International Students and Scholars Office

Pre-completion OPT may be authorized part-time (up to 20 hours per week) during semesters of required study and full-time during break periods (summer or winter vacation).  Students must maintain full-time enrollment during Pre-Completion OPT.  Any OPT time authorized before the student's program completion will be subtracted from the total 12 months of OPT available. Part-time Pre-Completion OPT time will be subtracted at half the rate.

Confirm Your OPT Eligibility

F-1 visa holders may be eligible for OPT if they have been enrolled as full-time students for at least two consecutive terms. OPT is not specific to an employer, therefore students do not need a job offer in order to apply for OPT. The earliest USCIS will accept a Post-Completion OPT application is 90 days before the program end date.

• Spring semester Undergraduate students and Masters students: the program end date is typically your graduation date (commencement date)
• Fall semester Undergraduate students and Masters students: the program end date will be the last day of finals in December
• Doctoral students: the program end date is typically when you submit your final dissertation. Students must consult with their department to determine their completion date.
• Please note that only students who have earned or are enrolled to earn a Brandeis degree are eligible for Practical Training. Students enrolled in postbaccalaureate programs are not eligible for OPT.

Determine Your OPT Application Timeline

• The earliest date that you can apply for OPT is 90 days before your completion date 
• The latest date you can apply for OPT is 60 days after your completion date  
• Your OPT start date can be any date between your completion date and 60 days after your completion date.

USCIS will accept your OPT application only 90 days before your completion date and 60 days after your completion date.

VIEW A VISUAL REPRESENTATION OF POST-COMPLETION OPT TIMELINE

The ISSO recommends that students apply as early as possible for post-completion OPT, as the application can take up to 3-5 months to process once submitted to USCIS. Current average processing times for OPT applications are listed on the USCIS website.

Please refer to the OPT application process page.

In order to maintain status while on OPT you must:

• Not accumulate more than 90 days of unemployment during your entire 12 months of Post-Completion OPT. Unemployment time begins to accrue after your OPT start date (as written on your EAD card) if you have not reported employment. Unemployment does not accrue while your OPT application is pending. 
• Work at least 20 hours a week - OPT employment positions can be paid, unpaid, regular, internship, or volunteer as long as they are directly related to your major field(s) of study. You can hold more than one position as long as all positions are related to your field of study and hours of employment add up to a minimum of 20 hours per week. 
• Abide by all U.S. laws and OPT regulations while participating in OPT.
• Report all changes of address or employment information through the SEVP OPT Portal within 10 days of the change. We recommend that you request a reprint of your Form I-20 in the ISSO Portal after submitting an employer update to the SEVP Portal to receive an updated Form I-20 with your new employer information. Please note: You will only have access to the SEVP Portal for up to six months after your OPT ends. SEVP encourages you to print or save a copy of your portal record for future reference, including your Event History.
• Notify the ISSO regarding any updates or changes to your visa status within 10 days of the change by submitting a Change of Visa Status request in the ISSO Portal.
• At the completion of OPT, students have a 60-day grace period to remain in the U.S. to prepare for departure.

A Note of Caution to F-1 Students: Students should not begin any off-campus employment (paid or unpaid) without obtaining employment authorization.  Working off-campus without obtaining employment authorization is a serious violation of F-1 student status.

Information Regarding Unpaid Positions: Unpaid positions or internships at a "for-profit" organization may not be in line with the Fair Labor Standards Act. It is possible for students to volunteer at non-profit organizations in fields directly related to their major field of study. 

• Form I-765
• USCIS I-765 Instructions Page (PDF)
• I-765 Supplemental Instructions
• Track Case Status (USCIS)

Refer to the following information for Documents Required for Re-entry to the U.S. if you plan to travel.  Students on OPT are in F-1 status and will need a valid F-1 visa to return to the U.S.  See section on visa renewal (if necessary).

How risky is travel outside of the U.S. before my program completion date while my OPT application is either pending or approved?

Low risk. You do not need a job offer or EAD to travel, as long as you return to the U.S. before you have completed your degree requirements. To be readmitted in F-1 visa status, you will need a “valid academic reason”.  Attending a graduation ceremony is not considered an “academic reason”. However, finishing classes, exams, or defending your thesis are examples of  “valid academic reasons”. 

If your OPT application is pending, you should bring your OPT Receipt Notice with you when you travel. If the OPT application is approved, you should bring your EAD and a job offer letter, if available.

How risky is travel outside of the U.S. after I complete my program and while my OPT application is pending?

More risk. After you have completed your program, the law [8CFR 214.2(f)(13)(ii)] references the need to show a valid EAD in order to re-enter the United States. However, recent interpretations from Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) and the Department of State (DOS) indicate that re-entry to the U.S. with a pending OPT application is possible. [DOS field cable 2004 State 008466 1/13/2004 AMDOC #200405007]. 

Because of conflicting guidance between the law and the interpretation of the law, we do not recommend travel and re-entry after your program completion date and while your OPT application is pending unless you have a valid job offer. Once your OPT application is approved, both a job offer letter and an EAD are needed. We recommend reviewing and printing out the information online from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) regarding travel on OPT.

How risky is travel outside the U.S. after I complete my degree and my OPT has been approved, but I don't have a job offer?

More risk. Once your OPT application is approved by USCIS, you should have an official job offer letter and an EAD to present at the Port of Entry to return to the United States. During an approved OPT period, you can only return to the U.S. to resume employment.

Please refer to the OPT Frequently Asked Questions page.