Introduction
Optional Practical Training (OPT) is an employment benefit granted by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) authorizing eligible F-1 students to work anywhere in the U.S. at a job directly related to their major field of study and at a level commensurate with their educational level. The process of applying for OPT requires F-1 students to request an OPT recommendation from the school that maintains their F-1 SEVIS record.
Application Process
Step 1
If you have not already done so, register to attend an OPT workshop. During this virtual session, ISS advisors explain the OPT benefit, the application process, and how to maintain your F-1 status during your period of OPT. We offer a limited number of live sessions each semester. Once the live sessions have finished, you can access a recorded session via the OPT Moodle Course. We encourage you to go through the Moodle course to get a basic overview of OPT before you submit your request to our office.
Step 2
Officially file for graduation at your undergraduate college or at the Graduate School. Verify with your undergraduate college or the Graduate School to be sure that your graduation date appears in the LSU database before applying for OPT. Applying for post-completion OPT can only be done when you are in your last semester. Make sure that you qualify for graduation and have submitted all required forms to your appropriate college or school before initiating the OPT application process. Ph.D. and Master's thesis students who are planning to finish Degree Only should have the Graduate School Degree Only approval prior to submitting their OPT request documents to ISS.
Step 3
Review your immigration documents before submitting your request for an OPT recommendation to ISS. In particular, be sure to check the following:
- Your name and date of birth should match on your passport, I-20, and I-94 card.
- The major and program level listed in fields #4 and #5 of your I-20 should be the same as your LSU major and OPT request.
- If you are completing several degree programs at the same time, you will be able to apply for OPT based on only one of those degrees. That major and program level should be listed on your I-20 in fields #4 and #5.
- Make sure the expiration date listed on your I-20 is not prior to program completion date.
- Please note that there is no need to change your I-20 expiration date if your I-20 expires after your expected completion date. We will do that for you when you apply for OPT.
- If any of the above-mentioned information is not correct, make note of the errors in the comments field when you submit your application to International Student Services.
Step 4
Submit your OPT recommendation request and all supporting materials to ISS via the online form. Make sure you have electronic copies of the following documents prior to submitting the form:
- ISS Student OPT application
- OPT student acknowledgement
- Passport photo(s) taken within the last 30 days
- Draft form I-765, which can be downloaded from draft USCIS online application if filing online
- Most recent I-94 admission record
- Passport bio page
- Most recent F-1 visa and/or entry stamp
- Documents showing previous F-1 work permission or different SEVIS ID numbers
- Previous EAD cards, if any
- Transcripts (for pre-completion only)
Please use the online form to submit your documents; please do not email your application to ISS or submit a paper copy to the ISS office.
Step 5
Use the link in your application confirmation email to book an OPT review session with an ISS advisor. During the appointment we will review your application and supporting materials for any issues or needed corrections. This appointment is 15 minutes long and virtual. Please prepare the following for your appointment to make the most of the review session.
- Make sure you have submitted your OPT recommendation request to ISS in advance of your appointment.
- Plan to join the virtual appointment from a device that allows you to share your screen.
- Have the documents you submitted available on your machine or device.
- If you are planning to apply online, make sure you have created your USCIS online account and you have filled in your draft responses prior to submitting your OPT request and booking your appointment.
Note: If you have not submitted your OPT request to ISS, but you want to book an appointment to ask questions about OPT, book an advising appointment instead of an OPT review.
OPT Processing and Deadlines
Important Notice About I-765 Online Filing
Applying for OPT involves a request to the school that has your SEVIS record (for the OPT recommendation) and an application to USCIS for employment authorization (Form I-765). If you submit your application to USCIS too early, without our recommendation being done in SEVIS, it will be denied.
If you plan to file your application online, please create your USCIS account and enter your draft responses up through the Additional Information section. Do not pay the fee yet. Download the draft snapshot of your application to submit to ISS with your OPT recommendation request.
Once you pay the fee, you have submitted your application. If your application is submitted without your OPT I-20 it will likely be denied. Always remember that you have to start with International Student Services first and receive our processed documents before you file anything with USCIS.
Application Timing and Fees
It is a good idea to apply for OPT at least 90 days prior to your requested OPT start date, but no more than 90 days prior to your graduation/completion date. US Immigration processing time to approve OPT can be at least 90 days after submitting your application to the Immigration Service Center.
