Optional Practical Training (OPT)
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Optional Practical Training, or OPT, is a temporary work authorization that allows international students with F-1 visas to gain practical experience directly related to their major field of study. Think of it as a bridge between your academic life and your professional career in the United States. After completing your degree, or sometimes even before, you can apply for OPT to work in a job that aligns with what you've learned. This allows you to build your resume, apply your skills in a real-world setting, and potentially gain valuable experience that can help you in your future career.
Pre-Completion OPT: allows F-1 students to gain work experience directly related to their major before they complete their academic program. Any time used for pre-completion OPT is deducted from the total 12 months of OPT available per degree level. Pre-completion is not recommended by ISSS.
Post-Completion OPT: Any portion of OPT used after the student’s Program End Date. It must be at least 20 hours per week or full-time. Twelve months of Regular OPT is available for each higher level of study. (For example, a student may have 12 months for a bachelor’s degree and another 12 months for a master’s degree.)
24-month (STEM) OPT Extension: For students who majored in designated Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) degrees approved by DHS. This type of OPT is a 24-month extension of OPT.
A student is eligible for OPT if:
- The student has been a full-time student for one academic year in an SEVP-certified college.
- The student’s proposed employment relates to the student’s major area of study.
- The student has not used all optional practical training available at the current level of study.
- The student has not been authorized for 12 months or more of full-time Curricular Practical Training (CPT).
- Full-time CPT at a previous school at the same program level counts toward the CPT 12month total affecting OPT. CPT at another program level does not affect OPT.
90 days before the program end date. If you finish the program earlier, your DSO will shorten the program.
60 days after the program end date. Day 60 is the last day to request Post Completion OPT (We do not recommend waiting until the last few days to begin the process). Filing Deadline for USCIS to receive the Form I-765 (We do not recommend waiting until the last few days to begin the process). Last possible requested start date for Post Completion OPT.
1. Student requests OPT: log in to Terradotta at
https://louisville-isss.terradotta.com/_portal/ and complete the OPT Recommendation form.
The form goes to your Academic Advisor / Program Director who Approves or Denies the form. If approved the form goes to your Advisor at ISSS (DSO).
2. The DSO issues an OPT Recommendation I-20. Please note: please give us 1 to 2 days to create your OPT Recommendation I-20.
3. Student signs the Form I-20.
Student completes an Application for Employment Authorization (Form I-765). The Form I-765, fee, and supporting documentation must be filed with USCIS within 30 days of the DSO’s recommendation. Please visit https://www.uscis.gov/i-765 and https://myaccount.uscis.gov/sign-in to create an account to file the I-765 online.
Please note: Submit the Form I-765 within 30 days on the date that the DSO signed your OPT Recommendation I-20.
4. Upon receipt of the Form I-765, USCIS issues a Receipt Notice (Form I-797) that contains the receipt number assigned to the case.
Through an interface with USCIS, the status of the OPT request in SEVIS changes to Pending.
If USCIS needs more information, the student will receive a Request For Evidence (RFE), which states what information is needed and the deadline for submitting it. The student must respond by the deadline.
USCIS then makes a decision on the application:
- If the application is approved, USCIS issues an EAD and the OPT Request status in SEVIS changes to Approved.
- If the Form I-765 is denied, the OPT Request status in SEVIS changes to Denied.
5. Student receives the EAD and can begin work once the authorized date arrives. Please send a copy of your EAD card through Terradotta.
6. Report OPT Participation
While on OPT, a student is required to report the following within 10 days to their DSO on Terradotta:
- Change in student’s legal name.
- Change in student’s address while on OPT.
- Changes in employment or interruption of employment.
Students who majored in an eligible Science, Technology, Engineering or Math (STEM) field may qualify for a one-time, 24-Month Extension of post-completion optional practical training (OPT).
A student may request a first STEM OPT extension if:
- Student is in a period of Active Post-Completion OPT.
- Student’s primary major was a STEM-eligible field.
- Student has not already had a STEM OPT extension of any duration based on the qualifying STEM degree.
Student will be, or is working, for an employer enrolled in the E-Verify program.
1. Students must submit a completed Form I-983 Training Plan for STEM OPT Students through the STEM OPT Recommendation form on Terradotta no more than 90 days before OPT end date and no later than the last day of Post Completion OPT (We do not recommend waiting until the last few days to begin the process).
2. DSO recommends the STEM OPT extension in SEVIS. SEVIS will compute the start and end dates of the STEM OPT extension. The requested STEM OPT Start Date is the day following the current post-completion OPT End Date. DSO issues a STEM OPT Recommendation I-20. Please note: please give us 2 to 3 days to create your STEM OPT Recommendation I-20.
