Initial OPT

• Students must be in valid F1 status at the time of application.
• Students must be in valid F1 status for 2 long semesters (a Fall and a Spring) to be eligible to apply for OPT.
• Students who have one year or more of full-time Curricular Practical Training (CPT) become ineligible for OPT. Use of part-time CPT does not affect eligibility for OPT.

Students can apply for OPT up to 90 days before the program completion date and no later than 60 days after the program completion date.

*If you will graduate in a Summer Semester, you MUST notify a DSO at least 3 weeks (15 business days) before the start of the semester. This is especially important if you plan to apply for OPT.

Pay the required $110 post-enrollment fee before scheduling an OPT appointment.

Why is this fee required?

• When you are a current student at WT, you pay an international student fee of $75 per semester. This fee is what allows us to maintain your SEVIS record, among other items.
• Once you graduate, you no longer pay that fee. The $110 post-enrollment fee allows our office to continue to maintain your SEVIS record while you are on OPT.
• Note: if you are eligible for and apply for a STEM extension, you will pay another post-enrollment fee that covers the additional 2 years of maintaining your SEVIS record.

Review the entire OPT website (you're here!). Once you have reviewed the information, schedule an appointment with a DSO for Initial OPT. Before your appointment, you will receive an email from your DSO with additional important information.

Either at your appointment or later, you will receive an I-20 with an OPT request listed on page 2.

This next step is with USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services) and is the actual OPT application. USCIS is a government agency that oversees all lawful immigration to the U.S. This includes applications for employment authorization

You MUST complete this process within 30 days after your OPT request I-20 is issued. Otherwise, your application with USCIS will automatically be denied, with no option to reapply or appeal the decision. Please do NOT start the I-765 application until after your appointment with your DSO - we will review the application process at your appointment.

• Go to www.uscis.gov
• Create an account
• You will complete the I-765 application
• Upload the required documents in PDF format. Required documents generally include:
  • Passport Biographic Page
  • Visa stamp
  • I-94 (most recent)
  • I-20s showing CPT authorization (current or past)
  • I-20s showing previous OPT authorization
  • Previous EADs (Employment Authorization Document)
  • Current I-20, showing OPT request
  • 2x2 Passport-size photos
• Please note that there is a USCIS application fee of $470

• Address
• Phone Number
• Email Address
• Legal Name

• Loss of Employer (quit, laid off, etc.)
• New Employer
• New Job Title and/or Duties
• New Supervisor
• Employer or Physical Site Address/Location

• You will receive a notice with a case number on it. You can track the progress of your case on the USCIS website.
• If approved, you will receive a Notice of Action indicating approval. You will also receive the physical EAD card
• If you did not have your EAD card sent to the Office of Admissions - International, please send our office a copy of your Notice of Action and EAD card (front and back).

To begin working on OPT, ALL of the following must be true:

• You must have your EAD card physically in-hand
• The EAD card must be valid (e.g. you cannot start working until the start date on your EAD card)

Initial (12-month) OPT allows for 90 total days of unemployment.

For example, if your EAD card starts on January 1st, but you don't get a job until February 1st. That is 31 days of unemployment. Then you get a job on February 1st, but lose it on February 28th. March 1st is now day number 32 of unemployment.

Travel While OPT is Pending is not recommended. If you need to travel while your OPT application is pending, please reach out to a DSO at internationaladmissions@wtamu.edu

To travel while on active OPT, you will need the following:

• Travel signature from a DSO on page 2 of your I-20
• Letter from your employer indicating that you are on authorized leave (vacation, conference, etc.) and are expected back to work on XYZ date
• Valid visa stamp in your passport
• Passport that is valid at least 6 months into the future