You may apply for OPT with USCIS up to 90 days before your program completion date and no later than 60 days after your program completion date (during the F-1 grace period), provided the application filed with USCIS is . . .
- Received within 30 days of the date ISS enters the OPT recommendation into SEVIS (date the new I-20 OPT recommendation is issued) and
- Received by USCIS before the end of the 60 day grace period (60 days from the completion of studies expiration date of the OPT I-20, item #5 on I-20).
Currently, USCIS charges a fee for the I-765 form, which is used to apply for OPT. Please consult the I-765 page to make sure that you pay the correct and most recent fee amount. The fee may have recently changed, and an incorrect amount could result in a denial/rejection of your application.
Deadlines
It is not advisable to wait until the deadline to apply for OPT; we recommend submitting the application well before the deadline.
Please note: OPT deadlines listed on this page apply to F-1 students who have an LSU I-20 to study on the main campus. Deadlines for F-1 students in the School of Veterinary Medicine will be based on the Veterinary School’s academic calendar (not the main campus calendar). F-1 ECFVG (Veterinary School program) students are advised to consult with ISO 4-6 months before completing their program regarding their specific OPT deadlines.
Fall, Spring, or Summer Graduates Registered as Degree Only with Early Completion Date
The I-20 program completion date will be shortened to the Graduate School Degree Only application deadline for your specified term. You must be approved for a Degree Only completion in order to use Degree Only as the basis for your OPT application.
- Semester and Completion date: Graduate School deadline for term-specific, degree only completion
- Earliest date that you can apply to ISO: 90 days prior to completion date
- OPT start date range: the 60 day grace period following the completion date
- Deadline to apply for ISS OPT recommendation: at least two weeks before end of 60-day grace period that follows completion date
- Deadline for USCIS to receive complete OPT application: End of 60-day grace period
Fall 2024 Graduates, Registered in Credit Hours with December Completion Date
- Semester and Completion date: 20 December 2024
- Earliest date that you can apply to ISO (90 days prior to completion date): 21 September 2024
- OPT start date range: 21 Dec 2024 - 18 Feb 2025
- Deadline to apply for ISS OPT recommendation: 4 February 2025
- Deadline for USCIS to receive complete OPT application: 18 February 2025
Spring 2024 Graduates, Registered in Credit Hours with May Completion Date
- Semester and Completion date: 17 May 2024
- Earliest date that you can apply to ISO (90 days prior to completion): 19 February 2024
- OPT start date range: 18 May 2024 – 16 July 2024
- Deadline to apply for ISS OPT recommendation: 1 July 2024
- Deadline for USCIS to receive complete OPT application: 16 July 2024
Summer 2024 Graduates, Registered in Credit Hours with August Completion Date
- Semester and Completion date: 16 August 2024
- Earliest date that you can apply to IS0 (90 days prior to completion date): 18 May 2024
- OPT start date range: 17 Aug 2024 – 15 Oct 2024
- Deadline to apply for ISS OPT recommendation: 1 October 2024
- Deadline for USCIS to receive complete OPT application: 15 October 2024
Additional Information about OPT (12 months)
Please see the sections below for additional information about OPT eligibility, the application process, and other information you may need while on OPT.
OPT Regulations
On April 8, 2008, the Department of Homeland Security published regulations that changed many aspects of Optional Practical Training (OPT) for F-1 students. The regulations are effective as of the publication date and apply to all students in F-1 status.
OPT Checklist
See the following link: OPT Checklist.
Estimated Processing Schedule
- Student submits complete OPT packet to ISS within the designated application timeline, depending on their graduation/completion date. (See Deadlines section above.)
- In 5-10 business days, ISS completes a review of the OPT application and the processing of the recommendation for OPT. Longer processing may occur with higher volumes of applications or during certain times of the year.
- Student picks up the OPT packet from ISS and mails it to USCIS, including all required documents and fees, within 20 days of ISS recommendation.
- In 2-4 weeks, student should receive the Receipt Notice/I-797 Notice of Action from USCIS.
- In 90 calendar days or more, USCIS processes the OPT packet.
- Remember that USCIS processing times can fluctuate.
- While past processing times have been as short as 7-14 days, plan on government processing taking at least 90 days.
- The only formal way to expedite an I-765 application is to request Premium Processing. The Premium Processing fee is $1500.
- Student receives EAD card with approved OPT start and end dates.
Helpful Links & Forms