overview and definition
Post-Completion Optional Practical Training (Post-Completion OPT) is designed to provide graduating students an opportunity to gain temporary employment experience within their program of study for one year after they have completed their program. Permission for this temporary employment is obtained through the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The employment must be directly related to the student's major field of study and it must be appropriate for the level of education. Students may work anywhere in the United States and are required to report their employment.
Please note that this is not an entitled benefit. USCIS has the right to deny any OPT application at their discretion. It is the student's responsibility to ensure they are paying the correct fee and filling out the correct application.
OPT Workshop Event Details
Attendance is mandatory to avoid any confusion in the process and ask advisors questions. Registration is required through UAtlas and opens 30 days prior to each workshop. Below is a schedule of dates for the 2024 year.
| Semester | Date | Time |
| Spring | Friday, January 26, 2024 | 2 PM to 3:30 PM (MST) |
| Spring | Friday, March 8, 2024 | 2 PM to 3:30 PM (MST) |
| Summer | Thursday, May 23, 2024 | 11 AM to 12:30 PM (MST) |
| Fall | Friday, August 30, 2024 | 2 PM to 3:30 PM (MST) |
| Fall | Friday, October 04, 2024 | 2 PM to 3:30 PM (MST) |
| Fall | Thuesday, November 19, 2024 | 11 AM to 12:30 PM |
Policies
Students must have been in lawful status for an academic year (two consecutive full-time semesters) prior to the start of the Post-Completion OPT.
Students must have an anticipated program end date.
Students must be graduating with a Bachelor's, Masters or PhD degree.
Non-degree students, students attending certificate programs, and those doing post-doctoral research are not qualified for OPT.
Students transitioning to the University of Utah main campus from the Asia Campus must have completed two consecutive semesters at the main (Salt Lake City) campus and must be attending the main campus in their final semester to be eligible to apply for OPT.
Students must not have accumulated more than 12 months of full-time CPT during the student's current degree level. Students are responsible for tracking their full-time CPT months.
Students in terminated status are not eligible for OPT.
More information can be found in the Frequently Asked Questions under "General."
The Post-Completion OPT I-20 will be processed by ISSS within 10 business days once the application is submitted.
ISSS is not able to expedite any request as we strive to provide fair and equitable service to all students. It is the student's responsibility to ensure they submit their request in a timely manner.
Calling or emailing ISSS to ask for your request to be expedited will slow down the process. We ask that you patiently wait until a decision is made.
Student must submit the OPT application to USCIS within 30 days from when the I-20 was issued by ISSS. Contact ISSS immediately if you have not submitted your OPT application to USCIS and your I-20 is older than 30 days.
If requesting for a new OPT I-20, students must submit a NEW OPT I-20 request to ISSS and not an I-20 Reprint Request.
Students on approved Post-OPT are allowed up to 90 days of unemployment during their authorized OPT. Students must work at least 21 hours per week or more to be considered employed full-time. If students are working fewer than 20 hours per week, they will be using up unemployment days.
Students must report their employment to the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) Portal to avoid using up their 90 days of unemployment.
Students are responsible for notifying USCIS of their employment within 10 days of starting or ending their job. For more information about the SEVP Portal and reporting employment, students are encouraged to navigate to the Reporting Post-Completion OPT page.
Travelling on Post-Completion OPT can be complicated depending on when the student plans to travel and if the application is pending or approved. More information about traveling can be found in our Frequently Asked Questions section.
Post-completion opt process
Before submitting an e-form to ISSS, the student must attend the Mandatory OPT Workshop to better understand the process of applying for OPT and when to apply for OPT.
Apply as Early as Possible
The OPT application window will open 90 days BEFORE the program end date (more information in the next section.) Students will also have the option to apply for OPT up to 60 days (grace period) AFTER the program end date. Students cannot submit an application to USCIS before the 90 day period or after the 60 day period as it will result in a denial.
It is recommended that students apply during the 90 day window in order to submit and receive a decision in a timely manner. For processing time, please see the Processing Times from USCIS.
Choosing an OPT Start Date
Students are not eligible to begin working UNTIL the approved OPT start date as listed on the OPT EAD card. The OPT Start Date is only a request and may change.
