OPTIONAL PRACTICAL
TRAINING
Application Workshop
International Students & Scholars Center
What is Optional Practical Training?
•
OPT (Optional Practical Training) is a 12-month Work
Authorization in the United States.
• OPT allows you to apply what you have learned in the
classroom to a real-world environment.
• OPT employment must be related to your program of
study.
• You are granted OPT following the completion of your
academic program.
How Am I Eligible for OPT?
• Maintain continuous legal F-1 status for a
minimum of two consecutive full-time terms
• Do not engage in any unauthorized employment
• Successfully complete your academic program
of study
Eligibility Application Standards
• Minimum 3.0 GPA
• Petitioned to graduate
• Not committed an honor code violation in final term
• No previous period of OPT at the Masters’ level
• Will not drop classes to add an internship or to
delay graduation
• If not enrolled in 1st module, will remain in US to
complete 2nd module on ground
How Does It Work?
• Recommended: student attends an OPT Workshop
• Complete, print, and submit required documents with
check or money order for $380.00 and, 2 passport photos
to the Thunderbird Student Support Center - 1st floor
Herberger
• Advisor checks eligibility and recommends you for OPT to
the U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) and
processes a new I-20
• Come to ISSC when contacted to sign new I-20 and mail
application to the Phoenix USCIS Lockbox location within
30 days of advisor’s recommendation note in the I-20
How Does It Work?
• The Phoenix USCIS Lockbox receives the application
packet and notifies the student
• Data is collected and forwarded to the California Service
Center (CSC)
• CSC reviews and approves, or denies application. If
approved, issues an Employment Authorization Document
(EAD - aka “OPT card”).
• EAD is mailed to Thunderbird. TSSC receptionist notifies
the student of the EAD’s arrival
• Student may pick up the EAD, or authorize a friend to pick
up, or have it sent to an address within the US
What Is Needed to Apply?
• Completed in BLUE INK
• Student Information /Pre-Application Checklist;
• Important Document Information form,
• Form G-1145, and the
• Form I-765
• Copies of pages 1 & 3 of all I-20s issued from Thunderbird
and previous schools attended
• Start and End dates for OPT employment
Determining OPT Dates
• Can choose a start date that is within the 60 days grace
period after graduation
• OPT period is 12 months minus 1 day
• Be certain of the dates as they will appear on the EAD
• Example:
• December 2015 Graduates
• Graduation is December 11, 2015
• Select any start date between December 14, 2015 and
February 12, 2016
What Is Needed to Apply?
• Two (2) immigration-specified photographs
Picture size 2” by 2”
Top of hair to chin 1” – 1-3/8”
• Valid passport
• Copy of front and back of I-94 card if you still have a card
• Or, print out of the I-94 number from www.cbp.gov/i94
• Check or money order for the $380.00 payable to the
Department of Homeland Security
Signing the Form I-765
Must be signed in BLUE INK
Acceptable
Unacceptable
When Can I Apply?
You may file up to 90 days prior to your program
end-date and not later than 60 days after your
program end date.
What Will CSC-USCIS Do?
• Takes approximately 90 days for CSC to process
application
• USCIS will either approve or deny the OPT request
• Mail Notice of Action (NOA) and the Employment
Authorization Document (EAD) to Thunderbird, or a
denial letter if request is denied
• There are no appeal process for denied OPT, but you
may apply again before the 60 days grace period ends
OPT Processing Timeline
Types of Employment Allowed
All OPT employment must be related to the student’s
degree program (Global Management).
• Multiple employers – Work for more than 1 employer
• Work for hire (1099 Employment/Consulting) – Must
prove evidence showing duration of the contract period
and the name and address of the contracting entity.
• Self-employed business owner - Must prove you have
proper business licenses and actively engaged in a
business related to your degree
Types of Employment Allowed
All OPT employment must be related to the student’s
degree program (Global Management).
• Employment through an agency or consulting firm
– Student must provide evidence they worked at least
20 hours per week while employed by the agency
• Paid employment - Standard, full-time employment
• Unpaid employment – Volunteer or unpaid intern.
Work must be at least 20 hours per week and the
student’s employer must verify the student worked the
number of hours worked.
Can I Travel?
• You may travel abroad and re-enter the U.S. after you
receive the EAD.
• You should not travel outside of the U.S. during the period
after your graduation and before receiving your EAD. By
doing so, you could forfeit your request for OPT.
• Warning! Customs Agents at the Port of Entry have the
right to deny you re-entry into the U.S. if you are not
employed during OPT.
What Documents Do I Need for Travel?
• Present these items at the Port of Entry:
• Valid Passport
• Valid F-1 visa stamp
• I-20 signed by International Student Services within the
last 6 months
• EAD card
• Letter from current employer
Maintaining F-1 Visa Status
• Students must report their new living address to
International Student Services within 10 days of moving.
• Students must report their employer name and address
to International Student Services within 10 days of
accepting employment.
• Students on approved OPT cannot accumulate 90 or
more days of unemployment.
• Students must file federal, state and local income taxes
during the period they were present and worked in the
US
Maintaining F-1 Visa Status
• Students who accumulate more than the 90 days
of unemployment are out of legal F-1 visa status.
• Students who are out of legal status must leave
the U.S. immediately.
• There is no grace period for violating a visa status.
• Those failing to leave the U.S. in a timely manner
risk possible deportation.
For more information visit
https://students.asu.edu/international/support/opt.