Optional Practical Training

Please watch the pre-recorded OPT Webinar if you will be applying for OPT. It is about one hour long. You will receive detailed instructions for applying for OPT and maintaining your F-1 student status while on OPT. You can also view individual sections of the webinar below.

• OPT Eligibility Overview and Application Timeline
• Application Process
• How to Submit USCIS Online OPT Application
• OPT Application FAQs
• After Applying for OPT—What's Next?
• Maintaining F-1 Status Once Approved for OPT
• After OPT

Please see the links below for application resources.

• OPT Webinar Full Video
• OPT Presentation Slides
• 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 [email protected], or making an appointment with an advisor through Starfish.

• You can apply if you have completed at least one full academic year on your current SEVIS ID.
• You can apply if you have not accrued 12 months or more of full-time CPT employment.
• You can apply if you have not previously been approved for OPT at your current degree level.
• 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.
• After you are approved for OPT, you can request to have your health insurance extended for your post-completion OPT period with United Health Plans if you qualify. You will receive an email from United Health Plans regarding how to extend your health insurance coverage, if you qualify.
• Report all of your employment on OPT in the SEVP OPT Portal within ten days of any changes to your employment.
• You can engage only in employment that is directly related to your field of study.
• You cannot exceed a maximum of 90 days of unemployment on OPT.
• Work must total more than 20 hours per week through one or more combined employment activities. (See employment types on this page.)
  • COVID-19 Pandemic Guidance Update: Please be advised that for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic emergency, employment taking place 20 hours per week or less may be reported as full-time work on OPT.

Once approved for OPT, students must report in the SEVP OPT Portal all of their OPT employment within ten days of any employment changes.

Please read the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) Portal Student User Guide regarding how to create an SEVP OPT Portal account and report employment activities during a period of approved post-completion OPT. All students who have been approved for OPT by USCIS and reached the OPT start date on their EAD Card will receive an email invitation from SEVP to set up their SEVP OPT Portal account.

If you have been approved for OPT and do not receive the SEVP email within five days after your OPT start date, have been locked out of your portal account, or received a notice from SEVP to contact your Designated School Official (DSO) for portal access, please submit the ISSS OPT Portal Reset request form for further assistance.

When you report your employment in the SEVP OPT Portal, you will need to enter the following information:

• Self Employed Check box
  • Click this box only if you are self-employed. The portal will then enter your name in the Employer Name section.
• Employer Name
• Employer Address
  • Must be a U.S.-based address
• Job Title
• Full-Time/Part-Time
  • Use the drop-down list to select full-time (more than 20 hours per week) or part-time (less than 20 hours per week) to describe your employment hours.
  • COVID-19 Pandemic Guidance Update: Please be advised that for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic emergency, employment of 20 hours per week or less may be reported as full-time work on OPT.
• Employment Start Date
  • Start dates cannot be before the start date on your OPT authorization.
• Employment End Date
  • End date cannot be reported after the end date of your OPT authorization.
• Relation to Field of Study
  • Explain how the job related to the degree that qualified you for this practical training experience.

For more information about the SEVP OPT Portal, please see:

• SEVP OPT Portal Student User Guide
• Navigate the SEVP Portal
• How to Update Employment Information in the SEVP Portal

After reporting your employment in the portal, if you would like an updated I-20 showing your employment details, please submit an I-20 Reprint Request in iGlobal.

If you do not successfully report an employment change within ten days of the change to the SEVP OPT Portal, you may instead submit an OPT Employment Report in iGlobal, and ISSS will update the employment on your record and issue you an updated I-20. Please be advised that ISSS cannot update employment details on your record after your OPT employment authorization end date.

The purpose of OPT is for you to get practical experience related to your studies. The U.S. government uses the terms practical training or employment to describe this. The word employment can be confusing because unpaid activity also counts as practical training on OPT. All employment during OPT must:

• Relate to your field of study AND
• Be with a U.S.-based employer AND

• Total more than 20 hours per week through one or more combined employment activities

The following are approved types of employment activities on OPT:

• Multiple employers. A student may work for more than one employer, but all employment must be related to the student’s degree program and, for pre-completion OPT, cannot exceed the allowed per-week cumulative hours.  
• Short-term multiple employers (performing artists). A student, such as a musician or other type of performing artist, may work for multiple short term employers (gigs). The student should maintain a list of all gigs and their dates and duration.  
• Work for hire. Also commonly referred to as 1099 employment, this form of employment involves an individual performing a service based on a contractual relationship rather than an employment relationship. If requested by DHS, the student must be prepared to provide evidence showing the duration of the contract period and the name and address of the contracting company.  
• Self-employed business owner. A student on OPT may start a business and be self-employed. The student must be able to prove that they have the proper business licenses and are actively engaged in a business related to the student’s degree program.  
• Employment through an agency or consulting firm. A student on post-completion OPT must be able to provide evidence showing they worked an average of at least 20 hours per week while employed by the agency.  
• Paid employment. A student may work part-time or full-time.  

• Unpaid employment. A student may work as a volunteer or unpaid intern, where this practice does not violate any labor laws. 

As noted above, one of the pathways 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.

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.

OPT done 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 official school breaks.

If you are interested in Pre-Completion OPT, please speak with an ISSS advisor. It is possible that CPT authorization can be used instead of Pre-Completion OPT. 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, a student applying for Post-completion OPT will have their I-20 program end date moved up. Please discuss the situation with an ISSS advisor.