You are here: American University Student Affairs International Student & Scholar Services Post-Completion OPT

Back to top

Post-Completion OPT

Timeline for Post-Completion OPT

*Post-Completion OPT Application Timeline

Post-Completion Optional Practical Training (OPT) is temporary practical training directly related to a student's major area of study used after degree completion. Many students use all 12 months of their OPT time during Post-completion OPT.  

Eligibility

  • Must have been enrolled in a full-time degree seeking program for one academic year (Fall and Spring/Spring and Fall) 
  • Maintaining good academic standing 
  • Job offer not required for application 
  • Total 12-month OPT per degree level. Degree levels are: 
    • Associates (AA) 
    • Bachelors (BA/BS) 
    • Masters (MA/MS, LLM, MBA) 
    • Doctoral (PhD, JD, SJD) 
  • All employment must be directly related to major field of study. 

Hours

  • Must be full time, which is considered at least 20 hours a week for immigration purposes.  
  • Note: students may have multiple positions whose combined hours constitute full time. 
  • Any periods of employment with hours totaling less than 20 hours per week is counted as unemployment. 

Unemployment

Students on Post-Completion OPT are allowed 90 days of unemployment during their authorization period. 

 

Application Timeline

You may apply for Post-completion OPT up to 90 days before your graduation date through 60 days after your program completion date. It is strongly recommended to start the application as soon as you can before program completion. 
 
Your program completion date is determined from the Completion of Academic Program e-form on iEagle. Your program completion date can be based on one of the following: 

  • Graduation date (All Students - Fall and Spring) 
  • Last day of classes(Summer Graduates only) 

  • Date the student will be notified of the results of comprehensive exams. (Master’s and PhD) 

  • Date the student will complete an SRP or thesis (Master’s only) 

  • Date the student will defend or be notified that a dissertation will be complete(PhD only)

Please discuss your program completion date with your academic advisor. 
 
Your Post-completion OPT start date must be within 60 days after your program completion date. 

 

Application Process

  1. Watch the OPT Information Video in iEagle > Optional Practical Training (OPT) > Post-Completion OPT and take the accompanying quiz. You will learn about: 
    • Documents and forms required for the OPT application and how to file them 
    • Rights and responsibilities of students engaged in OPT 
    • Deadlines and processing time of OPT applications 
    • Travelling abroad while on OPT 
  2. Review the OPT Summary and Application Procedure handouts for more information. 
  3. Know when to apply and select your OPT start date.
    • Students can apply for Pre-completion OPT up to 90 days before your desired employment start date. Your desired employment start date is up to you as long as you have been enrolled for one academic year.  
    • OPT start dates cannot be changed after filing your OPT application with USCIS. 
  4. Submit the required e-forms in iEagle to begin OPT processing with ISSS. Students must be physically in the U.S. to apply for OPT. 
    1. Completion of Academic Program e-form (reviewed and approved by your academic advisor) 
    2. OPT Application e-form. Upload the following: 
      • Most recent I-94 admission record retrieved from U.S. Customs and Border Protection. 
      • Unexpired passport (valid for at least 6 months in the future at the time of filing) 
      • Previous Employment Authorization Document (EAD) Card(s), if applicable 
      • Previous I-20s with authorized CPT(s) or OPT(s), if applicable   
  5. Within two (2) weeks after your OPT application e-forms are pending, ISSS will review the e-forms and issue a new I-20 with OPT recommended dates. 
    • You will download your new OPT I-20 from iEagle and receive a handout with tips on how to file your OPT online to your AU email address.
    • While ISSS is reviewing your OPT application e-forms, please prepare 1 color passport photo taken within the last 30 days. The online filing fee is $410 paid to USCIS by credit or debit card at the time of your online filling.   
  6. Create a myUSCIS account and file your OPT application online with USCIS.
    • USCIS must receive your OPT application within 30 days of your new OPT I-20 issue date. If not received within this timeline, your OPT application will be denied and appeal is not possible.  
  7. OPT applications typically take 1-3 months to process. You may check case processing times with USCIS here.
    • For more information on OPT, please review the FAQs at the bottom of this page. 

OPT Application Disclaimer:  The OPT information video and other ISSS-produced handouts are not comprehensive and are based on frequently made mistakes. They contain helpful tips and can be used as a tool to assist you with your online application. 

Ultimately, it is your responsibility to follow all instructions in the online application to ensure your online form is accurate and complete before submitting your OPT request to USCIS.  

