Optional Practical Training (OPT)

Optional Practical Training

Eligibility

Application Process

Requirements

FAQS

Provide the following to the International and Student Scholar Services by submitting an OPT I-20 E-form Request. This must be submitted up to 90 days before you complete your degree, but no later than 60 days after you complete your degree.
1. Signed letter from your academic department confirming your major and expected graduation date, or in the case of graduate students, confirming when all coursework will be completed (if thesis or dissertation is required). This means that you can still have thesis or dissertation credits remaining and apply for OPT.
2. USCIS Form I-765 (Application for Employment Authorization)
  - If you would like for the ISSS office to review this form for you, please submit it in your E-form request.
  - Only use black ink or type on the computer.
  - Answer all questions. Enter N/A for any questions that do not apply to you. If the answer to a question requires a numerical response and does not apply to you, enter NONE.
  - Answer item #27 with (c)(3)(B).
  - Do not sign your I-765 until you have received your OPT I-20. This signature needs to be on or after the issue date on your OPT I-20 and cannot be beyond 30 days.
  - Please see this Standard OPT I-765 template as a courtesy from our office. Please keep in mind that your answers may be different depending on your personal circumstances. Please read through all of the instructions before completing your I-765.
If approved by the ISSS Office, you will receive an email within 3-5 business days that your new Form I-20 is ready to be picked up in our office, along with a screenshot of your Curricular Practical Training record. Make sure that your OPT is listed on page 2 of your new Form I-20. Please come to pick up both of these, sign, and make a copy of the I-20.
Mail your application to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) within 30 days that this new Form I-20 is created, including the following:
1. Note: USCIS requires that they receive your application within 30 days of your advisor’s signature. Form Filing Tips
  - Check the USCIS Fee Calculator for the most up to date fee amount using category (c)(3)(B).
    - Check or money order payable to U.S. Department of Homeland Security OR
    - Credit card by using Form G-1450; include the form instead of a check or money order
      - We encourage students to use a check or money order as these have been the most reliable forms of payment in the past.
  - Form G-1145, E-Notification of Application/Petition Acceptance
  - Form I-765
    - Signed in black ink on or after the date your I-20 was created (7 pages)
  - Screenshot of SEVIS Curricular Practical Training (CPT) employment record
    - This will be provided to you by our office in lieu of copies of all previous Form I-20s showing CPT.
  - Copy of your most recent Form I-94 Departure Record
  - Copy of your passport showing your picture, name, and date of birth
  - Copy of your visa
  - Copy of any previous EADs (front and back) if you have participated in OPT in the past
  - Two identical passport-style color photos taken within 30 days of filing
    - We recommend that you write your I-94 number on the back of both of these photos lightly with pencil
    - The Administration Building (ASB Building) on campus provides a service to students to get these photos taken. Search “ASB” on map.byu.edu for the location of this building on campus.
  - Copy of your new OPT Form I-20 signed and dated on page 1
Send all of the above to USCIS. We recommend that you use certified return receipt mail when you send the application. The filing addresses change occasionally; please check the USCIS website for the most up-to-date addresses.
After you have sent your application:
- You will receive a mailed notification in approximately 2-3 weeks that your application was received by USCIS.
- It will take approximately 3 months for your OPT application to be processed. Once it has been processed, you will receive your EAD in the mail.
- Do not start working until your EAD arrives.
  - Make sure to fax, send, or leave a copy of your EAD with the ISSS office.

Reporting

Report your employment within 10 days of starting your OPT.
- SEVP will send an email when your OPT has been approved. This email should include a link where you can report your employment for your SEVIS record.
- You also have the option to report it through our office. This is done through an E-Form Request.
- Select “OPT Reporting” under the “F-1 Student Services” tab,
Report any changes in the information below within 10 days and confirm it again every six months even if there have been no changes.

The following table suggests the best way to report the required information:

Initial OPT job	Employer name Employment start date Employer mailing address
Change to a new job	Previous employer name Previous employment end date New employer name Employment start date Employer mailing address
Multiple short-term gigs in one period	Report at the beginning of the first gig and indicate "Multiple short-term gigs"
Work for hire (contract start)	Indicate "self-employed work for hire" Indicate the start date of the contract
Work for hire (contract)	Indicate "Self-employed work for hire" Indicate you have no current contract Ending date of the last contract worked
Unemployment	Indicate "unemployed" Ending date of last job
Self-employed business owner (start)	Indicate "Self-employed business owner" Indicate date you went into business
Self-employed business owner (end)	Indicate "Self-employed business owner" Indicate date your business closed or you no longer worked for the business full time
You decide to exit the U.S. and complete your F-1 status prior to the end date of OPT	Indicate "Completing OPT and exiting the U.S." Date of exit
Change in legal name	Documentation indicating new legal name
Change in residential or mailing address	New residential or mailing address

Unemployment

Use no more than 90 days of unemployment. The following counts towards unemployment:
- Each day between your start and end dates that you do not have qualifying employment
- Travel outside the U.S. while unemployed
- Travel while employed with authorization from your employer will not count towards your unemployment; this includes approved periods of authorized leave or work-related travel

Terminate your employment when:

your EAD expires
you transfer your SEVIS record to another school
begin study at another educational level with a new I-20
you exceed 90 days of unemployment
(whichever situation above comes first)

Depart the U.S. within 60 days of completing your OPT if your Form I-20 is not extended or transferred to another SEVIS approved school.

