Optional Practical Training

CPT: After completing at least one full academic year, but before finishing your degree program.
OPT: Most often after completion of a degree program or graduate course work, but may be during a program as well.

You must be enrolled full-time under lawful F-1 status for one full academic year prior to training.

Graduate students whose program requires immediate participation in training are exempt from the one-year prior enrollment requirement.

CPT

• Requires a job offer.
• You are authorized to work for a specific employer only.
• 12 months of full-time CPT makes you ineligible for OPT at the same educational level.
• CPT must be an integral part of your program of study.

OPT

• Graduate students who have completed all required courses are eligible to start OPT.
• Does not require a job offer.
• Your work authorization is not employer-specific.
• Maximum of 12 months of full-time work.
• You must apply before completing your academic program.

CPT

Part-time employment (up to 20 hours per week):

• Full-time enrollment is required during the academic year.

Full-time employment (more than 20 hours per week):

• Enrollment part-time or full-time.
• Minimum credits determined by your academic department.

OPT

Graduate student pre-completion OPT

• Employment may be part-time or full-time (Part-time authorization will apply to the 12-month limit at 1.5 times the full-time rate)
• Enrollment is not required for immigration purposes

Post-completion OPT

• Full-time employment only
• Enrollment is not required
• If enrolled in courses, enrollment should be limited to part-time

CPT

Apply for CPT through the WSU Office of International Programs. Processing time is about one week. There are no fees.

Upon approval, you will be issued a CPT I-20 form.

Your academic department will:

• determine whether CPT is an integral part of your academic program
• determine enrollment requirements (examples: internship course, research credits)
• recommend CPT

WSU Office of International Programs will:

• verify your eligibility
• if a program does not have a required internship, determine on a case-by-case basis whether CPT is appropriate
• authorize CPT in SEVIS

OPT

Apply for OPT through U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Processing may take up to three months. There is a $380 fee (subject to change).

Upon approval, you will be issued an Employment Authorization Document.

Your academic program will:

• verify completion of all required courses for the program (for graduate student pre-completion OPT)
• verify your expected program completion date (for post-completion OPT)

WSU Office of International Programs will:

• verify your eligibility
• recommend OPT in SEVIS

While you are on OPT, you are required to report the following information to Global Services:

• Changes in address (Update within 10 days)
• Changes in legal name
• Changes in employer name and address (Use the online form in the international student portal)
• When your employment ends (Use the online form in the international student portal)

Even if no changes have occurred, you must check in with Global Services every six months to confirm that your information is current by completing the Employment Update Form in myPassport

If you change your email address, please submit the change. Email is our primary way to communicate with you while you are on OPT. We need to be able to reach you whenever important regulations change.

If you do not have a Social Security number, you will need one to get paid in the United States. Not all F-1 students are eligible for a Social Security number. However, if you have an OPT card, you can apply for a Social Security card. Apply at your local Social Security Administration office.

You must provide the following original documents (and photocopies) for your application:

• A valid passport
• An F-1 visa stamp or change of status approval
• Electronic I-94 or front and back of I-94 card
• OPT I-20
• OPT card

Ask Global Services about the application procedure for a Social Security number. Visit the Social Security website for more information.

Initial 12 Months of OPT

You may start work when:

• You receive the OPT card (Employment Authorization Document or EAD), AND
• The start date has arrived.

If your EAD arrives later than the date your employer wishes you to begin working, you may not start work early.

24-Month Extension

Students in certain majors (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) may be eligible for an extension to their current OPT. To determine eligibility and requirements view the required STEM OPT tutorial

Students who timely file (meaning USCIS receives your application within the 90 days prior to your current OPT expiring) a 24-month OPT extension will be able to continue employment while the extension application is pending, until a final decision is made by USCIS, or for 180 days, whichever comes first. The receipt notice from USCIS will serve as work authorization until the new work authorization card is approved (if the current student card expires while the student is waiting for the new card).

Provide your employer with copies of your immigration documents: valid passport, OPT card, OPT I-20, etc.  Your employer will need these documents to complete the Employment Eligibility Verification (Form I-9).

If your employer has little experience in hiring international students, USCIS online resources can be helpful.

Hours of Work

You are expected to work full time—20 or more hours per week—while you are on OPT. You can work more than 40 hours per week if necessary. Immigration regulations do not cap the maximum number of hours you can work.

Job Training

Job training is considered part of the job and is usually paid. You will need to have a valid OPT card before you begin training.

Changing Employers

Your OPT authorization is not specific to one employer. As long as the employment is related to your field of study, you can work for any employer—even a temporary agency or job placement firm.

Working for more than one employer at the same time is allowed.

Remember to report any changes in your employment to Global Services.

Volunteer Work

Federal regulations allow you to volunteer while on standard 12-month OPT. To comply with Department of Labor laws, you cannot volunteer in a position that is normally paid. It is also unlawful to volunteer for an employer prior to starting a paying job.

Volunteer work should be 20 hours or more per week and in your field of study.

Enrolling in Courses

If you have graduated and have OPT, regulations allow you to take courses for personal enrichment, as long as you maintain your OPT employment.

Transferring to another institution or changing level to a new program of study will end your OPT.

In order to maintain your F-1 status, you must keep periods of unemployment within designated limits. If you are not employed, you may only stay in the United States for a designated number of days after the start of your OPT.

• Standard 12-month OPT: 90 days
• 24-month OPT extension: 150 days. This includes any days of unemployment accrued during standard OPT.

