Optional Practical Training

Please watch the pre-recorded OPT Webinar, which is tailored to our fall 2021 graduates. It is one hour and ten minutes long. You will receive detailed instructions for applying for OPT and maintaining your F-1 student status while on OPT. Please find the necessary links below for application resources.

• OPT Webinar Video
• OPT Presentation Slides (PDF)
• USCIS Photo Requirements
• Health Insurance for Students on OPT

If you have questions about the application after watching the webinar, you can get them answered by attending an OPT Live Advising Session (sessions are advertised in our Newsletters and on Instagram), emailing iss@newschool.edu, or making an appointment with an advisor through Starfish.

Important Information for Fall 2021 Graduates

• Please note that as of July 23, 2021, ISSS is recommending that students file their OPT applications to USCIS through their new online system. Our fall webinar has instructions for filing your application online.
• Students must be physically present in the United States in order to submit an application for OPT through iGlobal and to USCIS.
• If you are currently outside the United States, please make plans to re-enter before your program end date on December 31, 2021, in order to be eligible to apply for OPT.

If You Are Graduating After Fall 2021
We will make a presentation specific to you during the semester of your graduation. We encourage you to wait until that presentation is released in order to get the most up-to-date information on how to submit your OPT application and the correct timing for submission.

Please watch the pre-recorded OPT Webinar, which is tailored to our spring and summer 2021 graduates. It is 53 minutes long. In the pre-recorded webinar, you will receive detailed instructions for applying for OPT and maintaining your F-1 student status while on OPT. 

Please note that as of July 23, 2021, students will be expected to file their OPT applications to USCIS online instead of by mail. The recorded webinar goes over the mail in method, but from now on, students will file online. Here are the online filing instructions in a short video and also in PDF form.

After watching the webinar, you can begin to prepare your OPT application materials.  You can find the necessary documents in the links below:

• OPT Webinar Video
• OPT Presentation Slides
• USCIS Online Filing Guide
• Summer 2021 Application and Start Date Calendar
• USCIS Photo Requirements
• Health Insurance for Students on OPT

If you have questions about the application after watching the webinar, you can get them answered by attending an OPT Live Advising Session (advertised in our newsletters and on Instagram), emailing iss@newschool.edu, or making an appointment with an advisor through Starfish.

Important Information for Summer 2021 Graduates

• Students must be physically present in the United States in order to submit an application for OPT through iglobal and to USCIS.
• If you are currently outside the United States, please make plans to re-enter before your program end date, August 31, 2021, in order to be eligible to apply for OPT.

• You can apply if you have completed at least one full academic year on your current SEVIS ID.
• You must be graduating in the semester in which you apply (for post-completion OPT).
• You must be in the United States to submit an application to USCIS.
• You do not need to have an employment offer to apply for OPT.
• Your application must be filed with USCIS within your application window of up to 90 days before the program end date and up to 60 days after the program end date.

1. View the OPT webinar specific to your semester of graduation (link in above section).
2. Confirm that you are graduating and submit an application to graduate.
3. Complete and gather your application documents.
4. Submit them to ISSS through iglobal.newschool.edu.
5. ISSS will issue you a new I-20 and email you instructions on what to do next.  
6. Submit your application to USCIS online.
7. Wait for the application to be processed (2.5 to 5 months).
8. Get your EAD (Employment Authorization Document) card from USCIS.
9. Start working and report your employment!

When filing online, you should receive a receipt notice and case number instantly after submission and then should receive a physical copy of the receipt notice in the mail within two weeks. This notice shows that your application has been received by USCIS. The notice will include your case number. You can check your case status with that number on the USCIS website.

After submission of your application, you should receive an approval notice and EAD card within 2.5 to 5 months.

If you receive a request for evidence letter (RFE), a rejection notice, or a denial notice, please contact ISSS immediately to speak with an advisor.

Once you have been approved for OPT, complete the following next steps:

• Look over your EAD card after you receive it in the mail.
• Upload a copy of your EAD card to ISSS through an Updated Document Upload in iGlobal.
• Report all of your employment on OPT through either an iGlobal request or the SEVP portal. Remember that you can engage only in employment that is directly related to your field of study. You have a maximum of 90 days of unemployment on OPT.
• Once you are approved for OPT, you can request to have your health insurance extended for your post-completion OPT period.

You may travel internationally once your OPT is approved. In order to re-enter the United States, you will need:

• A passport (valid for at least six months)
• An unexpired F-1 visa
• Your most recent I-20 with a valid travel signature (travel signatures are valid for only six months on OPT)
• An EAD card
• Proof/letter of employment 

Do NOT enter the United States in a different status. If your F-1 visa has expired, you need a new one to enter the United States. 

Please be aware that traveling internationally when your OPT is still in pending status is a risk and ISSS does not recommend it. For more information, please see our High-Risk Travel Periods page.

One pathway to employment for OPT and beyond is to start your own business. ISSS has partnered with the Center for Student Success — Career Services to provide you with resources and information on how to set up a business. For more details, see Entrepreneurship on the Career Services website.

OPT before completion of the course of study is commonly called Pre-Completion OPT. Since OPT is counted cumulatively and 12 total months of OPT are available, any Pre-Completion OPT done before a degree is completed will count against that 12-month total and reduce time available for Post-Completion OPT after the degree is awarded.

A student who still has coursework remaining to complete their educational objective or degree program is limited to 20 hours per week of Pre-Completion OPT while school is in session. Students can, however, apply for full-time OPT during their annual vacation, and during other official school breaks.

If you are interesting in Pre-Completion OPT, please speak with an ISSS Advisor. It is possible that CPT authorization can be used instead of Pre-Completion OPT and it is best to discuss all options with an ISSS Advisor.

If a student has completed all coursework except thesis or dissertation, they can apply for either pre-completion or post-completion OPT. However, to apply for post-completion OPT the student will have their I-20 program end date shortened. Please discuss the situation with an ISSS Advisor.