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International Student and Scholar Services Office

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  2. International Student and Scholar Services
  3. Students
  4. F-1 Visa Students
  5. Optional Practical Training
  6. How to apply for Optional Practical Training (OPT)

Students

How to apply for Optional Practical Training (OPT)

  1. Schedule a OPT group appointment with ISSSO counselor
  2. DO NOT submit and pay for an OPT application online with USCIS at this time
  3. You are required to be present in the U.S. in order to apply for OPT
  4. Download the instruction page and academic verification form
  5. Join the virtual BigMarker OPT group appointment and have the following items available and ready:
  6. Current I-20
  7. Passport(s) that is valid for six months into the future and most recent visa page
  8. Your current I-94 or the change of status approval notice (I-797) if you changed your status in the U.S. and have not left the U.S.
  9. Prior EAD card(s) if you have any
  10. Completed Academic Verification form signed by your academic advisor
  11. One electronic color passport-type photo for filing online. Has to be new and within six months.
  12. Follow the instructions provided by the counselor during your virtual OPT workshop*
  13. Submit Payment Coupon and Post Completion OPT alumni fee ($100)

*Our office highly recommends filing the OPT application online through the USCIS website. You must receive the OPT recommendation I-20 from our office before you file the application with USCIS. If you file online with USCIS, the application fee (currently $470) will be paid by credit card or electronic bank debit through the USCIS / PAY.gov website while paper filing includes an additional $50 charge ($520). We will provide further instructions in the OPT group workshop on how to file online. Filing online is more secure and easier to complete. The $100 alumni fee is separate and must be paid by credit card, check, money order, or cash to our office directly. DO NOT send cash by mail.