Welcome to International Office at Texas A&M University-Commerce
Texas A&M University-Commerce

OPTIONAL PRACTICAL TRAINING (OPT)


To be eligible for OPT, you must have been in full-time F-1 visa status for at least one academic year (1 Fall term + 1 Spring term, any order) prior to the OPT period. Students applying for 12-month OPT must schedule and attend an OPT appointment in person with an international advisor. Students who began their academic program at TAMU-C in Fall 2008 will be required to attend an OPT workshop before they can apply for 12-month OPT. Please see below for more information.


TO OBTAIN OPT

To Apply for OPT, Please follow all steps carefully as failure to follow instruction will result in a delay of the OPT application:
  1. Prepare the OPT materials and have them with you at the appointment
    • Download and Complete Form I-538. Complete Section A 1-8 and sign and date.Please see below for instructions for completing the Form I-538.
    • Download and Complete Form G-1145 to receive email notification of acceptance of your application.
    • Download Form I-765. Complete Items 1-16 and sign on Form I-765. Forms must be completed online and printed. Forms completed by hand will not be accepeted. Please see below for instructions for completing the Form I-765.
    • Obtain two passport photos (see attached sheet for specifications).Please write your full name and your 11 digit number on your I-94 on the back of both photos. Photos must be within past six months.It is our experience that the Portrait Studio at Wal-Mart in Greenville, TX provides passport photos that best conform to USCIS regulations. The cost of the photos is a little over $10.00.
    • Obtain money order of $380, payable to "Dept. of Homeland Security". Personal checks and cash will not be accepted.
    • Make a copy of your current visa,1st and 3rd page of the I-20 and passport.
    • Make a copy of your I-94, front and back
    • Bring receipt showing that you have filed for graduation.This may either be the e-mail from the Registrar confirming your registration or a printout of your financial statement in your myLeo showing the $40 graduation fee.
    • Printout of your Registration History from MyLeo accessible by clicking "Registration". This will need to be your full course history including current semester at Texas A&M University- Commerce. Please do not provide an unofficial transcript.
    • Letter from academic department (on department letterhead) confirming that you meet the requirements to graduate this semester.
    • A written current physical address where you will be living (not PO Box or company address). Please provide your current physical address where you sleep at night and not a mailing address. The ISSO will contact you before we mail any documents to you.
    • Please print off the two copies of the Important Information Form, read thoroughly, sign and bring both with you to the OPT appointment.((Download Form)

  2. Contact the ISSO via email or phone, 903-886-5097,to set up an appointment for OPT. Students must attend the OPT appointment in person and students applying for OPT will not be allowed to have a friend represent them at the appointment. There are no exceptions. Appointments must be made at least one day in advance and will depend upon availability of international advisor. Please have all required documents and information ready prior to the appointment or your appointment will be re-scheduled.

  3. Bring all required documents, completed as instructed, to your OPT appointment. Students that arrive late or do not have their documents completed will be re-scheduled. Students that arrive late or do not have their documents completed will be re-scheduled. Students must attend their OPT appointment in person.



Instruction for Completing Forms:

Form I-765

You are applying for Permission to accept employment. Please fill out the Form I-765 online and print. Forms completed by hand WILL NOT be accepted.


1.  Family name must be in capital letters, first name (do not capitalize), middle name (do not capitalize).
2.   Leave blank unless you have changed your name.
3.  International Student Services: P.O.Box 3011, Commerce, TX 75429

image of the OPT form


4 - 8   Self-explanatory
9.  Leave blank if you do not have a social security number.
10.  The alien registration number is the 11 digit number on your I-94.
11.   Please provide information if you have applied for employment authorization with USCIS before. Example: OPT or Economic Hardship. If answer is no, please leave next two lines blank (USCIS office and Results). If answer is yes you will need to provide all documentation.
12.   Date of last entry into the U.S. will be found on your most recent stamp on your I-20, passport, visa, or I-94.
13.  Place of last entry will be found on your most recent stamp on your I-20, passport, visa, or I-94. It is the location where the stamp was applied and is usually a code such as DAL for Dallas/ Fort Worth LAX for Los Angeles.
14.  Did you last enter the U.S. as an F-1 visa student or under a different visa category (example B2, H1-B, etc.)?
15.  F-1 visa student
16.  Fill in the as shown below:
(c), (3), (B)
17.  Do not answer.

Form I-538

  1. Family name in caps, first, middle
  2. Date of birth
  3. Student admission number will be 11 digit number on I-94
  4. This will be the date your first F-1 visa was issued.
  5. Associate, Bachelors, or Masters
  6. Academic major
  7. Please explain the employment you will be seeking and how it is related to your academic major. The beginning/ start date for your OPT must fall within 60 days of when your academic program will end which is the last day of the semester you graduate. The ending date will be one day less the following year. Example: 06/01/2008 to 05/31/2009.
  8. If you have had any periods of Curricular Practical Training (CPT) employment please provide the information here. Be sure to sign and date below this section.
  9. 9 - 11 Will be completed by the DSO.
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