsement cannot be more than 6 months old
- Valid F-1 visa stamp
- Valid passport
- STEM Extension EAD card
- Job offer letter or statement of employment from company
What are the eligibility requirements for the 17-month extension of post-completion OPT?
- The student must have a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate degree included in the STEM Designated Degree Program List.
- The student must currently be in an approved post-completion OPT period based on a designated STEM degree.
- The student’s employer must be enrolled in E-Verify.
- The student must apply on time (i.e., before the current post-completion OPT expires).
Questions?
Post your questions about OPT, OPT STEM Extension and other related issue below.
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Series – F1 Visa Rules
Following other related posted from F1 Visa Rules series.
- F1 Visa – Curricular Practical Training Guide
- F1 Visa – On Campus Employment Guide
- F1 Visa – Cap-Gap Rules – OPT and H1B
Source of the contents for this article – USCIS, ICE.
@HSB – Where does the H1 come into this whole picture? When we graduate, if we have an employer who can file H1 for us, do you suggest to file the H1 and continue working on OPT till the H1 gets confirmed? If not, what do we do?
Hey Right now I am on my 12 months OPT which started from October 2011 and will be ended on October 2012. But now my problem is I planed to graduate in this summer but because of some thesis problem I wont and I am going to graduate in December 2012. So here my question is in the case if I will graduate in December 2012 am I eligible for OPT extension without graduation ,also is it possible to eligible for OPT extension that I complete all my thesis related tasks and all before October 2012 (before my OPT will expired)?
Please guide me with this.
Must opt employment be full time (40 hours per week) or can it be part time (around 20 hours)?
It can be part time.
Is it possible to submit the OPT extension a few days after the EAD card expiration? Financial problems prevented me from submitting my application for the extension prior to the EAD deadline.
I applied for OPT Extension on March 12 2012. My 1st OPT period is coming to end on June 12 2012. I have just couple of weeks before my OPT expires, I am a little concerned as the online status on still says under initial review. Do USCIS issuse a temporary EAD card????
Please, has anybody traveled while on OPT ? Kindly share your experience
In all my academic documents my name is MD. AKIBUL ISLAM. but making a machine readable passport in our country there is no short form could be written. so my name is in passport and IELTS certificate is MOHAMMAD AKIBUL ISLAM. So is it a major problem to get the student visa???
Absolutely no problem with your name in regards to get your visa. This is the same case with me also. I had my visa approved & Alhamdulillah I’m happy in US now on F1.
In all my academic documents my name is MD. AKIBUL ISLAM. but making a machine readable passport in our country there is no short form could be written. so my name is in passport and IELTS certificate is MOHAMMAD AKIBUL ISLAM.. So is it a major problem to get the student visa???
Hello, I have a question regarding OPT extension. I have completed my masters in chemistry last fall. I was on OPT till now still looking for jobs. My OPT will expire in August. I’m planning to do MBA. Can I apply for OPT extension after completing my MBA? Could you please help me figure out this problem!!
Hi Nick,
You cannot apply for OPT extension once you exhausted with 12 months initially. MBA does’nt qualify under STEM Program.
My STEM Extension (29 months) and the current job are expiring in June.
If I do not have a job offer, what are the options I have to stay in the US after June?
Can I apply for a visitors visa?
Do I get a grace period after the 29 months expired period?
I just graduated from college with AA degree and just got my OPT card. but I could only find server’s position. Can I use my opt for that or no? my major is Business Administration. Thank you
Hi I am student in kansas ,usa. In month of may my first sem. will end and i am planing to go to philadelphia in my relatives house for summer break(3 months) . will you please tell me that can i work there or not ?
Nope, unless you have CPT approved for Internship.
are you the guy from phagwara………….?
Thanks for sharing!!!! Very helpful!!!!!
Can i get an OPT on an Associates Degree or Post Associates Degree?
HI Guys,
I am doing my Master’s program, will be graduating in August 2012 and my Visa expires on May 2013. As I will get my OPT for 12 months, will I be able to work here even if my Visa expires in my OPT period and also for y extension.
Thanks and Appreciate your Help,
Kireeti
I will be graduating in this december 2012 , can I go to India on Opt,any risk involved
Yes if you don’t have job offer. Days will count toward 90 days unemployment.
Hi
I have a doubt is MBA comes under STEM ..
I have option of extending my OPT for another 17 month or apply for H-1B visa (academic). Advice me on using my OPT extension vs going for H-1B visa. Thank you.
Hey,
If someone can help with this, I would indeed be very grateful. I’m applying for a masters in information systems program for Fall 2012. This i guess comes under STEM, however, I was wondering if an MBA in information systems comes under STEM as well.
I read somewhere on HSB that this applies only for Bachelors, Masters and P.HDs.
Thanks and Regards
Hi, I applied for opt extension and got the receipt number on 01/23/2011. I am planning to travel to india on feb 25th and come back on mar 20th. Will there be any problem if i dont get my approval before approval. Thanks
Rahul, did you travel on OPT and return without any problems? Did you have to apply for a new F1 visa?
Please advise.
Thanks for the information. They were really helpful.
Hello All,
I am on OPT right now!! I have travel Plans to India. can I travel to India and come back??
I was informed by some of my friends that immigration officer may reject the reentry to US.
Please let me know all details and facts. I am currently Employed.
Thanks for sharing…!!
good information about OPT
Can you also give information on what are the requirements for a company to sponsor H1b? Can any company meeting STEM requirement sopnsor H1b visa?
Thanks
Nav
Hello all,
I’m currently doing an internship in a company while on my OPT, which expires in February 2013 and, since I studied a master in business, I´m not eligible to get a STEM extension. So my
My problem is the company where I’m doing the internship wants to sponsor me for a H1 visa, but the cap for 2013 applications was filled couple of weeks ago. And applications for 2014 H1 visas won’t start until April 2013. Therefore, after February 2013 I will already be out of status.
What can I do in order to stay legally authorized in the country after my OPT expires? I read there’s a possibility of extending your stay in the us through the I-539 application but I don’t kow if it is applicable to my situation.
Can somebody help me?