Post-Completion OPT allows you to work in an off-campus job that is directly related to your major for an initial period of 12-months after you complete your academic program.
- OPT is a benefit of F-1 status and you will continue to be an F-1 student while on OPT.
- You must be eligible and adhere to all OPT application processes and regulations.
- UMass Amherst remains your visa sponsor. You do not need additional visa sponsorship while on OPT.
You can find our OPT Workshops on our events page. Refer to our OPT presentation that is available here, along with the information below.
Before determining your application period with USCIS, you must set your completion of studies date.
The completion of studies date is
- The last day you can work on-campus
- If you have a UMass contract, your completion of studies date must be the last day of your contract
- The last day you can work on CPT
- Not your graduation ceremony date
Student Category | Completion of Studies Date | Important Notes |
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Undergraduates | Last Day of Finals |
You cannot be online only in your final term. It will set your completion of studies to the term before (for example, if you are taking all online courses in the Summer term, your completion date is in the Spring semester). This does not impact your graduation date. |
Non-thesis (coursework only) Masters Students | Last Day of Finals or Your Contract End Date |
You cannot be online only in your final term. It will set your completion of studies to the term before (for example, if you are taking all online courses in the Summer term, your completion date is in the Spring semester). This does not impact your graduation date. |
Thesis Masters Students and PhD Students |
Flexible.* Options: 1) Defense Date, 2) Your Contract End Date, or 3) any date once all your course work is finished. The expectation is that you set a completion of studies date no later than 2 months after your defense. |
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“Completion of Studies” is not to be confused with the date the Graduate School officially “signs off” and administratively confirms completion of all thesis or dissertation formalities (these dates are unrelated to the immigration completion of studies date). You may begin your OPT if your coursework is completed.
You have a 5-month application period in which to apply for OPT. You can file your OPT application with USCIS:
- No earlier than 90-days before your Completion of Studies date
- No later than 60-days from your Completion of Studies date
- Within 30 days of the OPT I-20 creation (see OPT I-20 Request Process). If you submit your OPT application on day 30 or later, you will be denied.
- ISSS Suggestion: submit your application within 3-5 days of receiving your OPT I-20
- The USCIS portal is on a different time zone, if you wait to submit your OPT application, ensure you have applied no later than day 29.
- If you do not apply within 21 days, submit a new OPT I-20 request to get a new OPT I-20. The processing time to request a new OPT I-20 is the same (10 business days).
- The USCIS Portal is on UTC (Coordinated Universal Time).
Remember that ISSS’ processing time is 10 business days so if you are applying towards the end of your 60-day application window, you should ideally submit your OPT I-20 Request to ISSS no later than 10 business days before your application period closes.
You do not need a job offer to apply for OPT! Delaying your OPT application to USCIS because you are searching for a job will require extra money and create additional stress. Apply as early as possible.
OPT I-20 Request Process
Per OPT application instructions, you must be physically in the U.S. at the time you submit your application to USCIS. If you choose to travel after this, please review our OPT Travel information.
Follow the steps below if you are a student in one of the following scenarios:
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You need a new OPT I-20 to submit to USCIS
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Your current OPT I-20 is about to meet the 30-day expiration deadline because you have NOT submitted your OPT application to USCIS
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You want to request a new OPT start date and you have NOT submitted your OPT application to USCIS with your current OPT I-20
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You submitted your OPT application to USCIS, wish to withdraw it, and start over (this is rare and not recommended; contact your ISSS advisor)
ISSS must create a new OPT I-20 for your OPT application. You should NOT submit your application to USCIS until you have completed the OPT I-20 request steps below and received the new OPT I-20.
To be eligible to apply for OPT, you must
- Be in valid F-1 status and enrolled full-time for 9 months (two full semesters)
- Be physically present in the U.S. when you submit your OPT application to USCIS
- If you leave the U.S. after your completion of studies date, you may not be permitted to return if you do not have a pending OPT application.
You are not eligible if you:
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Have been authorized 12 or more months of full-time Curricular Practical Training (CPT) at your current degree level (this is rare)
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Were previously authorized for OPT at a higher degree level
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Or, already used OPT for your degree level (for example, you earned a MS at another institution and received OPT for that degree. You are not eligible for OPT if you earn another MS degree).
Step 1. Confirm your Physical Address in SPIRE is correct.
Step 2. Determine your Completion of Studies Date and your Application Period.
