Optional Practical Training (OPT) + STEM OPT Extension
Optional Practical Training (OPT) is “temporary employment for practical training directly related to the student’s major area of study” that may be obtained from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) as a benefit of maintaining lawful F-1 status. OPT authorization allows F-1 students to gain work experience in their field of study. Eligible F-1 students earn up to 12 months of OPT at each academic level (i.e., bachelor’s, master’s, PhD).
Post-Completion OPT
- OPT authorization that begins after completion of your academic program is called Post-Completion OPT. This is the most commonly used type of OPT. Post-completion OPT can be part-time (20 hours per week) or full-time (more than 20 hours per week).
- You can submit your Post-Completion OPT application up to 90 days prior to and up to 60 days after your I-20 program end date.
Pre-Completion OPT
- OPT used while you are still enrolled in your course of study and prior to your program end date is called pre-completion OPT.
- Pre-completion OPT is deducted from the 12 months of OPT eligibility, and most students prefer to save OPT for after program completion.
- Pre-completion OPT must be part-time (up to 20 hours per week) if used during the Fall or Spring semesters but can be full-time (more than 20 hours per week) if used during J-Term or Summer break.
- You may start the OPT application process up to 90 days before your requested employment start date.
Elmhurst University Online OPT Filing Guide
Students are eligible for OPT when they meet the following requirements:
- Have active F-1 status
- Have completed one academic year (two semesters) of full-time study or will complete one academic year by the date of your OPT approval
- Are making normal academic progress
- Have not been authorized for a total of 12 months of full-time CPT
- Have not previously been authorized for OPT at the same degree level
- Please note: You do not need a job offer to apply for OPT; you can apply for the 12-month OPT authorization without a job offer. All job offers must be directly related to your academic major.
Students interested in obtaining an OPT authorization should discuss OPT eligibility with a DSO early (preferably at least one to two months prior to your desired application submission date).
Note: An OPT Requested I-20 is required for the USCIS OPT application. Submitting an application without the OPT Requested I-20 will result in denial of your application by USCIS.
Step 1: Internal (Elmhurst University) Process
- Log in to the myElmhurst Portal and access the Etrieve Forms app
- Access, complete, and submit the “F-1 OPT I-20 Request Form”
- Indicate Post-Completion or Pre-Completion
- Indicate Full-Time (post-completion) or Part-Time
- Indicate your desired start date and end date
- For post-completion OPT, your requested start date must be within 60 days of your I-20 program end date; Your requested end date should be one year minus one day (365 days) from the requested start date.
- Your Academic Advisor/Program Director will receive an email to complete the “Academic Verification” section
- Once the full form is received, a DSO will review and issue an OPT Requested I-20 with the requested dates if eligibility is met
- Please Note: OPT applications must be submitted within 30 days of the OPT Requested I-20 date of issuance.
- If either form is incomplete or incorrectly filled out, it will be denied and you will need to restart the request process
Step 2: External (USCIS) Process*
- Create a USCIS Account
- Log-in to your USCIS Account
- Select the Form I-765 (Employment Authorization)
- Choose the correct employment eligibility code:
- (c)(3)(B) for Post-Completion OPT
- (c)(3)(A) for Pre-Completion OPT
- Provide all requested Information on the form
- Submit all requested Evidence
- 2×2 Photo of You: Passport Style Photograph
- Form I-94: I-94 Record; if you processed a Change of Status within the US also attach your I-797A Notice of Approval
- Employment Authorization Document: Passport and any previous/current EAD(s) (if applicable)
- Previously Authorized CPT or OPT: Copy of previous I-20s with CPT or OPT information (if applicable)
- Form I-20: OPT Requested I-20
- Pay the filing fee
- Submit
- Choose the correct employment eligibility code:
*Students can download and view the following Online OPT Filing Guide for step-by-step instructions:
- Monitor your myUSCIS Portal for messages and updates
- It usually takes 60-90 days for USCIS to process your OPT application. You can check the processing time here.
- If or when USCIS approves your OPT application:
- USCIS will issue an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) card. You cannot start working until the start date listed on your EAD card has passed.
- Review your EAD to confirm accuracy. If inaccurate, contact ISS to discuss resolutions.
- Set-up your SEVP Portal to report your employment. SEVP will contact you via the email associated with your SEVIS record.
