OPT Frequently Asked Questions
Due to ongoing litigation about the final rule of fixed period of stay, the OPT process and timeline can change on short notice. Therefore, even tough the new rule is on hold, we recommend Fall 2026 graduate applying for post-completion OPT follow the 30-day, not the 60-day, timeline. This means submitting your application for OPT to USCIS no later than 30 days after your program end date and requesting an OPT start date that is also within 30 days of your program end date. However, students can still apply for OPT up to 90 days before their program end date, and it is best to apply as early as possible. Under the new rule, students applying for OPT may also need to extend their period of stay in the U.S. Please review this webpage for more information.
Optional Practical Training (OPT) is designed for international students to gain practical work experience in their field of study. OPT is an opportunity for F-1 students to work for a total of up to 12 months, during their studies or immediately following their degree completion.
Generally, F-1 international students in both undergraduate or graduate programs are eligible for OPT as long as they have been in valid F-1 student status for one academic year. Review our main OPT webpage for detailed eligibility requirements.
An offer of employment is not required when applying for OPT.
Pre-Completion OPT occurs before you complete your degree and Post-Completion OPT happens after you complete your degree. Students cannot engage in either until they have been in valid F-1 status for one academic year, however you can apply as early as 90 days before you reach the one academic year requirement.
Pre-Completion OPT: Pre-Completion OPT can only be used during your studies. Once a student has finished their degree, Pre-Completion OPT is no longer available. Students can work over 20 hrs per week during school breaks (full-time Pre-Completion OPT), and less than 20 hrs per week while classes are in session (part-time Pre-Completion OPT). Students who use part-time Pre-Completion OPT deduct days at half the rate. For example if you work for 5 months on part-time, Pre-Completion OPT, only 2.5 months are deducted from the total 12 months. Please note that if you use part of your 12 months of OPT as Pre-Completion OPT, you will have to apply again, and pay the filing fee, to use the remaining time for another period of Pre-Completion OPT or for Post-Completion OPT. Pre-Completion OPT can be a great option for students who have found a job they want to work over summer vacation but are not eligible for CPT authorization. Many students do not apply for Pre-Completion OPT so that they can have 12 full months of OPT after they graduate.
Post-Completion OPT: Post-completion OPT can start as early as the day after a student completes the requirements for their degree, or as late as 30 or 60 days from their degree completion. All Post-completion OPT is full-time.
It typically takes 3-4 months for an OPT application to be processed by the USCIS, so apply early. Students have 4 or 5 month window to submit a completed OPT application to the U.S. immigration office (USCIS) to apply for Post-Completion OPT. A student’s 4 or 5 month window starts from 90 days before degree completion to 30 or 60 days after degree completion date for USCIS to receive OPT application. After that, a student cannot submit an OPT application to USCIS.
A student who finishes all degree requirements can choose an OPT start date from one day after their program completion date to 30 or 60 days after that date. The end date for OPT will be 12 months after the student’s chosen OPT start date. The latest end date for a student on Post-Completion OPT is always 14 months after the student completed their studies. Things to consider when determining your requested OPT start date are USCIS processing times, your expected employment start date, and travel plans.
You should carefully consider your post-graduation plans before choosing your OPT dates and submitting your OPT request to ISSS. Changing your OPT dates after your OPT application has been submitted to USCIS is extremely difficult, and is not guaranteed.
We recommend you sign up for the OPT Canvas course one semester before you graduate. Students must have completed the OPT Canvas course within the academic year they are applying for OPT. OPT requests submitted via MyISSS will not be processed without the completion of the mandatory OPT Canvas course.
While on average it can take 3-5 months for USCIS to adjudicate OPT applications, this timeframe often varies throughout the year and can take several months. Students are encouraged to plan ahead and apply early. Find the average USCIS processing time here.
USCIS guarantees adjudicative action taken on forms filed with premium processing within 30 business days from the premium processing filing date, and it comes at an additional cost. Keep in mind premium processing does not guarantee approval, but it can be an option if you want to hear back from USCIS earlier. Premium processing can be filed together with your OPT application to USCIS or separately after you have already submitted your OPT application.
USCIS reviews each application carefully. Applications can be denied due to an incomplete I-765 or one with errors such as a missing OPT I-20. Another reason we sometimes see an OPT denial is due to a payment issue. A third reason is that the OPT application was sent to USCIS more than 30 days from the day ISSS created the I-20. We recommend students apply early so if there are issues with your applications, you will still have time to reapply.