Before submitting a request to ISSS for an OPT I-20, students will need to pick a start date for their OPT. The start date must fall between the program end date on your I-20 and the 60-day grace period that follows.
Below are some suggestions to help the student make the right decision when picking a start date:
Choosing an Earlier OPT Start Date
Students will choose an earlier start date if they have a job lined up. If the student chooses an earlier start date and cannot find a job quickly, the student is at risk of losing unemployment days. If the student uses up their entire 90 days of unemployment they will need to leave the U.S.
Choosing a Later OPT Start Date
Most students will choose this option so that they have more time to find a job and have a less chance to be unemployed for 90 days.
Program End Date
The program completion date or program end date is on the student's I-20. Students will apply for OPT based on the semester the students complete program requirements. ISSS will adjust the program completion date on the student's I-20.
The program completion date corresponds with the last day of finals and not necessarily the date of the graduation ceremony or degree conferral date.
Graduate Thesis Students
The program completion date may be the last day of the defense semester or the date of the student's thesis defense. It is recommended that students consult with an ISSS advisor prior to making a final decision.
Post-Completion OPT Sample Application Timeline
Applying for the post-opt i-20 & Form I-765 (Uscis)
- Login to UAtlas and go to "F-1 Practical Training"
Complete the "OPT: Post or Pre Completion I-20 Request" e-form and indicate "Post-Completion OPT"
- A Designated School Official (DSO) from ISSS will review the completed application.
Once the DSO receives the completed application, they will process it within 10 business days. DSO's will review the student's application, course enrollment and once the application is approved, the student will receive an email from ISSS.
- Receiving the OPT I-20
Once the OPT request is approved, the DSO will send the I-20 electronically through UAtlas. Students will receive a second email with instructions on how to retrieve the I-20. Students are advised to immediately print and sign the I-20 and scan it for the application.
The OPT I-20 that is issued by ISSS is only valid for 30 days. Students will need to apply for OPT before the OPT I-20 is considered "old." Students who have an old OPT I-20 will need to submit a new request to ISSS. Do NOT file for OPT with USCIS using an OPT I-20 that is more than 30 days old. We recommend that you submit it well before it reaches the 30 day mark. More information can be found in our policy section under OPT I-20 (30 Day Validity).
- Prepare OPT Application for USCIS
Students are required to attend an OPT Workshop by ISSS to avoid confusion and filling out the application incorrectly. ISSS will not offer one-on-one application reviews. More information about the workshops can be found in our Events Calendar.
Below students will have the option to either send the application by mail or online. Students cannot do both options:
Students are required to review our guide on how to fill out an application where we have compiled all the questions taken from the application into one document and provide additional information to each question.
Collect Documents to mail with I-765 paper application to USCIS (in the recommended order):
- G-1145 (for paper application only) - Downloadable from https://www.uscis.gov/g-1145 . By completing this form you are requesting an email or text message to be sent to you when your application arrives at the USCIS office. Place this on the top of your application so they are aware of your request.
- Two U.S. passport type photographs- photos must be taken within the past 30 days and may not be the same photos used for other government requests, such as passport or visa renewals. Print your name and I-94 number clearly on the back of each photo and make sure to not damage the photos. USCIS recommends you use a pencil and write the information lightly but readable. Put the photos in an envelope and attach it to front of I-765 and indicate on the envelope the photos are inside. Ensure the photos are U.S. passport requirements. Photos from your home country may not be the correct size or may be too old to be used.
- Application Fee- In the form of check or money order, made t o the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. You can find the appropriate fee by using the USCIS Fee Calculator https://www.uscis.gov/feecalculator , select “I-765”, “Permission to accept Employment”, “Foreign Students” then “(c)(3)(B)” for post-completion OPT. The fee can also be found https://www.uscis.gov/i-765
- Form I-765 (downloadable from https://www.uscis.gov/i-765 . Instructions on how to complete this form are in the I-765 Instructions guide. Also use the I-765 webpage to confirm the edition date of your Form I-765 is acceptable to USCIS. You can find a Post-Completion OPT mock I-765 form below:
- A copy of:
- Post-Completion OPT I-20 issued from ISSS with your requested dates (Remember: USCIS must receive it within 30 days from the issue date). Make sure you sign and date your Post-Completion OPT I-20.
