F-1 OPT

Optional Practical Training (OPT) is work authorization available to international students who have been in valid F-1 status for at least two consecutive semesters and who plan to seek employment in the U.S. in their field of study.

OPT is recommended by advisers at Berkeley International Office, but final approval is granted by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS).

Application Deadline
The earliest you can apply for OPT is 90 days before your "completion date." The latest date the USCIS will accept your application is 60 days after your completion date. In addition, OPT applications must be submitted to USCIS within 30 days of receiving an OPT I-20 from the Berkeley International Office.

OPT Application Instructions are described below.

What is Your Completion Date?
For OPT purposes, this is the day you complete your final degree requirements:

Undergraduate Students-
Your completion date is considered to be the last day of final exams of the semester your degree requirements are fulfilled.

Graduate Students-
Your completion date is the day on which all degree requirements are fulfilled, such as filing your thesis or dissertation in the Graduate Division. If you do not have a research component to your degree program (such as in the MBA program or other professional schools), your completion date would be the last day of final exams of the semester your degree requirements are fulfilled.

Points To Remember

One year of OPT is available after completing each higher level degree program.
A job offer is not required to apply for OPT. However, once you find a job, you must notify Berkeley International Office. See address/employer reporting instructions here.
Unemployment is allowed for no more than 90 days.
The employment may occur anywhere in the U.S.
No special permission is required to change employers or terminate your employment. However, you must notify Berkeley International Office of your unemployment and/or new employer's information at http://ssu.berkeley.edu/
During the period of OPT, a student continues in F-1 status, since OPT is considered to be part of the program of study.
It can take the USCIS three to five months to issue the Employment Authorization Document (EAD) that allows you to begin working on OPT. There is no way to expedite an application.
Once you complete your degree, you cannot work on-campus or off-campus until you have the EAD in your possession and your chosen start date has arrived.
Once the OPT application is submitted to the USCIS, it is very difficult to change or cancel the application.
OPT can only be extended beyond 12 months (for up to 17 additional months), if you meet the following three conditions:
- Your OPT is based on a US Bachelor's, Master's, or Doctoral in a Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) degree at the time of application for the extension.
- Your employer subscribes to E-Verify.
- You are currently authorized for OPT and working in a job related to your field of study
OPT is available both before and after completing the degree program.

A Note on Health Insurance
Students who complete a program of study are no longer eligible to purchase the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP). The Tang Center has information about insurance plans you can purchase after graduation.

Application Instructions

Complete the OPT Application Guide (MS PowerPoint). After you click on the attachment and open the program, press F5 button on your keyboard to activiate the "slideshow" if it doesn't open automatically. You must use the slideshow feature to enable the interactive functions. You can quit the program anytime by pressing the "Esc" button in the upper left corner of your keyboard. You can go back to it at your convenience-- so you don't need to do it all at once.

We recommend that you have a note pad in front of you and write down any questions or comments that you have along the way. Note the page number and bring your questions to see an Adviser if necessary.
Complete the OPT Request Form. You can fill out the form online, then print it out for signature by your Academic Adviser. After submitting it to Berkeley International Office, you will receive a new OPT I-20 in 3 business days.
Mail your application to USCIS (see instructions in the OPT Application Guide).

17-Month Extensions of OPT
Students who have received a U.S. Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral degrees in certain STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) fields, are eligible for a one-time, 17-month extension of post-completion OPT (for a total eligibility of up to 29 months). See our web pages on the 17-month Extension for more information.


	F-1 Optional Practical Training	A-Z Index
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Application Deadline The earliest you can apply for OPT is 90 days before your "completion date." The latest date the USCIS will accept your application is 60 days after your completion date. In addition, OPT applications must be submitted to USCIS within 30 days of receiving an OPT I-20 from the Berkeley International Office. OPT Application Instructions are described below. What is Your Completion Date? For OPT purposes, this is the day you complete your final degree requirements: Undergraduate Students- Your completion date is considered to be the last day of final exams of the semester your degree requirements are fulfilled. Graduate Students- Your completion date is the day on which all degree requirements are fulfilled, such as filing your thesis or dissertation in the Graduate Division. If you do not have a research component to your degree program (such as in the MBA program or other professional schools), your completion date would be the last day of final exams of the semester your degree requirements are fulfilled. Points To Remember One year of OPT is available after completing each higher level degree program. A job offer is not required to apply for OPT. However, once you find a job, you must notify Berkeley International Office. See address/employer reporting instructions here. Unemployment is allowed for no more than 90 days. The employment may occur anywhere in the U.S. No special permission is required to change employers or terminate your employment. However, you must notify Berkeley International Office of your unemployment and/or new employer's information at http://ssu.berkeley.edu/ During the period of OPT, a student continues in F-1 status, since OPT is considered to be part of the program of study. It can take the USCIS three to five months to issue the Employment Authorization Document (EAD) that allows you to begin working on OPT. There is no way to expedite an application. Once you complete your degree, you cannot work on-campus or off-campus until you have the EAD in your possession and your chosen start date has arrived. Once the OPT application is submitted to the USCIS, it is very difficult to change or cancel the application. OPT can only be extended beyond 12 months (for up to 17 additional months), if you meet the following three conditions: Your OPT is based on a US Bachelor's, Master's, or Doctoral in a Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) degree at the time of application for the extension. Your employer subscribes to E-Verify. You are currently authorized for OPT and working in a job related to your field of study OPT is available both before and after completing the degree program. A Note on Health Insurance Students who complete a program of study are no longer eligible to purchase the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP). The Tang Center has information about insurance plans you can purchase after graduation. Application Instructions Complete the OPT Application Guide (MS PowerPoint). After you click on the attachment and open the program, press F5 button on your keyboard to activiate the "slideshow" if it doesn't open automatically. You must use the slideshow feature to enable the interactive functions. You can quit the program anytime by pressing the "Esc" button in the upper left corner of your keyboard. You can go back to it at your convenience-- so you don't need to do it all at once. We recommend that you have a note pad in front of you and write down any questions or comments that you have along the way. Note the page number and bring your questions to see an Adviser if necessary. Complete the OPT Request Form. You can fill out the form online, then print it out for signature by your Academic Adviser. After submitting it to Berkeley International Office, you will receive a new OPT I-20 in 3 business days. Mail your application to USCIS (see instructions in the OPT Application Guide). 17-Month Extensions of OPT Students who have received a U.S. Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral degrees in certain STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) fields, are eligible for a one-time, 17-month extension of post-completion OPT (for a total eligibility of up to 29 months). See our web pages on the 17-month Extension for more information.