F-1 students who have completed one full academic year (two semesters) of full-time study are eligible for OPT.  F-1 regulations allow students with valid status to engage in work that is directly related to a student’s major area of study while they are a student as well as after they have completed their program of study.  All F-1 students are eligible for a total of 12 months of OPT during/after each degree level. A pre-arranged job or job offer is not needed to apply for OPT.  OPT employment can be paid or unpaid.  F-1 students may work as a volunteer or unpaid intern when this activity does not violate any labor laws.

This page has information on the following:

 

When can students engage in OPT?

Students can receive authorization for OPT:

  • During the student’s annual vacation. This OPT can be full-time or part-time;
  • While school is in session, provided the practical training does not exceed 20 hours a week while school is in session.  (In special circumstances graduate students who have completed all their degree requirements except their thesis can apply for and receive full-time pre-completion OPT.); and
  • After completion of all program requirements.

OPT authorization granted before program completion date (end date on Form I-20) is called Pre-completion OPT, while OPT authorization granted after program completion date (end date on Form I-20) is called Post-completion OPT.  Your practical training is automatically terminated if you transfer to another school or begin studies at another educational level at Marquette.

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What is the authorization timeline for an OPT application?

OPT applications are submitted to the USCIS Service Center and can take 90 days to process.  Please plan ahead.  Pre-completion and Post-completion OPT applicants can file up to 90 days before their proposed start date.  For Post-completion OPT, F-1 students must properly file no later than 60 days after their program completion date.  They must also properly file their application with USCIS within 30 days of the date the DSO enters the recommendation for OPT in SEVIS.  Post-completion OPT authorization cannot begin before a student’s program completion date nor on a date that is more than 60 days after the program end date.

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Application process for OPT

Read the information above.  Be sure you understand the information related to timing and eligibility for OPT. 

Step 1:
Meet with your academic advisor to discuss your proposed OPT and to complete the Request for OPT Authorization Form (PDF) for OPT. You should read the excerpts from the government regulations related to OPT before that meeting.

Step 2:
Complete Form I-765 (http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/i-765.pdf)

      • Instructions: http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/i-765instr.pdf
      • Tips for completing Form I-765:
        • Question #10: This is the 11-digit number on the top of your Form I-94
        • Questions #12-15: Refer to your Form I-94
        • Question #16: Refer to section 3A (page 3) in the I-765 instructions
        • Be sure to sign your name within the space provided by the signature block

Step 3:
Gather the following documents which are required for your application:

      • OPT Request Form (PDF)
      • Completed I-765 Form
      • 2 passport size photos (see page 6 of I-765 instruction for details). Write your name and I-94 number in pencil on  the back of each photo.
      • 2 photocopies of your passport information page (including name, date of birth, issue and expiration date)
      • 2 photocopies of your I-94 card (front and back)
      • 2 photocopies of all previous I-20 forms (pages 1 and 3)
      • 2 photocopies of any previously issued EAD cards (front and back)
      • Job offer letter (if you have one)
      • $380 fee (effective 11/23/2010); in the form of a personal check or money order made payable to “Department of Homeland Security”

Step 4:
Make an appointment to meet with your OIE advisor. Bring items listed above. 

Step 5:
At the appointment, the OIE advisor will check the documents, make needed entries in SEVIS and issue you a Form I-20 for your OPT application.

Step 6:
Follow the mailing instructions in the Form I-765 instruction booklet and mail your OPT application to the appropriate USCIS center.  If you reside in Wisconsin, mail your application documents to the USCIS Service Center:

For US postal service:
USCIS Service Center     
P.O. Box 21281
Phoenix, AZ 85036

For courier:
USCIS
Attn: AOS
1820 E. Skyharbor Circle S
Suite 100
Phoenix, AZ 85034

Be sure to keep copies for your own records.

Waiting for authorization
About 10 to 14 days after you submit your application for OPT to USCIS, you should receive a receipt notice by postal mail.  This notice will include a Receipt Number which you can use to check the status of your application on the USCIS website at:  www.uscis.gov.  Look for “Case Status” on the website home page.

Once you are approved for OPT by USCIS, you will receive an Employment Authorization Document (EAD card). The EAD card contains the authorization number, the dates of approved employment authorization, the bearer’s name, photo and signature.  The EAD card is proof of employment authorization during the dates listed on the card.  Employment authorization begins on the date requested or the date the employment authorization is adjudicated, whichever is later.  You may not begin employment prior to the approved starting date.  Please provide OIE with a copy of your EAD card once you receive it.