- Valid passport identification page (and the expiration date page if it’s on a separate page).
- F-1 Visa- the most recent F-1 visa issued to you.
- I-94 (obtainable at https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94/#/home)
- Previous EAD card, include a copy of the front and back (only if you have been approved for OPT in
the
past)
Submit Payment
The options are below (This is only a guideline, ISSS is not liable for incorrect payments submitted to USCIS)
- Personal Check - Must be made to "U.S. Department of Homeland Security." Under "For" you will list the SEVIS ID (starts with N, found on your I-20), OPT
- Money Order:
- Pay to "U.S. Department of Homeland Security". If the money order asks for the recipient address, you should list the address where you are mailing your application.
- In the Memo/Payment For Section put "Your SEVIS ID Number, OPT"
- In the bottom right corner, sign your name in the "From" section.
- In the money order asks for your purchaser's address, include your mailing address noted on your I-765 application form.
- Keep the receipt portion of the money order for your records as that is the only way to track your payment.
- Do not sign the back of the money order as it will void the payment.
Mail Documents to USCIS
- Keep copies of everything you mail for your own record.
- Mail all the required documents (listed on page 5) to USCIS. USCIS must receive your application within 30 days from when your Post-Completion OPT I-20 was issued.
- If USCIS receives your packet earlier than 90 days before your program completion date or later than 60 days after your program end date, as listed on the OPT I-20, the packet may be rejected right away or worse, be denied about 3 months later.
- To find the appropriate mailing address, please refer to USCIS website: https://www.uscis.gov/i-765. Also use the I-765 webpage to confirm the edition date of your Form I-765 is acceptable to USCIS.
- If you receive I-797 receipt, keep it in a safe place as it is proof of your pending Post-Completion OPT application and allows you to remain in the United States after your program has ended.
After receiving approval for post-opT
Do not start employment BEFORE receiving the Employment Authorization Document (EAD) Card.
- Review the Reporting Requirements for Post-Completion OPT
Students are required to understand the requirements to report while on OPT by reviewing the Reporting Requirements for Post-Completion OPT page.
Post-Completion OPT - Frequently Asked Questions
Applying for Post-Completion OPT is a two-step process. You must first obtain your Post-Completion OPT I-20 from International Student & Scholar Services (ISSS), which has 10 business day processing time, and then mail your application with all the required documents to USCIS to obtain an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) card, which takes average of 3-5 months to process.
You must apply for Post-Completion OPT no earlier than 90 days before your program end date and no later than 60 days after your program end date. If you send in your Post-Completion OPT application more than 90 days before your program ends or after your 60-day grace period is over, your request will be denied by USCIS.
For undergraduate and non-thesis graduate students, the program end date is the last
day of your final semester (last day of final exams) meaning the semester that you
complete your last classes needed to meet graduation requirements. You cannot continue
enrollment or delay graduation once requirements have been met. If you are a double-major,
you must seek advising from ISSS to clarify your program end date – you should do
this before your last semester. For thesis graduate students, the program completion
date can be the last day of your defense semester or your defense date. Graduate thesis
students are eligible for Post-Completion OPT after they have
defended their thesis. It is not necessary to have graduated or obtained a diploma
to apply for Post-Completion OPT.
You need to have your complete Post-Completion OPT application received by the appropriate
USCIS Service
Center within 30 days of the Post-Completion OPT I-20 issue date by ISSS. Applications
that arrive after the 30 days will be rejected or denied at a later date. You will
miss your opportunity to participate in Post-Completion OPT if you cannot refile before
your grace period ends.
No. You must have received your EAD card to show that you have legal work status.
Any employment done before
the EAD card has arrived is illegal and may harm Post-Completion OPT as well as your
future chances of obtaining an H-1B visa, permanent residency or other types of benefits
from immigration. You are not allowed to work on or off-campus, paid or unpaid, after your program end
date on your I-20 until you receive your EAD card AND your Post-Completion OPT start
date on the EAD has begun.
You are not eligible for Post-Completion OPT if you have participated in 12 months
or more of full-time CPT. Past
participation in part-time CPT or full-time CPT for less than 12 months should not
affect your Post-Completion OPT eligibility unless USCIS determines CPT was used to
facilitate employment rather than to serve as a temporary internship opportunity.
