Applying for Optional Practical Training
Learn more about the application process for standard Optional Practical Training (OPT).
Different kinds of OPT and Application Timelines
There are two kinds of OPT, Pre-completion and Post-completion. To understand which type to request, you need to figure out your completion date.
Definition of Completion Date
The completion date is generally established as the last day of the last month of the final term in which you will register to complete academic requirements (e.g. April 30 for winter, June 30 for spring, August 31 for spring/summer, or December 31 for fall.)
Pre-completion OPT
Employment begins and ends before the completion of the academic program.
- If a student has not completed a full academic year: 90 days before completion of full academic year
- If a student has completed a full academic year: 90 days before requested OPT start date
Type A: During the student's annual vacation
- Student must intend to register for the next term
- OPT may be part- or full-time
Type B: While school is in session
- Student must be registered full-time
- OPT may be part-time only
Use of Pre-Completion OPT impacts the availability of Post-Completion OPT. The specific impact depends on how many months and what type (full- or part-time) of Pre-Completion OPT were previously authorized.
- If you are approved for Full-Time Pre-completion OPT for a total of 12 months, you will no longer be eligible for more OPT (Post-completion OPT or STEM OPT) at the current educational level.
- Full-time Pre-Completion OPT is deducted from the 12 month cumulative limit at a full-time rate.
- For example: A student authorized for a 4 months of full-time Pre-Completion OPT during the academic program would qualify to apply for 8 months of Post-Completion OPT.
- Part-time Pre-Completion OPT has historically been deducted from the 12 month cumulative limit at a 50% rate.
- For example: A student authorized for 4 months of part-time Pre-Completion OPT during the academic program would qualify to apply for 10 months of Post-Completion OPT.
- When applying for Pre-completion OPT, a job offer is not required. However, once USCIS approves your application, any unused days of Pre-completion OPT cannot be recovered; the full authorization period printed on the Employment Authorization Document (EAD) will be subtracted from available Post-Completion OPT time, per the section above.
- Students that wish to pursue post-completion OPT and the STEM OPT extension after graduation should be conservative with the amount of pre-completion OPT used. There must be enough post-completion OPT validity left to allow for the transition time needed to pursue STEM OPT extension. Due to lengthy OPT government processing times, specific post-completion OPT validity dates are not guaranteed, particularly in the absence of premium (expedited) processing.
- Due to government processing times, utilizing Pre-Completion OPT requires advance planning. OPT processing time typically takes several months and work cannot begin until the EAD is received in the mail.
- Adding Premium Processing may be a desirable (albeit very expensive) option, if obtaining employment authorization is needed in a time sensitive manner. USCIS’s stated premium processing guarantee is to take adjudicative action on an OPT application within 30 business days.
- The 30-business day processing clock is considered paused by USCIS when a notice to complete the biometric appointment is issued. Processing resumes once the appointment is completed.
- If/when an OPT application is approved, USCIS usually requires at least 1-2 weeks for the EAD card to be produced, shipped, and delivered, which is in addition to the 30-business day period. OPT applicants seeking premium processing should ideally file their application at least 6-8 weeks prior to their intended employment start date.
Applying for Pre-Completion OPT during the final term of enrollment in the academic program may result in complications with Post-Completion OPT:
- If Pre-Completion OPT and Post-Completion OPT applications are both pending simultaneously, they are processed and reviewed by USCIS separately and independently from each other. A decision on one OPT application may or may not impact the adjudication of the 2nd pending OPT application in sometimes unpredictable ways.
- Complications sometimes arise when F-1 students apply for OPT. These risks could include, but are not limited to: receiving a Request for Evidence, Notice of Intent to Deny, and/or ultimately having the application denied; an OPT application may be approved but mail delivery issues cause the EAD card to be lost causing inability to begin employment; the EAD card is issued and received but contains critical errors (e.g. incorrect dates or other typos), etc. Having two OPT applications filed concurrently or back-to-back could amplify the impact of complications; EAD errors or a negative adjudication on a Pre-Completion OPT application, for example, may negatively impact post-completion OPT authorization.
- If your Pre-Completion OPT has not been adjudicated at the time of Post-Completion OPT adjudication, this may lead to your being ultimately approved for fewer than 12 months of total OPT across both Pre- and Post-Completion.
- Having concurrent Pre-Completion and Post-Completion OPT applications pending simultaneously may lead to errors in the SEVIS record, e.g. if the data of the adjudication on one OPT application is misapplied in SEVIS to the wrong OPT request.
