Practical training is the opportunity to apply knowledge gained in your degree program to off-campus work in your major field. OPT is authorized by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). This authorization can take 2 to 3 months to obtain. The maximum amount of time granted to work on F-1 OPT status is 12 months per degree level plus a possible H1B cap gap extension OR a 17 month extension for those who qualify (see below). You may use some or all of the available 12 months of practical training during your course of study (pre-completion OPT) or save the full twelve months to use after you graduate (post-completion OPT).

To be eligible to apply for optional practical training, you must: (1) have been a full time enrolled student in the U.S. for at least one academic year by the requested start date of your OPT, and (2) be in F-1 status when you apply.

Yes, you are eligible to apply for another 12 month period of Optional Practical Training after changing to a higher degree level. This does not apply to a second degree at the same level.

You may use OPT while you are still in your degree program as follows: (1) part-time while school is in session, (2) fulltime during annual vacation periods, and/or (3) full-time after you completed all course requirements for the degree and have a thesis requirement remaining. These periods of OPT used before you graduate will be deducted from the total allowable period of 12 months. Part-time OPT will be deducted at one-half the full-time rate.

Authorization for OPT is granted by USCIS and can take up to 3 months or more to obtain. Therefore we strongly advise that you apply 3 months before the date you wish to start working.

You do not need to have a job offer before applying for the first 12 months of optional practical training. If your field qualifies you for the STEM extension, you do have to have a job to apply for the extension.

Yes. The regulations require that you do have employment while on your POST-graduation OPT period. You are only allowed to have a total of 90 days of unemployment in your 12 month period of OPT or 120 days if you apply for and receive the 17 month extension. The job has to be related to your field of study.

The employment does NOT have to be paid employment. Therefore, a student who is self-employed (including performance majors with regular "gigs"), interning or volunteering in a position directly related to the academic field would be considered "employed" for the purposes of OPT employment. If you are "self-employed," keep careful records of all the work you do—it is supposed to be at least 20 hours per week. It is your responsibility to maintain records of your employment for OPT for future review in applications to Homeland Security.

You may not begin employment before you receive your EAD from USCIS; working before practical training has been authorized by the USCIS constitutes illegal employment that will jeopardize your legal status in the U.S.

Immigration regulations require that while you are on post-completion OPT, you must report your employment and address information to the Texas Tech University ISSS Office for entry in SEVIS. You can do so in OPT Reporting page.

There are two types of extensions available: 1) a 24 month extension for those in certain fields (discussed below) and 2) an "H1B Cap Gap Extension" which extends your work authorization through to the start of your cap subject H1B visa if your OPT ends after your cap subject company has applied for a H1B for you but before the H1B starts on the following October 1st. This cap gap extension is available to all F-1 students using OPT in any field, as long as you have a pending or approved "cap subject" H1B application and the employer applied for in with a request for change of status as part of the application. The extension is automatic, you do not have to do anything at all to get the extension. "Cap Subject" refers to any H1B application that must be counted against the quota on H1B applications.

Within 60 days, you must: leave the country, get a new I-20 for a new program of study, or do a Change of Status to a different immigration status

You can take classes that are "recreational" in nature. Starting a new program of study with a new I-20 will end your current OPT privileges.

The "STEM Extension" allows F-1 students on OPT who have received a degree in the fields listed below, referred to as "STEM" fields (science, technology, engineering, or mathematics), to apply for a one time 24-month extension of their regular 12 month OPT period.

You can find information on applying for the STEM OPT extension at a our website.

Visit the official list.

Your major as listed on your I-20 needs to match one of the majors on the list in order to qualify for the extension

E-Verify is an Internet-based system operated by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in partnership with the Social Security Administration (SSA). E-Verify is currently free to employers and is available in all 50 states. E-Verify provides an automated link to federal databases to help employers determine employment eligibility of new hires and the validity of their Social Security numbers. More information is available at: www.uscis.gov.

In addition to filling out the OPT report form for changes in address or employment, students on the 24 month extension of OPT will have to complete a report to the school every six months while on the 24 month extension. You can do so in OPT Reporting page.

If their post-completion OPT expires while the 24-month extension application is pending, students who timely filed their STEM extension applications with USCIS will receive an extension of employment authorization after their current employment authorization expires, but for no more than 180 days.

Yes. However, if the 24-month extension period has started, the employer must also be an E-Verify employer. The student must report the change in employment to his or her DSO. The DSO must update the student's employer information in SEVIS and the student should submit an amended Form I-765 to the appropriate Service Center , providing the new employer's E-Verify number and a copy of the USCIS receipt notice for the first form I-765. A brief letter explaining the submission should also be included. There is no fee associated with submitting the amended form I-765.

We strongly encourage students not to travel until they have their EAD card in hand.

While on OPT do not travel outside of U.S. borders without your current I-20 signed by your international student counselor, a valid U.S. entry visa, an employment letter, pay stubs, and your EAD card. You must be returning to "resume employment" to be granted re-entry by Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

USCIS advises that while you are waiting for the approval of the 24 month extension, you should NOT try to re-enter the country until you receive the new OPT card.

If you are going to Canada or Mexico, and staying for less than 30 days, you could (with certain limitations) re-enter the U.S. on the same visa through the Automatic Revalidation program.

If you are traveling elsewhere, you will need to go to a U.S. embassy or consulate and seek a new visa stamp, but the risk of denial is much higher in this situation. In such a scenario you should contact an ISSS counselor to discuss your case.

Yes, while on OPT you need to have a current travel signature for reentry. If you are not in Lubbock, mail the original I-20 to the ISSS office for our signature, leaving plenty of time for mailing delays both ways.