- USCIS will issue an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) card. You cannot start working until the start date listed on your EAD card has passed.
- You are required to report all employment in the SEVP Portal within 10 days of starting employment. If 10 days have passed you will be unable to report your own employment and must reach out to [email protected]. Please report any employment updates in the SEVP Portal as well.
- You are allowed to accrue up to 90 cumulative days of unemployment while on OPT. If you exceed 90 days of unemployment your SEVIS record automatically complete (causing the end of your OPT as well) so it’s important to report and start employment prior to accumulating 90 days of unemployment. Failure to report your employment to avoid exceeding 90 days of unemployment in SEVIS will result in automatic completion of your SEVIS record.
- Employment must be directly related to your degree level and major field of study and be at least 20 hours per week to avoid accruing unemployment
- Keep a record of your job offers, paystubs, and other employment documents
- Update your contact email with ISS (and in the SEVP Portal)
Failure to report your employment information to ISS or comply with unemployment restrictions will result in the automatic termination of your SEVIS record and F-1 status by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
STEM OPT Extension
Students in their 12-month OPT authorization period, with a qualifying STEM degree and working for an E-Verify registered employer, may apply for an extension of their OPT. The CIP code of the degree’s major field of study listed on your I-20 must appear on the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List. Students can submit a STEM OPT Extension application to USCIS between 90 days prior to and up to their authorized OPT end date.
ELMHURST UNIVERSITY ONLINE STEM OPT EXTENSION FILING GUIDE
Students are eligible for CPT when they meet the following requirements:
- Have active F-1 status
- Have completed a STEM-Qualifying bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree from an accredited, SEVIS-certified U.S. school
- Check if your CIP code on your I-20 is on the DHS STEM-designated degree program list here.
- Are in a valid period of OPT
- Have an offer of paid employment for at least 20 hours per week from an employer that is enrolled in the E-Verify program and has an IRS Employer Identification Number (EIN), and is a bona-fide employer-employee relationship (self-employment is not allowed for STEM OPT Extensions)
- Check with your supervisor or HR representative
- Have not exceeded 90 days of unemployment in your current OPT period
Students interested in obtaining STEM OPT Extension authorization should discuss STEM OPT Extension eligibility with a DSO early (preferably at least one to two months prior to your desired application submission date).
Note: A STEM OPT Extension Requested I-20 is required for the USCIS OPT application. Submitting an application without the STEM Extension OPT Requested I-20 will result in denial of your application by USCIS.
Step 1: Internal (Employer & Elmhurst University) Process
- Access and complete the Form I-983 with your employer
- All sections must be completed and signed except for the two review sections in the end
- For the STEM Extension OPT, your requested start date must the day after your OPT end date; your requested end date must be two years minus one day (729 days) from the requested start date
- Log in to the myElmhurst Portal and access the Etrieve Forms app
- Access and complete the F-1 STEM OPT I-20 Request form
- Make sure to attach your completed Form I-983
- Click Submit
- Once your completed form has been received, a DSO will check for accuracy and completion and will issue your STEM OPT Extension requested I-20 with the appropriate dates
- If the Form I-983 is incomplete or incorrectly filled out, your form will be denied. You will be notified on the steps to complete/correct your I-983 and can submit a new form once complete.
- Please Note:
- STEM Extension OPT applications must be submitted within 30 days of the OPT Requested I-20 date of issuance.
Step 2: External (USCIS) Process
- Log-in to your USCIS Account
- Select the Form I-765 (Employment Authorization)
- Choose (c)(3)(C) as the employment eligibility code for STEM Extension OPT
- Provide all requested Information on the form
- Upload all requested Evidence
- 2×2 Photo of You: Passport Style Photograph
- Form I-94: I-94 Record; if you processed a Change of Status within the US also attach your I-797A Notice of Approval
- Employment Authorization Document: EAD card and Passport
- Form I-20: STEM Extension OPT Requested I-20
- College Degree: Diploma copy (required) and Transcript (optional – you can request transcripts here)
- Institutional Accreditation (only if based on previous degree not connected to current OPT)
- Review your application
- Pay the filing fee
- Submit
Application Timeline
- You are allowed to file up to 90 days prior to your current OPT EAD card expiration date
- USCIS must receive your 24-month STEM OPT Extension application before your current OPT EAD card expiration date
- USCIS must also receive your 24-month STEM OPT Extension application within 60 days of your STEM OPT Extension recommendation date
- Failure to submit your application according to the timeline requirements above will result in a denial of your application
*Students can download and view the following Online STEM OPT Extension Filing Guide for step-by-step instructions:
- Monitor your myUSCIS Portal for messages and updates
- It usually takes 60-90 days for USCIS to process your OPT application. You can check the processing time here.
