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How to Apply

The OPT application process consists of several steps:   Each step is discussed in detail at an OPT Workshop, which is mandatory for all OPT applicants. 

OPT Application Steps

Step 1: Attend an OPT Workshop
Step 2: Apply for graduation (check with your department for application process and deadlines)
Step 3: Complete the "OPT Application" through
Step 4: E-file with OIP advisor & collect new I-20
Step 5: Wait for USCIS to approve your application
Step 6: Receive Employment Authorization Document (EAD) in the mail upon USCIS approval
Step 7: Begin working and report employment to OIP after receiving the EAD

When to Apply

USCIS must receive your OPT application within 90 days before and 60 days after your I-20 program end date. When you begin the process by applying for a new I-20 with OIP, your I-20 program end date will be shortened to the day that you graduate. Graduate students may choose to use their thesis/dissertation defense date instead of graduation.

DO NOT EXIT THE U.S. AFTER GRADUATION IF YOU HAVE NOT ALREADY E-FILED FOR OPT WITH USCIS. DOING SO WILL DEACTIVATE YOUR F-1 STATUS AND MAKE YOU INELIGIBLE FOR OPT. BORDER COMMUTERS AND STUDENTS WHO HAVE UPCOMING TRAVEL PLANS SHOULD APPLY FOR OPT AT LEAST TWO ONTH BEFORE GRADUATION. 

• º£½ÇÉçÇøs who have a job offer or who wish to begin working soon after graduation/defense should submit their application to USCIS as early as possible. Even then, due to USCIS processing times, approval for the desired start date is not guaranteed. 
• º£½ÇÉçÇøs who think they may have difficulties finding a job (and therefore need additional time for their job search) can either delay applying until closer to the end of the filing window, or can apply early and request a later start date.
• USCIS will deny your application if you e-file more than 90 days before or more than 60 days after your new I-20 program end date. It is important that you do not wait until the last minute to start your application.

IMPORTANT NOTE: We always recommend that students apply as early as possible, and not wait until the last minute to avoid unforeseen delays or problems.

Choosing a Start Date

When you submit the Sunapsis application, you will be asked to choose a date you wish to start your OPT. Please consider the following:

• Your requested OPT start date may be as early as the day after your I-20 program end date, and as late as 60 days after your I-20 program end date. Even if there is no chance that your application will be approved by the requested date, we still must list a date within that time frame on the I-20.
• Requesting a certain start date does not guarantee that you will be able to begin working on that date. USCIS must approve your application and you must receive your EAD before you can begin working, even if the requested start date has passed. 
• If you want to start working soon after graduation/defense, apply as early as possible and request a start date of the day after your I-20 program end date.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Although you may be approved for up to 12 months of OPT, when USCIS issues your EAD, the latest end date will be 14 months after your I-20 program end date. The later you apply, the greater the chance that you will not receive the full 12 months.

• For example, if you graduated on May 18 and you submit your application on June 1, it will take 3-5 months for USCIS to approve it. If they approve it on October 1, your EAD will  only be valid from October 1 through July 17 (14 months after your I-20 program end date).

E-filing with USCIS

Starting in Summer 2021, OIP will facilitate all students e-filing their applications instead of mailing them to USCIS. This eliminates many potential mailing and filing fee payment problems, and also provides the student with an instant receipt notice as proof of submission.

º£½ÇÉçÇøs will need the following items to e-file:

Maintaining Status & Reporting

Just as your immigration status depended on being enrolled in classes while you were a student, you immigration status depends on being employed in your field of study while on OPT.

While on OPT, you MUST:

• Work or volunteer at least 20 hours per week
  • You may work or volunteer anywhere in the U.S. as long as the opportunity is directly related to your major
  • You may work or volunteer in multiple positions
  • There is no maximum to the number of hours you may work
• Report your employment to verify that you are maintaining status 
  • When you are approved for OPT, you will get an email from ICE/DHS about the  , where you can report directly to SEVP who will update SEVIS.  DO NOT REPORT THROUGH THE SEVP PORTAL, since we will otherwise not receive the information you submit. Please only report changes to your employment and address through Sunapsis
  • You must report every time you start or end a job or volunteer experience by completing the "OPT Notification of Changes" form through
  • Report any changes in your address, contact information, or immigration status
    
    • If your address, phone number, email address, or immigration status changes, complete the "OPT Notification of Changes" form through . 
  • ALL CHANGES MUST BE REPORTED WITHIN 10 CALENDAR DAYS

Actions not permitted during OPT

• You are not permitted to enroll in courses leading to a degree program or certificate.
  • Starting a new degree program,
  • Taking leveling classes to pursue another degree, or
  • Completing a certificate program
• Any classes you take must be part-time, non-degree seeking, and incidental to your employment.
  • For example, taking a cooking or yoga class as a hobby are acceptable.

IMPORTANT NOTE:  If you are working, but do not report your employment, DHS will assume you are unemployed and your SEVIS record may be automatically terminated. 

