Optional Practical Training (OPT)

Optional Practical Training, also know as OPT, is an employment benefit granted from United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) that enables eligible F-1 students to work anywhere in the U.S. at a job related to their major and at a level commensurate with their academic training. No job offer is required to apply.

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for OPT, you must be an F-1 student that has been in lawful status for at least 12 consecutive months prior to your requested OPT begin date. In order for study abroad or National Student Exchange time to count as part of this 12-month requirement, you MUST have completed one semester of full-time fall or spring enrollment at Southeastern prior to participating in the exchange program. You may participate in OPT prior to graduation (pre-completion OPT) or after graduation (post-completion OPT).  

Requesting OPT

On OPT you may work:

  • Part-time or full-time during summer vacation if participating in pre-completion OPT
  • Twenty hrs/wk during the academic year, even if it is your last semester and you are enrolled part-time
  • Full-time after completing your studies

 

The total time you may participate in OPT is a maximum aggregate of 12 months per each higher degree level you complete.  The first request would be for 12 months of OPT based on your Bachelor's, the second request would be for 12 months OPT based on your Master's, and the third request would be for 12 months OPT based on your doctorate.

Please note that once USCIS has authorized OPT employment (issued you an EAD card with approved begin and end dates), there is no provision to change or cancel the authorized period of OPT, even if you are unable to work during the adjudicated period. You will lose the opportunity for OPT at that degree level.

For more information on the OPT application process, please download the OPT Instructions below

                                          opt instructions

 

When to apply

Please note that Commencement Day is not your actual academic completion date on your I-20. The earliest you may apply for OPT is 120 days prior to your requested begin date (which must be after your program completion date).  However, to avoid losing time on your OPT, we recommend that you apply no later than 90 days prior to your requested begin date.

The International Services Office will contact all graduating students each semester with information on OPT appointments.  Students graduating in May and July will be contacted starting February 16 and students gradating in December will be contacted starting September 16.

To request an appointment with our office, please use the Student Online Request Form.

Once You Are On OPT - Reporting requirement

You must inform the international services office of any and all employment.  Any changes in employment must also be reported.  You are also required to report any changes in your physical address.  To report this information, please select the button below.

                             opt reporing

 

In addition to reporting to the International Services Office, you also have the option to login to your own portal also known as the SEVP Portal launched by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program.  The portal is a tool that F-1 students on post-completion OPT or STEM OPT extensions may choose to use to report changes to their home address, telephone number and employer information. The portal is accessible from both your mobile device and computer.

You will receive an email with instructions on creating a portal account after your OPT is approved by USCIS.  This email will come from do-not-reply.sevp@ice.dhs.gov. If you do not see the email, check your spam or junk folder. If you still do not see it, contact the International Services Office to have it sent again to an email address of your choice.  The initial email will be sent to your Southeastern Webmail account.

 

Traveling Outside the U.S.

While on OPT, you retain F-1 status. Therefore, traveling outside the U.S. while on OPT is very similar to traveling as a student.  When traveling outside the U.S., you must take the following items with you to be eligible for re-entry:

  • Your valid passport
  • A valid F-1 visa stamp in your passport (If your visa stamp has expired, you must go to a U.S. embassy outside of the U.S. to apply for a new one.  You may not use any other visa stamp other than a valid F-1)
  • Your original I-20 with your OPT recommendation
  • Signature for re-entry located on page 2 of your OPT I-20
  • Your current employment authorization card (EAD)
  • A job offer letter, employment letter, or letters of possible interviews scheduled

Leaving the U.S. for extended amounts of time during your authorized OPT period may cause problems with your re-entry, especially if you do not have a letter of employment or job offer to present to the officer at the port of entry.  

We highly recommend that you do not leave the U.S. without an EAD card after completing your studies while your OPT application is pending with USCIS. 

After OPT

Because you maintain your F-1 status while on OPT, a 60 day grace period follows the end of your EAD card. During this time, you are not allowed to work. You must exit the U.S., be accepted to start a new program of study, or change your status. If you continue as an F-1 and transfer to a new institution, your new school must gain possession of your SEVIS record within this 60 day grace period.  If you transfer before your OPT ends, a SEVIS transfer will end your OPT so be careful when you request a SEVIS transfer.