Post-completion OPT
Employment begins after completion of academic program.
PhD candidates who wish to request a post-completion OPT start date earlier than the standard completion date should contact an International Office advisor for guidance.
Up to 90 days before program end date
- Up to 60 days after program end date with a receipt of USCIS's receiving your application notice
- Within 30 days of date DSO recommends in SEVIS, you must mail the OPT recommendation I-20 to USCIS. You can judge this by the date in Item #10 on page 1 of your OPT recommendation I-20
PhD candidates who wish to request a post-completion OPT start date earlier than the standard completion date should contact an International Office advisor for guidance
Process for OPT Application
Students can learn about the OPT application process, access OPT forms, and submit a request for an OPT I-20 via the Post-Completion OPT Request eForm which is available in M-International, the UM-Dearborn F-1 international student portal.
1. Meet with your Academic Advisor or Graduate Program Coordinator to request an OPT recommendation letter.
2. Complete the required OPT workshop. The OIA hosts OPT workshops throughout the academic year. A schedule of workshops is available at the OIA Work as an International Student page.
3. To obtain your OPT I-20 from the OIA you must submit the Post-Completion OPT Request eForm, available via the UM-Dearborn F-1 international student portal: M-International.
4. When your Post-Completion OPT Request eForm is approved, the OIA will prepare your OPT recommendation in SEVIS and issue you your new I-20. The OPT recommendation will be printed on page 3 of the new I-20.
5. Sign your name on the OPT recommendation I-20 (page1, item 11)
6. Make a copy of your complete application
7. Send your complete application along with a copy of OPT request I-20 and required documents to USCIS. Refer to Sending Your Completed OPT Application to USCIS below
8. USCIS will send you a notice for the receipt of your I-765 EAD (OPT) application (2-3 weeks). Once you have received your receipt notice, you can track the status of your individual case using the case status search feature of the USCIS Website. You may elect to receive email alerts about your case status from this Website.
9. USCIS will approve or deny your OPT. If approved, they will mail your EAD to you. (3-5 months average processing time). Approximate processing times for the various applications and petitions that the immigration service centers adjudicate are published on the case status section of the USCIS Website.
Sending Your Completed OPT Application to USCIS
- Base Fee for I-765, payable to Department of Homeland Security. Personal check, cashiers check or money order is acceptable. If you use a personal check, please be sure to wait for the check to be cashed before closing your bank account. (The current cost of filing the I-765 is $410. Be sure to check the website: US Citizenship and Immigration Services
- Two full-face passport-style photos. The photos must be identical and in color with a plain background. They must be no more than 30 days old when the I-765 is filed at USCIS. Put photos in an envelope. You should attach the fee and the photo envelope on top of the entire application (on the upper left-hand corner). Please do not staple the fee and the photos. Use a pencil to gently write your name and SEVIS ID on the back of your photo.
- Original USCIS Form I-765. (completed, signed and dated legibly by you).
- Photocopy of the new I-20 with OPT recommendation.
- Photocopies of all your previous I-20s.
- Photocopy of paper or pint-out of electronic Form I-94
- Photocopy of previous EAD, if applicable.
- Photocopy of most recent F-1 visa page (except Canadians) OR approval of change of status to F-1 (I-797) if applicable.
- Photocopy of your passport pages showing your biographical information and its expiration date. Keep in mind that if the photo in the passport is not clear or varies widely from your current appearance, a clear copy of another form of identification, such as a state-issued driver’s license or identification card will also have to be sent.
The U.S. Postal Service is the only service that delivers to a P.O. Box address. You may need to send your application via express (next day) mail to meet the USCIS deadline. It is recommended to keep a mailing receipt.
Refer to the USCIS I-765 instructions for the correct USCIS mailing address. The address you use on the I-765 will determine to which USCIS service center you mail the application.
To learn about filing online, visit the Form I-765 and File Online pages, to access the information.
Current mailing address if you have a Michigan address on the I-765:
| For U.S. Postal Service (USPS) deliveries | For Express mail and courier deliveries |
|---|---|
| U.S Department of Homeland Security USCIS PO Box 805373 Chicago, IL 60680 | U.S. Department of Homeland Security
|
If you will not be at your MI address, please check US Citizenship and Immigration Services for mailing instructions.