Students may participate in full or part time CPT in their last semester but they
must maintain a physical presence on campus in Salt Lake City and may not participate
in CPT in another state. Students approved for CPT may not work past the CPT end date.
Graduate thesis students may not participate in CPT once they have defended.
Be aware that CPT employment in the last semester should be added to your I-20 before
you request an OPT I-20. Requesting CPT after filing for OPT with USCIS can complicate
your OPT application and may raise a red flag with immigration. Speak with an ISSS
advisor for details. Also, be aware that USCIS forbids using CPT in the last semester
as a way to start OPT employment “early” or to otherwise facilitate OPT employment.
If you have questions, speak with an ISSS advisor.
Federal regulations state that post-completion OPT must be completed within 14 months of your program end date. If you decide to apply for Post-Completion OPT AFTER the completion date of your program, USCIS may still take 90 days to process the I-765 application. The time that USCIS takes to adjudicate your request will be taking time away from when you would have been working on OPT. This means that if the processing time for your PostCompletion OPT goes beyond the 60 days past your program end date on the front of your I-20, this time will be deducted from your 12 months of OPT.
For Post-Completion OPT, the employment does NOT have to be paid employment, although it is recommended. Interning or volunteering in a position directly related to the academic field is considered “employment” for the purposes of Post-Completion OPT employment. To apply for the 24-month STEM extension, work must be paid employment with an E-Verify employer at least 21 hours per week.
After completing one year of Post-Completion OPT, you must complete a higher academic level (Bachelors, Masters, or PhD) before you are eligible for another OPT. If you complete a second degree at the same level and if you already applied and have been approved for Post-Completion OPT at that level, you are not eligible for a second Post-Completion OPT after completing the second degree. If you complete a PhD degree, you may not apply for a Masters level OPT even if you have never participated in the OPT on that level before, rather you must apply for OPT based on your PHD degree.
Yes, your lawful F-1 status expires 60 days after your last day of Post-Completion OPT. During your 60-day grace period, you may not engage in any employment or studies. You are expected to depart the country at the end of the 60 days or else be in pending status for a new degree program or a new visa status or have transferred your SEVIS record out. Note that if you will begin a new program at the University of Utah, your new program I-20 must be issued before your grace period ends or you will be out of status and will need to depart the US. If you exit the country during your 60- day grace period, you may not re-enter on your F-1 Post-Completion OPT I-20. Please note that if you decide to end your Post-Completion OPT early or have accrued more than 90 days of unemployment days, you are not eligible for a 60 day grace period and must depart U.S. as soon as possible.
The answer to this question varies on many factors. Please meet with an ISSS advisor to discuss your options.
International Student & Scholar Services may have copies of your old I-20s in your file. You can request that ISSS make you copies of your old I-20s by completing the “Request for Document Copies” e-form, but keep in mind that it could take up to a week to process your request. It is always your responsibility to keep your I-20s. Your file may or may not contain copies of the documents you are looking for. It is best if you maintain a well-kept file of your documents in a safe place. Keep in mind you only need to submit I-20s at your current degree level for your OPT application. If you are missing I-20s, please submit what you currently have as including previous I-20s is a recommendation, not a requirement for the OPT application.
No, USCIS requires you indicate an address in the United States. The address you use may be a friend’s address or a P. O. Box. If you use a friend’s address, you must put their name in the “in care of name” field on page 2 of the I-765. Contact ISSS if you have further questions about your mailing address.
When USCIS sends you your I-797 receipt notice in the mail, you will receive a receipt number. You can use this number to access information about your application at the USCIS Case Status page.
If you are granted the Post-Completion OPT work authorization and you are still in legal F-1 immigration status, then your dependents are still in legal F-2 immigration visa status. You will receive new I-20s for yourself and all dependents if you are eligible for the Post-Completion OPT work authorization. If you do not follow F-1 regulations while on Post-Completion OPT and fall out of status, your F-2 dependents automatically fall out of status with you.
