Understanding OPT – A Temporary Employment Facility

Optional Practical Training (OPT) is temporary employment to obtain practical experience related to the major specialty of the study of students. OPT could be authorized as follows:

• Pre-completion OPT: During the annual vacation of students and at times when there is no session in school but the student is enrolled and eligible, and wishes to register for next term and while there is a session in school, provided it does not go beyond 20 hours per week during the school session.

• Post-completion OPT: After the completion, course requirements for a degree and excluding thesis, if any student is doing a doctoral degree in master's, or bachelor program, or after the completion of the study.

• STEM Extension OPTS: Recipients of doctoral, masters or bachelor degrees in certain STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) fields could apply for 17-month post-completion OPT extension if certain criteria are met.

Eligibility for OPT

F-1 students who are enrolled full-time in a USCIS/DHS recognized school for one academic year before gaining eligibility for OPT. Students receiving training inEnglish language are not eligible for OPT.

Where can OPT be used?

Students might engage in OPT for an employer for a period of OPT authorized, as long the employment is permitted under OPT standards. The training could be completed from anywhere in U.S. after obtaining the OPT EAD card.

The Duration of OPT

Standard OPTS is obtainable for an accumulative maximum 12 months for every educational level. Extension of a period of 17 months (the total being 29 months) is obtainable to particular STEM degree students.

OPT With STEM Fields

One fact about OPT is that the students who have completed their graduation from a US university or college with a specific degree in STEM fields like, technology, science, mathematics and engineering, have the permission to apply for the extension of OPT for an extra 17 month and thereby making the total post-graduation OPT time 29 months.

The specific degrees that qualify for the extension are:

• Computer Science Applications

• Engineering

• Actuarial Sciences

• Physical Sciences

• Mathematics

• Military Technologies

• Engineering Technologies

• Life Sciences

The Number of Hours of Work Per Week

Pre-completion OPTSinvolve 20 hours of work per week while the school is in session. The student has coursework to finish. Full-fledged employment could be requested for the pre-completion OPT which is done during the official school breaks.

For the post-completion OPT, a student is engaged for at least 20 hours per week. Students who request for post-completion OPT might work 40 and above hours every week.

A lot of people face the question if students can work elsewhere during OPT.That is only possible if the job is related to and corresponds with the course study of the student.

Work Privileges Available on OPT

With an F1 visa, students are permitted to complete the full degree course, and also have the right to work on a valid F1 visa status.

The main utility of OPT is to obtain the right to work for a year after finishing a degree (post-completion OPT), whereas there is even permission to work under OPT during school years (pre-completion OPT). Towards the end of your graduation, permission for OPT can be applied for in order to work for any employer in the US. A new OPT period can be applied for after completing every new degree level. For example, after the completion of your graduation degree, OPT can be applied for to work for a year. Then again after the completion of your P.h.D or Master's degree, OPT can be applied for another year.

Obtaining Approval For the OPT

Students should apply for the OPT with the help of the International and Multicultural Student Services. An I-765 for the standard post-completion OPTS could be filed for a period of 90 days prior to the end date of the program and to 60 days after the end-date of the program.