FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is the start date for my OPT?
What are the employment requirements during OPT?
What if I have been or become unemployed during my initial 12-month OPT authorization period?
Does the employment have to be paid?
Can I work for more than one employer?
What if an H1-B petition is filed on my behalf during my OPT work authorization period ?
What is the 60 day grace period?
What are my reporting requirements during my OPT period?
Can I travel outside the U.S. while my OPT application is still pending and not approved?
What if I travel outside of the U.S. and I do not have a job?
Can I travel outside the U.S. during the 60 day grace period after OPT?
When do I need to apply for OPT?
How long will it take for my approval for OPT?
What is OPT?
F-1 visa students are eligible for 12- months of Optional Practical Training (OPT) employment in a job directly related to their academic program at each education level (associate, bachelors, masters, doctorate).
Am I eligible for OPT?
To be eligible for OPT a student must have been enrolled for at least one academic year in F-1 visa status (Fall semester + Spring semester in any order), and currently be maintaining their F-1 visa status. Enrollment under another valid visa category is allowed as long as the combined enrollment under F-1 visa and the previous visa meets the one academic year requirement.
What if I complete multiple degrees at an academic level (ex. two masters) am I eligible for an additional 12 months?
No. You are only eligible for 12 months at each education level regardless of the number of degrees at that academic level.
What if I complete my coursework, but still need to complete some requirements (i.e. incomplete work, comprehensive exams) for my academic program after I have been approved for OPT?
You will still need to apply for OPT before the completion of your last registered semester. You may complete any program requirements that do not require registering for classes while on OPT. If you have to register for a course after you have applied for OPT please contact an international student advisor.
What is the start date for my OPT?
The OPT start date must be within 60 days of your program end date on your I-20 line 5. The ISSO will usually set a date very close to the 60th day to avoid any complications with USCIS. The start date for your OPT is the date you are eligible to begin your employment. You may not begin employment or volunteer before this date. Your OPT start date is also the date the 90 days of unemployment rule begins.
What is my visa status after I graduate and before I begin my OPT employment and also during my OPT employment?
Your visa status during the grace period after you graduate but before you begin your OPT employment, and during your OPT work authorization will continue to be F-1 visa student. Students do not change their status to “OPT status” but remain an F-1 international student throughout their OPT. It is not necessary to leave the U.S. until your OPT work authorization start date. The ISSO will continue to update your SEVIS immigration record with your reporting requirements. If at any point and time during your OPT work authorization period you apply for a change of status to another visa category (example: H1-B) you will need to provide us with any Receipt Notice and/or Approval Notice.
What are the employment requirements during OPT?
USCIS states your employment during OPT must be directly related to your academic major on your OPT I-20. Students are also required to work a minimum of 20 hours a week in a paid or unpaid position (ex. internship) during their 12-month OPT.
What if I have been or become unemployed during my initial 12-month OPT authorization period?
Students may not accrue an aggregate of more than 90 days of unemployment during the 12-month OPT work authorization period on the EAD. USCIS has advised that any student that is unemployed after April 8, 2008 for an aggregate of more than 90 days during the 12-month OPT period work authorization period on the EAD may be denied future immigration benefits that rely on the student’s valid F-1 status if USCIS determines that the student exceeded the limitations on unemployment. This rule only applies to the work authorization period on the EAD and does not include any time prior to the start date for the OPT.
Does the employment have to be paid?
For regular 12-month OPT, the employment does NOT have to paid employment. Therefore, a student who is self-employed (including performance majors with regular "gigs"), interning or volunteering in a position directly related to the academic field would be considered "employed" for the purposes of the 12-month OPT employment. However, the student will be required to provide written proof of the time spent in internship or volunteer work. For the 17-month OPT extension, employment must be traditional paid employment.
Can I work for more than one employer?
There is no regulation that prevents a student from working for multiple employers during OPT. However, the employment must be directly related to the academic field of study on the OPT I-20.
