Pre-Completion OPT

Optional Practical Training is an F-1 student benefit granted by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).  It allows you to work off-campus in a job related to your major.  It is meant to supplement your academic experience with practical experience.

To be eligible for Pre-Completion Optional Practical Training, you must document that:

• you are currently in valid F‑1 status  AND
• you studied inside the U.S. as a full‑time student for at least one full academic year (two semesters) AND
• You are currently completing a degree and will not graduate during or before your pre-completion OPT period.
• You must be physically present inside the US in F-1 status to apply for OPT. Do not attempt to apply for OPT while outside the US.

If applying for Pre-Completion OPT during the academic semester (Fall/Spring) you must be enrolled full-time. You are not eligible for Pre-Completion OPT during the semester in which you are approved for an Academic Reduced Course Load.

If you re-enter the U.S. using an Initial I-20 (i.e. an I-20 with a new SEVIS ID number), you are not eligible for Curricular Practical Training or Optional Practical Training until you complete one academic year (two semesters) as a full-time student after returning from your leave. Time spent as a full-time student prior to taking a Leave of Absence cannot be used to satisfy this requirement.

Pre-Completion Optional Practical Training may be used during any of the following situations:

a.  during the Fall/Spring semester

• Only Part-Time is possible; maximum 20 hours per week

b.  during summer and winter break

• May choose full-time (21 hours or more per week) or part-time

c. After completing all course requirements, while working on one’s thesis or dissertation

• May choose full-time (21 hours or more per week) or part-time

In general, you choose the start date and end date. However, keep in mind that USCIS processing times can vary; average processing times are generally 3 months. 

The dates of any full-time Pre-Completion OPT must align with a semester since ISS must confirm that you meet one of the requirements above*. For example, if you want a full-time summer Pre-OPT, your start date must be after the Spring semester ends. The end date must be before the Fall semester begins.

*PhD students interested in Pre-Completion OPT should consult with ISS.

Any full-time Pre-Completion Optional Practical Training authorization you receive is subtracted from your total 12‑month period. 

• Ex. A student who is authorized for 3 months of full‑time Pre-Completion OPT during the summer will have only 9 months of OPT remaining.

Any part‑time OPT (20 hours per week or less) is deducted at the rate of one day of practical training for every two part‑time days of OPT authorized. 

• Ex. A student who is authorized for 4 months of part-time Pre-Completion OPT during the semester will have 10 months of full-time OPT remaining.

The earliest you can apply is 90 days before your chosen work start date.

You may submit your application up to 90 days prior to completing one academic year of study, provided that the period of employment will not begin until the completion of the full academic year.

1.    Login to UB Global by clicking on the “LOGIN” button and using your UBIT Name and Password.

1.  Click on “Optional Practical Training”, select the “Pre-Completion OPT” group and then “Pre-Completion OPT I-20 Request”.
2.  You must complete the entire e-form before you can submit your application. 
3.  “Submit”. After reviewing your application, ISS will enter your OPT into SEVIS, which will produce a new I-20 with the OPT recommendation. You will receive an email when your I-20 is ready. Check our e-form processing page for current processing times.
   

We strongly encourage you to update your address with USCIS to ensure you receive all correspondence and benefits from us in a timely manner and avoid possible delays related to your case. In addition, all noncitizens must report a change of address to USCIS within 10 days (except A and G visa holders and visa waiver visitors) of moving.

Do not use this request to change your address if:

• You are a victim of domestic violence, trafficking, or other crimes;
• You previously filed a Form I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence, abuse waiver;
• You have submitted an affidavit of support for another person and you are a U.S. citizen or national;
• You are a civil surgeon; or
• You are an Attorney of Record/Registered Representative and need to update your address.

If you fall under any of the listed categories, read more about how you should change your address.

1. Log into your USCIS online account.
2. Select MyUSCIS.
3. On your account screen, click the "request to change your address" link to see the instructions.
4. Click the "Change my address" button.
5. Follow the instructions step by step.

Before you begin, make sure you have enough time and the required information to complete the form in one session. Once you start your request, you must not close this window or navigate away from the page. If you do not complete your request in one session, your responses will not be saved, you will lose all progress, and you will need to begin a new Change Your Address request.  

You may also use this tool if you do not have any pending cases and have moved to a new address, and need to update USCIS about where you live.

Currently, processing time at the USCIS can be as long as 5 months. However, processing times vary widely, depending on the time of year and workload at the Service Center to which you send your application. We encourage you to regularly review the processing times found on the USCIS website.

If you have a job offer and 120 days has passed since the Receipt Date on your I797 Receipt Notice, you may contact us for assistance. We can inquire with USCIS about the status of your application. However, we cannot guarantee that our inquiry will result in an expedite or change in processing times.

Once you have waited 150 days, or beyond the current maximum published USCIS processing times, we recommend that you take the following actions:

• Email ISS with a copy of your receipt notice and a description of the actions you have already taken (any communication with USCIS, for example). If ISS has not already inquired with USCIS on your behalf, we will do so.
• File an "Outside Normal Processing Time E-Request" with USCIS.
• File a Case Assistance Request with the CIS Ombudsman Office. You can find additional information about the role of the CIS Ombudsman and how to file a request for assistance on DHS' website.

Premium processing, which provides expedited processing, is available for OPT applications with USCIS. Please refer to USCIS's premium processing page for details on cost, eligibility, and timing.

If you do not request premium processing USCIS expedite criteria are very strict and it can be difficult to provide sufficient evidence. Having a job offer or the possibility of losing that job do not generally qualify for an expedite unless you can effectively make an argument that your situation does meet the criteria. If considering an expedite, please ensure that you have sufficient documentation and a compelling argument.

Additional information on expedite criteria and how to file can be found on the USCIS page. 

We highly recommend that you keep your employer informed about the status of your OPT application. We also recommend communicating that you cannot confirm exactly when your application will be approved, but that you can provide estimated processing times. We have heard from many students whose employers agreed to change their start date multiple times due to processing delays, so it is important to discuss your situation with your employer.

If your employer wants additional information about OPT processing, they are welcome to contact ISS. If you would like your employer to speak to us about the specifics of your case, please send us an email authorizing ISS to discuss your individual situation.

• Reporting employment to ISS when on Pre-Completion OPT is not required. However, we strongly suggest that you keep proof of employment in the form of offer letters, pay stubs, employment contracts or a letter written by the employer confirming employment.
• Ensure that any employment you accept is directly related to your major field of study.
• Unemployment time is not counted on Pre-Completion OPT. However, any OPT time spent without employment cannot be re-used or saved.
• Must choose part-time (20 hours or less) or full-time (only if eligible) when requesting OPT; cannot change after applying.
• Cannot apply for the OPT STEM Extension directly from Pre-Completion OPT. To be eligible for the OPT STEM Extension, you must first be approved for Post-Completion OPT.
• Not eligible for the Cap Gap Extension directly after Pre-Completion OPT. To be eligible for the Cap Gap Extension, one must first be approved for Post-Completion OPT.
• May extend I-20 during Pre-Completion OPT if extra time is needed to complete degree requirements
• Must apply for Post-Completion OPT if employment will continue after the I-20 program end date. This will require another application fee to USCIS, and is subject to the same standard USCIS processing times.
• May not also work on campus during Fall/Spring if total hours (Pre-Completion OPT and On-Campus work) exceed 20.