Frequently Asked Questions

The below Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) were designed to provide international students with up-to-date answers to help navigate their Post-Completion OPT applications.  

Application

Students may begin applying for Post-Completion OPT up to 90 days before their program completion date and up to the final day of the 60-day grace period after their program completion. Keep in mind processing times both with ISSS and USCIS to ensure the application is received by USCIS before the end of their grace period. 
 
ISSS recommends that students apply as soon as possible within the regulatory window to ensure OPT approval is received prior to the recommended OPT start date. Please remember that the USCIS process for OPT approval typically takes 1-3 months.

 

You must choose an OPT start date within the 60-day grace period following your program completion date, and all standard post-completion OPT must be completed within the 14-month period following the completion of your studies. Therefore, applying early is essential to ensure you are authorized for the full amount of OPT time available to you. 
 
OPT start dates cannot be changed after applying to USCIS for authorization depending on the processing time.

You will automatically receive an application receipt notice in your myUSCIS account. USCIS will also send you a paper copy of your receipt notice by mail within 2 to 3 weeks after filing. Please save these notices as it will include your USCIS receipt number, which you can use to periodically check your application process here. In addition, you may sign up for case status alerts through your myUSCIS account. 

OPT applications are generally processed by USCIS in 1 -3 months. However, you should check the USCIS Processing Times site for the most up-to-date information on processing times. If it outside published processing times, you may contact USCIS for an update at 1-800-375-5283 or via their online “Emma” bot. 

Yes, you must notify ISSS immediately for a timely immigration action (cancel pending OPT request) to be taken on your SEVIS record and advice on your immigration options immediately.   
 
After your OPT application is received by USCIS, ISSS can no longer cancel your pending OPT recommendation in SEVIS. You will need to officially request to have your OPT application withdrawn. Please contact USCIS for further instructions on how to withdraw your OPT application. You must also contact ISSS to let us know you are withdrawing your application. Please note that withdrawing your application is not guaranteed and could result in the loss of some of your OPT time.

Please contact ISSS immediately. Depending on the information in the notice, our advice may vary, but prompt action is crucial.  

You should receive your EAD Card within 2 weeks of your OPT approval by USCIS. Please check your case status here to know when your card was mailed and make note of the mail tracking number. The case status will update once delivered.   
 
If you do not receive your card after the case status shows it was delivered, you may need to re-submit a new OPT application. Please contact ISSS immediately.

If you are authorized for an aggregate of 12- month full-time CPT during your degree, you will lose your eligibility for OPT at that degree level.  
 
Part-time CPT does not affect your OPT eligibility, although multiple CPT record may still raise red flag for your future employment applications to USCIS. 

Applicants who receive their approved EAD card from USCIS should receive their Social Security card from the Social Security Administration within the following 2 weeks. Please contact your local Social Security office if you do not receive it in a timely manner or see any error on it.

Please contact ISSS immediately so we can advise accordingly as some EAD card errors result in a delay in employment start dates.

If you filed your OPT application online with USCIS (receipt numbers starting with IOE), then this is not considered an error. No further action is needed.

Work

Yes, you may continue applying to jobs while your OPT application is pending, but you cannot begin employment of any kind without OPT approval and before your OPT start date.  

You may begin employment if all the conditions below are met. Otherwise, you are considered to be in serious violation of your F-1 status, which may lead to deportation and ineligibility for reinstatement of your status:   
1. The OPT application has been approved  
2. Employment Authorization Document (or EAD Card) has been received  
3. The OPT start date shown on the EAD Card has been reached 

Students with approved OPT may be employed in the following circumstances:  
1. Paid or unpaid work in the major field of study anywhere in the U.S.  
2. Work for hire [1099 contract employment] or self-employment 
3. Multiple employers   
 
Post Completion OPT requires at least 20 hours a week or full time and may be a combination of work with multiple employers. You may review DHS provided examples for direct relationship between the field of study and employment here.  
 
ISSS recommends keeping detailed employment evidence for your records.

Students on Post-completion OPT are allowed only 90 days of unemployment during their OPT period. It is the student’s responsibility to keep track of unemployment days and take the necessary action in a timely manner if you anticipate reaching the unemployment limit while on Post-completion OPT. Students who are unemployed for more than 90 days are considered out of status by the U.S. government. Therefore, ISSS recommends students either leave the U.S., start another academic program, or change status before reaching the 90th day of unemployment. 
 
