Applying for OPT

You must watch a recorded OPT workshop or attend an upcoming live OPT workshop before applying.

Complete and submit the Recommendation for F-1 Optional Practical Training (OPT) form within URcompass to request an OPT recommendation, which will be issued on a new I-20. All students should confirm their completion date before submitting the form.

Once the form is received, an ISO advisor will process your request within 1 week and issue a new I-20 with the OPT recommendation. You will be notified by email when the new I-20 is available. You must include a copy of this I-20 when sending your OPT application to USCIS (outlined in Step 3 below).

Employment dates: On the form, you’ll be asked to indicate your requested OPT authorization dates. Once you have applied for OPT, it is not possible to change or cancel the requested employment dates. If you are considering a transition to a work-based immigration status, such as H-1B, the dates you select may also impact your ability to maintain work permission during that change. For additional information, review common OPT decision factors below.

PhD students: PhD students are in a unique situation, in that, OPT regulations allow them to apply for post completion OPT with completed required coursework, without defending their thesis, if necessary. Due to the flexibility and variability, PhD students must submit the verification of program completion form filled and signed by their department coordinators.

Submit your I-765 application to USCIS. You must include a copy of your new I-20 with your application. Review I-765 completion instructions.

Completed applications must be received by USCIS:

• No earlier than 90 days before your I-20 Program End Date
• No later than 60 days after your I-20 Program End Date
• Within 30 days of receiving your OPT recommendation from ISO
• Applications received outside of these required timelines will likely be denied by USCIS

Be patient and wait for your application to be processed. USCIS will send you a text/email confirmation of application receipt, as well as an I-797 Receipt Notice in the mail. If you used ISO’s mailing address for your application, you will receive an email from our office when we receive any mail on your behalf.

Once you have your USCIS Receipt Number, you can use it to check your case status online. USCIS processing times vary, but they often range from 3 to 6 months.

You may receive a Request for Evidence from USCIS if they need more information from you. Respond quickly. When your application is approved, you will receive an I-797 Approval Notice and an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) in the mail. You may also receive a Social Security Card in the mail, if applicable.

If you used ISO’s mailing address for your application, ISO will send you an email once they receive your mail. If you used a personal mailing address, be sure to check your mail regularly and let ISO know of any updates or documentation you receive from USCIS. Please submit scans of these documents by email to opt@rochester.edu.

Only the EAD you receive by mail can serve as official proof of work authorization (not the approval notice). Your EAD will list your authorized OPT employment dates. Employment is authorized ONLY for the dates listed and ONLY in your field of study, as indicated by the major(s) on your I-20. Please submit a copy of your EAD to ISO via URcompass.

Do NOT begin working until you have your EAD in hand and your authorized OPT period has started!

During your OPT period, you have an aggregate 90-day unemployment limit. During your OPT period, you must report all employment activities and address details to ISO within 10 days of any changes. OPT work permission is not employer-specific and you may change employers at any time during the authorization period, you report these changes accordingly.

If you completed a STEM-eligible degree program and may apply for the 24-Month STEM OPT Extension toward the end of your OPT period, please review ISO’s website for timing and employment eligibility criteria to assist you with planning during your OPT period.

Most F-1 students choose to save their available OPT permission until they are finishing their degree and will apply for post-completion work authorization. Since ISO is often able to authorize similar employment during a student’s academic program through F-1 Curricular Practical Training (CPT), pre-completion OPT is very rare.

Both CPT and OPT have similar minimum eligibility requirements. A major advantage of CPT is that the authorization comes from the specific school within the University instead of USCIS, meaning the processing time is usually much faster and does not involve a fee.

If you are planning to use your OPT employment as both pre- and post-completion, these will be treated as separate applications, requiring the same process and fees for each one. Instead, you may want to consider an adjustment to your completion date and/or requested employment dates to allow for a single period of post-completion OPT.

Pre-completion OPT has the added challenge that you must maintain full-time enrollment during academic terms and would not be eligible for the Cap Gap Extension or STEM Extension, that might otherwise be available to you.

Applications for post-completion OPT may be filed as early as 90 days before the completion date listed on the I-20 and up to 60 days after completion. For students requesting pre-completion OPT, you may apply 90 days before your intended start date. ISO is usually able to process the OPT recommendation and issue your new I-20 within one week.

Your application must be received by USCIS within 30 days of the OPT recommendation date in SEVIS. Once the required materials are successfully filed, USCIS may take 2-5 months to process the OPT application (sometimes longer in rare cases). The average processing time changes throughout the year due to volume.

If USCIS is not able to approve your OPT application by your requested start date, they will adjust your employment dates based on when it can be approved (within a limit of 14 months after your completion date). For this reason, you must wait to begin work until after you have received the Employment Authorization Document (EAD) card authorizing your employment.

The start date requested for post-completion OPT may be delayed up to 60 days after the completion date listed on the new I-20.

It is your choice whether to start your work authorization immediately or use the 60-day period to delay. You can choose how many of these 60 days you would like to use. Any time between the end of your studies and the start of your employment authorization is considered part of your F-1 program and you will maintain your status during that time. Many students use this time to continue the job search, relocate, or take a break before starting work.

There is a common trade-off that you should consider when selecting your employment dates. If you choose to delay the start of your OPT, you may not begin working until the authorization start date has been reached, even if your OPT application has already been approved. This can cause a problem for students who receive an offer to begin work prior to the start of their OPT.

If you choose an earlier OPT start date, you will have more flexibility to accept potential job offers, but you will also be required to start reporting periods of unemployment.

You can use SEVP’s planning tool for post completion OPT. This tool can assist you in calculating your OPT timeline.

When requesting a post-completion OPT recommendation, students should determine their expected completion date with their academic advisor carefully. This date will be printed on the new I-20 and reflects the expected completion of all degree requirements for the individual student, including classes, exams, final thesis, etc. Students must maintain full-time enrollment through the completion date, or obtain permission for a reduced course load. This date also triggers the end of F-1 On-Campus work permission, which includes all service-based Graduate Awards and assistantships, positions hired through Student Employment, and any other paid work at the University. Many graduate students have some flexibility in determining this date, based on their academic and employment plans. Academic programs that are based on course requirements alone, however, will be more strictly tied to the student’s last academic term.

Once your OPT application is submitted, it is very complicated, and often impossible, to make changes to your requested employment dates. You must choose these dates carefully! If you do not have a job when you apply for OPT, you can maximize your job search after graduation by using the full 60-day allowance to delay OPT.