Unemployment

During your first year of OPT, you are allowed only 90 days of unemployment. Unemployment includes any days between the "Valid From" date on your EAD and when you start your first job, any time in between jobs, and any time between the end date of your last job at the end date of your OPT. Vacation time while you are employed does not count toward unemployment. 

Your work authorization will automatically end on the 91st day of unemployment, even though your card still appears to be valid. You must do one of the following BEFORE the 90th day in order to maintain status:

IMPORTANT NOTE:  While 90 days may seem like quite a bit of time, many students underestimate how quickly their deadline comes. You should be actively looking for a job once you apply for OPT. If you cannot find paid employment, seek out volunteer opportunities in order to maintain your immigration status while you look. Some students are able to volunteer with their department at º£½ÇÉçÇø if needed.

º£½ÇÉçÇøs on OPT remain in F-1 status, and should continue to use their passport, F-1 visa,  I-20 and EAD when traveling. 

• When entering the U.S., your I-20 must include a TRAVEL SIGNATURE that was provided within the last 6 months by OIP. 
• Keep your I-797C receipt notice (if your OPT is pending) or EAD (if your OPT is approved) whenever traveling.
• Some CBP officers may ask for further proof of employment, so you should also have copies of your job offer letter and/or recent paystubs as well.

CBP has explicitly stated that students may travel internationally while their OPT applications are pending. However, CBP agents may subject you to additional questioning. If you travel while your OPT application is pending/before you receive your EAD:

• Always bring your passport, visa, I‐20, and receipt notice (Form I‐797C).
• Respond to questions confidently, but do not argue. 
• If you just filed your application and don’t have the receipt notice, you can only re‐enter before your program end date. CBP may deny you entry after your program end date if you don’t have the receipt notice.
• If you don’t have a valid visa, do not travel while your application is pending, unless eligible for Automatic Visa Revalidation (contact OIP for more information). The Department of State will not renew your visa while your OPT is pending. 

While you are on OPT, travel with your passport, visa, I-20, and EAD. 

DO NOT EXIT THE U.S. AFTER GRADUATION IF YOU HAVE NOT ALREADY APPLIED FOR OPT AND RECEIVED YOUR RECEIPT NOTICE.

DOING SO WILL DEACTIVATE YOUR F-1 STATUS AND MAKE YOU INELIGIBLE FOR OPT.

ALL STUDENTS WHO HAVE UPCOMING TRAVEL PLANS SHOULD APPLY FOR OPT,  AT LEAST TWO MONTHS BEFORE GRADUATION. 

You may encounter some issues with your application while it is pending with or after it is approved by USCIS. If you do, follow the steps below.

It has been more than 30 days since USCIS received my application, and I did not receive my I-797 receipt notice in the mail.

Call USCIS National Customer Service Center at 1- 800-375-5283. You may be asked to provide details that were listed on your application, including your full name, date of birth, address, etc., and you may be asked for the date your application was mailed, the date it was received, and/or the tracking information. If asked, your application was mailed to a Lockbox Facility where it should have been processed and forwarded to the Potomac Service Center. 

It seems like my application has been pending for an unusually long time. 

USCIS typically takes 3-5 months to adjudicate I-765 (OPT) applications. If you think it has been too long, check the case status using your receipt number (the "YSC..." number from your I-797C receipt notice) at . If the case status indicates that your EAD card has been mailed, please see that section below if you have not yet received it. If the application is still pending, follow the steps below:

1. Check to see if it is outside normal processing times. Visit   and enter "I-765" and "Potomac Service Center." Scroll down and look at the " Based on a request by a qualified F-1 academic student [(c)(3)]" line. Compare it to your receipt date, which can be found on the online case status page or the "Received Date" from your I-797C receipt notice.
   1. If your application was received after the "Receipt date for a case inquiry" date, then it is not outside normal processing time. DO NOT proceed in this case-- you will not receive any helpful information from USCIS, and you will cause unnecessary work that will slow down processing for everyone.
      
   2. If your application was received before the "Receipt date for a case inquiry," you may proceed with contacting USCIS for an update (see #2 below).
      
      
2. If your case is outside normal processing time, submit a case status inquiry. Visit   and select "Case outside normal processing time" to submit a request. Please note it may take 2-3 weeks or more to receive a response from USCIS.
   • Form Number: I-765
   • Form Sub Type: I-765 - Based on a request by a qualified F-1 academic student. [(c)(3)]
   • Receipt Number: The "YSC..." number from your I-797C receipt notice
   • Date Filed: The "Receipt Date" from your I-797C receipt notice
   • Name: Match what you put on your application (usually the same as your passport)
   • Date of Birth: Make sure you put month/day/year
   • A-Number: Leave blank
   • Mailing Address: Match what you put on your application
   • Last Action Taken on Case: "I received my receipt notice and have not received any other notices since" or "I received a Request for Evidence and replied to it on [date]."
   • Would you like a confirmation sent?: Enter your email address
   • This form is complete by the: Applicant or Petitioner
   • Click "Submit"

My application was approved and the online case status says my card was delivered but it is not in my mailbox, or my card was returned to USCIS.