If leaving the U.S., please notify ISSS immediately through iEagle > Optional Practical Training (OPT) > Ending OPT Early e-form. 
 
If starting another academic program, please request a Change of Level I-20 or transfer immigration status. 
 
If changing status, please email proof to isssimmigration@american.edu. 

Yes.   
 
When you report your employment with a staffing agency, the address you report must be the location where you are physically working. Be mindful that some recruiters and placement agencies may engage in fraudulent activity. You should ensure the agencies you are using are trustworthy and reputable. Reputable recruiters will not modify your resume or academic background to secure OPT placement.   
 
If you witness a fraudulent activity by an OPT recruiter or company, please contact the ICE Homeland Security Investigations tip line. 

Yes, as long as the employment is directly related to your major field of study. Please review our OPT Reporting Requirements page for more information on how to report employment changes to ISSS via iEagle and to DHS via your SEVP Portal. 

Extensions

Only Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM) majors have an option for a 24-month extension of OPT. A minor in a STEM field does not make you eligible for the STEM extension. For more information, see our webpage on the STEM OPT Extension. 

OPT is an immigration benefit and may be granted by USCIS per degree level. 
 
Example: A student completes a Bachelor's degree is eligible for 12 months of OPT. If the same student completes a master's degree, then they become eligible for another 12 months of OPT because it is a higher degree level. If the same student also completes one more master’s degree, they will not be eligible for another OPT for the same degree level.

The "Cap-Gap" refers to the period of time where F-1 students on OPT have a gap in their visa status. Find out if you are eligible for the Cap-Gap extension.  
 
Students should consult an immigration attorney for more information on H-1B visas.

Travel

You maintain your F-1 immigration status while on OPT. 

Before graduation: Yes, with your OPT I-20 and unexpired F-1 visa, your unfinished coursework is the immediate basis for readmission to the United States.

After graduation, it is not recommended to travel until after your OPT has been approved and you have started employment. Travel before receiving your EAD Card and anytime during Post-completion OPT without a job or EAD Card is very risky and not recommended. It is also not recommended to travel close to the end date of your OPT period.

Traveling during OPT without a job or EAD Card is very risky. It is recommended that you wait to travel outside the United States until after you receive your EAD card and you have began authorized employment.

During your approved OPT period, you should never try to re-enter the U.S. on any other visa status (e.g., B-1/B-2, Visa Waiver, etc) as this would cancel your OPT. If you travel outside the U.S. while on OPT, you will need the following documents to re-enter the U.S.:  

  • Your valid OPT I-20 signed for travel within the last 6 months  

  • An unexpired F-1 visa (if your F-1 visa has expired, you must apply for renewal while outside the U.S.)  

  • An unexpired passport with at least 6 months left on the expiration date  

  • Your unexpired Employment Authorization Document (EAD) Card  

  • A signed letter of employment on company letterhead (If you do not have proof of employment, you may be denied re-entry to the U.S.)  

  • If your work is unpaid, ISSS recommends travelling with a current bank statement with proof of funds for living in the U.S.  

You should not travel outside the U.S. while a Change of Status case is pending. USCIS may consider you as abandoning your application if you leave. Please consult with an immigration attorney before planning any travel abroad.

If you travel outside the U.S. while on OPT, you will need the following documents to re-enter the U.S.:  

  • Your valid OPT I-20 signed for travel within the last 6 months  

  • An unexpired F-1 visa (if your F-1 visa has expired, you must apply for renewal while outside the U.S.)  

  • An unexpired passport with at least 6 months left on the expiration date  

  • Your unexpired Employment Authorization Document (EAD) Card  

  • A signed letter of employment on company letterhead (If you do not have proof of employment, you may be denied re-entry to the U.S.)  

  • If your work is unpaid, ISSS recommends travelling with a current bank statement with proof of funds for living in the U.S.  

Life

For more information about the possibility of extending your health insurance, please contact your current health insurance provider at least one month before the end of your current coverage.  
 
If you change your health insurance through your OPT employer, you cannot re-claim AU health insurance after.

Only recreational and avocational classes are permissible during your Post-completion OPT.

Yes, students who successfully complete their Post-completion OPT have 60 days to:   
1. Leave the U.S.  
2. Change visa status  
3. Start a new education program    
 
Successful completion of Post-completion OPT includes meeting all reporting requirements and not reaching the 90-day unemployment limit.