Expediting OPT after submission of OPT application
Students who are within 30 days of their requested OPT start date and have a job offer can request OPT expedition.  To request expedition of an OPT application, you can submit your job offer letter and receipt notice to their OIE advisor.  The OIE advisor can then request expedited processing from USCIS.  A request for expedited processing is not a guarantee that an EAD card will be received before the intended start date.

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Important information for students on Post-completion OPT

Reporting Requirements during post-completion OPT
Because your F-1 status continues during your OPT, you are required by law to report changes to certain information within 10 days. You can report these changes using the OPT Verification Form (PDF) so a Marquette DSO can record them in SEVIS.  These changes include:

  • Residence address in the United States
  • Legal name
  • Telephone number
  • E-mail address
  • United States legal status (i.e. inform us if you change your status to H1-B, J-1, H-4, etc.)
  • Information about your employer, including employer name, address, and starting date
  • Information about any disruption of your employment such as job termination or change of employers

Remember:

  • OPT employment must be in a job that is related to your major field of study.
  • OPT employment may be paid or unpaid.  Volunteer or internship positions which are unpaid, yet related to your field of study, can be submitted as evidence of your OPT activity.  You may work as a volunteer or unpaid intern when this activity does not violate any labor laws.  We suggest that you obtain documentation from the organization/company which confirms the dates of your volunteer activity.
  • Employment may be full-time or part-time.  If you have more than one job at the same time, please provide employer information about each job. 

Periods of Unemployment during Post-Completion OPT
During post-completion OPT maintaining your F–1 status is dependent upon employment.  You may not accrue an aggregate of more than 90 days of unemployment during the initial 12 months of your post-completion OPT.

Each day during the authorized OPT period that you do not have qualifying employment counts as a day of unemployment. The only exception is that periods of up to 10 days between the end of one job and the beginning of the next job will not be included in the calculation for time spent unemployed.

Although part-time employment is allowed during post-completion OPT, current government guidelines state that you must be employed for a minimum of at least 20 hours per week.  According to current government guidelines, F-1 students may be denied future immigration benefits that rely on the student’s valid F-1 status if the Department of Homeland Security determines that the student exceeded the limitations on unemployment during post-completion OPT.

 

Travelling outside of the United States during Post-Completion OPT
During your authorized period of post-completion OPT, you can travel out of the United States and return to the U.S. after a temporary absence.  Remember that a DSO must sign on page 3 of your most recent Form I-20 prior to your re-entry to the U.S.  You must also have a valid F-1 visa in your passport.  (Travel to Canada, Mexico or nearby islands may have different visa requirements.)

Contact the Office of International Education at Marquette to arrange for a DSO’s signature on your Form I-20 at least one week before your departure.  If you will travel frequently during your OPT, it is not necessary to obtain a new DSO signature for each re-entry to the United States.  However, we recommend that we sign your Form I-20 every six months. 

At the End of Your Post-Completion OPT 
Your practical training is automatically terminated if you transfer to another school or begin studies at another educational level at Marquette.

If you decide to leave the United States before the authorized OPT ending date on your EAD and do not plan to return to the U.S., please contact a Marquette DSO with information about your date of departure.

After the ending date of your OPT, you may remain in the U.S. for an additional 60 days.  During this “grace period” you may transfer to another academic program, change to another visa status, or prepare to depart from the U.S.  You may not be employed during this period.

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STEM OPT Extension

Students who complete a degree in specific fields, designated by the U.S. government, related to Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) may be eligible to apply for an additional 17 months of Optional Practical Training (OPT). Not all STEM fields are designated for this extension.  The list of eligible STEM fields is at http://www.ice.gov/sevis/stemlist.htm.

What are the requirements for STEM OPT?
To be eligible for STEM OPT, the student must:

  • Be in a valid period of post-completion OPT authorization which is based on an earned degree in a designated STEM field. (To determine if your major is a STEM designated field, refer to the primary major listed on page 3 of your Form I-20 and the government designated list http://www.ice.gov/sevis/stemlist.htm.)
  • Not have received a previous STEM OPT approval

and the employer must:

  • Be registered in the E-Verify Program
  • Agree to report the termination or departure of an OPT employee to the DSO at the student’s school if the termination is prior to the end of the OPT period.