It's important to contact USCIS as soon as possible if you notice this issue. They will mail your card to the "mailing address" that you put on your I-765 application. If you change your address during that time and filed Form AR-11, they may not process it in time to update your mailing address in their system. The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) also will not forward this mail, even if you have set up a forwarding address with them.

To submit the request, visit   and select "Did not receive card by mail." Please note it may take 2-3 weeks or more to receive a response from USCIS.

• Form Number: I-765
• Form Sub Type: I-765 - Based on a request by a qualified F-1 academic student. [(c)(3)]
• Receipt Number: The "YSC..." number from your I-797C receipt notice
• Date Filed: The "Receipt Date" from your I-797C receipt notice
• Name: Match what you put on your application (usually the same as your passport)
• Date of Birth: Make sure you put month/day/year
• A-Number: Leave blank unless you received the approval notice in the mail. If so, input your A#, which is a 9 digit number that you can find on your I-797C receipt notice
• Mailing Address: Match what you put on your application
• Card Type: Employment Authorization Card
• Provide Last Action on Your Case: Briefly describe the issue. Provide exact dates when possible. If you contacted USPS (see below), describe your encounter. 
• Would you like a confirmation sent?: Enter your email address
• This form is complete by the: Applicant or Petitioner
• Click "Submit"

If your online case status states that your card was delivered to you but you did not receive it, you should also contact your local USPS office to inquire in addition to following the steps above. Occasionally the cards are accidentally delivered to the wrong mailbox and they may be able to find it.

If your degree is in a designated STEM (science, technology, engineering, or mathematics) field, you may apply to extend your OPT for an additional two years. The STEM OPT application process requires a recommendation from OIP, and an application with filing fee to USCIS. º£½ÇÉçÇøs will receive a new EAD that is valid for two more years upon approval.

Eligibility for STEM OPT Extension

You are eligible to apply for the STEM OPT extension if you meet all of the following requirements: 

• Your current OPT is based on a , as determined by DHS
  • The CIP code on your most recent I-20 must match one of the codes from the list
  • If your current OPT is not based on a STEM degree, but you previously completed a STEM-eligible degree as an F-1 student and did not use the STEM OPT extension for that degree, you may be eligible to use it now. Please speak to an OIP advisor for more information.
• You are currently working in or have a job offer for a paid position related to your major of at least 20 hours per week
• Your (prospective) employer is registered in the  program, or registers before you apply
  • You can find registered employers by searching
• You have not already had two STEM extensions in your lifetime
• You have not accumulated more than 90 days of unemployment during your first year of OPT

Apply for OPT Recommendation from OIP / Change STEM OPT Employer

• Complete pages 1-4 of , Training Plan for STEM OPT º£½ÇÉçÇøs, with your employer
  • You can find thorough instructions
• Submit the "STEM OPT Extension Application" through Sunapsis about 3.5 months before your current EAD expires 
  
• Collect your new I-20 from OIP upon approval

E-filing with USCIS

Starting in Summer 2021, OIP will facilitate all students e-filing their applications instead of mailing them to USCIS. This eliminates many potential mailing and filing fee payment problems, and also provides the student with an instant receipt notice as proof of submission.

º£½ÇÉçÇøs on STEM OPT are encouraged to set up a virtual or in-person appointment with an OIP advisor in order to e-file their STEM OPT application. 

º£½ÇÉçÇøs will need the following items to e-file:

 Please email a copy of your STEM OPT receipt notice to oip@utep.edu immediately after e-filing. 

If your OPT card expires while the extension request is still being reviewed, you are allowed to continue working (up to 180 days) until you have received the results of your application.

Maintaining Status

Just like your first year of OPT, you must continue to be employed and report changes to OIP. You may work for more than one employer, but each employment must be paid, at least 20 hours per week, and the employer must be registered in E-Verify.

DHS also requires that you report to OIP regularly, even if you do not have any changes. You must report at the following times by submitting the "OPT Notification of Changes" e-form through :

• Every time you START a job (Submit pages 1-4 of Form I-983)
• Every time you END a job (Submit pages 1-4 and the Final Evaluation on page 5 of Form I-983)
• After you have completed six months of STEM OPT (Form I-983 not required unless there are changes to your employment)
• After you have completed twelve months of STEM OPT (Submit pages 1-4 and the Evaluation on page 5 of Form I-983)
• After you have completed eighteen months of STEM OPT (Form I-983 not required unless there are changes to your employment)
• At the end of your STEM OPT (Submit pages 1-4 and the Final Evaluation on page 5 of Form I-983)

Unemployment Limit

During your STEM OPT extension, you are permitted a total of 150 days of unemployment. This includes any days you previously used during your first year. Unlike your first year of OPT, volunteering does not count toward employment. You must have a paid position of at least 20 hours per week. If you are nearing the unemployment limit and you don't believe you'll be able to find a job in time, you will need to take action before Day 150. See the "Ending OPT" and "Unemployment" sections of this page for more information. 

Comparison of Employment Conditions Permitted under Post-Completion OPT and STEM OPT