Students who have decided to depart the country and re-enter with a new I-20 in order to reinstate their status will lose any time they have accrued toward qualification for Post-OPT. In other words, students who travel to reinstate are subject to another full academic year (2 full-time semesters) to be eligibile for OPT or CPT.
Students who have been previously approved for Post-Completion OPT in the same degree level cannot re-apply for OPT at that same level.
For example, a student was previously approved for a Bachelor's OPT, afterwards the student wanted to get a second Bachelor's degree, they are not eligible to apply for OPT for that second degree since it is the same degree level.
Yes, students can apply for OPT once per education degree level.
The answer to this question depends on if you have applied for Post-Completion OPT
and where you are in that
process:
Have not applied for Post-Completion OPT
If you have not applied yet, you may leave the U.S. during your grace
period but you will not be allowed to return on your F-1 student visa and you also
will lose the opportunity to
apply for Post-Completion OPT. If you wish to return to the U.S. on your student visa
and participate in PostCompletion OPT, you must send in your application and wait
for Post-Completion OPT approval before traveling outside of U.S.
Your Post-Completion OPT is pending
If you have a pending Post-Completion OPT application and it is after your program end date, it is very strongly recommended that you do NOT travel until your request has been approved by USCIS If you do depart U.S., please understand that entry into the U.S. is granted at the discretion of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer, and you travel at your own risk. If you still wish to travel while your PostCompletion OPT is pending, please speak with an ISSS advisor about the risks involved.
Your Post Completion OPT has been approved
After you have received your EAD card, your travel documents should include your signed Post-Completion OPT I-20, valid F-1 visa, a passport valid for at least six months, EAD card, and a letter from your employer (if applicable). The letter should state that they have employed you or plan on employing you, and you are coming back to the U.S. to work for them.
Note: When you receive your EAD card it will say, “Not valid for travel”. This means besides your EAD card, you will need your I-20, valid passport, and visa in order to travel.
These same rules apply for both the Post-Completion OPT and the 24 month STEM extension.
Please understand
that entry into the U.S. is granted at the discretion of the U.S. Customs and Border
Protection officer, and you
travel at your own risk.
Dependent travel
Since Post-Completion OPT is not noted on dependent I-20s, an F2 dependent must carry copies of the F-1 student’s I-20 with Post-Completion OPT recommendation, EAD card, and proof of employment, in addition to their own F-2 I-20 when traveling
You should always travel with valid passport, valid F-1 visa, most recent I-20 with
a travel signature, EAD card, and
if applicable, your job offer letter. Please refer to our Travel page for more information for OPT.
NO!! If you intend to continue working on your Post-Completion OPT authorization, NEVER enter in any other immigration status except F-1. If you leave the U.S. and re-enter with any other status than F-1, you will immediately forfeit your F-1 status. This means your Post-Completion OPT will be invalid.
It is possible and many students on Post-Completion OPT get their F-1 visa stamps renewed. You do have to be careful to demonstrate non-immigrant intent. The risk of denial of an application for a renewed visa stamp for Post-Completion OPT is somewhat higher than while you are in your active student program. The F-1 student visa requires that the applicant must intend to return to the home country at the end of the program, and if the embassy official is not convinced of your intention to return home, the visa application could be denied.
You need to take a valid passport, your EAD card, your Post-Completion OPT I-20 issued by ISSS, and your job offer letter or proof of employment (if applicable). You should also be prepared to discuss how this job experience will apply to the job market in your home country, and how you intend to apply it there. You should find additional information about required documents at your embassy’s website before your visa renewal appointment.
Yes. During Post-Completion OPT, if you travel outside the U.S., your I-20 must be signed for travel. The current travel signature on page 2 of your I-20 is valid for 6 months. If you return after this date, you may be denied reentry. For more information should check out our Travel page.
You are required to report your employment to SEVP within 10 days of beginning a new job. For more information about reporting are encouraged to review our Reporting Post-Completion OPT page.
SEVP will send you an email to your UMail account on the date that your Post-Completion OPT employment begins. This email will instruct you on how to register your portal account. You must register your account within 14 days of receiving the email. If you do not receive an email, check your junk or spam folders. For more information about the portal are encouraged to review the Reporting Post-Completion OPT page.
Your job must be related to your major. Your employment may or may not be paid while on Post-Completion OPT
You don’t need a job offer to apply for Post-Completion OPT.
