• You may submit your Post-Completion OPT application packet to the USCIS as early as 90 days before your academic program end date. 
• The latest date the USCIS will accept your Post-Completion OPT application is 60 days after your academic program end date.  Your academic program end date will be determined by your academic level and degree type, as listed below. 

As a reminder, you may not continue working on-campus, as a graduate teaching assistant, as a graduate research assistant, or on CPT after your program end date.

• Undergraduate- Last day of the graduating semester based on the Registrar’s Office academic calendar.
• Master’s without thesis- Last day of the graduating semester based on the Registrar’s Office academic calendar.
• Master’s with thesis- The latter of either your estimated date of final library copy submission or last day of graduate assistantship, if applicable.
• Doctorate-The latter of either your estimated date of final library copy submission or last day of graduate assistantship, if applicable.

When selecting the request dates for your Post-Completion OPT, you may not select a start date before or on your program end date, or more than 60 days after your program end date.  Also, the end date of your Post-Completion OPT cannot be later than 14 months after your program end date.  Please note, the requested dates of Post-Completion OPT will be considered by the USCIS but cannot always be fulfilled.  The USCIS may authorize Post-Completion OPT for dates later than requested or for less than 12 months, but will not authorize Post-Completion OPT for dates earlier than requested.

Our office requires a minimum of 10 business days to process all employment-based requests, including Post-Completion OPT and STEM OPT.  Please allow yourself sufficient time to receive your Post-Completion recommendation I-20 and to complete your Post-Completion OPT application.  As a reminder, you must file your application with the USCIS within 30 days of the date that your International Advisor enters the recommendation for Post-Completion OPT into your SEVIS record. 

The USCIS now offers options on how to file for Post-Completion OPT, you may submit your application by mail or online: 

• Application by Mail- 

If you plan to submit your application to the USCIS by mail, please follow the steps listed below.  You will be issued a Post-Completion OPT recommendation I-20 after completing the required steps.  Instructions for preparing and filing your Post-Completion OPT application by mail can be found in the attached document titled Post Completion OPT- Filing by Mail.  Guidance on how to complete Form I-765 is also available in the document.

• Application Online- 

If you plan to submit your application online with the USCIS, please follow the steps listed below.  You will be issued a Post-Completion OPT recommendation I-20 after completing the required steps.  Instructions for preparing and filing your Post-Completion OPT application online can be found in the attached documents titled Post Completion OPT- Filing Online and Post Completion OPT- Online Evidence Checklist.  Guidance on how to complete Form I-765 is also available in the document.

The steps required are different for filing by mail or online, so please review the information below and in the attached checklists for guidance.  Whether you plan to apply by mail or online, you must receive a Post-Completion OPT recommendation I-20 from your International Advisor before filing your application.  You may request to have your Post-Completion OPT application packet reviewed by your DSO, either in-person or by Zoom, before filing it with the USCIS. 

1)  Pay the $200 Post-Completion OPT administrative fee.  The payment can be made online at TouchNet.  A receipt will be generated at the end of the transaction and will need to be submitted to your International Advisor with your other OPT forms.

2)  Complete the required Office of International Enrollment- Post Completion OPT Recommendation Form.

3) Submit the Post-Completion OPT Recommendation Form and Touchnet receipt to your International Advisor by email.  Please understand, we will not process incomplete forms or accept applications without all of the necessary forms and signatures included.  Students filing online may also submit a digital draft of their Form I-765 for review.  Students filing by mail may also submit their completed Forms G-1145 and I-765 for review. 

4) Once your forms, Joe’SS record, and SEVIS record have been reviewed and any necessary corrections have been made, we will add a recommendation for Post-Completion OPT in your SEVIS record.  A new I-20 (recommendation I-20) will be generated for you during this process. 

5) The Post-Completion recommendation I-20 will be emailed to you for your use when submitting your Post-Completion OPT application to the USCIS.  Please print the I-20 and hand-sign and date page 1 in blue ink.  You will also be provided instructions on how to receive your original I-20.

6) Complete and file your Post-Completion OPT application using the appropriately provided Post-Completion OPT Filing guide.  Once the USCIS has received your application, online or by mail, you will be issued a Form I-797c, Notice of Action letter which will serve as your application receipt.  Please allow 10 – 14 days for the letter to be mailed to your provided address by the USCIS.

As of now, the USCIS has an average processing time of 3 months for most student-based I-765 applications, but in the past, the process has taken as short as 5 weeks and as long as 5 months. 