What if an H1-B petition is filed on my behalf during my OPT work authorization period ?
If you have an H1 - B petition filed on your behalf during OPT you will have to provide this information to the ISSO. If you have received a receipt notice for your H1-B petition you will need to email or fax a copy of the receipt notice to the ISSO. Once we have received your documents we will contact you to advise you on any further action. Be sure to provide your full name, CWID, current employer, employer who filed H1-B(if different), employer's address, your current address, OPT work authorization period on EAD card, and whether you have applied for OPT extension. Email to intl_stu@tamu-commerce.edu or fax to 903-468-3200. Under the new H1-B Cap Gap Extension, students may have their OPT authorization and F-1 status extended until the start of the H1-B. Please provide the ISSO the above documents to confirm H1-B Cap Gap Extension eligibility.
What is the 60 day grace period?
Students have a 60 day grace period after the program end date on their I-20 to begin their OPT. After the OPT end date on the I-20 and the EAD card, the student will have 60 days to apply for, be accepted into, and be transferred if applicable to a DHS approved school, apply for a change of status, or leave the U.S. Employment may not extend into the 60 day grace period unless an OPT extension has been filed before the OPT end date. Please see OPT 17-month extension FAQ for more details.
What are my reporting requirements during my OPT period?
F-1 students on 12-month OPT are required by USCIS to report any employment, change of employment, or change of address to the ISSO within 10 days of occurrence. Once you are employed, you change employers, or move to a new address you will need to report this information to us immediately.
To report your employment to us, please click here and complete the OPT Employment Reporting Form. To report a change of address only with no employment update, please click here and complete the Request Form for International Student Services.
You are not required to provide any further documentation regarding your employment (such as a letter or pay stub) to the ISSO other than reporting the information as described above. However, we strongly recommend that students keep documentation of their employment for their own records. This may include a letter from all employers stating dates of employment and nature of employment. Please be aware of the 90-day unemployment rule for 12-month OPT mentioned above.
Can I travel outside the U.S. while my OPT application is still pending and not approved?
USCIS rules state that a student may travel outside the U.S. and re-enter while their OPT application is pending and not approved. But if an application is approved while a student is outside the U.S., the port of entry may require a letter of employment or a job offer letter before a student is allowed to re-enter the U.S. For this reason the ISSO strongly discourages students from traveling outside the U.S. while their OPT application is pending. Entry into the U.S is at the discretion of the port of entry.
Can I travel outside the U.S. after my OPT is approved or during my OPT employment authorization period?
The ISSO discourages students from traveling outside the U.S. during OPT. USCIS policy states that if a student travels outside the U.S. during OPT they will be required to provide a letter of employment or job offer letter before they may re-enter the U.S. In addition, students need to be aware of the 90-day unemployment rule mentioned above and take this into consideration when traveling during OPT. Also, students who travel outside the U.S. on an expired F-1 visa may not have their F-1 visa renewed to return to complete OPT. Entry into the U.S is always at the discretion of the port of entry at any time. When planning your travels during OPT you will need the following:* Valid passport and visa
* I-94
* I-20 with travel validation signature (3rd page) within last six months
* EAD Card
* Letter from employer stating student is employed, dates employed, and that student will return to U.S. to continue employment.
What if I travel outside of the U.S. and I do not have a job?
If a student's OPT has been approved but they are not employed and they leave the U.S., USCIS regulations state that the OPT ends and the student may not reenter the U.S.
Can I travel outside the U.S. during the 60 day grace period after OPT?
No. Students will not be allowed to reenter the U.S during the 60 day grace period after OPT.
When do I need to apply for OPT?
You will need to apply for OPT by the end of your last registered semester. You must be in the United States in order to apply for OPT. It is recommended that students apply for OPT about 60-90 days before the end of their last registered semester.
How long will it take for my approval for OPT?
USCIS processing times vary, but it usually takes an average of 60-90 days for USCIS to process an OPT application.
How do I apply for OPT?
12 Month OPT Application
