F-1 OPT
OPT Application Step by Step
The OPT application
- Cannot be received by USCIS more than 90 days prior to the academic completion date (I-20 program end date)
- Must be received by USCIS within 30 days of the date ISP issued the OPT I-20
- Must be received by USCIS within 60 days after your academic completion date
USCIS systems operate on Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) and application deadlines are based on UTC standards.
An application will be rejected if it does not meet these filing requirements.
ISP will shorten or extend your I-20 end date to match your academic Program Completion Date.
- Bachelor's: The end of the academic term in which you last enrolled.
- Master's: The end of the academic term in which you last enrolled.
- PhD: The defense date or as late as the end of the academic term in which you last enrolled.
The OPT Start Date is the date you want your 12-month period of post-completion work authorization to begin. A job offer is NOT required for the OPT application. Neither ISP nor USCIS will request an employment letter during the OPT application process.
- Must be after your I-20 Program Completion Date but no more than 60 days after your Program Completion Date
- Cannot be changed after the OPT application has been submitted to USCIS
- USCIS may take about 3 months to process an OPT application (see FAQs below regarding optional Premium Procsessing)
- No employment permitted during the gap between your I-20 Program Completion Date and OPT Start Date. This includes being paid by Caltech.
Email ISP and provide the following information:
Program Completion Date
OPT Start Date
Non-Caltech Email Address
U.S. Residential Address (current)
Job Info: A job offer is NOT required. However, if you have a job offer, include the following in your email to ISP:
Employer Name:
Job Site Address:
Job Start Date:
Brief Job Description (explain how it is directly related to your major field of study):
Employer Name refers to the company or institution you will work for, not your individual supervisor.
Job Site Address refers to the location where you will conduct your work. For some, this is the same as the Employer's headquarters/main address. For others working remotely, it may match the U.S. residential address. Please share that information with ISP.
- ISP will send you the PDF I-20 for OPT
- You must print, sign, and date the OPT I-20 before uploading to your USCIS online account for your OPT application
Click Here to Create Your USCIS Account
Your USCIS online account allows to submit OPT application forms, documents, photos, and fee payment, as well as check case status, receive notices, and respond to requests for further evidence.
Remember the "Important OPT Application Filing Timeline" in Step 1, above.
Have the following documents scanned and ready for electronic upload
- I-20 issued for OPT (You must have printed, signed, and scanned the I-20 for upload)
- Passport
- Visa [Canadian citizens exempt from visa requirement]
- I-94 showing date of most recent U.S. entry
- Passport Photo, specifications explained here
- I-20 issued for OPT
- Previous EAD, if applicable. EAD is the Employment Authorization Document issued for approved OPT.
USCIS Online Filing Tips
- Click "File Online"
- Select Filing Form: I-765 Application for Employment Authorization
- Post-Completion OPT filing code = c 3 B (VERY IMPORTANT)
- Reason for Applying is "Initial permission to accept employment"
- Previously Authorized CPT or OPT? You will be prompted to upload evidence of any previously authorized CPT or OPT. If you did NOT participate in previous CPT or OPT, you do NOT need to upload anything in this section. A warning will appear that says "you should provide evidence," but if this does not apply to you, proceed and click "Next".
- "A Number" is not common; most applicants do not have an A Number and can skip this question.
- "USCIS Account Number" is rare; most applicants to not have a USCIS Account Number and can skip this question.
- Additional Information: This section is to be used to list any additional details, if applicable. This may include previous SEVIS Numbers from any I-20 or DS-2019 you received prior to the current one, and for CPT (Curricular Practical Training) and previous OPT. There are no specific instructions on how to complete this section.
- Premium Processing can be requested; see FAQ section below for information.
Selecting Your Mailing Address
- You can use the ISP Mailing Address to help prevent lost documents. ISP will email you upon receipt of documents and can FedEx the EAD to you.
ISP Caltech
1200 E California Blvd
Suite 250-86
Pasadena, CA 91125 - Enter your current U.S. residential address in the U.S. physical address section.
- USCIS will NOT forward mail. This is one reason why we recommend using the ISP Mailing Address. If you choose not to use the ISP Mailing Address, be very sure you enter a reliable U.S. Mailing Address that can receive mail up to 5 months into the future.
- After you submit your OPT application, do NOT update your U.S. address in SEVIS or with USPS until after the EAD is in your hands. You must still notify ISP within 10 days of any move so that we can record it, but a change of address in SEVIS or with USPS could cause delays or non-delivery of your EAD.
Receipt of Application
- Upon submission of your online OPT application online, you will receive an immediate USCIS receipt number confirming your application has been received and is pending. Check your account a few days later to retrieve the PDF Receipt Notice and CAREFULLY REVIEW the Mailing Address for accuracy. Contact ISP if you have any questions or concerns.