You may NOT begin employment, paid or voluntary, before receiving your EAD card from the USCIS or before the start date listed on your EAD card. 

Once your application for Post-Completion OPT has been approved, you will be provided with instructions on employment requirements and reporting, as well as how to maintain your SEVIS status. 

Additional guidance and assistance on the Post-Completion OPT program can be found at the following sites:

USCIS- OPT for F-1 Students

Study in the States- Training Opportunities in the United States

Study in the States- SEVP Portal

USCIS Check Case Processing Times

USCIS Check Case Status

Requirements

There are additional requirements for STEM OPT that do not apply to Post-Completion OPT (OPT).  Failure to adhere to STEM OPT requirements may negatively impact your SEVIS status.  Please keep the following requirements in mind as you apply for STEM OPT: 

• Your degree must be in a STEM-approved major. To determine if your major qualifies for STEM OPT, please visit STEM OPT Eligible CIP Codes.
• The STEM OPT position must be full-time and wage-earning
• The STEM OPT employer must have a registered E-Verify account with the Department of Homeland Security
• A Form I-983 training plan must be submitted to your International Advisor for each STEM OPT employer and/or employment change
• Any employer or employment changes must be reported to your International Advisor within 10 days of the change
• Employment verification reporting and evaluations must be completed and submitted to your International Advisor at scheduled intervals 

Deadlines

There are strict deadlines that must be followed when applying for STEM OPT.  Applications filed outside of the deadlines or with expired forms will likely be denied by the USCIS.  Please keep the following processing times and deadlines in mind as you apply for STEM OPT:

• The earliest date the USCIS will accept your STEM OPT application and I-765 fee is 90 days before the expiration date listed on your current OPT EAD card
• The latest date the USCIS will accept your STEM OPT application and I-765 fee is on the expiration date of your current OPT EAD card
• You may not apply for STEM OPT after the expiration date of your current OPT EAD card 
• The USCIS must receive your STEM OPT recommendation I-20 no later than 60 days after the STEM OPT recommendation was made in your SEVIS record by your International Advisor.  This date may be different than the date your I-20 was issued.
• We require a minimum of 10 business days to process OPT/STEM OPT requests once the necessary forms have been received.  Please allow sufficient time to receive your STEM OPT recommendation I-20 and to file your STEM OPT application.
• If your OPT authorization expires while your timely filed STEM OPT application is still pending, the USCIS will automatically extend your OPT authorization for 180 days.  This automatic 180-day extension ceases once the USCIS adjudicates your STEM OPT application. 

Application Filing Options and Steps

The USCIS now offers options on how to apply for STEM OPT, you may file your application by mail or online.  The steps required are different for filing by mail or online, so please review the information below and in the attached STEM OPT filing guides before completing your application.  Whether you plan to apply by mail or online, you must receive a STEM OPT recommendation I-20 from your International Advisor before filing your application. 

1)  Pay the $300 STEM OPT administrative fee.  The payment can be made online at TouchNet.  A receipt will be generated at the end of the transaction and will need to be submitted to your International Advisor with your other STEM OPT forms.

2)  Complete the required forms:

STEM OPT Recommendation Form

Form I-983, Training Plan for STEM OPT Students                                                                                                                                      

3) Submit the STEM OPT Recommendation Form, Form G-1145 (only if filing by mail), Form I-765 (only if filing by mail), Form I-983, and Touchnet receipt to your International Advisor by email.  Students filing online may also submit a draft of their digital Form I-765 for review in advance.  Incomplete forms and/or applications without all of the necessary forms and signatures will not be accepted or processed. 

4) A recommendation for STEM OPT will be made in your SEVIS record and a new I-20 issued.  This will be your STEM OPT recommendation I-20 that must be filed with your STEM OPT application.  The STEM OPT recommendation I-20 will be emailed to you, please print the I-20 and hand-sign and date page 1 in blue ink. 

5) Schedule an advising appointment with your International Advisor at Advising-by-Appointment to review your STEM OPT application and materials.

6) Complete and file your STEM OPT application using the appropriate guidance provided on STEM OPT filing.

Additional Resources

If you have any questions about STEM OPT, please contact your International Advisor.  Additional guidance and assistance for the STEM OPT program can be found at the following sites:

Study in the States STEM OPT Hub

USCIS OPT Extension for STEM Students

USCIS Check Case Status using the receipt number listed in your Form I-797c, Notice of Action

USCIS Check Case Processing Times for Form I-765 processing at the Potomac Service Center