OPTIONAL PRACTICAL TRAINING INSTRUCTIONS
Before beginning, please attend an OPT workshop and/or review OPT presentation materials online at the OIS website (ois.jhu.edu)
Complete the Optional Practical Training Request form and obtain your academic advisors’ signature. Please note that your advisor
must entirely complete Section B.
Submit the OPT Request Form. You may either bring the OPT Request Form and all supporting materials to an OIS location during
scheduled advising hours or submit the OPT Request form going to http://ihopkins.jhu.edu. Sign in with your JHED ID and under
“International Office” you will find the electronic form to submit your documentation. Follow the instructions and indicate if you
will visit an advisor (in case of questions) or wish to have the application processed from the documentation submitted. It is
strongly urged that you see an advisor to confirm the OPT dates and review your application. Please be aware that all students on
JHMI’s I-20 must visit the Medical Institutions location of OIS for services; students on Homewood, Carey, Peabody, or SAIS I-20s
may visit any of the other 4 OIS locations for services.
Prepare and submit all the following documents to USCIS
 Form I-765 completed and signed by the student (http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/i-765.pdf). The code for #16 is (C)(3)(B)
for post-completion OPT and (C)(3)(A) for pre-completion. Do not forget to sign this application.
 Form G-1145, for email notification that your application has been received (http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/g-1145.pdf)
 2 Passport-style photographs that meet USCIS specifications
(http://travel.state.gov/passport/pptphotoreq/pptphotoreq_5333.html)
 Copy of your current Form I-94 Arrival/Departure Record (available online at www.cbp.gov/i94)
 Copy of pages 1 and 3 of the I-20 prepared by OIS that has your OPT recommendation
 Copies of pages 1 and 3 of ALL Form I-20s that have been issued to you by ALL SCHOOLS PREVIOUSLY ATTENDED
 Copy of your current unexpired passport id page and visa page
 A check or money order in the amount of $380 made payable to "U.S. Department of Homeland Security" (to view a
sample check please search the USCIS website for "Paying Immigration Fees"
 Copies of front and back of any previous work authorization cards you have EVER been issued
Send application to the appropriate USCIS office, based upon the address used on the I-765. Be careful that the address you use
on the I-765 is one at which you may receive mail. You are advised to make a copy of your entire application.
USCIS Dallas Lockbox should be used if your address is in:
Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia,
Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland,
Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New
Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico,
Rhode Island, South Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas,
Vermont, Virginia, U.S. Virgin Islands, or West Virginia
USCIS Phoenix Lockbox should be used if your address is in:
Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois,
Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri,
Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon,
South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Guan
or the Northern Mariana Islands
If sending by U.S.
Postal Service (USPS):
If sending by express mail or courier
delivery:
If sending by U.S.
Postal Service
(USPS):
USCIS
PO Box 660867
Dallas, TX 75266
USCIS
Attn: AOS
2501 S. State Hwy. 121 Business
Suite 400
Lewisville, TX 75067
USCIS
PO Box 21281
Phoenix, AN 85036
If sending by express mail or courier
delivery:
USCIS
Attn: AOS
1820 E. Skyharbor Circle S
Suite 100
Phoenix, AZ 85034
Office of International Services
Optional Practical Training (OPT) Request Form
SECTION A: TO BE COMPLETED BY THE STUDENT.
Family Name:________________________________ First Name:__________________________ University ID________________
JHU Email:_________________________________
Other Email:________________________________________
Requested OPT Start Dates: _________________ Requested OPT End Date: ________________ (may leave blank/see instructions)
Type of OPT requested (see instructions for details):  Pre-Completion: Number of hours per week________
 Post-Completion
 Check this box if you are a graduate student who has completed all coursework and is now working on a thesis/dissertation.
I understand that while on OPT I must notify OIS of any of the following:
 Travel outside the US
 Changes in my residential address, telephone and/or email address
 Changes in my employer or my employment status
 Change in my immigration status (for example, to H-1B)
Student’s signature______________________________________________________ Date__________________________
SECTION B: RECOMMENDATION TO BE COMPLETED BY ACADEMIC ADVISOR. Student may not complete any of this section.
The recommendation below is required for the Office of International Services to evaluate eligibility for Optional Practical Training,
OPT is employment authorization to work in a position related to the student’s program of study. OIS has final legal responsibility for
determining that the student meets the immigration requirements for OPT.
Please complete the section below and return to the student for submission to OIS.
To provide the recommendation for OPT, we must have certification from the student’s Academic Advisor which indicates the
expected date of completion of the student’s degree requirements. A graduate student may also qualify for OPT upon completion of
all coursework with only a thesis/dissertation to complete. Please note that the date of completion is not necessarily the end of
the term or the graduation date, but is the date on which all requirements for the degree have been fulfilled. OIS will use this
certification to determine appropriate dates for OPT.
As the student’s Academic Advisor, I certify that the above named student is expected to complete all degree requirements for the
(bachelor’s, master’s, PhD, etc.) ___________________________ degree in (major) ______________________________________________
on ____________________.
 Check this box to confirm that this is a graduate student who has completed all coursework and is now working on a
thesis/dissertation.
Print Name: _____________________________ Signature: ______________________________ Date: ______________
Advisor’s email_______________________________________________
Revised: 12/2014