Optional Practical Training (OPT)
An F-1 student may apply for temporary employment involving practical training "directly related to the student's major area of study and commensurate with the student's educational level." The duration of this employment authorization is a total of 12 months per degree level. Students are eligible for another 12 months of OPT when they change levels (i.e. from Bachelor's to Master's).
Unfortunately, as an F-2 dependent you may not engage in employment or business under any circumstances. Failure to observe this requirement will place you out of status.
Employers may be cited, fined, and/or imprisoned for hiring persons ineligible for employment or maintaining employees who are no longer authorized to be employed.
STEP 1) You can review this internationalaffairs/students/current/Step-by-Step-guidelines-to-apply-online.pptx or view OPT Workshop video as well.
STEP 2) Complete and submit the NSU OPT Application Packet
STEP 3) After completing the NSU OPT packet and I-765, you will receive an updated OPT-endorsed I-20, students may apply for OPT directly through USCIS. We highly encourage you to complete the OPT I-765 application online.
You may begin your OPT only after you have been approved by USCIS and you have received your Employment Authorization Document (EAD) with a valid start date.
After your receive your EAD, please be sure to keep the following:
The following table suggests the best way to report the required information:
Initial OPT job |
|
Change to a new job |
|
Multiple short-term gigs in one period |
|
Work for hire (contract start) |
|
Work for hire (contract) |
|
Unemployment |
|
Self-employed business owner (start) |
|
Self-employed business owner (end) |
|
You decide to exit the U.S. and complete your F-1 status prior to the end date of OPT |
|
Change in legal name |
|
Change in residential or mailing address |
|
Use no more than 90 days of unemployment. The following counts towards unemployment:
Depart the U.S. within 60 days of completing your OPT if your Form I-20 is not extended or transferred to another SEVIS approved school.
START DATE
END DATE
Approved OPT but no job: You may not be able to reenter unless you have a written job offer. We advise you to wait until you have received employment.
With a job: We recommend students to bring a printed copy of their offer of employment. It is also recommended for students to ask their employer to create a letter stating that your employer knows you will be leaving and are expecting you to return.
Travel for work purposes: We still encourage students to bring this employment offer letter and any other documents needed for international travel.
Note: Days that you travel outside of the United States are counted towards your unemployment unless authorized by your employer. (For more information on unemployment, please see the Requirements tab.)
If you wish to participate in an internship during the summer before your final year in the integrated program, you may apply for Curricular Practical Training. Please keep in mind that full-time CPT authorization during this period will be added to any previous full-time CPT authorization you have accrued throughout your program. More than 12 months of full-time CPT authorization will eliminate OPT eligibility, so please count your time carefully if you intend to apply for OPT after graduation.
Once your masters level I-20 has been activated for your final year of the integrated program, you will no longer be eligible for CPT. You may start applying for post-graduation OPT authorization in mid-January of your last year in the program. The application can take up to five months to process (though usually it takes three months or less), so be sure to apply early if you know you would like to have OPT authorization after graduation.
Please keep a scanned copies of all Forms I-20 for future reference and record.
Unfortunately, as an F-2 dependent you may not engage in employment or business under any circumstances. Failure to observe this requirement will place you out of status.
Employers may be cited, fined, and/or imprisoned for hiring persons ineligible for employment or maintaining employees who are no longer authorized to be employed.
You may begin your OPT only after you have been approved by USCIS and you have received your Employment Authorization Document (EAD) with a valid start date.
After your receive your EAD, please be sure to keep the following:
Use no more than 90 days of unemployment. The following counts towards unemployment:
your EAD expires when
Depart the U.S. within 60 days of completing your OPT if your Form I-20 is not extended or transferred to another SEVIS approved school.
START DATE
END DATE
Approved OPT but no job: You may not be able to reenter unless you have a written job offer. We advise you to wait until you have received employment.
With a job: We recommend students to bring a printed copy of their offer of employment. It is also recommended for students to ask their employer to create a letter stating that your employer knows you will be leaving and are expecting you to return.
Travel for work purposes: We still encourage students to bring this employment offer letter and any other documents needed for international travel.
Note: Days that you travel outside of the United States are counted towards your unemployment unless authorized by your employer. (For more information on unemployment, please see the Requirements tab.)
If you wish to participate in an internship during the summer before your final year in the integrated program, you may apply for Curricular Practical Training. Please keep in mind that full-time CPT authorization during this period will be added to any previous full-time CPT authorization you have accrued throughout your program. More than 12 months of full-time CPT authorization will eliminate OPT eligibility, so please count your time carefully if you intend to apply for OPT after graduation.
Once your masters level I-20 has been activated for your final year of the integrated program, you will no longer be eligible for CPT. You may start applying for post-graduation OPT authorization in mid-January of your last year in the program. The application can take up to five months to process (though usually it takes three months or less), so be sure to apply early if you know you would like to have OPT authorization after graduation.
Please keep a scanned copies of all Forms I-20 for future reference and record.
Unfortunately, as an F-2 dependent you may not engage in employment or business under any circumstances. Failure to observe this requirement will place you out of status.
Employers may be cited, fined, and/or imprisoned for hiring persons ineligible for employment or maintaining employees who are no longer authorized to be employed.
F-1 students who receive STEM degrees may apply for a 24-month extension of their Post-Completion OPT.
STEP 1) List of STEM-Eligible CIP codes In order for you to be eligible for a STEM Extension you must have one of the STEM-eligible CIP codes from this document listed next to your major on your valid NSU I-20.
STEP 2) NSU STEM Extension OPT Application Packet Fill out application packet.
After your receive your EAD, please be sure to keep the following:
The following table suggests the best way to report the required information:
Situation | Reportable Information |
Change to a new job |
|
Unemployment |
|
You decide to exit the U.S. and complete your F-1 status prior to the end date of OPT |
|
Change of legal name |
|
Change of residential or mailing address |
|
Change of email address |
|
You will also need to re-submit parts of your I-983 after 12 months and after 24 months. This will include evaluations from your employer about your training progress and improvements.
You may not accrue more than 150 days of unemployment, which includes any unemployment days accrued while on Standard OPT — exceeding this time limit will cause you to lose your status. The following counts towards unemployment:
Depart the U.S. within 60 days of completing your STEM OPT if your Form I-20 is not extended or transferred to another SEVIS approved school.