Optional Practical Training (OPT)
Optional Practical Training (often referred to as "OPT") is a special work authorization that allows F-1 students to work temporarily in a job related to their major field of study. TTU offers post-completion OPT only, so a student may not begin employment until after commencement.
USCIS may take 2 to 4 months to process OPT applications, so we strongly encourage eligible students to apply as early as possible. To apply, please follow the instructions below carefully.
How to Apply for OPT
Step 1) Learn About OPT
There's a lot of information about OPT, so it's crucial to learn as much as you can before you begin applying. First, watch the following video:
Be sure to inform your assigned international advisor that you intend to apply for OPT and when you plan to graduate. Remember, the earliest you can apply for OPT is 90 days before commencement!
Step 2) Receive Special I-20
After watching the video and consulting with your international advisor, you'll need a special I-20. The special I-20, also called an "OPT Recommendation Letter" is issued specifically for your OPT application.
To receive the special I-20, email your international advisor the following documents:
- OPT Acknowledgement Form - This form outlines all the regulations and information you need to know about OPT. Although this form is not needed in your online OPT application, TTU International Affairs requires it to ensure you understand OPT guidelines.
- OPT Advisor's Form - Also known as the "Academic Avisor's Statement of Program Completion Form." This form requires review and signature by your department's academic advisor to determine when your program will end.
Once your international advisor reviews your valid documents, they will issue the special I-20 which you will use to submit in your online OPT application.
*Note: USCIS must receive your OPT application within 30 days of the special I-20 issue date! This means that after you receive the special I-20 from your international advisor, you must file your application as soon as possible otherwise it may result in the denial of your OPT application!
Step 3) Submit Online OPT Application
After receiving your special I-20, it's time to submit your online OPT application, also called an I-765 Form. You will do this by creating a myUSCIS account here. Please follow along with this detailed, step-by-step OPT PowerPoint Guide and watch the video tutorial below:
Payment & EAD Card
The online application will require an I-765 fee payment. When you've received confirmation of your payment (also called a Form I-797 Receipt Notice), your application is completed. USCIS will send your EAD card to the mailing address provided in your OPT application, but if your mailing address changes, you must inform USCIS in your myUSCIS account and your international advisor for further assistance.
Remember, you cannot begin working until you have your EAD card in your possession and the start date listed on it. Refusing to adhere to this policy may result in severe consequences to your current visa status and future immigration-related applications.
Please remember to provide a copy of the front/back of your EAD card to your international advisor. Then, they will provide you with OPT reporting requirements necessary to maintaining your F-1 status.
OPT Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
When can I apply for OPT?
An OPT application can be filed online up to 90 days prior to the student's commencement
date and no later than 60 days after. Failure to apply within the given timeframe
will result in denial of OPT.
We strongly encourage students to apply for OPT as soon as possible, as it can take
USCIS two to four months to adjudicate applications.
See USCIS's current I-765 (OPT application) processing times here.
Once your international advisor provides you with the special I-20 required for your
online application, you must submit it within 30 days of the I-20 issuance. Failure to adhere to this regulation, and submitting your OPT application with an
expired I-20, will result in denial of your OPT application and may cause you to fall
out of F-1 visa status. Please be advised.
How long can I do OPT?
The Student Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) regulations allow up to 12 months of OPT at each degree level for a student
in F-1 status.
Can I enroll in classes while on OPT?
No, the student may not enroll in any degree-seeking program while on OPT, but the
student may forfeit the remainder of OPT time to enroll in a new program.
Once OPT is completed, it cannot be taken again for the same degree level or lesser
levels. The student may apply for OPT again after completing a higher degree level.
How long does it take for an OPT application to be approved?
It may take USCIS two to four months to process an OPT application. You can review current I-765 (OPT
Application) processing times here.
Processing times are unpredictable and subject to change without notice, so we strongly
recommend applying as early as possible!
You cannot begin working until you have received your Employment Authorization Card
(EAD) and the start date listed on it. The ISSS office is not responsible for the
length of time required to process your OPT application and for OPT denials due to
student negligence.
Do I need a job offer to apply for OPT?
No, you do not need a job offer to apply for OPT.
How does health insurance work during OPT?
If you are enrolled in TTU health insurance coverage, the coverage will end after your commencement date. If you'd like to enroll in a new insurance program, you will need to choose one of many insurance options in the US. You should start by consulting with your employer for assistance.
Am I still an F-1 student while on OPT?
Yes. OPT is only a work authorization for F-1 students, therefore, you are still an F-1 visa student and must continue to abide by F-1 visa regulations.
When should my OPT Start Date be?
When you provide your international advisor the OPT Advisor's Form for your special
I-20, you are asked to provide an OPT start date.
This date determines when you'd like to start working, but you should keep in mind
that you cannot work until your EAD card is in your possession and the start date
listed on it. This means that if the application takes longer than your requested
start date, you cannot begin working.
The earliest OPT start date you may request is the day after your commencement. The latest OPT start date would be 60 days after commencement.
