Boston College OISS
Office of International Students and Scholars
PRE-Completion OPT
Information and Application
What is PRE-completion optional practical training?
Pre-completion Optional Practical training is employment directly related to your major(s) prior to your
completion of studies. It is authorized by the Immigration Service as part of your F-1 visa status.
Who is eligible?
You must be a full-time student, maintaining status for at least one academic-year. A job offer is not required to
apply for OPT.
How long can I work using OPT?
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F-1 students are eligible for a total of 12 months if OPT per degree level (Bachelor’s Master’s, PhD). Keep this
in mind if you are considering another degree at the same educational level in the future. Students in STEM
majors may be eligible for an additional 24 month extension.
Any PRE-completion practical training that is authorized prior to completion of studies or for another degree
of the same level will be deducted from the total 12 month allotment for post-completion practical training
(part-time pre-completion OPT it is deducted at a half-month rate).
When should I apply?
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Applications cannot arrive to the immigration service center more than 90 days prior to your start date.
You should submit your application to the OISS approximately 3 ½ months prior to your work start date. The
OISS will need up to 2 weeks to process your new I-20.
PLAN AHEAD and APPLY EARLY! It can take up to 3 months for your OPT to be approve AND another 1-3
weeks to receive your Employment Authorization Document (EAD). You cannot begin without your EAD!
How do I chose my OPT start date?
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The dates you choose will be the dates you are eligible to work. If your application is approved after the
date you choose, the approval date will be your start date.
You cannot apply for a Social Security Number (SSN) until the start date on your Employment Card. If you
do not have an SSN you should choose a start date at least 2 weeks prior to your job start date
Once submitted to immigration service center the dates CANNOT be changed or extended. Sometimes the
OPT can be cancelled before it is approved, but you will not receive a refund.
If you are thinking of looking for an employer to sponsor your H1B visa after graduation, discuss the
timing with the OISS.
How do I apply?
Step 1: Submit the OPT Application to the OISS approximately 3 ½ months prior to your work start date. Your work
authorization can take up to 90 days to be approved, so please plan ahead. The application is available on the OISS
website and in the office.
Make sure your form is signed by your Dean, Department Chair or Advisor BEFORE submitting to the OISS.
 Undergraduates: Your Dean’s Office will sign.
 Exchange Students: Esther Messing in the Office of International Programs will sign.
 GCSOM: Leia Hopson, Graduate Student Services Cushing Hall will sign.
 All other Graduate Students: Typically your advisor, graduate director or department chair will sign.
Step 2: After you submit the above documentation, the OISS will issue you a new SEVIS I-20 with a recommendation
for practical training for the specific time period. The OISS will also process your I-765 work application. This process
will take 1-2 weeks and an email will be sent to your BC email when your I-20 and the I-765 are ready.
Step 3: Pick up your new I-20 and I-765 form from OISS and mail all of the necessary items to the Immigration Service
(A Practical Training Mailing Checklist will be given to you with your I-20 and I-765). The application must be sent
within 30 days of the I-20 issue date on page one of your I-20 form! Pay careful attention to the required mailing dates
at the top of the checklist and on your envelope. Failure to ensure the application arrives between these dates will
result in DENIAL of your application!
Thea Bowman House 72 College Road Chestnut Hill, MA 02467  Phone: 617-552-8005  Fax 617-552-2190  bcis@bc.edu  www.bc.edu/oiss
Boston College OISS
Office of International Students and Scholars
Instructions:
PRE- Completion Optional
Practical Training (OPT)
Request Form
1. Read the attached instructions carefully and Complete Part I
2. Ask your Dean’s Office, Department Chair or Advisor to sign Part II
3. Return the signed form to the OISS at the Thea Bowman House 72 College Rd.
Part 1: To be completed by the student
Last/Family name: _____________________________
First/Given Name: _____________________________
NON BC-email: ________________________________
Phone number: _______________________________
Major(s): ________________________________
Have you received off campus work permission (OPT or CPT) from a different university in the past?
Do you have a Social Security Number?
Yes
No
OPT Start date (mm/dd/yy): ___________________
I am requesting:
Yes
No
OPT End Date(mm/dd/yy): _________________________
Part-time (less than 20 hours per week, deducted at a half-rate) OR
Full-time (Only during vacation periods or if working on thesis or dissertation)
Employer information:
I am currently searching for a job or internship: Skip Employer section.
I have secured employment: Please complete the required employer information below.
Employer Info:
Please complete
ALL address
fields.
Name: __________________________________________________________________
Address: ____________________________________________________________________
City: ________________________________
State: _________ Zip code: ____________
Employment start date (mm/dd/yy): ________________ Job Title (if known): ______________________________
Explain how this job is related to your major: ________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Part 2: To be completed by the Dean’s Office, Department Chair, or Academic Advisor:
The above student is applying for work permission after completion of studies through the U.S. Immigration Service. If
granted, this student will be authorized for employment directly related to his/her degree. Please confirm the following:
The student is considered to be full-time, in good academic standing and is expected to complete ALL degree
requirements including thesis/dissertation/required assistantships by: ________/_________/_________ *
* Note: This date is not necessarily the graduation date, especially for PhD students. Master’s students who finish in the first
summer session should have the end of that first summer session as their completion date.
Name: ______________________________________________
Title: ________________________________________
Signature: __________________________________________________________ Date: _________________________
Please return this form to the student so that they may submit the form to the OISS for processing.
Thea Bowman House 72 College Road Chestnut Hill, MA 02467  Phone: 617-552-8005  Fax 617-552-2190  bcis@bc.edu  www.bc.edu/oiss
Part 3: Information for the I-765 Immigration Application
Please complete the information below. The OISS will use this information to complete your I-765 work application,
however it is your responsibility to carefully check it over for accuracy when it is returned to you with your new OPT I-20.
1. Mailing Address information: Please confirm the address where you would like your Employment Authorization
Document (EAD card) to be mailed. You MUST provide an address in the United States where you can SAFELY receive
mail for the next 3 months. Your name MUST clearly labeled on the mailbox in order for government mail to be delivered.
If the Employment Card is lost it will cost $380 to be replaced and you will have to wait another 2-3 months to start your
employment!
Please use the OISS address. I understand the OISS will email me using the email above when the documentation
arrives.
OR
Please use the following address:
__________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
City: __________________________ State:_________ Zip Code: ____________
2. Place of Birth: _________________________
________________________
Province (if available)
Town or City
3. Gender:
Male
4. Marital Status:
__________________________
Country
Female
Single
Married
Divorced
Widowed
5. I-94 Record Information. Please refer to I-94 card (the white card in your passport) OR electronic I-94 record
(https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov) ***I-94 records were automated in May 2013.
Admission I-94 record number: ________________________________
Date of Entry: _______________________
Class of Entry: (example F-1) ________________
Place of entry: __________________ (Electronic I-94: Click on Travel History to find this)
Part 4: Statement of Understanding
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I understand that my employment must be related to my major(s).
I understand that Pre-completion OPT will be deducted from my 12 month total of OPT. (Part-time OPT is deducted
at a ½ month rate).
I understand if I apply for OPT and it is approved I cannot cancel it or recover the time requested.
I understand that I am not eligible to work until I receive my Employment Authorization Document (EAD).
I understand that I am only eligible to work during the dates on my EAD.
Student’s signature: ______________________________________________
Boston College OISS updated 03/2016
Date: ______________________