DO NOT FILE YOUR USCIS APPLICATION ONLINE UNTIL YOU HAVE RECEIVED YOUR NEW I-20 REQUESTING OPT FROM THE ISSO.
Optional Practical Training (OPT) is employment authorization granted by USCIS for F-1 students to gain work experience in their academic major (not for degree minors).
Qualified students are eligible for a total of 12 months of OPT for each successive degree level as an F-1 student. OPT is generally used after completing the program of study, but should be applied for early in the final semester. Students wanting to engage in OPT before completing their degree should speak with an ISS Specialist.
To Apply for OPT
USCIS must grant you an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) before you begin work. Processing time for EAD cards varies (case-specific times are available at the USCIS website). Generally speaking, it takes 90-120 days to process.
Click here for the full application process and watch the introductory video below.
To be eligible for OPT, students must meet all of the following requirements:
- Watch the required videos
- Have a current I-20 form that reflects your current field of study and educational level
- Have your I-20 printed by ISSO requesting OPT
- Have a valid, unexpired passport
- Have had less than 12 months of full-time curricular practical training (CPT)
- Have been a full-time student for at least one full academic year
- Have been registered full-time (or certified full-time by ISSO) every semester you attended UNL
- If you are completing your program in the summer, be enrolled in at least one credit hour required to complete your program
Students in English-language training programs are not eligible for OPT.
If you're not sure you're eligible, speak with an ISS Specialist.
You do not need a job offer before you apply for OPT. Authorization from USCIS can take 90-120 days to obtain, so you should apply early in your final semester, with or without a job offer. You must apply for OPT no later than 60 days from the date of program completion.
Maintaining OPT
If you were approved for OPT you'll need to:
- secure employment that relates directly to your degree major
- report employment and updates to employment in the SEVP Portal
- report any change of address in the SEVP Portal
OPT-eligible employment must be:
- full-time (more than 20 hours/week)
- directly related to your major field of study (not a degree minor)
- have no more than 90 cumulative days of unemployment
OPT-STEM Extension
If you received your degree in a STEM field, you may be eligible to apply for an OPT extension. Review the list of eligible STEM fields and complete the OPT-STEM packet, located in the Forms section of ISSO's website.