Optional Practical Training (OPT) is 12 months of off-campus work
benefit for all F-1 visa holders seeking a degree. OPT can be used during a student’s program
(Pre-Completion OPT) or after completing their program (Post-Completion
OPT). Students can use some of their OPT
before completed their program and some after, but cannot exceed a total of 12
months.
Useful
OPT facts for departments:
- OPT has to be related to the students program of study
- Students have to have been enrolled for at least two consecutive
semesters before they can begin OPT
- Students cannot engage in Pre-Completion OPT after their program
ends, or Post-Completion OPT before their program ends
- OPT is requested through United States Citizen and Immigration
Services and can take 3-4 months to process
- Students cannot work before they have received their approval and
Employment Authorization Document (EAD)
- ISSS requires that all students attend an OPT workshop before
applying for OPT
The OPT advisor letter is an important part of the OPT application
and verifies that the student is in good academic standing and when the student
is supposed to complete their program.** Depending on the department, this letter may
be completed by a professor, dean, program manager, or the department program
assistant. It is not as important who
completes the letter, but that this individual has the ability to verify the
information on the letter. Please refer
to the advisor letter template for a sample of the needed information.
**Some advisors have asked how they can know if a student will
complete their program by a certain date.
It is fine in the advisor letter to say that the student is “expected”
to complete their program, since there is really no way to know before the end
of the term.
*Please use this information for your individual understanding and
to advise students about academic related issues. ISSS should be the sole advising body for
students seeking information about OPT, as the regulations are much more
detailed and nuanced as outlined here.
