OPT in the USA 2026: Complete Guide for F-1 Students

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Optional Practical Training, commonly known as OPT, allows eligible F-1 international students to gain temporary work experience in the United States. The employment must be directly related to the student’s major field of study.

Standard OPT can provide up to 12 months of employment authorization. Graduates with qualifying science, technology, engineering, or mathematics degrees may later apply for a 24-month STEM OPT extension.

What Is OPT in the USA?

OPT is temporary employment authorization available to eligible F-1 students before or after completing an academic program at a Student and Exchange Visitor Program-certified institution.

OPT is not a separate visa and does not require an employer to sponsor the initial application. The student requests an OPT recommendation from the designated school official, or DSO, and then applies to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services for an Employment Authorization Document.

The job must be directly connected to the major listed on the student’s Form I-20.

Types of Optional Practical Training

Pre-Completion OPT

Pre-completion OPT takes place before the academic program ends.

Students may generally work:

Up to 20 hours per week while classes are in session.
Full-time during official school breaks.
Full-time in certain cases when all coursework is complete and only a thesis or dissertation remains.

Any pre-completion OPT used is deducted from the 12 months available after graduation. Part-time OPT is deducted at half the full-time rate.

Post-Completion OPT

Post-completion OPT begins after the program end date listed on Form I-20.

Students must generally:

Work at least 20 hours per week.
Accept only positions directly related to their major.
Begin working only after receiving the EAD.
Wait until the start date printed on the EAD.
Report employment and personal information changes.
Avoid exceeding the 90-day unemployment limit.

Post-completion OPT can normally be granted for up to 12 months.

OPT Eligibility Requirements

An international student generally qualifies for OPT when the student:

Maintains valid F-1 status.
Has completed at least one full academic year.
Is enrolled at an SEVP-certified school.
Has not used 12 months or more of full-time CPT at the same educational level.
Requests employment directly related to the major.
Receives an OPT recommendation from the DSO.
Files Form I-765 within the required application period.
Has remaining OPT eligibility at the current educational level.

Students may receive a new 12-month OPT period after completing a higher educational level. For example, a student who used OPT after a bachelor’s degree may qualify again after completing a master’s degree.

Does OPT Require a Job Offer?

A job offer is not normally required when applying for standard OPT.

This allows students to apply before securing employment. However, post-completion OPT students must find qualifying work before accumulating more than 90 days of unemployment.

A job offer is required for the STEM OPT extension because the applicant must work with an eligible E-Verify employer.

When Can You Apply for OPT?

Pre-Completion OPT Application Period

Students may apply up to 90 days before completing one full academic year, but employment cannot begin until the academic-year requirement has been satisfied.

Post-Completion OPT Application Period

Students can generally file Form I-765:

Up to 90 days before the program end date.
No later than 60 days after the program end date.
Within 30 days after the DSO enters the OPT recommendation in SEVIS.

The application must satisfy all these deadlines. A student who receives an updated Form I-20 but waits more than 30 days to file may need to request a new OPT recommendation.

How to Apply for OPT in the USA

Step 1: Contact the International Student Office

Ask the DSO about the school’s OPT application procedure, deadlines, workshops, and required documents.

Step 2: Select an OPT Start Date

For post-completion OPT, the requested start date must normally fall within the 60-day period after the program end date.

Choosing an early date provides faster access to employment but causes unemployment days to begin sooner. Choosing a later date provides more job-search time but shortens the potential practical training period if USCIS processing is delayed.

Step 3: Obtain an Updated Form I-20

The DSO enters the OPT recommendation in SEVIS and issues a new Form I-20. The student should review and sign it before filing.

Step 4: Submit Form I-765

Standard eligibility categories are:

(c)(3)(A): Pre-completion OPT.
(c)(3)(B): Post-completion OPT.
(c)(3)(C): STEM OPT extension.

Eligible students can submit Form I-765 online or by mail. USCIS listed these OPT categories among the forms available for online filing in June 2026.

Step 5: Track the Application

After submission, USCIS issues a receipt notice containing the case number. Students should monitor their USCIS account and respond promptly to any Request for Evidence.

Documents Required for an OPT Application

The required evidence commonly includes:

Form I-765.
OPT-recommended Form I-20.
Valid passport identity page.
Most recent F-1 visa page, when applicable.
Most recent Form I-94.
Passport-style photograph.
Copies of previous EAD cards, when applicable.
Copies of previous Forms I-20 showing CPT or OPT authorization.
Correct filing fee.
Certified English translations when required.

Students should use the current Form I-765 instructions because outdated forms, photographs, fees, or supporting documents can lead to rejection or delays.

OPT Application Fee in 2026

The USCIS fee schedule published in May 2026 lists the Form I-765 fees for OPT and STEM OPT as:

Application method	Form I-765 fee
Online filing	$580
Paper filing	$630

USCIS fees can change. Applicants should verify the amount through the official fee schedule or fee calculator immediately before applying.

Premium Processing Fee

Eligible OPT applicants may request premium processing by filing Form I-907.

For requests submitted on or after March 1, 2026, the premium processing fee for eligible OPT and STEM OPT Form I-765 applications is $1,780. This is paid in addition to the normal Form I-765 fee.

Premium processing requires USCIS to take adjudicative action within the applicable period, but it does not guarantee approval.

What Jobs Are Allowed During OPT?

Qualifying standard OPT employment may include:

Full-time employment.
Part-time employment totaling at least 20 hours weekly.
Multiple employers.
Short-term assignments.
Employment through an agency or consultancy.
Contract work with proper documentation.
Self-employment in a business related to the degree.
Qualifying unpaid internships or volunteer positions.

Students should retain evidence showing the employer, dates, weekly hours, job duties, supervisor, and relationship between the position and their degree.

Simply having a job is not enough. Work unrelated to the major does not count as qualifying OPT employment.

OPT Unemployment Limit

Post-completion OPT students may accumulate no more than 90 days of unemployment during the authorized period.

Unemployment begins counting from the start date printed on the EAD when no qualifying employment is reported.

Students receiving a 24-month STEM extension may have up to 150 total unemployment days across standard OPT and STEM OPT.

To avoid status problems:

Begin searching for employment before graduation.
Track every day between qualifying jobs.
Report new employers promptly.
Keep employment evidence.
Speak with the DSO before approaching the limit.

OPT Reporting Requirements

Students must report changes involving:

Legal name.
Residential or mailing address.
Telephone number.
Employer name and address.
Employment start or end date.
Job title or employment status.

Changes should generally be reported to the DSO within 10 days. Some updates may also be submitted through the SEVP Portal after OPT approval.

Can You Travel While an OPT Application Is Pending?

International travel during OPT can carry additional risks. Students returning to the United States may be asked to present:

A valid passport.
A valid F-1 visa, unless exempt.
A recently signed Form I-20.
The EAD after OPT approval.
Evidence of employment or a job offer.

Time spent outside the United States may count toward the unemployment allowance in some circumstances. Students should consult their DSO before making travel plans.

Common OPT Application Mistakes

Avoid these frequent problems:

Filing before receiving the DSO recommendation.
Missing the 30-day Form I-765 filing deadline.
Applying more than 60 days after completing the program.
Paying the wrong USCIS fee.
Beginning work before receiving the EAD.
Working before the authorized start date.
Accepting employment unrelated to the major.
Failing to report employer changes.
Exceeding 90 unemployment days.
Assuming OPT automatically leads to permanent residency.

OPT in the USA 2026: Complete Guide for F-1 Students

What Is OPT in the USA?