Post-Completion OPT

Eligibility for Post-Completion OPT

To be eligible for Post Completion OPT, you must:

• Maintain valid F-1 student status at the time of application.
• Be enrolled full-time in F-1 status for at least one full academic year in the U.S. (consecutive Fall and Spring semesters).
• Be physically present in the U.S. when you submit your application.
• Intend to work or volunteer in a profession directly related to your major field of study.
• Have not used OPT from a previous degree at the same level.
• Have not engaged in 12 months of full-time CPT at the same degree level.

Work hours during Post-Completion OPT

• Employment must be at least 20 hours per week or more.  
• A student may work for multiple employers. In order for your OPT employment to be considered active, you must be working 20 hours per week or more between all OPT jobs combined. If your combined OPT employment is under 20 hours per week in total, this time may count against your unemployment time.
• A student may only accrue 90 days of unemployment during Post-OPT. More than 90 days of unemployment will end their OPT and they will be required to leave the country.  These days are cumulative. 
• Employment can be paid, unpaid, and self-employment.

Applying for Post-Completion OPT

• You cannot apply for Post-Completion OPT more than 90 days before your I-20 program end date. The latest date that you can apply for OPT is 60 days after your I-20 program end date.
• You may choose any start date between the day after your I-20 program end date and the end of your 60-day grace period. 
• Your end date will be calculated base on CPT and/or OPT already used. 
• Your OPT application must be received by USCIS within 30 days of the OPT recommendation in SEVIS or by the 60th day from the program end date, whichever comes first.
• If a student does not apply for OPT at the time of eligibility, the student loses their OPT benefit.

Online application instructions

Starting work while on Post-Completion OPT

• USCIS will determine if you are eligible for OPT. If denied, the decision cannot be appealed.
• You cannot begin working until your OPT EAD card is issued and received, AND your program start date has occurred.
• You will need a Social Security number to work in the U.S. If you do not already have a SSN, you can apply for your SSN along with your OPT application.  

Reporting requirement while on Post-Completion OPT

You must report your OPT employment within 10 days via the SEVP portal and to the International office. Reporting your OPT employment stops the unemployment counter. Use this OPT Reporting Form to report updates. 

 During your Post-Completion OPT period, you must also report the following:

• Changes to your name, residence, or mailing address
• Any employment changes (ending a job, changing jobs)
• Names and addresses of all OPT employers
• Start and end dates of all OPT employment
• New immigration status (change to H-1B, for example)

If you don’t have access to your SEVP portal please contact the international office.