Record and Report your Dates of Employment

You are responsible for keeping record of your dates of employment and reporting the information to Global Services. We update your immigration record to reflect employment, so that unemployment stops accruing. Failure to report OPT employment may result in the termination of your SEVIS record. Dates of unemployment may affect your status or future benefits in the United States.

You can stay in the United States for up to 60 days after your OPT expires as long as you have not exceeded 90 days of unemployment.

You will need to be admitted to a new program of study and request a “change of program I-20” at WSU. Be certain that the new program information is added to your F-1 record within 60 days of your OPT expiration.

Your new program of study must begin the next available regular session, not to exceed five months from your OPT end date.

Contact Global Services

If you return to school to pursue a degree at a higher level than your previous degree (e.g., you have an M.S. and are going to work on a Ph.D.), you may apply for another year of OPT when you return to school. You will need one year of full-time enrollment before applying.

You must initiate a SEVIS school transfer within the 60-day grace period in order to maintain your status. Once your SEVIS record is released from WSU to your new school, you are no longer eligible to engage in OPT, even if your OPT card is still valid.

H-1B is a work visa that is sponsored by an employer. If you intend to continue working in the United States, you may seek to transition from OPT (part of F-1 status) to H-1B status.

Your ability to get an H-1B visa will depend on your employer’s willingness and ability to support you in the process. The WSU Office of International Programs cannot advise you on these issues. If an employer has filed an H-1B petition on your behalf, talk with that employer to determine whether you are eligible for the Cap-Gap Extension.

H-1B Cap-Gap Extension

Most employers limit or “cap” the number of H-1B slots available each fiscal year.

New H-1Bs become effective each October 1. If your F-1 status and/or OPT expire before your H-1B is approved to begin, that is known as the “cap gap.”

If your employer in the private sector has filed an H-1 petition on your behalf, ask the Office of International Programs Global Services Department about your eligibility for an H-1B Cap-Gap Extension.

If you have a pending or approved H-1B petition, the H-1B Cap-Gap Extension may let you remain in the United States in F-1 status until your approved H-1B employment period starts. You could stay even if your OPT authorization and/or F-1 grace period would have otherwise expired before October 1.

If you intend to stay in the United States after your OPT ends, you must apply to USCIS to change your immigration status to whatever category is appropriate for the purpose of your stay.

If you simply want to extend your stay beyond the authorized 60-day period prior to departing the United States, you should apply for the B-2 visitor’s status by filing Form I-539 (pdf), Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status.

If your post-completion OPT was based on a STEM-designated degree, and if your OPT employer is an E-Verify participant, you may be eligible for a 24-month extension of OPT. You must file an extension with USCIS before your initial OPT authorization expires.

The STEM OPT tutorial contains application requirements and deadlines. This is a two-time extension. It begins the day after your initial post-completion OPT employment authorization expires. It ends 24 months later, regardless of the date the extension was approved.

Eligibility Requirements

You must meet all of the following requirements.

• Your major or area(s) of study are in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM). The STEM OPT tutorial contains a list of qualifying fields.
• You are currently approved for post-completion OPT and have not exceeded 90 days of unemployment.
• You have a job with an organization registered in the E-Verify employment verification system.
• You and your employer complete a form I-983.
• Your employer must agree to ongoing evaluation and reporting during the 24-month period.
• You have not used two STEM extensions.

How to Apply

You may apply for an OPT extension starting 90 days prior to the end of your current OPT. You cannot apply after the last day of your current OPT.

Review and submit documents in the international student portal under the OPT STEM Extension section. This is the only method Global Services will accept applications.

Prepare your Extension Application Materials and submit them in the international student portal.

In addition to the materials required for your initial OPT application, you must also include:

• Employer/organization name as listed in E-Verify and the employer E-Verify company identification number (entered on the I-765 application form). Not all employers are registered in the E-Verify government system. Some may not be willing or able to register. Ask your current or potential employer about its E-Verify status.
• A completed and signed form I-983 (you and your employer must complete/sign this information). Study in the States contains information about the form and employer responsibilities.

Your WSU F-1 advisor must verify your eligibility and recommend the 24-month OPT extension in SEVIS. Your employer must sign the form I-983 and agree to reporting requirements for the 24-month period. We encourage you and your employer to review Study in the States.

Submit your OPT extension application to USCIS.

• You can file up to 90 days prior to your current Employment Authorization Document (EAD) end date, but no later than the current EAD expirati0on date.
• When filing your OPT extension application, you may use either WSU’s address or your home address on Form I-765. Using WSU’s address allows Global Services to scan STEM documents to your immigration file. If you use your home address, notify USCIS if you move. Government documents, such as your receipt notice and OPT card, will not be forwarded to a new address and will be returned to USCIS.
• If you use your home address, mail your application to the USCIS Lockbox that serves the state where you live. Find the right USCIS address.
• USCIS will send you an OPT receipt (called a “Notice of Action”) within 2-3 weeks of mailing your application. You will receive an email from Global Services when your OPT receipt arrives. If it does not arrive within three weeks, please contact Global Services.
• You may continue employment while your extension application is pending, until a final decision is made by USCIS, or for 180 days, whichever comes first. If your current work authorization card expires while you are waiting for the new one, the receipt notice from USCIS will serve as work authorization until your new card is approved. Keep this receipt in a safe place with your other immigration documents.
• You cannot travel outside the United States while your OPT extension application is pending with USCIS.
• Check your application status using your OPT receipt number.