What is OPT (Optional Practical Training), Types of OPT for F-1 International Students? Optional Practical Training (OPT) is a kind of temporary work authorization for F-1 students for a period of 12 months on their area of study. Students must receive approval from United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) before starting OPT. For more international student resources visit us at: http://www.optghar.com/student-guides

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F-1 International Students
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What is OPT?
Optional Practical Training (OPT) is a kind of temporary work authorization for F-1 students for a period
of 12 months on their area of study. Students must receive approval from United States Citizenship and
Immigration Services (USCIS) before starting OPT.
OPT Eligibility
Students on F-1 visa are eligible for OPT, if they are legally enrolled on full time courses for one full
academic year. However, students don’t need any employment offer prior to applying for OPT. Plus,
students must take up employment in the field that is directly related to their studies. Students on
English language programs do not qualify for one-year requirement.
Types of OPT
There are two types of OPT:
 Pre-completion OPT
 Post-completion OPT
Pre-Completion OPT
F-1 students can take up pre-completion OPT before their graduation, while their I-20 program date
hasn’t expired. For this, international students must have been enrolled on their course for a period of
one full academic year. Students on pre-completion OPT can work part while their universities are in
session. They can work full time when the universities aren’t in session. Plus, students must have
received an authorization from USCIS before starting their pre-completion OPT.

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Post- Completion OPT
Students on F-1 visa can start on post-completion OPT on their area of study after graduation. Students
can work full time on post completion OPT after receiving an Employment Authorization Document
(EAD) from USCIS. If a student takes up pre-completion OPT, then this duration will be deducted from
the period of his/her Post-completion OPT. This implies if the student has worked for 12 months on Pre-
completion OPT, then he/she will no longer be eligible to work on post-completion OPT.
Application Deadline
F-1 students can send their application to USCIS no more than 90 days before and no later than 60 days
of graduation.
How long can a student work on OPT?
Grace Period after Post-completion OPT:
A student on OPT has a grace period of 60 days after post-completion OPT. Students can apply for STEM
extension or H-1B during this period before their post-completion OPT expires.
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F1 students can work on OPT in the following
combinations:
 Part time, when the university is in session
 Full-time, when the university is not in
session
 Fulltime, after the completion of
graduation