What Is OPT in the USA? A Complete Guide for Indian Students

Quick Answer

Optional Practical Training (OPT) lets F-1 students work in the USA in a role related to their field of study, for up to 12 months (36 months total for eligible STEM graduates, via a 24-month extension). It’s filed using Form I-765 with USCIS, currently costing $470 online or $520 by mail. You can use OPT before graduation (pre-completion) or after (post-completion), and you don’t need a job offer to apply.

The U.S. is a popular destination for higher education among international students.

Along with studying abroad, students also aspire to work in the country they’re studying in. However, international students in the USA often face real hurdles around employment and work visas.

International students studying in the US generally hold F or M visa status. F visas are for the majority of college, university, high school, and elementary students, while M visas are for students in vocational programs.

F-1 students may generally remain in the US for the duration of their authorized program, plus any authorized post-completion period such as OPT, and the standard 60-day grace period after that. Outside of these authorized windows, international students generally aren’t permitted to work or stay in the US.

If you wish to continue your stay in the US post-education, it calls for navigating another visa process. This is where Optional Practical Training (OPT) comes in – a genuinely valuable bridge for many students.

So, What is OPT in USA?

Optional Practical Training (OPT) is a temporary employment option available to international students on an F-1 visa.

International students can apply for OPT to receive up to 12 months of employment authorization in a role directly related to their field of study, either before or after completing their program.

OPT in the USA comes in two types.

Two Types of OPT in USA

Depending on your circumstances, you can apply for either of these:

Pre-Completion OPT

Students can apply to participate in pre-completion OPT after being lawfully enrolled full-time for one full academic year at a US college, university, conservatory, or seminary. Pre-completion OPT time can be split according to the work you undertake – for example, if you use one month in November of your second year and another in April, you’re left with 10 months of OPT validity remaining. Time used here is deducted from your total available OPT period.

Post-Completion OPT

You can apply for post-completion OPT after finishing your studies, once authorized. Unlike pre-completion OPT, this time can only be used in one continuous block – it can’t be split. If your 12-month post-completion OPT begins in September, your validity runs through August of the following year.

Who is Eligible for OPT in USA?

You’re generally eligible to apply for OPT if you:

–  Have been enrolled as a full-time student for at least one academic year before your requested start date

–  Hold a valid F-1 visa

–  Haven’t previously used OPT privileges at the same degree level

Note: OPT employment must be directly related to your major area of study.

The exact start and end dates of your OPT depend on your individual circumstances, though factors like your course end date, application timing, and USCIS processing time all affect your total approval timeline. Universities and schools generally recommend requesting an employment start date within 60 days of your program’s completion – confirm the exact filing and start-date windows for your specific situation with your Designated School Official (DSO), since these can be nuanced.

Remember: students often confuse their completion of studies with their convocation date. Completion of studies is understood as the actual date you finish all requirements for your program (such as your final exam date or thesis/dissertation submission) – not the date of your graduation ceremony.

Also Read: What Does OPT Student Mean? Optional Practical Training Explained

How to Apply for OPT in USA

Your educational institution initiates your OPT application, so request your institute’s recommendation as soon as you receive your acceptance letter or approach graduation.

–  Request your academic institution’s Designated School Official (DSO) to recommend you for OPT.

–  This is done by endorsing your I-20 Form (Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status) and making the appropriate notation in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS).

Following that recommendation, you’ll need to properly complete Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

Submit Form I-765 along with the current required fee and other supporting documents as instructed – USCIS’s current standard fee is $470 if filing online or $520 if filing by mail. Fees are periodically adjusted, so always confirm the exact current amount on uscis.gov before filing, since submitting the wrong fee will get your application rejected outright.

On the approaching expiration of your OPT validity, an extension can generally be applied for as follows:

–  Pre-completion OPT: you can file your application as early as 90 days before completing one full academic year – but note this is just the filing window, not a work-start date. Your actual employment can’t begin until you’ve completed that full academic year, subject to the applicable authorization requirements.

–  Post-completion OPT: you can apply up to 90 days before your degree completion date, or up to 60 days after it. On top of this window, USCIS must also receive your Form I-765 within 30 days of your DSO entering the OPT recommendation into your SEVIS record – miss this 30-day window, even if you’re still inside the 90/60-day range, and USCIS will deny your application.

–  STEM extension students: up to 90 days before your initial OPT expires

Impact of Pre-Completion OPT on Your Total Available Time

Part-time pre-completion OPT is counted against your 12-month allowance at half-rate – so a year of part-time work uses up roughly half a year of your total available OPT, not a full year. Full-time pre-completion OPT is counted at the full rate, one-for-one.

STEM OPT Extension: A Summary

Students in STEM fields have an added benefit: they can apply for an additional 24 months to work in the US via the STEM OPT extension. Unfortunately, there’s no equivalent extension for non-STEM students.

The STEM OPT extension offers an additional 24 months, giving eligible STEM students a total of 36 months on OPT.

Eligible students can apply for the 24-month STEM OPT extension while their initial 12-month post-completion OPT is still valid:

–  You can file your Form I-765 for the STEM extension up to 90 days before your current OPT authorization ends. USCIS must also receive it within 60 days of your DSO entering the STEM OPT recommendation into your SEVIS record – both conditions apply together, so don’t wait too long after your DSO’s recommendation even if you’re still within the 90-day window.

After receiving the STEM OPT extension and EAD card, students can:

–  Continue or begin STEM-authorized employment, subject to the applicable EAD and cap-gap conditions

–  File for a Social Security Number (SSN), if they don’t already have one

–  Explore H-1B employment visa options with their employer – note that OPT doesn’t provide or guarantee an H-1B outcome, since H-1B has its own separate eligibility and lottery process

–  Start building a credit profile for a stronger financial future in the US

Also Read: OPT vs CPT: What Are They and How Do They Work for International Students?

OPT in USA: Limitations to Keep in Mind

OPT provides eligible F-1 students with temporary employment authorization, professional exposure, and additional time in the United States. But it’s worth understanding its limitations too.

OPT allows only limited unemployment time during post-completion OPT and STEM OPT. If you’re on OPT without working for too long, you risk losing your OPT privileges entirely:

–  Post-Completion OPT: no more than 90 days of cumulative unemployment

–  STEM OPT: no more than 150 days of cumulative unemployment, which includes any post-completion OPT unemployment time already used

Working under OPT genuinely benefits both the student and the country’s workforce, but competition for roles is real, and not every student secures employment despite having OPT authorization.

OPT is an imperfect bridge, but it offers graduates a genuine opportunity to build skills and relationships with potential employers, opening up future possibilities. It doesn’t provide a direct path to permanent residency on its own, but it buys international students meaningful time to plan their next career step.

Also Read: OPT and CPT Mistakes International Students Must Avoid in the USA

Choosing the right university and program early can meaningfully affect your OPT and career outcomes down the line – fields with stronger STEM eligibility, for instance, unlock the 24-month extension that non-STEM fields don’t get.

GradRight’s university search platform (gradright.com/selection/) can help you factor this into your shortlist from the start, alongside placement outcomes, ROI, and your specific academic profile.

Related Articles

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OPT vs CPT: What Are They and How Do They Work for International Students?
OPT and CPT Mistakes International Students Must Avoid in the USA
Understanding Post-Study Work Options in the USA
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Find Your Best-Fit University for a Strong OPT Outcome

GradRight’s AI-powered platform can help you shortlist universities and programs with strong OPT/STEM outcomes, and its loan comparison tool connects you with 18 lending partners once you’re ready to finance your degree. Start your free profile at gradright.com/selection/.