The 60 days is called your "60-day grace period" which allows F-1 students time to
determine their next course of action after a program ends.
If your OPT application is still pending after the 60-day grace period, you can stay
in the US and maintain your F-1 visa status until the OPT application is adjudicated.
How much time do I have to secure employment?
When you submit your OPT application, you selected an OPT start date sometime within the 60-day grace period mentioned previously. Once that start date passes, you will have 90 unemployment days to secure employment. The unemployment clock automatically begins once the start date passes and will stop on the start date of your employment once an employment report is made.
What do I do if my OPT application has been pending for too long?
If you apply for OPT and it is pending longer than the 60 day grace period you have after graduation, you will still remain in status until the OPT application is adjudicated. If the application is taking longer than the expected USCIS's I-765 processing times, you may be eligible to submit an inquiry via USCIS's e-Request website here.
You can also consider filing for Premium Processing for an additional fee by following the instructions here. Premium Processing guarantees that your application will be adjudicated in 30 calendar
days, plus 1-3 weeks shipping time to receive your EAD.
Until you receive your EAD card and the start date listed on it, you cannot begin
working.
What happens if all my 90 unemployment days are used?
BEFORE you exhaust your 90 unemployment days, you must take action in one of these:
- Leave the country
- Receive admission for a new program at TTU (a new I-20 must be issued before the end of the 90 days)
- Transfer out to a new school (SEVIS record must be released before the end of the 90 days)
- Apply for a new visa status, commonly an H-1B (Please consult an immigration attorney for further assistance)
- Find full-time OPT employment related to your major to stop the unemployment clock
What kind of jobs can I have during OPT?
All employment must be related to your OPT degree. When you make your OPT employment reports, you must write a description that details the relationship between your work and your degree. USCIS has provided an example here showing what kind of details they are looking for in this description.
How many hours can I work during OPT?
OPT is for full-time employment only. In the immigration language, full-time employment means 21 or more hours. It is acceptable to work for more than one employer part-time (so long as each job is related to your degree) in which both employment hours combined total 21 or more hours.
Can I have more than one employer while on OPT?
Yes, so long as all employment together reaches 21 or more hours a week, and all work is related to your degree.
Can I be self-employed while on OPT?
Yes, however, SEVP states that students should be able to prove that he or she has the proper business licenses and is actively
engaged in a business related to his or her degree program.
If you are an eligible STEM student and would like to apply for the STEM OPT extension,
please keep in mind that self-employment will not be accepted for STEM OPT employment.
Can I continue working on campus while my OPT application is pending?
No, you cannot continue working on campus while your OPT application is pending. Your on-campus employment ends on your commencement date. Working after your commencement is a violation of your F-1 visa status.
Can I travel while my OPT application is pending?
Traveling with a pending application with USCIS is risky, as you are required to remain
in the US until you receive your EAD card. There is also some risk that your SEVIS
record may change while traveling (such as application approval/denial, or Requests
for Evidence), and that you may re-enter with an outdated I-20 or miss time-sensitive
requests from USCIS.
However, if you must leave the US during this time, please reach out to your international
advisor.
Can I volunteer while on OPT?
Yes, volunteering is a form of employment and may stop accruing unemployment days once reported in your SEVP portal. Volunteering abides by the same regulations as ordinary employment for OPT, such as: it must be 21 or more hours a week and it must be related to your degree.
We also recommend that you ask your volunteer employer (or professor if volunteering on campus) for a letter that contains the following information:
- Name of employer
- Physical location of employment. If remote, should state the employer’s main location and that you are remote.
- Hours worked per week.
- Start and end dates of employment.
- Brief job description.
- That work is unpaid.
This letter would be for your records, so that you have a way to document that you actually did this work. If you ever file an H-1B or other work visa application in the future, you may be asked to provide documentation of the employment that you reported.
What happens if I change my mailing address while my OPT is pending?
If you are moving, you will need to update your address in your myUSCIS account here: How to Change Your Address | USCIS. If this does not work, you can file an AR-11 form online. You should also reach out to the United States Postal Office (USPS) to change your address as well to ensure you receive your EAD card.
Please inform your international advisor if your address has changed so they can update
your records as well.
What happens if my OPT is denied?
Please reach out to your international advisor immediately for further guidance and
provide them with the official I-797 Denial Notice which details the reasons for which
your OPT was denied.
Your next steps will be determined by the timing of the denial and other factors which
your international advisor will discuss with you.
What if my EAD card is lost in the mail?
First, you should contact both USCIS helpdesk here and the US Postal Service here to find out more information on where your EAD card is. Additionally, you can find assistance through the missing US Postal Service mail webpage here.
If you learn that your EAD card may be lost for good, you can file for a replacement EAD card here, but please be advised that it will require the same fee as the original I-765 application.
Sometimes mail packages are delivered to your neighbors, so you may want to inquire with them as well.
International Affairs
-
Address
601 Indiana Avenue, Lubbock, TX 79409-5004 -
Phone
806.742.3667 -
Email
oia.reception@ttu.edu