Optional Practical Training (OPT)

"Practical Training" is the term used by the United States Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (BCIS) to refer to authorized employment undertaken by international students in F-1 status which is related to the student's program of study. Practical Training employment is designed to give students practical work experience in their chosen field of study so that they may make a more effective professional contribution upon return to their home country. Optional Practical Training employment authorization is granted by the U.S. Immigration upon application from the student and recommendation from the International Student Advisor.

According to BCIS regulations, a student may be granted authorization to engage in temporary employment for optional practical training under the following conditions:

1. During the student's annual vacation and at other times when school is not in session, if the student is currently enrolled and is eligible for registration and intends to register for the next semester.
2. While school is in session, provided that practical training does not exceed 20 hours a week while school is in session. For the purpose of calculating available practical training, this is counted at half the full time rate. In other words, 1 year of part time practical training is equivalent to 6 months of full time practical training.
3. For students in a bachelor's, master's or doctoral degree program, after completion of all course requirements for the degree (excluding thesis or equivalent).

Application Process
International students must sign up to attend two OPT Workshops — Part 1 and Part 2. You may not sign up for Part 2 until you have attended Part 1. Application materials will be available at the workshops.

• You will be informed of the current BCIS processing fee at the workshop.
• The processing period is approximately 90 days.
• The student may request a "starting employment date" as early as the day after graduation.
• Employment cannot begin until a valid Employment Authorization Document (EAD) has been issued by BCIS.
• With the attendant 90 day processing period, it is essential that the student apply well in advance of the anticipated starting date of employment. There is NO expedited procedure for a student who has a job offer.
• Applications for Optional Practical Training must be submitted to BCIS BEFORE the last day of the final semester.
• Applications may be filed no earlier than 120 days before graduation.

Optional Practical Training Guidelines
Here are some guidelines that international students should know about OPT:

• OPT may be authorized to an F-1 student who has been enrolled full-time for one full academic year.
• Students should be warned that any Optional Practical Training taken before graduation will be subtracted from the one year aggregate time available, thus reducing the possible practical training time after graduation. Therefore, careful planning is essential.
• The International Office encourages students to make use of Curricular Practical Training (CPT) whenever it is appropriate. It has two major advantages — the time used is not subtracted from the one-year of OPT, and the IEE advisor has authority to grant the practical training authorization. Therefore, there is no waiting period for BCIS to process and no doubt if the authorization will be granted.
• Students who have completed more than 12 months of full time CPT (full time is defined as more than 20 hours per week) are not eligible for OPT. This would be an unlikely situation, since most academic departments limit internships to one or two semesters.
• After being granted, the practical training time is "used", whether the student works or not.
• The employment must be directly related to the student's area of study.
• Authorization for OPT is automatically terminated when the student transfers to another school or begins study at another educational level.
• Students on OPT who wish to transfer to another school AFTER OPT, must resume classes within 5 months out of the school that recommended OPT, or the date that OPT ends, whichever is earlier.
• Students may be authorized 12 months of practical training, and become eligible for another 12 months when they change to a higher education level.

After OPT
If you decide to pursue another education program level (certificate, master's degree or higher degree) after completion of your OPT, please contact an IEE Advisor to discuss your plans.