Post-Completion Optional Practical Training (OPT) is a temporary employment authorization issued by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The work students pursue while on Post-Completion OPT must be directly related to his/her/their major field of study. Post-Completion OPT may be used either:

1. after the completion of a degree program or
2. after completion of all course requirements and are only left with a project, thesis or comprehensive final exam.

Post-Completion OPT is generally issued for a duration of 12 months, but may be for less time if the student has previously applied and been granted Pre-Completion OPT.

This is a multi-step application process in which students must request and get an I-20 with Post-Completion OPT recommendation from ISSS to then file their application with U.S, Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Students cannot begin working until their OPT has been approved by USCIS and they have received their EAD card in hand. 

Quicklinks:

• When to Apply for Post-Completion OPT
• Post-Completion OPT Eligibility
• How do I apply for Post-Completion OPT?
• What should I do while Post-Completion OPT (form I-765) is pending?
• What should I do after Post-Completion OPT (form I-765) is approved?
• How do I maintain F-1 status while on Post-Completion OPT?
• Frequently Asked Questions (Post-Completion OPT)

Tutorials:

• Post-Completion OPT Tutorial
• Online filing of I-765 for OPT/STEM OPT
• Mailing I-765 for OPT/STEM OPT

Post-OPT Eligibility

You must meet ALL of the following criteria to be eligible to apply for Post-Completion OPT.

1. Must have been a full-time student for at least one consecutive academic year. *OPT eligibility requirements may reset due to a leave of absence or SEVIS record termination. Please consult with an ISA for more information.
2. Be in valid F-1 status when requesting OPT I-20 from ISSS and when application is submitted to USCIS.
3. Be in good academic standing: your cumulative GPA on your transcript must be at an acceptable level (minimum 3.0 for graduate students and 2.0 for undergraduate students).
4. Academic Advisor verification (via the OPT I-20 request e-form) confirming you will be completing your degree and are in good academic standing. 
5. Be physically in the U.S. when requesting the OPT I-20 from ISSS and submitting your application to USCIS.
6. Have not previously been approved for post-completion OPT at the same degree level. 

How do I apply for Post-Completion OPT?

1. View the Post-Completion OPT Tutorial
   1. Attend a Post-Completion Workshop to learn more about Post-Completion OPT. Review the F-1 Employment Workshop events page for dates and times.
2. Pay the one-time $150.00 administrative Post-Completion OPT fee by going to this link. Make sure you select the correct payment option for the "OPT fee" (it's the first item on the menu.) You will need to submit proof of payment receipt when you submit the Post-Completion OPT I-20 request to ISSS. 
3. Submit a completed OPT I-20 Request Form to ISSS. 
4. When you submit the e-form, it will be sent to your Academic Department for them to review and sign off on your OPT request. If your Academic Department approves the form, it will then be sent to the ISSS office for processing. Once your Academic Department has signed off on your OPT request, you will receive an email that your request has been routed to ISSS for processing.
5. Once received by ISSS, processing time for an I-20 with Post-Completion OPT recommendation, is 5-7 business days. ISSS will email you when the new I-20 has been issued. USCIS is accepting digitally signed I-20's from ISSS, so we will email you the I-20 with OPT recommendation. You will need this I-20 with OPT recommendation to file your OPT application with USCIS.
6. While you are waiting for your I-20, review the following tutorial. It will give you a list of documents to gather for your application, as well as I-765 guidelines.
   • *Online filing of I-765 for OPT/STEM OPT.
     Do not submit  your OPT application to USCIS until you have the new I-20 with OPT recommendation from ISSS.
7. Once you have your I-20 and have prepared your OPT packet, please be aware that USCIS must receive your completed OPT application within 30 days of the new OPT I-20 issuance date. Make sure to visit USCIS's website for the most up-to-date forms (I-765, G-1145) and instructions.
   1. If you are unable to file your application within the 30 day deadline, email the advisor that issued your Post OPT I-20 to request a new I-20.
8. Optional, but highly recommended: Attend a Post-Completion OPT Application Packet (I-765) Prep Workshop for tips on filing your online OPT application with USCIS. Review the F-1 Employment Workshop events page for dates and times.
9. USCIS offers 2 different ways to file an I-765 (Post-Completion OPT) application with USCIS, via online or mailing. We recommend that you file the I-765 online. Review ISSS Online filing of I-765 for OPT/STEM OPT.
   1. Only if you are unable to file online, then you can mail your

      application and supporting documents to USCIS. Review ISSS Mailing I-755 for OPT/STEM OPT. (BEFORE mailing your application, we highly recommend meeting with an Advisor from ISSS to find out why you are unable to file online).