- If or when USCIS approves your STEM Extension OPT application:
- USCIS will issue a new Employment Authorization Document (EAD) card.
- Review your EAD to confirm accuracy. If inaccurate, contact ISS to discuss resolutions.
- SEVP will email you to set-up your SEVP Portal; do so within the required time limit
- USCIS will issue a new Employment Authorization Document (EAD) card.
- You are allowed to accrue an additional 60 days of unemployment while on your STEM OPT Extension, which is in addition to the 90-day maximum period of unemployment allowed during your initial period of OP
- Employment must be directly related to your degree level and major field of study and be at least 20 hours per week to avoid accruing unemployment
- Keep a record of your job offers, paystubs, and other employment documents
- Update your contact email with ISS (and in the SEVP Portal)
- Reporting Changes in Employment is required:
- If there is a “material” change in your employment, please submit an updated I-983 form to ISS
- If you change employers while your STEM OPT Extension application is pending or after it is approved, you must notify ISS within 10 days of the change, submit a self-evaluation (last page on your I-983), and a new I-983 for your new employer. Changing employers while your application is pending requires you to interfile an updated application with USCIS.
- The employer address should be the address to which you report for work. If your site of activity and/or supervisor information changes, please report to ISS within 10 days.
- You must confirm your contact and employment information at 6-month, 12-month, 18-month, and 24-month intervals
- You must submit a self-evaluation (last page of the I-983) to ISS at the 12-month and 24-month intervals.
- Keep a record of your job offers, paystubs, and other employment documents
Failure to report your employment information to ISS or comply with unemployment restrictions will result in the automatic termination of your SEVIS record and F-1 status by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security
USCIS Premium Processing for OPT & STEM OPT Applications
USCIS allows for Premium Processing applications for the following Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization types:
- Pre-Completion OPT: (c)(3)(A)
- Post-Completion OPT: (c)(3)(B)
- STEM OPT Extension: (c)(3)(C)
Premium Processing guarantees adjudicative action (review and decision) within 30 days for Form I-765 applications. It does not, however, affect or guarantee the outcome of an application.
Students that would like to utilize Premium Processing will file a Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing Service. The USCIS Form I-907 page provides instructions on how to file the form online by application type, which will require the creation of a USCIS online account, choosing the appropriate Form I-765 application type to file, choosing Premium Processing, and completing the application as prompted. Please note that Premium Processing must be applied for at the time of filing the Form I-765 application. Applicants must pay a fee when filing a Premium Processing request; current fees by Form type can be found on the USCIS Fee Schedule page.
Please reach out to ISS if you have any questions about Premium Processing.
Obtaining an Updated I-20 While on OPT/STEM OPT Extension
OPT
Students on OPT can request a reprint of their I-20 via the F-1 I-20 SEVIS Reprint Request form on Etrieve Forms after OPT approval and/or submitting their Employment updates via the SEVP Portal, which must be done within 10 days of employment start (preferred); after the 10 days, students can request a manual employment update via the form.
To request a reprint/employment update:
- Log-in to Etrieve Forms
- Select the F-1 I-20 SEVIS Reprint Request form
- Choose “OPT Employment Update” as the reason for the request
- Select either “OPT Approved” or “OPT Employer Update”
- Indicate “Yes” or “No” for whether or not employment was submitted on the SEVP OPT Portal
- Note – students should utilize the SEVP OPT Portal as a default, first option whenever possible
- If “No” and it is past 10 days from your employment start date, you will be prompted to fill out all employer details, as well as attach a job offer letter
- Complete all other fields and click “Submit”
- Your updated I-20 will be emailed to you, as well as employment added as required if all details are provided
STEM OPT Extension
Any employment updates while on STEM OPT Extension require an updated (current employer) or new (new employer) Form I-983. Students should refer to the STEM OPT Extension section of this page, specifically the “Reporting Changes in Employment is Required” bullet and sub-bullets, for details on the process.