After you graduate · United States

United States post-study practical training

Official name: Post-Completion Optional Practical Training (OPT)

Post-completion OPT lets an eligible F-1 student undertake temporary work directly related to their major field of study after finishing their programme. It provides up to 12 months of OPT, reduced by any pre-completion OPT used at the same education level.

Researched just now · being double-checkedSource

Main fee: $470 per person
Decision: Not published yet
Last checked: Being checked

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Who it's for

Is this for you?

F-1 students completing an eligible programme at a Student and Exchange Visitor Program-certified school in the United States.

Requirements

What you need

Hold F-1 status
You must be an eligible F-1 student; post-completion OPT is work authorisation connected to F-1 student status, not a visa to apply for from abroad.
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Complete an academic year
You must have been lawfully enrolled full-time for one full academic year at a school approved to enrol F-1 students. That year need not all have been in F-1 status, but you must be in valid F-1 status when applying.
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Complete eligible study
Post-completion OPT may follow completion of an associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree programme; students in English-language training are not eligible for OPT.
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Stay below the full-time CPT limit
Twelve months or more of full-time curricular practical training (CPT) makes you ineligible for OPT; part-time CPT does not.
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Work in your field
The practical training must directly relate to your major area of study; the overview says you may work for any employer.
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Have OPT time available
Post-completion OPT is available for up to 12 months at an education level, with pre-completion OPT deducted from that allotment.
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Obtain your school’s recommendation
Your designated school official (DSO) must enter an OPT recommendation in your Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) record before you file Form I-765; you must include the DSO-endorsed Form I-20.
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File within the deadlines
File Form I-765 no more than 90 days before and no later than 60 days after your programme end date, and within 30 days of the DSO entering the OPT recommendation in SEVIS.
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Wait for work authorisation
Do not start work until USCIS has approved OPT, you have received your Employment Authorization Document (EAD), and its start date has arrived.
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Limit unemployment during OPT
A student authorised for post-completion OPT may be unemployed for a total of no more than 90 days.
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Money and time

Fees and how long it takes

Form I-765 filing fee — online applicationResearched just now · being double-checkedSource$470 per person
Form I-765 filing fee — paper application, instead of the online feeResearched just now · being double-checkedSource$520 per person

Step by step

How it works

Get ready
- Complete the required study
  Complete one full academic year of lawful full-time enrolment at an eligible school and prepare to finish your programme.
  You’ll need: Form I-20, Evidence of full-time enrolment
- Check your previous training
  Check your full-time CPT and any OPT already used at this education level before requesting post-completion OPT.
  You’ll need: Previous CPT and OPT authorisations, Previous SEVIS numbers
- Ask your school to recommend OPT
  Ask your DSO to enter the recommendation in SEVIS and provide a Form I-20 endorsed for OPT.
  You’ll need: DSO-endorsed Form I-20
Apply
- File Form I-765
  File under post-completion OPT category (c)(3)(B) within both the programme-end-date window and 30 days of the DSO’s SEVIS recommendation.
  You’ll need: Form I-765, DSO-endorsed Form I-20, Previous SEVIS numbers, Evidence of previous CPT or OPT, if applicable
- Pay the filing fee
  Pay the Form I-765 fee for the filing method you use: online or paper.
  You’ll need: Filing-fee payment
Settle in
- Wait for your EAD
  Wait for USCIS to approve the application and issue your EAD before starting work.
  You’ll need: Employment Authorization Document
- Start work related to your major
  Work only from the EAD start date in practical training directly related to your major area of study.
  You’ll need: Employment Authorization Document
- Report changes
  Report changes to your home address or employer information within 10 days and keep within the 90-day total unemployment limit.
  You’ll need: Current address and employer information

After this

Where it leads

Eligible students with qualifying science, technology, engineering or mathematics degrees may apply separately for a 24-month STEM OPT extension; OPT does not itself grant permanent residence.

Funding

Scholarships in the United States

Stanford, California

Knight-Hennessy Scholars

Stanford University

Tuition and fees, a living and academic stipend, and funding for one return journey each year, for up to three years.

Closes 6 Oct · 4 days leftResearched just now · being double-checked

Los Angeles, CaliforniaUndergraduate

USC Admission Merit Scholarships

University of Southern California

Awards range from a few thousand US dollars to full tuition; none covers the full cost of attendance.

Closes 1 Nov · 30 days leftOfficial source · checked 5 days ago

Washington, DCUndergraduate

Emerging Global Leader Scholarship

American University

Full tuition, room and board for up to four years; insurance, flights and other personal costs are not covered.

Closes 15 Jan 2027 · 105 days leftOfficial source · checked 5 days ago

Questions

In short

Who is the United States post-study practical training for?

F-1 students completing an eligible programme at a Student and Exchange Visitor Program-certified school in the United States.

What do I need for the United States post-study practical training?

Hold F-1 status; Complete an academic year; Complete eligible study; Stay below the full-time CPT limit; Work in your field; Have OPT time available; Obtain your school’s recommendation; File within the deadlines; Wait for work authorisation; Limit unemployment during OPT.

How much does the United States post-study practical training cost?

Form I-765 filing fee — online application: $470 per person; Form I-765 filing fee — paper application, instead of the online fee: $520 per person.

What can the United States post-study practical training lead to?

Eligible students with qualifying science, technology, engineering or mathematics degrees may apply separately for a 24-month STEM OPT extension; OPT does not itself grant permanent residence.

How we know

Sources

Japper is an AI immigration assistant. It gives general information from official sources, not legal advice, and it can be wrong. For your own case, ask a licensed advisor.

United States

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Official source · checked 5 days ago

Work

United States H-1B specialty occupation visa

This is a temporary route for work in a specialty occupation. A prospective employer must obtain an approved petition before you apply for the visa; entry restrictions and nationality-based visa suspensions may also apply. ([travel.state.gov](https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/employment/temporary-worker-visas.html))

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This employment-based immigrant visa covers people with extraordinary ability, outstanding professors and researchers, and certain multinational managers or executives. It can lead to lawful permanent residence, but visa availability and nationality-based restrictions may affect an application. ([travel.state.gov](https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate/employment-based-immigrant-visas.html?utm_source=openai))

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Talent

United States O-1 extraordinary ability visa

The O-1 is a temporary visa for work in the United States in a field where the applicant has extraordinary ability or achievement. A qualifying petitioner must obtain approval of Form I-129 before the applicant can apply for the visa.

Fee: $1,055 once
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This route is for foreign investors who invest in a qualifying US commercial enterprise and create jobs. An approved petition can lead to an immigrant visa and conditional permanent residence; visa availability and restrictions on issuance depend on the applicant’s circumstances. ([uscis.gov](https://www.uscis.gov/eb-5?utm_source=openai))

Fee: $11,160 once
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Sources disagree

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Japper is an AI immigration assistant. It gives general information from official sources, not legal advice, and it can be wrong. For your own case, ask a licensed advisor.