Please contact your Immigration Counselor immediately if you find out you will not graduate as planned. If you do not complete by the date indicated by your advisor and you are an undergraduate student or a graduate student with non-thesis option, you may not begin full-time OPT. Students who apply for post-completion OPT and then fail to graduate on the date indicated in their application risk violating their student visa status and possibly forfeiting their OPT. Bachelors and Master’s Non-Thesis Students ![]() It is critical that you do not apply for OPT until your program completion date is certain. If you have not yet submitted your RCL E-form to ISS, you need to do so by logging in to MyISS portal and selecting the appropriate RCL eform under the "F-1 and J-1 student services" category. If you have already submitted the RCL E-form for the current semester to ISS, no further action is required. If this is your final semester and you are registered for less than a full time course-load, you must submit a Reduced Course Load (RCL) E-Form before you attend the OPT follow-up session (even if summer is your final semester). You do not need to request a Reduced Course Load. In other words, enrolling in only online courses in your last semester is not allowed by USCIS. In your last semester you may register part-time, but you must be in at least one class in which you are required to be physically present on campus. Obtain an I-20 stating OPT requested on page 2 before filing the I-765īe in the United States when you file the I-765 with USCIS.Have not previously had OPT authorized at the same degree level (e.g., if you are completing a second master’s degree and had previously been authorized for OPT after your first master’s, you would not be eligible for OPT again until you completed a higher degree level ). Have had less than 12 months of full-time Curricular Practical Training (CPT).įor undergraduate and master’s non-thesis-option students: Be within 90 days of completing your degree requirements (i.e., within 90 days of the end of the semester during which you will graduate).įor master’s thesis-option and doctoral students: Be within 90 days of completing your course requirements (do not need to be finished defending and depositing). Have been lawfully enrolled full-time for at least two consecutive semesters (Fall and Spring) immediately prior to finishing your degree and applying for OPT. Have a current, valid I-20, reflecting your current field of study and education level. In order to be eligible for post-completion OPT, you must: NOTE: If you are currently a student or just graduated and are applying within your grace period, you cannot apply directly for the STEM OPT Extension: only those currently in their 12-month OPT authorization OPT period, with a qualifying STEM degree, and working for an e-verified employer may apply for the STEM extension. 12 months after a Bachelor’s degree, 12 months after a Master’s degree, 12 months after a PhD). ![]() You are eligible to apply for OPT after each higher education level completed (i.e. OPT is not a different visa status or “change of status.” OPT work authorization is a benefit linked to your F-1 status, and extends your F-1 status for the time you are on OPT. If granted by USCIS, the authorization is full- or part-time employment for a maximum of 12 months. ![]() ![]() An offer of employment is not required to apply for OPT. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to be adjudicated. It is recommended in SEVIS by an Immigration Counselor at Purdue International Students and Scholars (ISS), and then students submit their applications to U.S. Optional Practical Training (OPT) is an opportunity for F-1 students to gain practical experience working off-campus in a job directly related to their major field of study.
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