10. Approximately 2-3 weeks after USCIS receives your application, you should receive a receipt notice with a USCIS case number.
    
    1. If you file online, you will be able to access your receipt notice in your USCIS online account.
    2. Check your filing receipt for any errors and email ISSS if there are any errors. 
11. Once your OPT is approved by USCIS, you should receive an approval notice (I-797 Notice of Action) and EAD (Employment Authorization Document).
    1. You cannot start working until your OPT has been approved, you have your EAD card in then, then work within the authorized dates (noted on the card) in a job (paid or unpaid) that is related to your major.
    2. Working before your OPT is approved or before you have received your EAD card in hand, is a violation of your F-1 visa status. 
12. Understand your responsibilities to:
    1. Maintain your F-1 Status while on Post-Completion OPT. 
    2. Report your employment in a timely manner through the SEVP Portal. For instructions on how to access and use the SEVP Portal, please click on this link: SEVP Portal Guidelines. 

What should I do while Post-Completion OPT (form I-765) is pending?

Do Not Work

You cannot start working until your OPT has been approved, you have your EAD card in hand, then work within the authorized dates (noted on the card) in a job (paid or unpaid) that is related to your major. Working before your OPT is approved, before you have received your EAD card in hand, or outside the approved dates is a violation of your F-1 visa status. 

Check Processing Time Online

Click here to check I-765 application processing times at Potomac Service Center.

Under <Forms> select ’I-765’, for <Service Center> select ‘Potomac Service Center’, click the ‘Get Processing Time’ button.

OPT processing can take 2-3 months, sometimes longer. You may add premium processing to your already filed OPT application, by filing the form I-907 and paying the premium processing fee. (You can learn more about premium processing in our FAQ section on this page). 

Check your Case Status Online

Enter the Receipt Number from your USCIS receipt notice (Form I-797C). You also have an option to sign up for an account to get automatic case updates, including a U.S. Postal Service (USPS) tracking number.

Update Your Address

Have you moved after applying for OPT?  And this move will affect where your EAD card will be mailed? Update your mailing address with USCIS here: Online Change of Address. Please note that the longer you wait to update your address once you have a pending Post-Completion OPT application, the less likely it is that USCIS will send your I-797 receipt notice and EAD to the correct mailing address. We advise you to use this feature with extreme caution and to speak with us before doing so. 

Sign up for USPS Informed Delivery.

Sign up for this service to receive delivery status notifications. 

Label Your Mailbox

To ensure proper and timely delivery of any USCIS notifications, including the application approval and EAD card, we strongly recommend you add a label to your mailbox with your full name (Last and First Name used on Form I-765).

What should I do after Post-Completion OPT (form I-765) is approved?

EAD Typographic Error(s)

After receiving your Employment Authorization Document (EAD), check the card for any errors, especially the work authorization dates.

If you receive an EAD card from USCIS that contains a typographic error, please email us at international-office@sjsu.edu to inform us of the error, so we can advise you accordingly.

OPT Reporting Requirements

Once you receive your Employment Authorization Document (EAD) and it becomes active (EAD start date), you are required to comply with federal OPT reporting requirements to maintain F-1 status. Click here to learn more about OPT Reporting Responsibilities.

 How do I maintain F-1 status while on Post-Completion OPT?

While on Post-Completion OPT, you must follow certain rules to maintain your F-1 status:

1. Work with the dates of the authorized (EAD) Employment Authorization Document. You may only work from the start date to the end date listed on the EAD (no more than 12 months of work authorization).
2. All employment (paid and unpaid) must be related to your major field of study.
3. Employment must be at least 20 hours per week (to be full-time), in order not to accrue unemployment days. 
4. Do not exceed an aggregate of 90 days of unemployment.
5. Report employment via the SEVP portal or directly to ISSS within 10 days.
6. Report a change of address within 10 days of moving via the SEVP portal.
7. Maintain a valid travel signature.
   1. Validity of 6 months, when on OPT. 
      

Continue to File Your Taxes

For information on how to file your taxes while on Post-Completion OPT, please review our resources on Taxes.