3. Student signs the Form I-20. Student completes an Application for Employment Authorization (Form I-765). The Form I-765, fee, and supporting documentation must be filed with USCIS.
4. Upon receipt of the Form I-765, USCIS issues a Receipt Notice (Form I-797) that contains the receipt number assigned to the case.
If the Form I-765 is denied, the STEM OPT Request status in SEVIS changes to Denied.
Through an interface with USCIS, the status of the OPT request in SEVIS changes to Pending.
If USCIS needs more information, the student will receive a Request for Evidence (RFE), which states what information is needed and the deadline for submitting it. The student must respond by the deadline.
USCIS then makes a decision on the application:
If the application is approved, USCIS issues an EAD and the STEM OPT Request status in SEVIS changes to Approved.
5. Student receives the STEM OPT EAD. Please send a copy of your EAD card through Terradotta.
6. Students must submit a new Form I-983 for every new employment/training experience they accept during their STEM OPT extension. When they change employers, the previous employer must complete the Final Evaluation (bottom half on page 5 of the Form I-983
7. STEM OPT reporting schedule (Please note: send all 5 pages of the I-983 every time):
10-Day Reporting: Students must report any changes to their personal information (name, address) or employment details (employer name, address, job status) to their Designated School Official (DSO) within 10 days of the change.
6-Month Validation: Six months from the STEM OPT EAD start date, students must validate their personal and employment information with their DSO by sending their I-983, even if there have been no changes.
12-Month Evaluation: At the 12-month mark of the STEM OPT period, students are required to submit an evaluation of their progress. This evaluation, which is part of the I-983 form, involves the student and employer assessing how well the student is meeting the training objectives and the top half of page 5 (EVALUATION ON STUDENT PROGRESS)
18-Month Validation: Eighteen months from the STEM OPT EAD start date, students must validate their personal and employment information with their DSO by sending their I-983, even if there have been no changes.
24-Month (Final) Evaluation: At the end of the 24-month STEM OPT period, students must submit a final evaluation lower half of page 5 (FINAL EVALUATION ON STUDENT PROGRESS).
When Students change employers, the previous employer must complete the FINAL EVALUATION ON STUDENT PROGRESS (bottom half on page 5 of the Form I-983).
On the start date of your OPT, you will receive information from USCIS on how to create and access your SEVP Portal. You can make changes to your employer, address and email address within 10 days. Please let us know if you made any changes on the SEVP Portal as we do not get any notifications
The table below lists the statuses used to identify the stages of OPT requests in SEVIS. Please review the document section in you USCIS account regularly.
| Status | Status Meaning |
|---|---|
| Requested | DSO requested OPT in SEVIS on behalf of the student, but USCIS has not yet received the Application for Employment Authorization (Form I-765). |
| Pending | USCIS has received the Form I-765. |
| Approved | USCIS has approved the Form I-765. |
| Denied | USCIS has denied the Form I-765. |
| Canceled | DSO or a scheduled SEVIS maintenance job canceled the practical training request in SEVIS. |
| Withdrawn | USCIS approved the student’s request to withdraw the Form I-765. |
When the Post-Completion OPT application is Pending
- Passport (valid for six months after you plan to re-enter the U.S)
- Valid F-1 visa stamp in your passport (this requirement does not apply to Canadian citizens)
- I-20 (with a travel signature no older than six months)
- I-765 receipt notice (Form I-797). Not always required and if you have not received and travel this will not usually create an issue
When the Post-Completion OPT application is Approved
- Passport (valid for six months after you plan to re-enter the U.S.)
- Valid F-1 visa stamp in your passport (this requirement does not apply to Canadian citizens)
- I-20 (with a valid travel signature no older than six months)
- EAD card
- Evidence that you already have a job in the U.S. or that you have a job offer.
- If you need to apply for a new F-1 visa when your post-completion OPT application is pending, you should also be sure to have your I-765 receipt notice (Form I-797) in addition to the usual documents required for a visa application.
Important Travel Notes
- Delay travel requiring a new F-1 visa until OPT approval.
- Carry your EAD, proof of US employment or offer, and standard visa documents.
- OPT travel signatures must be within six months for re-entry.
- With an EAD and job proof, re-entry during OPT is generally allowed, but not guaranteed.
- While OPT is pending, re-entry for job searching is permitted without a job offer but not guaranteed.
Traveling without a job or offer post-EAD risks OPT termination and re-entry denial