Optional Practical Training

What is Post-Completion OPT?

Post-Completion Optional Practical Training (OPT) is temporary employment authorization issued by 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.

According to 8 CFR 214.2(f)(10)(ii)(A)(3) Post-Completion OPT may be used "After completion of the course of study, or, for a student in a bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree program, after completion of all course requirements for the degree (excluding thesis or equivalent)."

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. 

Coursework Completion OPT

Graduate students who have completed their required coursework excluding their thesis, dissertation or equivalent may apply for either Pre-Completion OPT or Post Completion OPT. 

** Please note that not all major departments consider their project or capstone to be equivalent to thesis. If your department does not consider your capstone or project equivalent to thesis, you are not eligible to apply for Post Completion OPT until you final semester of your project or capstone.

If you choose to apply for Post Completion OPT after completion of all coursework with thesis or equivalent remaining, you must apply before the end of 60 day grace period immediately following the completion of your coursework. 

Applying for Post Completion OPT

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 International Student Advisor for more information.

2) Be in valid F-1 status when requesting OPT I-20 from CIE and when application is submitted to USCIS.

3) Be in good academic standing: your cumulative GPA on your transcript must be at least a minimum 3.0 for graduate students and 2.0 for undergraduate students.

4) Academic Advisor(s) verification (via the OPT I-20 request form or RCL) 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 CIE and submitting your application to USCIS.

6) Have not previously been approved for post-completion OPT at the same degree level.

The following information contains instructions for you to complete your OPT application and submit your application to USCIS. Please follow the instructions very carefully. If you are unclear regarding a particular step, please email cie@csueastbay.edu

We strongly recommend your review the Online OPT Workshop materials before you complete this process.

Important Notes:

  • DO NOT SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION TO USCIS WITHOUT AN OPT I-20 FROM OUR OFFICE
  • If submitting online, please download and save a copy of the completed I-765 from your account
  • USCIS MUST RECEIVE YOUR APPLICATION WITHIN 30 DAYS OF CIE ADVISOR’s SIGNATURE ON YOUR OPT I-20

Submitting your documents to CIE via email

  • Submit the completed/signed (both sides) OPT Request Form
    • We will accept emails from your academic department in lieu of signatures
  • CIE will review your request and prepare your OPT Request I-20. 
    • Processing time is 2-3 business days
  • CIE will email you an electronically signed OPT Request I-20. You will need to download, save, print, and SIGN IT before submitting it as part of your OPT application
    • You are currently not eligible to sign your I-20 electronically

 

OPT Application Materials

  • Payment- Fee for I-765 ($410, fee will increase to $470 on April 1st, 2024). Please note you do not have to pay the biometrics fee
  • Photos- Must meet the US Department of State's passport photo requirements.
  • OPT Request I-20- be sure to sign the I-20 when you receive it from CIE
  • I-94- Photocopy of paper or printout of electronic Form I-94
  • EAD- Photocopy of any previous EAD cards (if applicable)
  • Passport- photocopy of Bio Page

Option 1- Filing your application online via www.uscis.gov

  • Please review our OPT Workshop for detailed procedure on how to create and submit your application via uscis.gov
  • You will create an online account and complete the I-765
  • You will submit supporting documents and payment online. We recommend you have your documents scanned and labeled clearly before beginning. 
    • OPT Request I-20- be sure to sign the I-20 when you receive it from CIE
    • I-94- PDF of most recent electronic Form I-94
    • EAD- Scanned colored copy of any previous EAD cards (if applicable)
    • Passport- Scanned colored copy of your passport Bio Page
    • Previous CPT and/or OPT I-20's- Scanned copies of all previously issued CPT and/or OPT I-20s.
    • Photo- Scanned or electronic passport photo. Must meet the US Department of State's passport photo requirements.
    • Payment- Fee for I-765. You can pay via credit card, debit card or ACH
      • E-file- $410 currently, will increase to $470 on April 1st, 2024
  • Make sure your application is receipted by USCIS less than 30 days after your OPT I-20 issuance date.
    • If you are close to the 30 days, please request a new I-20 from CIE

