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What is Post-Completion OPT? 

Post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT) is defined in the F-1 regulations as “temporary employment authorization for practical training directly related to a student’s major field of study.” Standard OPT is available for a cumulative maximum of 12 months of employment authorization per higher degree level completed in the U.S.    

In short, post-completion OPT is a way for students in F-1 status to gain practical training in their major field of study after they have completed all degree requirements or after completion of all coursework (excluding thesis or dissertation credits). Check out the ISSS post-completion OPT webpage with questions and answers to some common OPT questions.   

When Can I Apply For Post-Completion OPT?  

For students graduating in the Spring 2022 semester, your last day of enrollment is May 4, 2022. The first day you can apply for OPT is February 3, 2022. The last day that USCIS can receive your materials to apply for post-completion OPT is July 3, 2022. Since July 3rd is a weekend, USCIS needs to receive your materials on or before July 1, 2022.  

What Is My I-20 Program End Date?  

Your F-1 status is based on continued required enrollment or on a post-completion OPT authorization. This means that in order to maintain your F-1 status with CU �鶹ӰԺ, you must either have outstanding coursework or apply for post-completion OPT.   When you apply for post-completion OPT, ISSS will shorten your I-20 program end date to your last date of enrollment (if necessary)

• Students who have satisfied all requirements for the completion of their program or who have successfully defended their master's thesis or Ph.D. dissertation cannot continue to be enrolled for administrative purposes. For example, students who have successfully defended their thesis or dissertation need not enroll in subsequent terms, therefore future enrollment would be considered enrollment for administrative purposes only.  
• Students who have completed all the academic requirements for their degree (excluding submitting the thesis/dissertation for master's and Ph.D. students to the Graduate School) but continue to be enrolled to take classes in preparation for graduate school or for the completion of a certificate are considered enrolled for administrative purposes. 
• As you are nearing the end of your degree program, please reach out to ISSS so that we can discuss your post-completion OPT application timeline with you.   
• ISSS recommends that master's thesis students and Ph.D. students reach out to ISSS to discuss the timing of their post-completion OPT application prior to the semester in which they plan to defend their thesis/dissertation. 

How Do I Choose My Requested Start Date for Post-Completion OPT?

Students graduating in Spring 2022 with a May 4, 2022 I-20 end date can choose a start date that is anywhere between: May 5, 2022 and July 3, 2022.  

How Do I Apply for Post-Completion OPT?  

Before electronically filing the Form I-765 with USCIS online or filing by mail, students must first submit the  to ISSS and ISSS must make the post-completion OPT recommendation in SEVIS. This is very important. If a student first submits the USCIS online application and then requests the post-completion OPT recommendation I-20 from ISSS, the post-completion OPT application will be denied, as the regulations require the recommendation be entered into SEVIS prior to the post-completion OPT filing.    

For more information about post-completion OPT, please visit the ISSS Post-Completion OPT webpage, join an ISSS Advising session, send us an email, or attend a post-completion OPT workshop.