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Current Students - Off-Campus Employment
F-1 Optional Practical Training (OPT)
Optional Practical Training (OPT) is work permission for F-1 students to gain up to 12 months of work experience in their field of study, per advanced degree obtained in the U.S., during the following time periods:
- After completion of the course of study.
- After completion of all course requirements for the degree, excluding the thesis or dissertation. Your advisor will need to send a letter to OIE confirming your completion of coursework, and the expected defense of your thesis or dissertation.
- During the student’s annual vacation and at other times when school is not in session, as long as the student is currently enrolled and intends to register for the next semester;
- While school is in session (if practical training does not exceed 20 hours per week, including graduate assistantship hours.)
To be eligible for OPT, the student must be in F-1 status and have been in lawful status as a full-time student for a minimum of one academic year. Students are not required to have a job offer from an employer to apply for OPT.
Part-time OPT (20 hours per week or less) accrues at a 1/2 time rate. For example, 6 months of part-time OPT counts as 3 months of full-time OPT. After doing 6 months of part-time OPT, a student will have 9 months of OPT left.
OPT Application
All F-1 students should plan to attend an OPT information session prior to submitting their OPT application. To sign up, please call 425-3154 or stop by 110 E. Clayton Street, 4th Floor, Bank of America Building. Once application materials are ready, they should be turned in to 110 E. Clayton Street, 4th Floor, Bank of America Building.
OIE will send you an email when your application is ready to be picked up from 110 E. Clayton Street, 4th Floor, Bank of America Building.
Check the OPT Application Checklist for required materials. Remember
- The student must pick up the application from the OIE and then mail the OPT application to the USCIS (mailing label is attached to the application). The U.S. Postal Service is the only provider that can express mail to a U.S. post office box. (Do not send FedEx or UPS.)
- The student may not begin employment until the EAD is issued and the authorized start date arrives.
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Prospective Students