Yes, you do need to be employed while on Post-Completion OPT. You are only allowed to have a total of 90 days of unemployment during approved Post-Completion OPT time. This total number of unemployment days applies through the entire period of Post-Completion OPT. If you have already used 30 days of unemployment on PostCompletion OPT and you lost your job 6 months into Post-Completion OPT, you then have 60 days of unemployment days left to find a job. Remember to report all employment changes to the SEVP portal
USCIS considers full-time work to be at least 21 hours or more per week. If you are working less than this, it is considered as unemployment time. ISSS strongly recommends students that are nearing the 90 days of unemployment apply for an internship (paid or unpaid) of at least 21 hours per week. Interning or volunteering in a position directly related to your academic field can be considered “employment” for the purpose of Post Completion OPT employment. Keep in mind, however, that you must be working in a paid position for an E-verified employer in order to apply for STEM OPT (if you are otherwise eligible)
Yes, each must be related to the student's major and must be properly reported in the SEVP Portal.
If students use up all of their unemployment days, they are considered out of status. Students do not get an additional grace period, and should leave the U.S. before the end of their unemployment period.
If you wish to return to school after you finish Post-Completion OPT, you must obtain a new I-20 from the International Admissions Office within 60 days of your OPT end date. You must begin classes within the next available semester or within 5 months, whichever is sooner. If you are changing schools, you must request that we transfer your SEVIS record within 60 days of your Post-Completion OPT end date.
Students are allowed to take classes while on Post-Completion OPT, but these classes
must be avocational in nature (for example, a cooking or exercise class) and may not
be part of a new degree and will not count towards maintaining your F-1 status. If
you are admitted into a new degree program, you will get a new I-20 and your PostCompletion
OPT will be cancelled.
Students are allowed to take classes while on Post-Completion OPT, but these classes
must be avocational in nature (for example, a cooking or exercise class) and may not
be part of a new degree program. If you are admitted into a new degree program, you
will need a new I-20 and your Post-Completion OPT will be cancelled once the new program
begins. Even if you don’t get a new I-20 because you are not transferring your SEVIS
record
or studying at the University of Utah, USCIS can still see this as a violation of
status if you remain on OPT.
Students are allowed to take classes while on Post-Completion OPT, but these classes must be avocational in nature (for example, a cooking or exercise class) and may not be part of a new degree and will not count towards maintaining your F-1 status. If you are admitted into a new degree program, you will get a new I-20 and your PostCompletion OPT will be cancelled.
Students can transfer their SEVIS record to a new school while on Post-Completion
OPT. Once you transfer your record to the new school, your Post-Completion OPT will
automatically terminate and you will not able to engage in employment until authorized
to do so from the new school. Please speak with ISSS advisor if you have any
concerns or questions. Students are encouraged to review our Transfer page.
Yes, a student who only has the thesis or equivalent remaining may either apply for pre-completion OPT or post-completion OPT while completing the thesis/dissertation. If a student in this situation applies for pre-completion OPT, he or she:
- May work full-time. 14 SEVP Policy Guidance 1004-003 Updates to Optional Practical Training
- Is not subject to the unemployment provision, and may receive a program extension.
- May not apply for the 24-month extension from a period of pre-completion OPT.
- Would not be eligible for the cap gap extension of OPT.
Alternatively, if a student in this situation applies for post-completion OPT, he or she:
- May work full-time.
- Would be eligible for the cap-gap extension.
- May apply for the 24-month extension if otherwise eligible.
- Would be subject to the unemployment provisions.
- Would be unable to receive an extension of his or her course of study.
The student should prepare to change status, change education level and/or transfer, or depart the country prior to the end of the 60 day grace period.
Your final semester would be the semester you pass your final defense to meet the graduation requirement. If you have already declared your last semester with ISSS but your plans changed, please reach out to ISSS immediately.
Yes, since you have successfully defended, you are considered to have met the graduation requirement and you should apply for post-completion OPT. Please keep in mind that if you are STEM eligible, you are required to show a copy of your diploma when applying for STEM OPT. Therefore, it is recommended that you work with the Thesis Office closely to ensure it is approved before you apply for STEM OPT