OPT Overview
Optional Practical Training (OPT) for students on F-1 visas provides up to 12 months of off-campus employment authorization.

Employment must be directly related to the student’s major and can occur either during the student's academic program (Pre-completion OPT) or after graduation (Post-completion OPT).

Here are some helpful reminders when applying for OPT:

Students are eligible for 12 months of OPT at each educational level (Associate’s, Bachelor’s, etc.).

Students who complete a total of 12 months or more of full-time CPT are no longer eligible for Optional Practical Training (OPT); this includes practical training after graduation.

An application is required.
There is a $470 application fee, and USCIS can take 3 - 5 months to adjudicate OPT applications (although early online applications tend to get adjudicated faster, applications submitted late in the season will likely take 3+ months).

There is now an online version of the OPT application (I-765).
Check out our OPT Online Application Guide for more details.

Online processing times usually take 1-2 months when submitted early, but as usual, applications submitted late in the season will likely be waiting 3 or more months.

OPT can be:
(a) Part-time or full-time during the student’s annual vacation and at other times when school is not in session, if the student intends to register for the next term or session;
(b) Part-time while school is in session;
(c) Full-time (over 20 hours) after completion of the course of study.

Make an appointment with an international student adviser to complete and review your I-765.

You can choose to mail your application or use the online version of the OPT application but Earlham recommends filing online.

You will need to obtain a new I-20 with the OPT Request on it for your application from an international student adviser before submitting your OPT request (which is the purpose of completing this form).

If you plan to apply online, visit my.uscis.gov to create an account from which you can complete your I-765 before or during the appointment. Check out our OPT Online Application Guide for step-by-step instructions.
Personal Information:

Question Title

1. Name

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3. Student ID

OPT Request Information: Please note that your requested OPT Start Date should not be later than 60 days after the Program End Date on your I-20. Once your application is submitted, this requested start date cannot be changed.

Question Title

4. Actual Anticipated Program End Date (including any post-graduation intensives)

Question Title

5. Requested OPT Start Date

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6. Requested OPT End Date

T