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Optional Practical Training application steps

An OPT application to USCIS is your own personal application. You are responsible for timely filing with full documentation, understanding F-1 rules regarding OPT, and properly maintaining your F-1 status.

You are responsible for submitting your own application to USCIS within 30 days of the date the DSO requests OPT in SEVIS and signed your I-20. If you do not submit within this time frame you will need to contact International Student Services.

Do NOT submit your application to USCIS without first receiving your new I-20 from International Student Services.

Submit the following to International Student Services:

  1. Optional Practical Training (OPT) Request Form
  2. I-765 Form
  3. Student Health Insurance Petition for Refund (if applicable)

A DSO will review the request. If eligible, the DSO will enter the OPT request in SEVIS and create a new OPT requested I-20.

  1. The OPT request information will be found on page 2 of the I-20

You will receive your new OPT-requested I-20 and further instructions by email.

Create a USCIS online account:

  1. Complete the registration process, including setting up two-step verification. You will be required to use the two-step verification process each time you log in. (Use a personal email and not your Metro State email)
  2. Log into your USCIS account and click the “myUSCIS” button. The first time you log in, you will be prompted to choose an account type; select “I am an individual applicant, petitioner, requestor, or supporter.”

3. Select “File a Form Online” under “Select What You Want To Do.”

4. Under “File a Form,” select “Application for Employment Authorization (I-765) and then click “Start form”

5. You will be brought to a page with an overview of the online filing process, including eligibility requirements, required
documents, payment details, and action items you may need to take after submitting your application. Please read this page carefully. Note that your responses will be automatically saved. If you log out, you may log back in and continue where you stopped last time.

  1. Section 1 – Getting Started (Provide all the required information in this section)
    • Basis of eligibility
      • Select “c(3)(B)” for Post-Completion OPT
      • Reason for applying
        • Select “Initial permission to accept employment” for Post-Completion OPT
      • Have you previously filed Form I-765?
        • Select "No" if you have not previously applied for work authorization with an I-765
        • Select "Yes" if you have previously filed an I-765 (you will be required to upload a copy of your last Employment Authorization Document [EAD] in the "Evidence" section)
      • Preparer and interpreter information
        • Select “no” unless someone (e.g. an interpreter) is helping you with the application
  2. Section 2 – About You (Carefully provide all the required information in this section).
    1. Your U.S. Mailing Address
      1. Be sure to validate that you have the correct address by entering your address in the USPS verification site
    2. Your immigration information
      1. Be sure to select the correct immigration status, as the list of available statuses is quite long (F1 - Student, Academic, or Language Program)
      2. Your SEVIS number can be found on the top left corner of your I-20
        1. Other information
          1. If you do not have a previous EAD, leave the A-Number field blank. If you have a previous EAD, your A-Number will be listed under USCIS# on your card
          2. If you have been issued a Social Security Number, please provide it (if known). If not, please select "Yes" under "Do you want the SSA to issue you a Social Security card?"
  3. Section 3 – Evidence
    1. U.S. Passport photo taken with the past 30 days
      1. Selfies are not acceptable and the picture must be taken on a plain white or off-white background. You can upload your photo to the Photo Tool on the Department of State's Passport Photos page to create an acceptable passport-style photo. Your application will not be approved without a photo.
      2. I-94 record
      3. Valid passport identification page (if you have more than one passport number, upload copies of both your old and new passport)
      4. Previously issued Employment Authorization Document (EAD) (scans of both front and back) OR Government-Issued ID if you have never been issued an EAD (if applicable)
      5. I-20’s showing previous CPT or previous OPT/STEM authorizations (if applicable)
      6. Most recent I-20 (this is the I-20 you recently received from ISS) (don’t forget to sign Page 1)
  4. Section 4 – Additional Information (Use this section to provide any additional information that you could not fit into the previous sections)
    1. Example #1 – If you have a previous SEVIS number:
      • Section: Select “About You”
      • Page: Select “Your immigration information”
      • Question: Select “What is your Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) Number (if any)?”
      • Additional information: Enter your previous SEVIS ID number, the name of the institution, degree level, and program start date. For instance: N00123456789 New York University Bachelor’s 1/13/2015 – 12/11/2019
    2. Example #2 – If you have previous CPT or OPT authorization:
      • Section: Select "Evidence"
      • Page: "Post-Completion CPT or OPT"
      • Question: "Post-Completion CPT or OPT"
      • Additional Information: Enter the type of authorization, employer, full- or part-time status, dates, degree level, and SEVIS ID. For example: CPT, Amazon, Part-time 5/31/2018 - 9/1/2018 Master's N00123456789
    3. Example #3 – If you have received Severe Economic Hardship work authorization:
      • Section: Select "Evidence"
      • Page: “Employment Authorization Document”
      • Additional Information: Enter the type of authorization and name of your employers, etc. For example: Severe Economic Hardship EAD dates: 01/01/2019-12/31/2019 Bachelor’s N00123456789
  1. The system will alert you of any errors or incomplete fields and will give you the opportunity to make corrections. However, please also manually review each section of the form to ensure that you are submitting accurate information under "Your application summary." You will also have the opportunity to download a .pdf copy of your responses, which you can save for your records by clicking "View draft snapshot.”
  2. After you review your application, you must indicate that you can read and understand English. You will then be required to provide a digital signature by typing your full legal name to confirm that all information you submitted is accurate as of the time of filing.
  1. After you sign your application in the previous step, you will pay your filing fee. Filing online allows you to pay using a credit card, debit card, or withdrawal from a checking or savings account. After you click "Pay and submit," you will be taken to pay.gov to complete your payment.
  2. Please note that the USCIS filing fee is not refundable. Avoid clicking the back or refresh button on your browser. If you are not ready to complete the payment, click Cancel to be taken back to the USCIS online portal.
  1. After you pay, you will be redirected to a screen confirming that your form was submitted. Click “Go to my cases” to view your case card and receipt notice. Please save a copy of your receipt number for your records.
    1. Once your application and payment are submitted, you can use your online account for the following:
      1. Access your receipt notice
      2. Review Requests for Evidence (RFEs), if applicable
      3. View your case status (via the Case Status tab)
      4. See a PDF of the completed Form I-765
      5. Access your Decision Letter All notices will also be mailed to the mailing address you provided on your I-765