OPT Work Authorization

PRE-COMPLETION OPT: FULL-TIME OR PART-TIME AUTHORIZATION

• During the summer vacation and semester break, you may apply to do either part-time or full-time pre-completion OPT employment.

• While school is in session, you may apply to do part-time pre-completion OPT employment only.

• You can apply for Pre-Completion OPT via the ISSS Student Portal.

POST-COMPLETION OPT: FULL-TIME AUTHORIZATION

• Applied for during your final semester to begin after the completion of ALL requirements for your course of study.

• Thesis/Dissertation Status: may apply for post-completion OPT if you are in thesis/dissertation status and have met all your degree requirements, except for the thesis/dissertation

• You must have been enrolled full-time for at least one academic year (spring and fall term).

• You must be able to describe how the type of work you are seeking directly relates to your major. You do not have to have a job offer to apply for OPT, but if you are applying for pre-completion of studies OPT, it is wise that you be as sure as possible of a job so that you don’t waste any of your 12 months of OPT time.

• You may apply for Post-Completion OPT up to 90 days before completion of your program of study, but not later than 60 days after. If you apply within the 60-day period after completion, you are likely not to receive your full 12 month OPT benefit due to USCIS processing times.

• If you have already used 12 months of full-time Curricular Practical Training (CPT), you are not eligible for any OPT.

• For pre-completion OPT, student must have a GPA of 3.0 or above (graduate students) or 2.0 or above (undergraduate students). Students must be in good academic standing and not on academic probation or warning in order to apply.

STEP 1: CONFIRM YOUR PROGRAM COMPLETION IN WORKDAY

Graduation approval in Workday does not need to be processed by the Registrar for the OPT application. However, you should apply for program completion in Workday by the Registrar's deadline.

To confirm your program completion in Workday for your OPT Application, please follow the directions based on your graduation term:

FALL 2025 GRADUATES: To confirm your graduation for your OPT Application, please ensure that your Expected Program Completion Date listed on your Workday Academics Tab matches that of the semester you intend to graduate in. If your Expected Program Completion Date does not match the semester you wish to graduate in, you will need to update it using the Graduate or Undergraduate Workday Guide.

STEP 2: SUBMIT OPT REQUEST FORM VIA THE ISSS STUDENT PORTAL

ISSS processing time is 10 business days.

Students who do not have their program completion confirmed in Workday per the directions in STEP 1 will be instructed to submit the requirements as part of the OPT Request.

STEP 3: RECEIVE YOUR NEW I-20

ISSS will issue you a new I-20 with the OPT recommendation. You will receive an email when your new I-20 is ready.

STEP 4: REVIEW AND SIGN YOUR I-20

Once you receive your new I-20, sign the I-20 on page 1.

STEP 5: GATHER AND PREPARE YOUR DOCUMENTS

Gather the documents found on the Pre and Post Completion OPT Application to USCIS Checklist.

STEP 6: SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION TO USCIS

Once you have gathered all your documents, you will submit your documents to USCIS. Since April 2021, USCIS has allowed OPT applications to be filed online. If you apply online and have not yet received your OPT I-20 from ISSS, your OPT application will be denied.

If filing online, please review the ISSS Online Filing Webpage and the ISSS ONLINE FILING GUIDE.

If you still prefer to mail your application to USCIS, please refer to the Filing via mail Pre and Post Completion OPT Application to USCIS Checklist for additional details.

REMINDER: 30 DAY RULE! Applications must be received by USCIS within 30 days of the issuance date on the I-20 and no later than than the end of the 60 day grace period, whichever comes first. Applications received by USCIS after the 30 days will be accepted and adjudicated but will be denied by USCIS at the end of the process. This is the most common reason for denial.

STEP 7: RECEIVE USCIS RECEIPT NOTICE

If you apply online, you will receive a receipt number as soon as you submit your application. A paper copy will be mailed to you as well. If you apply via mail, USCIS will issue an I-797C Receipt Notice within 2-4 weeks after receiving your application. You can check the status of your case on USCIS.gov.

Contact ISSS@stevens.edu if you receive any other notice, such a Request for Evidence (RFE) or rejection notice, from USCIS.

STEP 8: RECEIVE YOUR OPT EMPLOYMENT AUTHORIZATION DOCUMENT (EAD)

If your application is approved, USCIS will mail you an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) for OPT, which will list the start and end dates you are authorized to work

Contact ISSS@stevens.edu if you receive any other notice, such a Request for Evidence (RFE), from USCIS.