FAQ
No. A job offer is NOT required for the OPT application. Neither ISP nor USCIS will request an employment letter during the OPT application process.
USCIS displays general case processing times for select forms and locations. USCIS updates case processing times on the website monthly with the latest available data.
Click here to learn USCIS Case Processing Times
Yes. USCIS processing times have fluctuated over the years. We have seen applications processed within 6 weeks to 5 months from the moment of application submission to EAD received. Reminder: The EAD is the Employment Authorization Document, the "OPT card" needed before you can begin any employment.
Premium Processing can help speed up USCIS processing for a hefty fee. Carefully review the instructions on the USCIS web page. Note: ISP is not involved with Premium Processing; this is something that you may choose to do on your own.
The Premium Processing fee for F-1 OPT applicants is $1,685.
By requesting OPT, you are extending your current F-1 status. While OPT is pending, you are in F-1 status. Once OPT is approved, you are in F-1 status. During any time between your I-20 Program End Date (end of academic program) and the USCIS-approved OPT Start Date, you cannot work at all in the United States, even at Caltech! You can remain in the United States, or you can travel and re-enter, during this gap period.
Yes! Travel outside of the United States while an EAD is pending or approved is possible. Be prepared to present the following documents when re-entering the United States to continue in F-1 status:
- I-20 signed for travel by ISP within the last 6 months
- Valid Passport
- Valid F-1 Visa (Canadian citizens are exempt from this requirement)
- OPT Receipt Notice or EAD (if approved)
- Employment Letter / Letter of Request for Interview: There are no guidelines for this letter other than it should be on business letterhead. Although Immigration officials have been instructed to request a letter of employment, feedback from students suggests that it is not frequently requested. ISP recommends you travel with a letter to meet the requirement, if requested.
Yes. While on OPT or STEM OPT, you are still in F-1 status, so if you plan to travel outside the United States, be sure to check your F-1 visa expiration date. If your F-1 visa has expired, plan to visit a U.S. consulate to apply for a new F-1 visa. For more information about what documents are required for the visa application, review the U.S. Consulate website for the location in which you plan to apply. Be prepared to present the following documents when applying for a new F-1 visa and re-entering the United States to continue in F-1 status:
- I-20 signed for travel by ISP within the last 6 months
- Valid Passport
- OPT Application Receipt Notice or EAD (if approved)
- Employment Letter: There are no guidelines for this letter other than it should be on business letterhead. Although Immigration officials have been instructed to request a letter of employment, feedback from students suggests that it is not frequently requested. ISP recommends you travel with a letter to meet the requirement, if requested.
Caution: If you have applied for H-1B, consult the employer who sponsored your H-1B, before departing the United States.
When you are on the approved OPT period, you are permitted a maximum of 90 days of unemployment.
If you are participating in post-completion OPT or STEM OPT but are not currently training with an employer, SEVP considers this unemployment. When a student is considered unemployed, every day, including weekends and holidays, counts toward your unemployment limit.
If you are nearing 90 days of unemployment, contact ISP to discuss what options are available to you.
Students may work as volunteers or unpaid interns, where this practice does not violate any labor laws. The work should be at least 20 hours per week for students on the initial year of OPT. Any volunteer position used to satisfy the minimum 20 hours per week of employment to avoid accruing 90 days of unemployment must be directly related to the student's major field of study.
You should be able to provide evidence from the employer to verify that you worked at least 20 hours per week during the period of employment.
We encourage you to review basic Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) information like the Department of Labor's WHD Fact Sheet #71: Internship Programs Under The Fair Labor Standards Act, which addresses unpaid activity for "for-profit" entities. Assessing an unpaid activity's compliance with labor laws is beyond the scope of expertise and duty of an international advisor (Designated School Official/DSO). Students who wish to pursue unpaid activities to satisfy the 90-day unemployment limit may choose to consult an experienced labor lawyer.
SEVP Portal Account
The SEVP Portal is an important tool to help F-1s meet their legal reporting requirements while on OPT and STEM. The SEVP Portal allows you to report address, phone, and employer information directly to the Student & Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). Once your OPT Start Date is Active, an email from do-not-reply.SEVP@ice.dhs.gov will be prompt you to create your SEVP Portal account.
Click Here to Learn More About the SEVP Portal
Once your OPT Start Date is Active, you will receive an email from do-not-reply.SEVP@ice.dhs.gov prompting you to create your SEVP Portal account. Follow the instructions provided. If your OPT Start Date has passed and you cannot find the SEVP email or if the SEVP email prompt has expired, email ISP to request an SEVP Portal Reset.
Every six months, SEVP will remind you to review your Portal for accuracy and to ask your "DSO" to validate your continuing employment in SEVIS.
ISP advisors (Laura and Daniel) are your Designated School Officials (DSO) and will continue to assist you as long as you are on the Caltech I-20.