Frequently Asked Questions

Toggle Item
What can I put for my start and end dates?
START DATE
Undergraduates: This can be anytime after your graduation date up until 60 days after the expiration of your I-20. (e.g. If your I-20 expires on 12/17/2020, your start date would need to be by 02/14/2021)
We highly recommend that students not choose the last day of their 60-day grace period as their start date.
Graduates: This can either be after your expected graduation date OR after your expected date for completion of all coursework. This means that you will only have thesis or dissertation credits remaining when you would start your OPT. Graduate students may apply any time after completing all coursework. (Note: We will shorten your I-20 end date to your listed completion date.)
END DATE
The end date will be on the day before a year is completed. For example, if your start date is 01/14/2021, your end date will be 01/13/2022.
Toggle Item
Can I travel outside of the U.S. if my request for OPT is pending?

We advise students not to leave the United States between their program end date and when they receive their EAD. Such travel is considered an abandonment of your application and you may be ineligible to reapply or reenter the United States.
Toggle Item
Can I travel outside of the U.S. during OPT?

Approved OPT but no job: You may not be able to reenter unless you have a written job offer. We advise you to wait until you have received employment.
With a job: We recommend students to bring a printed copy of their offer of employment. It is also recommended for students to ask their employer to create a letter stating that your employer knows you will be leaving and are expecting you to return.
Travel for work purposes: We still encourage students to bring this employment offer letter and any other documents needed for international travel.
Note: Days that you travel outside of the United States are counted towards your unemployment unless authorized by your employer. (For more information on unemployment, please see the Requirements tab.)
Toggle Item
Who can I work for while on OPT?
Regular paid employment working for an established business or organization. (Students may work for more than one employer, but all employment must be related to the student's degree program.)
Employment through a staffing/employment agency
Contracted employment with an established business or organization.
Self-employed business owner, which is full established and registered with the state.
Short-term multiple employers working as a musician, or other performing artists may work for gigs. The student should maintain a list of all gigs, the dates and duration. (If requested by DHS, students must be prepared to provide evidence showing a list of gigs.)
Unpaid employment working as a volunteer or unpaid intern, which does not violate labor laws. (The work must be at least 20 hours per week.)
Toggle Item
When can I start working once my OPT application has been sent?

You can start working once you have received your Employment Authorization Document (EAD). Do not begin work until you have received this.
More information about the EAD

What happens if I change my address during the OPT application process?

Toggle Item
What if my completion date changes?

Please contact our office so we can figure out the best way to assist you.
Toggle Item
How long may I work?
Availability extends for one 12-month period directly after each higher educational level and may not be carried over if not used from one level to another.
Any authorized Pre-Completion OPT months are deducted from the available 12 months.
If you have a pending H-1B application you can extend your OPT. (Cap Gap Details)
If your major field of study and subsequent employment is in science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM major), you may be able to extend your training. (STEM major extension details)
If you are a Canadian or Mexican citizen, you may also qualify for TN status. (More information)
Toggle Item
How and when do I do reporting for my OPT?

Please see the "requirements" tab on this page for more information on reporting.
Toggle Item
What if I am in an integrated bachelor's and master's program?

If you wish to participate in an internship during the summer before your final year in the integrated program, you may apply for Curricular Practical Training. Please keep in mind that full-time CPT authorization during this period will be added to any previous full-time CPT authorization you have accrued throughout your program. More than 12 months of full-time CPT authorization will eliminate OPT eligibility, so please count your time carefully if you intend to apply for OPT after graduation.
Once your masters level I-20 has been activated for your final year of the integrated program, you will no longer be eligible for CPT. You may start applying for post-graduation OPT authorization in mid-January of your last year in the program. The application can take up to five months to process (though usually it takes three months or less), so be sure to apply early if you know you would like to have OPT authorization after graduation.
Please keep a scanned copies of all Forms I-20 for future reference and record.
Toggle Item
Am I legally allowed to work in the U.S. on an F-1 visa?

Yes. F-1 visa holders are legally allowed to work off-campus through Curricular Practical Training (after their first two semesters) and Optional Practical Training (after graduation) as long as they receive authorization through ISSS and USCIS, respectively, prior to working.
Toggle Item
Do I need "sponsorship" now or in the future?

Companies may choose to sponsor a worker on an F visa during their OPT as long as they meet the H-1B (sponsored worker visa) criteria. If you are choosing to pursue sponsorship then you may want to indicate this as part of your discussions with prospective employers, but we encourage you to make sure each prospective employer understands that you are legally eligible for work for up to 12 months (36 if in a STEM designated field) regardless of sponsorship beyond this term. If you are sponsored for an H-1B you enter a visa lottery and we encourage you and your employer to work with a qualified immigration attorney as part of that process.
We encourage you to work with your Career Advisors from each college as you navigate these employment opportunities
BYU Career Services
Marriott School of Business Career Center

USCIS	BYU
Use Electronic AR-11 to inform those processing your application of your new address.	Use Route Y to update your personal information which also automatically updates your address in the SEVIS database.

Optional Practical Training

Updated as of June 28, 2021

Please read:

Reporting

Unemployment

Terminate your employment when:

Frequently Asked Questions

How to Apply for OPT // BYU ISSS