Post-Completion OPT

Post-Completion OPT, a type of Optional Practical Training (OPT), is work authorization issued by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) that permits F-1 students to work in the US after graduating from a degree program.  On OPT, all work needs to be directly related to your major/s.


Please note that these resources are intended for general informational purposes only and are not legal advice.  It is your responsibility to review and follow all official instructions provided by USCIS.

  • To be eligible for Post-Completion OPT, you must:

    • Be currently maintaining F-1 status
    • Have been studying at Williams for at least one academic year (two consecutive semesters)
    • Expect to graduate this term or have recently graduated from Amherst
    • Be within the 90 days before your I-20 program end date, or be within the 60-day grace period following your I-20 program end date
    1. Submit the OPT I-20 Request Form through your Williams International Portal.
      • Do not submit an OPT application with USCIS until you have received your OPT recommendation I-20 from the ISS.
    2. Prepare your application materials.
    3. Receive your OPT recommendation I-20 from the ISS.
    4. Sign your OPT recommendation I-20 and add it to your OPT application.
    5.  Submit your OPT application to USCIS.  USCIS must receive your  OPT application no more than 30 days after your OPT recommendation I-20 was issued.

    • The earliest you may apply for Post-Completion OPT is 90 days prior to the end date on your I-20, and USCIS must receive your OPT application no later than 60 days following the end date on your I-20.
      • If you are finished with your academic program, you can still apply for OPT as long as the USCIS receives your application within 60 days of the end date on your I-20 and you have not left the US since completing your program.
    • USCIS must receive your OPT application no more than 30 days after your OPT recommendation I-20 was issued by ISS.
    • Plan ahead and apply as early as you can.  It generally takes 2-5 months for USCIS to process OPT applications.  For the most up-to-date processing time estimate, visit the USCIS's processing times page and search for Form I-765 at the USCIS Service Center listed in your receipt notice (typically, OPT cases are processed by the Potomac Service Center).

  • If you are an international student in F-1 status who receives financial aid from Williams College, the ISS is able to provide a limited amount of grants to international students to help with OPT filing fees.

    • Within a week or two of submitting your OPT application to USCIS, a paper receipt notice from USCIS will be mailed to the mailing address listed on the I-765. (If you apply online, your receipt notice should be immediately available in MyUSCIS).
    • Your receipt number can be used to track your application status via the USCIS case status tool.  (If you apply online, your receipt notice will become available immediately after submission.)
    • Application processing times vary, though they generally hover around 2-5 months.
    • Occasionally, USCIS may issue a follow-up “Request for Evidence” notice, asking for additional documentation. If you receive such a request, please consult with the ISS.
    • If your application is approved, an approval notice will be mailed to the mailing address listed on the I-765.  (If you apply online, your approval notice will also be available in MyUSCIS).
    • If your application is approved, an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) will also be mailed to the mailing address listed on the I-765.  The EAD is a photo identification card that serves as your proof of OPT work authorization.

  • You may start working when you have received your EAD and the approved OPT start date on that EAD is no longer in the future.  You may not begin working any sooner than this.

  • You may work at any position that directly relates to your major field of study. You should feel confident in the connection between your major and your employment.

    Work does not have to be paid on Post-Completion OPT.  Volunteer and unpaid work, as long as it directly relates to your major field of study, counts on OPT as “employment.”

    Remember, you must work at least 20 hours per week to be considered “employed” on Post-Completion OPT.  You are permitted up to 90 days of cumulative unemployment time.

    You may have multiple employers, as long as all of the work directly relates to your major field of study.  The hours spent working each job should total, in sum, at least 20 hours per week.

  • You can request authorization for Post-Completion OPT on a full-time basis only. You must work at least 20 hours per week, in roles directly related to your major field of study, while on Post-Completion OPT.