Step 3. Determine your Requested OPT Start Date.
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Your Requested OPT Start Date must be after your completion of studies date and before the end of day 60 from your Completion of studies date.
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ISSS automatically authorizes you for a full 12 months of OPT.
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ISSS will review these dates in your OPT I-20 Request E-Form and contact you if there are any questions.
Step 4. Complete ISSS’ OPT I-20 Request E-Form to request your new OPT I-20.
If you encounter an E-Form access issue and have tried accessing the E-Form in multiple web browsers and have cleared your cache to no avail, please email @email.
Once the full OPT I-20 request is submitted,* it will enter the ISSS processing queue. Processing time is 10 business days.
*Graduate Students: You will list your academic authority in your request. If you are unsure who your academic authority is, please contact your department or GPD. Submission of your E-Form request will be forwarded to your appropriate academic authority and your OPT I-20 Request enters the ISSS processing queue once the academic authority has finished their portion.
Step 5. Receive your new OPT I-20 from ISSS.
You must have the new OPT I-20 from ISSS before submitting your OPT application with USCIS. If you submit your USCIS application without the new OPT I-20, you will likely be denied; your fee will not be refunded. You will need to print and sign your new OPT I-20 before submitting it to USCIS.
OPT approval emails occasionally go into your Spam/Junk folder. Please check this folder if 10 business days have passed and you have not received the approval email yet.
Per I-765 instructions, you must be physically in the U.S. at the time you submit your application to USCIS. If you choose to travel after this, please review our OPT Travel information.
USCIS processing times can be viewed here (choose Form: I-765, Form Category: Based on a request by a qualified F-1 academic student, Field Office: Potomac). These times are an average; some cases will be faster; some will be slower.
Step 1. Receive the new OPT I-20 from ISSS. Remember that you must submit your OPT application to USCIS within 30 days of receiving your new OPT I-20 from ISSS and before your application window closes.
Step 2. Prepare your application documents to upload to the USCIS Portal. You are completing the I-765 in the USCIS Portal—there is no separate application or need to upload a paper version of the I-765.
Document | Instructions |
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Passport-style photograph | Photo size instructions |
New OPT I-20 from ISSS |
Print and sign your new OPT I-20 with a real pen before submitting it to USCIS Students are not permitted to sign I-20s digitally or electronically. |
Copies of previous CPT I-20s |
You can request these here. ISSS cannot sign old I-20s nor will this be an issue for your OPT application. If you did not use CPT, you do not need to upload anything. |
Biographical page of your passport | It’s ok if your passport is expired. You can upload the new passport to the USCIS portal once you have it. |
I-94 | Click here to learn how to access your most recent electronic I-94. |
Application Fee |
Review current USCIS fees as they frequently change. USCIS’ fee website can be reviewed here. Once the USCIS fee is submitted online, you have applied for OPT and no changes can be made to your application. DO NOT PAY THE FEE UNTIL YOU HAVE THE NEW OPT I-20 FROM ISSS. |
*Optional* Form I-907 Premium Processing |
You can add Form I-907 to your I-765 application in the portal if you want premium processing. The Premium Processing Fee is considerable and in addition to the regular OPT application fee. Premium Processing can be added to your OPT application at the time of submission to USCIS or after submission. Premium Processing guarantees a review of your OPT application within 30 business days. It does not guarantee you will be approved within 30 business days. EAD Processing and Mailing is NOT part of the 30-business day period. |
Biometrics are NOT required for OPT applications.
Step 3. Create your USCIS account online
Step 4. Apply for OPT using USCIS’ online application within 30 days of receiving your new OPT I-20.
* Any technical questions regarding the online application should be directed to USCIS.
Review ISSS’ USCIS Portal Info Sheet for applying for OPT online using USCIS’ portal.
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There are two addresses on the I-765:
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The Physical Address is where you actually live at the time of the application.
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You must change your physical address in SPIRE if you move.
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- The Mailing Address on your I-765 should be valid and able to receive your mail for 3-5 months after you submit your application to USCIS. You cannot start your OPT until you have your EAD, so the correct mailing address is essential.
- You should not change your mailing address with USCIS at any point in the application process. This will result in numerous delays, missing employment authorization document (EADs), etc.
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USPS will NOT forward your mail to your new address.
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If you are not sure where you will live, use ISSS’ mailing address. See the ISSS Info Sheet for the address format.