Students on OPT can work a paid or unpaid position, they can work with multiple employers at one time, and can change employers as many times as they wish. However, all jobs need to be related to your degree of study. Students can also volunteer and be self-employed on OPT.
OPT is employment authorization for students working inside of the US. Students can work from anywhere within the US and can work in-person and/or remotely. It is possible to travel temporarily outside of the US while on OPT, including work related travel and temporarily working remotely from abroad. It is not possible to work fully remote from outside the US. You need to report your employer through the SEVP portal, and the employer and your physical working address needs to be within the US.
Students need to work full-time (more than 20 hrs per week) or they will accrue days of unemployment. Students can only be unemployed for a total of 90 days during Post-Completion OPT. The 90 days of unemployment are cumulative and once a student has reached 90 days of unemployment they are considered “out of status” and should leave the U.S. immediately. Please report your employment through the SEVP portal to ensure that you do not reach 90 days of unemployment. Pre-Completion OPT students do not accrue days of unemployment and do not need to report their employment.
If you decide to depart the U.S. before your OPT end date and no longer want to utilize your OPT, ISSS should end your F-1 record accordingly. Once you have departed the U.S., submit the Report Early Departure and End of OPT/STEM OPT request on MyISSS to confirm that you have departed the U.S. and no longer will engage in OPT. Once ISSS processes your request, your F-1 record and OPT authorization will end and you will no longer be able to use your USF I-20 to re-enter the U.S.
Yes, you can volunteer or intern during OPT, but it needs to be related to your field of study. When volunteering or interning it is recommended that you get a contract or agreement from your supervisor that indicates your job description and your time commitment. Work during OPT does not need to be paid but always needs to be related to your degree. Please report all internships and volunteer work at employment through the SEVP portal to avoid accruing days of unemployment.
Students who complete their OPT period have a 30 or 60 day grace period after their OPT has ended to stay in the United States to prepare for their departure, transfer to a new school, and change their visa status. Students cannot work during this grace period. If you end your OPT early (before the end date listed on your OPT EAD card), you are not afforded the 30 or 60 day grace period and should depart the US soon after ending your OPT.
You can travel on OPT, however you will need to have your Employment Authorization Document (EAD) card, an I-20 with a current travel signature that was given in the past six months by ISSS, a valid visa and passport and a letter from your employer. Travel before your OPT is approved is more complicated and is covered in our canvas course.
Students cannot study full-time or begin study at another educational level while on OPT (includes any new educational level - Bachelors, Masters, Doctoral, Certificate, etc). If students start studying full-time or degree-seeking programs of study while on OPT, their employment authorization will be terminated, even if the dates on their EAD card are still valid. As per SEVP, recreational and avocational classes are permissible on OPT.
All students wishing to apply for OPT need to complete the OPT Canvas course within one year of applying for OPT. We will not issue an OPT I-20 until you have completed the OPT Canvas course. You may self-enroll in the OPT Canvas course. Once you have completed the necessary course, you may request your OPT I-20 Form via your MyISSS Portal.
Students who are on a period of approved post-completion OPT and have a STEM-qualifying degree can apply for the 24-month STEM OPT extension. For a list of USF STEM-qualifying degrees, review our STEM OPT webpage.
You will first need to apply for your 1-year of post-completion OPT. When you are engaging in post-completion OPT, you may be eligible to apply for the additional 24-months of STEM OPT. You will need to submit the I-765 application and pay the application fee twice. Review our STEM OPT webpage and video tutorial for more information on STEM OPT eligibility and application process.
If USCIS had previously approved you for 12 months of full-time OPT at the same or higher educational level prior to your degree program at USF, you are not eligible for OPT authorization again regardless if you utilized the benefit or not.
Alumni who work for USF will receive a new USF username and email address after their employment with USF ends. If your USF email changes during OPT, please notify us at isss@usfca.edu and share your new USF username and email. We will need to update your records with your new email so you can access MyISSS and the SEVP portal with your new USF email address.
Students can submit the applications concurrently. The latest to submit to submit an application is by the end of the grace period. *Note that we need to confirm this information. Please review our I-539 webpage for more information.
Yes, but there are certain documents that are needed for travel while the applications are pending. Please review our OPT webpage for more information.
Yes, students who need to extend their authorizes period of stay, can either travel internationally or file an EOS application before their OPT expires. Please review our D/S webpage for more information.
Yes, as long as the student submitted their OPT application and it is pending, they can remain in the U.S. while they wait for their OPT application approval and EAD card. Students can log into their MyUSCIS account to check the status of their OPT application.