PhD Candidate OPT Options & Deadlines

PhD students who have completed all coursework and are only working on their dissertation may begin their Post-completion OPT before they complete their degree requirements. However, they must choose one of the program end date paths below. 

Possible "Early" Post-Completion OPT Paths

First, determine your desired OPT start date; then select one of the paths below to begin Post-completion OPT before you graduate.

June 1 Program End

  • OPT start date must be between June 2 - July 31.
  • Summer enrollment is not required, even if your anticipated conferral date is 8/31.

June 1 is the deadline to submit OPT I-20 request in UB Global. 

August 31 Program End

  • OPT start date must be between September 1 - October 30. 
  • Full-time enrollment (or FTC/Final Semester RCL) in summer is required.

August 31 is the deadline to submit OPT I-20 request in UB Global. 

January 1 Program End

  • OPT start date must be between January 2- March 2 (March 1 for leap years).
  • The Graduate School requires enrollment during academic semesters. 

January 1 is the deadline to submit OPT I-20 request in UB Global. 

Keep in Mind:

  • The earliest you can submit your application to USCIS is 90 days before your chosen program end date (see above). The earliest you can request your OPT I-20 is 10 days before that.
  • You can only engage in full-time CPT in the semester before you begin Post-completion OPT if it is a requirement for all students in your program. Be sure to consider your CPT history before choosing a path.

Considerations for Applying for OPT Before Completing Your Degree:

You cannot apply for an I-20 Extension after applying for Post-completion OPT.

  • If you do not complete your degree on the timeline expected, you may continue to work full-time on OPT while completing your dissertation. You must complete your degree by the end of your OPT period. 
  • We recommend waiting until your dissertation is near completion before applying.

Your on-campus employment/assistantship must end by your chosen program end date.

  • If you have an assistantship and want to keep it, plan your OPT path accordingly.

You may only choose an OPT start date that aligns with one of the program end date paths listed above.

  • Your OPT start date must be within 60 days of your chosen program end date.
  • You may need to submit an I-20 Extension if your current I-20 end date is before the program end date of your desired path. 

OPT does not waive Fall/Spring semester Graduate School enrollment requirements.

Consult with your academic department advisor if you have questions about enrollment requirements. 

Graduating 8/31? You Can Avoid Summer Enrollment

If you expect to confer your degree on 8/31 and want to start OPT between June 2 - July 31, you do not need to enroll in the summer. However, you MUST submit your OPT I-20 request in UB Global by June 1. Be sure to consider USCIS processing times.