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Once we have your EAD, we will contact you and coordinate with you to get your EAD. Choose your mailing address carefully.
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Step 5. Receive I-797 Receipt Notice for Your Pending OPT Application
Your I-797 pending receipt will be created almost automatically and uploaded to the “Documents” tab of your online account. Once you have the I-797 receipt number, your USCIS application is considered pending.
Check your USCIS case status in your USCIS online portal account or here.
If you receive a Request for Evidence or are Denied, contact your ISSS advisor immediately.
Step 6. OPT Approval
You will receive an I-797 approval notice and your employment authorization document (EAD) once approved. Both items will be sent to your mailing address on your I-765. These are typically received within 1-2 weeks of approval but may be longer depending on USPS delivery times.
If you used ISSS’ address: you will receive an email notification from us once we have all your approval documents. Please be mindful that while tracking may say it is delivered, that does not mean ISSS has it in our possession yet. Please wait until we contact you with next steps.
If your OPT was approved and you have not received your EAD within 30 days of approval, review our EAD Issues page.
Step 7. OPT Reporting and Life After OPT
Report your OPT employment by reviewing the OPT Reporting Requirements. Review the OPT Life after OPT information for additional information.
Remember that you must update your physical address in SPIRE if you move.
Reporting Requirements
Students on Post-Completion OPT have specific reporting requirements. Failure to report these in a timely manner could impact your long-term immigration future in the U.S.
ISSS will extend your access to UMass Amherst systems for 1-3 years after graduation. This will permit you to access SPIRE to update your address and UMass VIP to report your employment, apply for STEM OPT, etc. If you have issues or need to reset your NetID passport, please see the UMass IT website guides.
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You must continue to update your physical address in SPIRE.
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You may only begin employment once you have the EAD in your possession and you have reached the start date on the card. Email confirmation from USCIS will not suffice as evidence of eligibility for employment. You may only work within the dates printed on the card.
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Your job must be directly related to your academic field of study. You are not permitted to work on campus after graduation unless the job directly relates to your field and falls within the dates on your EAD. You need to be able to make logical connection between your studies and employment.
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Limitation on Unemployment for Post-Completion OPT. Once your post-completion OPT starts, you should not accrue more than 90 days of unemployment within the dates on your EAD. You need to submit the OPT Reporting E-form and start employment in order to stop the unemployment counting in SEVIS. Unemployment days are cumulative, so if you are employed for less than the length of your OPT time and begin to look for another employer, you do not get an additional 90 days of unemployment.
Students should report changes in their OPT employment information within 10 days using the OPT Reporting E-Form. We do not require your job offer letter or a letter confirming volunteer status.
Update information if any of the below items change:
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Employer Name
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Address, phone number, job title, EIN (not required), etc.
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Change in work locations
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Start and end date changes
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Change in position (job title, part/full-time)
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Employment Ended or New Employment Started
All positions on OPT must be related to your degree. It is your responsibility to determine if your degree is related to your degree, not ISSS. Keep course syllabi, job offer letters, job descriptions, and annual reviews to demonstrate how the job is related to your degree.
Types of Employment
Multiple Employers |
You may work for more than one employer, but all employment must be related to your degree program. |
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Multiple Short-Term Employers |
You may work for multiple short-term employers. For instance, if you are a musician or performing artist, you can have gigs. Keep a list of all gigs, the dates, and the duration. |
Work For Hire |
Commonly referred to as 1099 employment, where an individual performs a service based on a contractual relationship rather than an employment relationship. If you work for hire, keep documents showing the duration of the contract periods and the name and address of the contracting company. |
Self-Employed Business Owner |
You may start a business and be self-employed. You should be able to prove that you have the proper business licenses and are actively engaged in a business related to your degree program. **You cannot be self-employed on STEM OPT. |
Employment Through an Agency or Staffing Firm |
You may use an agency or staffing company to find employment. |
Unpaid Employment |
You may work as a volunteer or unpaid intern, where this practice does not violate any labor laws. *There are no job letters for volunteer positions; you may consider asking your ‘employer’ for a letter indicating the volunteer activity, dates, and hours. |
Part-time Employment |
Full-time is ideal but part-time is permitted and SEVIS will stop the unemployment clock once reported. |
Need an I-20 Reprint?
Use the I-20 Reprint E-Form to request a reprint of your I-20. If you need to report updated employment information, use the appropriate reporting form, and request an I-20 there.