What听is听Post-Completion OPT?听
Post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT) is defined in the F-1 regulations as 鈥渢emporary employment authorization for practical training directly related to a student鈥檚 major field of study.鈥� Standard OPT is available for a cumulative maximum of 12 months of employment authorization per higher degree level completed in the U.S.听听听听
In short, post-completion OPT is听a听way听for students in F-1 status听to gain practical training in their major field of study听after they have听completed all degree requirements or after completion of all coursework (excluding thesis or dissertation credits). Check out the ISSS post-completion OPT webpage with questions and answers to听some听common OPT questions.听听听
When Can I Apply听For听Post-Completion OPT?听听
For students graduating in the Spring 2022 semester, your last day of enrollment is May 4, 2022. The first day you can apply for OPT is February 3, 2022. The last day that USCIS can receive your materials to apply for post-completion听OPT is July 3, 2022. Since July 3rd is a weekend, USCIS needs to receive your materials on or before July 1, 2022.听听
What Is My I-20 Program End Date?听听
Your F-1 status is based on continued听required enrollment or on a post-completion OPT authorization. This means that in order to maintain your F-1 status with CU Boulder, you must either have outstanding coursework or apply for post-completion OPT.听听 When you apply for post-completion听OPT, ISSS will shorten your I-20 program end date to your last date of enrollment (if necessary)
- Students who have satisfied all requirements for the completion of their program or who have successfully defended their master's thesis or Ph.D. dissertation cannot continue to be enrolled for administrative purposes. For example, students who have successfully defended their thesis or dissertation need not enroll in subsequent terms, therefore future enrollment would be considered enrollment for administrative purposes only.听听
- Students who have completed all the academic requirements for their degree (excluding submitting the thesis/dissertation for master's and Ph.D. students to the Graduate School) but continue to be enrolled to take classes in preparation for graduate school or for the completion of a certificate are considered enrolled for administrative purposes.听
- As you are nearing the end of your degree program, please reach out to ISSS so that we can discuss your post-completion OPT application timeline with you.听听听
- ISSS recommends that master's thesis students and Ph.D. students reach out to ISSS to discuss the timing of their post-completion OPT application prior to the semester in which they plan to defend their thesis/dissertation.听
How Do I Choose My Requested Start Date for Post-Completion OPT?
Students graduating in Spring 2022 with a May 4, 2022 I-20 end date can choose a start date that is anywhere between: May 5, 2022 and July 3, 2022. 听
How Do I Apply听for听Post-Completion听OPT?听听
Before electronically filing the Form I-765听with USCIS online听or filing by mail, students must first submit the听听to ISSS and ISSS must make the听post-completion听OPT recommendation in SEVIS.听This is very important. If a student first听submits听the听USCIS听online听application听and then requests the听post-completion听OPT recommendation I-20 from ISSS, the听post-completion听OPT application will be denied, as the regulations require the recommendation be entered into SEVIS prior to the听post-completion听OPT filing.听听听听
For more information about post-completion OPT, please visit the听ISSS Post-Completion OPT webpage, join an听ISSS Advising session, send us听an email, or attend a听post-completion OPT workshop.听