The contents suggested in the following order:
- Check or money order
- Photographs – in plastic sandwich bag- Recent “passport” photos.
- Form I-765
- Supporting documentation (photocopies of I-20’s, I-94, passport, old EAD, etc.)
When your application is accepted for processing, you will be sent a Form I-797 Notice of action. Keep it. This is your record of your application and your FILE NUMBER.
If your application is approved, your EAD will be mailed to the address on your application form. Please note: government mail will NOT be forwarded. Do not plan to change addresses until you receive your EAD.
If after requesting an OPT I-20 from the International Center, you decide not to send your application to USCIS, you must notify us. Please send an email to [email protected] telling us that you plan to not apply for OPT and indicating the date you intend to leave the U.S. (must be within 60 days of I-20 completion date). If you do not notify us, we will be unable to adjust your SEVIS record to accurately reflect your situation. You will also continue to be billed for health insurance.
Frequently Asked Questions about OPT
The earliest time to request an OPT is 3 months before you expect to begin your OPT employment.
No. OPT applications must be submitted to the USCIS by mail, as the instructions in this page indicate. For USCIS case-specific questions, you can use USCIS online tools; or contact the USCIS at 800-375-5283.
You may only begin employment when you have received the EAD (Employment Authorization Document) card and the beginning date of employment authorization (shown on the EAD card) has arrived.
YES. If you are unemployed more than 90 days, you are no longer considered to be in-status. Employment is verified in SEVIS. It must be reported at the 6 month interval and every time employment/unemployment changes.
Yes. Pre-Completion OPT must be part-time during school. (20 hours per week) Pre-Completion OPT during vacation can be full-time.
Yes.
Yes, as long as you did not have full-time CPT for 12 months.
This will automatically cancel out your OPT authorization.
Yes. There is no immigration-related procedure required for doing so. As long as the employment is related to your field of study, you can work for any employer.
In order to re-enter the U.S. after you have applied for OPT, you must have your I-20 signed by an International adviser within the last six months, a valid F-1 visa, a valid passport and your EAD card. It is also wise to carry a letter from your employer, confirming that you are working under the term of OPT employment. If you leave the U.S. before your receive your EAD card, the USCIS may view this as abandoning your application and you could potentially be denied re-entry to the U.S.
No. A person with OPT authorization is an F-1 student holding and EAD for OPT. You are still considered a University of Michigan – Dearborn F-1 student.
Sixty days.
Yes. You need to obtain an I-20 for the next program of studies, and complete the USCIS procedure for moving to a “new level of study” (if you resume studies at UM-Dearborn) or the procedure for school transfer (if you go to a different school) within 60 days of the end of your OPT. Please note that you are only allowed to remain in the U.S. for up to 5 months between the time your OPT ends and the new program of studies is to begin; if the time period is greater than 5 months, you will be required to leave the U.S. and can only re-enter within 30 days of the start of your new program of study.
Yes, the USCIS regulations now require the Office of International Affairs to report certain information on students participating in OPT. You will need to notify us within 10 days if any of following changes occurs:
• Change of name or residential address, ( PO Box not acceptable) phone number and email address.
• Name, address, city, state, zip code, and phone number of supervisor
•Termination of OPT employment, which includes employment that ends because the EAD expires, changing to another employment status such as H1-B, or employment that ends for any other reason.
Extension of OPT is now possible for some students:
You may be eligible to extend your OPT for an additional 24 months, but there are a number of very specific requirements:
• Your degree must be in a STEM (Science Technology Engineering Mathematics) field. STEM fields are defined by the Department of Homeland Security according to Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) codes.
• You have a job or job offer from an employer who is registered in the E-Verify program
• You apply for your OPT extension before your current period of OPT ends.
• Your OPT employer agrees to report the termination of your employment or your departure to the International Office or through any other process chosen by the Department of Homeland Security. Instructions for this reporting are not yet available.
•You agree to report the following information to the International Office: change of name or address (through UM-Dearborn Connect and the International Office); name and address of employer including any changes; when employment changes or terminates. You must also agree to verify the above information with the International Center every six months. Instructions for this reporting are not yet available.
In order to apply for the OPT extension, you must first apply to the Office of International Affairs for an OPT extension recommendation. If you meet the requirements, the International Office will recommend the extension and issue a new I-20 with the recommendation noted. You must then apply for the OPT extension using Form I-765 with a fee (currently $380.00) to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services Processing Center having jurisdiction for your current place of residence.