Post-Completion Optional Practical Training (OPT) is defined as "temporary employment for practical training directly related to the student's major area of study.” F-1 students are eligible for 12 months of Post-completion OPT after the completion of their degree program per higher education level (Bachelor’s, Master’s, Other, and Doctoral). To apply, the first step is to submit your OPT request through the ISO Gateway.

F-1 international students are eligible to apply for OPT if they meet the following:

  • Currently hold active F-1 immigration status.
  • Have been lawfully enrolled on a full-time basis in an immigration status for one full academic year.
  • Have not used more than 12 months of Full Time CPT. Note that part time CPT has no effect on OPT eligibility.
  • Are physically present in the U.S. at the time of application.
  • Apply within the permissible OPT application period.
  • You can apply as early as 90 days prior to your expected program completion (generally, the program end date is the last date of final exams for your graduating semester).
  • USCIS must receive your full and complete OPT application with no errors during the OPT application period (up to 90 days before your program completion date and up to 60 days after your program completion date).
  • USCIS must receive your application within 30 days of when the ISO recommends the OPT on your I-20 in SEVIS.
  • If you fail to submit your application within 30 days after the day your OPT was recommended, but you are still within the 60-day grace period, please contact the ISO to renew your OPT recommendation and get an updated I-20.

Important: USCIS will deny OPT applications received after the 30-day deadline, and after the 60-day grace period

  • When applying for OPT, you are required to choose a start date. This start date can be any date from the day after your program completes and up to 60 days after. Note that this is a “requested” start date, it is not guaranteed. Based on when you submit your application and when you request to start your OPT, USCIS will make the final decision on your authorized OPT start and end dates. These dates will be listed on your EAD card. Keep in mind that your 12 months of OPT must take place within the 14 months following your program end date.

Note: You are not allowed to start work until you receive your EAD (Employment Authorization Document) in hand and until the start date listed on the EAD card.

  • While on OPT, F-1 students are allowed 90 days of unemployment starting from the approved start date listed on the EAD card. Failing to secure employment within a cumulative 90 days will constitute a violation of your F-1 status, and you should plan to depart the US before the 90th day arrives.
  • If you are on an H-1B cap-gap extension of your OPT, the total of allowed unemployed days is still 90 days. This means when you add together the time you were unemployed during your initial 12 months and the time you were unemployed during your H-1B cap-gap extension, they cannot total more than 90 days.

The application process for OPT is a six-step process that involves you, your academic department, the ISO and USCIS:

Step 1: Request OPT recommendation from the ISO, and receive an updated I-20 reflecting the OPT recommended start date. Please see the How to Request an OPT Recommendation from the ISO section below for more information.
Step 2: Prepare your OPT application materials. A list of these materials can be found below under “ISO OPT Recommendation.”
Step 3: File an OPT application with USCIS within 30 days of the ISO’s recommendation. Students usually receive a receipt from USCIS within one to two weeks. You can use your receipt number to check the status of your case at the USCIS Case Status page.
Step 4: USCIS will adjudicate the OPT application.
Step 5: If approved, you will receive an approval notice, and then an EAD work authorization card.
Step 6: Begin employment and report to the ISO

Once you are eligible for OPT, you will need to prepare the documents required to get your OPT recommendation from the ISO.

Please submit your application to the ISO through the ISO Gateway and allow up to 5 business days for processing.

Your request to ISO must submitted through the ISO Gateway. The following documents will be needed to complete the eForm:

  • A draft copy of the I-765 – DO NOT SUBMIT TO USCIS before obtaining the I-20 with the OPT recommendation from the ISO! Refer to our OPT Online Guide for detailed instructions.
  • Copies of all previous issued I-20s from TCU and any U.S schools you have attended that contain CPT/OPT authorizations.
  • A readable printout of your most recent I-94.
  • Copy of the biographic page of your unexpired passport (Valid for at least 6 months from the date USCIS receives the application).
  • Copy of your F-1 visa.
  • Copy of any previously issued Employment Authorization Documents (if applicable).

To request a Post-Completion OPT Recommendation,  submit your application to the ISO through the ISO Gateway. The ISO will review your request upon submission, but you as the student have the responsibility to review your entire submission for anything that may lead to a denial and ask the ISO if you have any questions.

Once you have received your new Form I-20 with an OPT recommendation on Page 2 from the ISO, please review the following information:

Note the OPT recommendation dates on Page 2 of your I-20. Ensure the requested OPT dates are correct.

Also note the program end date in Item 5 on Page 1 of your I-20. Your program end date might have been shortened to reflect the actual date when you will complete (or completed) all program requirements.

Important: You must cease all on-campus and/or off-campus employment the day after you complete all of your program requirements.

On 4/12/2021, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that F-1 students seeking Optional Practical Training (OPT) can now file their form I-765 online if filling under the pre-completion, post-completion and the 24-month STEM extension categories.

It is extremely important to proceed carefully with the online application process. The system allows you to submit your application without all required documents and this may result in complications with your online application.