 Option 2: Mailing your application to USCIS

  • You will have to create your paper application to submit via mail to USCIS.
  • Supporting documents include:
    • I-765- You will need to complete and sign (in ink) the paper I-765.
    • Payment- Fee for I-765. Check, money order, or credit card. No cash allowed.
      • Paper- $410 currently, will increase to $520 on April 1st, 2024
    • Photos- 2 passport photos. Must meet the US Department of State's passport photo requirements.
    • OPT Request I-20- be sure to sign the I-20 in ink when you receive it from CIE
    • I-94- Photocopy of paper or printout of electronic Form I-94
    • EAD- Photocopy of any previous EAD cards (if applicable)
    • Passport- photocopy of Bio Page, most recent entry stamp, and photocopy of F-1 visa page.
    • Previous CPT and/or OPT I-20's- Include copies of all previously issued CPT and/or OPT I-20s. 
  • We recommend you mail your application using a trackable method and keep a record of your application’s delivery
  • Please copy your entire application before submitting to USCIS
  • Do NOT use any staples in the application
  • Make sure your application is received by USCIS less than 30 days after your OPT I-20’s issuance date.
    • If you delay your mailing and it is received after 30 days, USCIS will most likely deny your OPT application.
    • If you are close to the 30 days, please request a new I-20 from CIE
  • The address to which your EAD card will be sent determines where the application should be mailed
    • Your EAD card will be sent to the address you listed as the mailing address on the I-765
  • Direct Filing Addresses are listed on the USCIS I-765 Lockbox website
  • Please review our OPT-Mailing Application to USCIS handout.

Premium processing provides expedited processing on Form I-765 for an additional governmental fee. In exchange for the additional fee, USCIS guarantees that it will take some adjudicative action (approval, denial, request for evidence, notice of intent to deny) within 30 calendar days.

If the application requires the submission of additional evidence or a response to a notice of intent to deny, the 30 day premium processing time period will stop and reset. A new premium processing time period will begin when USCIS receives a response to the request for evidence or notice of intent to deny.

How expensive is premium processing?

The current fee is $1,685.

How do I request premium processing?

You may submit the form (Form I-907) online through your USCIS online account You can submit the I-907 at the same time as your I-765 or at a later date. The fee for the Form I-907 is an entirely different fee from the I-765 fee. 

Remember – you must receive your endorsed OPT I-20 from CIE before you submit Form I-765 and Form I-907 to USCIS.

Should I request premium processing?

Ultimately, the decision is yours. You can check USCIS’ Case Processing Times by following these steps:

  • Go to: https://egov.uscis.gov/processing-times/
  • In the “Form” field, select “I-765”
  • In the “Form Category” field, select “Based on a request by a qualified F-1 academic student [(c)(3)]
  • In the “Field Office or “Service Center”, select “Potomac Service Center”

Reporting Requirements

While on OPT, you must report all changes to your employment information, your residential address, and contact information (phone and email) via the SEVP Portal within 10 days of the change. Please see our OPT Reporting Requirements page for more information.

End of your Post Completion OPT

Your F-1 status remains valid until 60 days after the expiration of your EAD card. During this 60-day grace period, you are no longer authorized to work, however you may legally stay in the U.S. If you depart the U.S. during the 60-day grace period, you are no longer eligible to re-enter under your previous F-1 visa status.

  • Depart the USA- if you plan to depart the USA after the end of your OPT, please make sure you depart before the end of your 60 day grace period
  • End OPT early- if you decide to abandon your OPT and depart the USA, please update your employment information in your SEVP Portal and let CIE know so we can complete your SEVIS record.
  • Change Immigration Status- If you plan to change your immigration status in the USA, please let CIE if this is completed before the end of your OPT.
  • Transfer-  If you plan to start a new degree at another college or university, please make sure the Transfer procedure is completed before the end of your 60 day grace period.

Please note if you are eligible for OPT STEM, your application must be received by USCIS BEFORE your OPT EAD expires, not during the grace period.