What is the authorization timeline for a STEM OPT application?
The STEM OPT application must be properly filed with the appropriate USCIS Service Center before the end of the student’s post-completion OPT authorization. The USCIS Service Center can take 90 days to process the STEM OPT application, so plan ahead.  However, if a student’s post-completion OPT expires while the STEM extension application is pending s/he can continue employment while waiting for the new EAD.   

Application process for STEM OPT
Read the information above.  Be sure you understand the information related to timing and eligibility for STEM OPT.  It is also suggested that you read the excerpts from the government regulations related to OPT.

Step 1:
Complete the Request for STEM OPT Extension Form (PDF)

Step 2:
Complete Form I-765 (http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/i-765.pdf)

      • Instructions: http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/i-765instr.pdf
      • Tips for completing Form I-765:
        • Question #10: This is the 11-digit number on the top of your Form I-94
        • Questions #12-15: Refer to your Form I-94
        • Question #16: Refer to section 3A (page 3) in the I-765 instructions
        • Question #17: List your degree and major: For example, M.S. – Chemistry or B.S. – Mechanical Engineering.
        • Be sure to sign your name within the space provided by the signature block

Step 3:
Gather the following documents which are required for your application:

      • Request for STEM OPT Extension Form (PDF)
      • Completed I-765 Form
      • 2 passport size photos (see page 6 of I-765 instruction for details). Write your name and I-94 number in pencil on  the back of each photo.
      • 2 photocopies of your passport information page (including name, date of birth, issue and expiration date)
      • 2 photocopies of your I-94 card (front and back)
      • 2 photocopies of all previous I-20 forms (pages 1 and 3)
      • 2 photocopies of any previously issued EAD cards (front and back)
      • Copy of your Marquette diploma showing your earned degree
      • $380 fee (effective 11/23/2010); in the form of a personal check or money order made payable to “Department of Homeland Security”

Step 4:
If you are in the Milwaukee area, make an appointment to meet with your OIE advisor. Bring items listed in above.  At the appointment the OIE advisor will check the documents, make needed entries in SEVIS and issue a Form I-20 for your OPT application.

If you are not in Milwaukee, please mail the items listed above to your OIE advisor at the mailing address listed on the contact us page.  Your OIE advisor will check the documents, make needed entries in SEVIS and issue a Form I-20 for your OPT application. S/he will return the assembled STEM OPT application to you, with instructions, so you can complete and mail it to the appropriate USCIS Service Center.

Step 6:
Follow the mailing instructions in the Form I-765 instruction booklet and mail your OPT application to the appropriate USCIS center.  If you reside in Wisconsin, mail your application documents to the USCIS in Nebraska:

For US postal service:
USCIS Service Center     
P.O. Box 21281
Phoenix, AZ 85036

For courier:
USCIS
Attn: AOS
1820 E. Skyharbor Circle S
Suite 100
Phoenix, AZ 85034

 
Be sure to keep copies for your own records.

Waiting for authorization
About 10 to 14 days after you submit your application for STEM OPT to USCIS, you should receive a receipt notice by postal mail.  This notice will include a Receipt Number which you can use to check the status of your application on the USCIS website at:  www.uscis.gov.  Look for “Case Status” on the website home page.

Once you are approved for STEM OPT by USCIS you will receive an Employment Authorization Document (EAD card). The EAD card is proof of employment authorization during the dates listed on the card.  Please provide OIE with a copy of your EAD card once you receive it.

Reporting Requirements during STEM OPT
Because your F-1 status continues during STEM OPT, you are required by law to report changes to certain information within 10 days.  You can report these changes using the OPT Verification Form (PDF) so a Marquette DSO can record them in SEVIS.  These changes include:

  • Residence address in the United States
  • Legal name
  • Telephone number
  • E-mail address
  • United States legal status (i.e. inform us if you change your status to H1-B, J-1, H-4, etc.)
  • Information about your employer, including employer name, address, and starting date
  • Information about any disruption of your employment such as job termination or change of employers

In addition, every six (6) months from the start date of your STEM OPT authorization, you must complete an OPT Verification Form (PDF) about your employment.

Periods of Unemployment during STEM OPT
During STEM OPT maintaining your F–1 status is dependent upon employment.  You may not accrue an aggregate of more than 120 days of unemployment during the total OPT period comprising your initial post-completion OPT and the subsequent 17-month STEM extension. Each day during the authorized OPT period that you do not have qualifying employment counts as a day of unemployment. The only exception is that periods of up to 10 days between the end of one job and the beginning of the next job will not be included in the calculation for time spent unemployed.

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