Apply online:
*Refer to our OPT Online Guide for detailed instructions

  • $470 to be paid at the end of the application electronically. Note: Do not make payment without double checking your application for errors. Do not submit your request to USICS or make payment prior to obtaining the I-20 with the ISO OPT recommendation. Once payment is submitted, no corrections/edits may be made.
  • One passport style photo, no more than six months old (Photo Guidelines)
  • Copy of your new I-20 with OPT recommendation
  • Copies of all previous issued I-20s from TCU with CPT/OPT authorizations
  • Your most recent I-94 (Download from CBP)
  • Copy of your passport identification/signature page and the page showing your passport expiration date (Must be valid for at least 6 months from the date USCIS receives the application)
  • Copy of your F-1 visa (optional)
  • Copy of any previous EADs (if applicable)

Note: The online application itself is the I-765. Before you submit payment, you will have a chance to review your online application by downloading a draft of your application

 

 

Due to the high volume of OPT applications, USCIS’ processing time can exceed 90 days. We advise students to carefully plan when they send their application, but as a general rule we recommend that students apply for OPT as early as possible.

Within 1-2 weeks of your submission, USCIS will send you a receipt notice (Form I-797). This is proof that USCIS has received your application. The receipt will have your name and your case number. You can use the case number to track the progress of your application on the USCIS Website. We also recommend that you sign up for an account with uscis.gov to track your application.

USCIS may in certain occasions send a Request for Evidence (RFE) to the student. The request is usually sent when USCIS has further questions and/or the application is missing something. If you receive an RFE, please contact the ISO as soon as possible so we can advise you on how to respond to it.

Even after F-1 students begin OPT, the ISO will still monitor students’ SEVIS status, and students must still work with the ISO to maintain their F-1 visa status. It is the student’s responsibility to report information related to their post-completion employment. The ISO will continue to support and maintain the students’ record during this period.

In order to maintain their F-1 status while on OPT, all students must follow certain immigration regulations:

  • Students are only allowed to start work from the start date in their EAD card.
  • All employment opportunities should be related to the student’s field of study.
  • Students are not allowed to remain in the U.S while on OPT if they are not employed or actively seeking employment.
  • Students are allowed 90 days of unemployment from the start date of their OPT.
  • Students are liable on reporting all their employments, personal and employer’s address and contact information. Any changes or updates should be updated within 10 days.
  • The travel signature is only valid for 6 months.

It is the students’ responsibility to report any changes or updates of the below information to the ISO within 10 days:

  • Copy of OPT EAD card once received
  • Change of name
  • Change of current residential address
  • Change of US telephone number and email address
  • Start and end date of all employment – Name of the employer, contact information mailing address
  • Hours of employment Part time vs Full time
  • Decision to end OPT and leave the U.S.A.
  • Change of immigration status
  • Name of the employer, contact information mailing address
  • Hours of employment Part time vs Full time
  • Decision to end OPT and leave the U.S.A.
  • Change of immigration status

SEVP created a Portal to be used by F-1 students who have been approved by the USCIS for post-completion OPT.

Students should update the following employment and personal information through the SEVP portal in addition to reporting the information to the ISO:

  • Employment start date and end date
  • Employer name and address
  • Brief description on how employment relates to studies
  • Indicate full-time or part-time employment
  • Current physical address in the U.S.
  • Current mailing address in the U.S. (if different from physical address)
  • Current telephone number

The SEVP portal account will only be available to students once they receive their EAD and their OPT starts. Students should receive an email to their email address in the SEVIS record from Do-not-reply.sevp@ice.dhs.gov containing an access link to the SEVP Portal which enable them to create the portal account.

If your OPT starts and you have not received the portal account link, please submit a scanned copy of your EAD and employment information to internationalservices@tcu.edu.

While students are on OPT, and as long as their employment is directly related to their degree program they can engage in:

  • Paid employment, full time or no less than 20 hours per week
  • Unpaid employment as volunteers or unpaid intern
  • Multiple employers at the same time.
  • Work for hire, which is work based on a contractual relationship between the student and the employer. The employment is also referred to as 1099 employment. Students are advised to keep detailed record about their contracts and employment evidence.
  • Self-employed by starting a business on their own. Students must make sure to apply for the proper business licenses and that the business is related to their degree program

It is possible to travel outside of the U.S. while on OPT. However, you should consider the impact your OPT application will have on the likelihood that you will be re-admitted to the US. There is always a risk when re-entering the US that you will not be permitted to enter, however on OPT these risks can be minimized if you travel with all of the recommended documentation and at certain times during the OPT application process.

The least risky time to travel is before your I-20 expires, regardless of whether you have applied for post-completion OPT or not OR after your OPT is approved and you have your Employment Authorization Document (EAD) card and a job which you have already begun working in.

Any time in between these two milestones in the OPT application process carry with them an increased risk of being denied re-entry. You should direct these questions to an ISO advisor.

  • Updated I-20 with a valid travel signature. Remember while on OPT a travel signature is valid only for 6 months
  • Passport, valid for at least 6 months
  • F-1 Visa, valid on the date of your planned re-entry
  • Valid Employment Authorization Document (“EAD card”)
  • (Recommended) I-797 Approval Notice
  • (Recommended) Evidence of employment, including job offer
  • (Recommended) Copy of university diploma and transcript

The status and SEVIS record of F-1 students on OPT remain active and monitored by the ISO. It is important that you notify us of any changes to your immigration status including when:

  • You decide to end your OPT and leave the U.S. permanently before your EAD expires.
  • You apply for change status
  • You get approved the change status, such as H-1B, E-3 etc. or obtain Legal Permanent Resident status.

Is your current degree, or a degree that you previously received in the U.S. on the STEM Designated Degree Program List? If so, you may be eligible to apply for a 24-month STEM extension.

Please visit our STEM Extension page for more information.

The ISO offers several OPT workshops per year. For more information on upcoming workshops, see our events page or send an email to internationalservices@tcu.edu.