You are here: American University Student Affairs International Student & Scholar Services Pre-Completion OPT

Back to top

Pre-Completion OPT

Pre-Completion OPT Application Timeline

** Processing with USCIS may take up to 1-3 months or more. We would highly recommend starting the process early to provide yourself with ample time.

 

Pre-Completion Optional Practical Training (OPT) is temporary practical training directly related to a student's major area of study used before degree completion. Work authorization begins and ends before the completion of the degree program. 

 

Eligibility

  • Must have been enrolled in a full-time degree seeking program for one academic year (Fall and Spring/Spring and Fall) 

  • Maintaining good academic standing 
  • Job offer not required for application 
  • Total 12-month OPT per degree level. Degree levels are: 
    • Associates (AA) 
    • Bachelors (BA/BS) 
    • Masters (MA/MS, LLM, MBA) 
    • Doctoral (PhD, JD, SJD) 
  • All employment must be directly related to major field of study. 

Hours

  • Students may work part-time (20 hours a week or less) while school is in session or full-time (more than 20 hours a week) during summer or winter break. 

  • Note: students are authorized by USCIS for either part-time or full-time employment and cannot switch unless they submit another application to USCIS. 

  •  If Pre-completion OPT is combined with on-campus employment, total hours worked while school is in session cannot exceed 20 (part time). 

Application Timeline

Students may apply to USCIS up to 90 days before their desired employment/OPT start date. 

Reduction from Total OPT Time

  • Authorized Pre-completion OPT time is deducted from the overall 12 months of available OPT and takes away possible time from Post-completion OPT at the following rates: 

    • If the Pre-completion OPT was authorized for full-time employment, the total time authorized will be deducted. 

    • If the Pre-completion OPT was authorized for part-time employment, the total time will be deducted at a half time rate (i.e. If you work part time for 4 months, you use up 2 months of OPT). 

Reporting and Unemployment

  • F-1 students on Pre-completion OPT have a legal requirement to report employment to ISSS. To report employment: 

  1. Log into iEagle > Click on Optional Practical Training (OPT) >EAD Card Upload 

  1. Log into iEagle > Click on Optional Practical Training (OPT) > OPT Employment Information. 

  • Students on Pre-Completion OPT are not subject to an unemployment limit. 

Application Process

  1. Watch the OPT Information Video in iEagle > Optional Practical Training (OPT) > Pre-Completion OPT and take the accompanying quiz. You will learn about: 
    • Documents and forms required for the OPT application and how to file them 
    • Rights and responsibilities of students engaged in OPT 
    • Deadlines and processing time of OPT applications  
  2. Review the OPT Summary and Application Procedure handouts for more information. 
  3. Know when to apply and select your OPT start date.
    • Students can apply for Pre-completion OPT up to 90 days before your desired employment start date. Your desired employment start date is up to you as long as you have been enrolled for one academic year.  
    • OPT start dates cannot be changed after filing your OPT application with USCIS. 
  4. Submit the required e-forms in iEagle to begin OPT processing with ISSS. Students must be physically in the U.S. to apply for OPT. 
    1. Completion of Academic Program e-form (Requires approval from Academic Advisor/Department) 
    2. OPT Application e-form. Upload the following: 
      • Most recent I-94 admission record retrieved from U.S. Customs and Border Protection. 
      • Unexpired passport (valid for at least 6 months in the future at the time of filing) 
      • Previous Employment Authorization Document (EAD) Card(s), if applicable 
      • Previous I-20s with authorized CPT(s) or OPT(s), if applicable   
  5. Within two (2) weeks after your OPT application e-forms are pending, ISSS will review the e-forms and issue a new I-20 with OPT recommended dates. 
    • You will download your new OPT I-20 from iEagle and receive a handout with tips on how to file your OPT online to your AU email address.
    • While ISSS is reviewing your OPT application e-forms, please prepare 1 color passport photo taken within the last 30 days and the fee for online filing to be paid to USCIS by credit or debit card at the time of your online filling. 
  6. Create a myUSCIS account and file your OPT application online with USCIS.
    • USCIS must receive your OPT application within 30 days of your new OPT I-20 issue date. If not received within this timeline, your OPT application will be denied and appeal is not possible.  
  7. Await approval and receive your EAD from USCIS
    • You may not begin employment until you have received the approved Pre-Completion OPT EAD and it is no or after the start date listed on the card.
    • OPT applications typically take 1-3 months to process. You may check case processing times with USCIS here.

OPT Application Disclaimer:  The OPT information video and other ISSS-produced handouts are not comprehensive and are based on frequently made mistakes. They contain helpful tips and can be used as a tool to assist you with your online application. 

Ultimately, it is your responsibility to follow all instructions in the online application to ensure your online form is accurate and complete before submitting your OPT request to USCIS.  

Frequently Asked Questions

The below Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) were designed to provide international students with up-to-date answers to help navigate their Pre-Completion OPT applications.  

Application

Students may begin applying for Pre-Completion OPT up to 90 days before their desired OPT start date and within 30 days of their ISSS OPT recommendation on their updated I-20. ISSS recommends that students apply as soon as possible within the regulatory window to ensure OPT approval is received prior to the recommended OPT start date. Please remember that the USCIS process for OPT approval typically takes 1-3 months.

For eligible Pre-completion OPT applicants, you may choose your desired OPT start date any time in the future. ISSS recommends applying 90 days before your desired employment start date. 
 
OPT start dates cannot be changed after applying to USCIS for authorization depending on the processing time.

You will automatically receive an application receipt notice in your myUSCIS account. USCIS will also send you a paper copy of your receipt notice by mail within 2 to 3 weeks after filing. Please save these notices as it will include your USCIS receipt number, which you can use to periodically check your application process here. In addition, you may sign up for case status alerts through your myUSCIS account.

OPT applications are generally processed by USCIS in 1 -3 months. However, you should check the USCIS Processing Times site for the most up-to-date information on processing times. If it outside published processing times, you may contact USCIS for an update at 1-800-375-5283 or via their online “Emma” bot. 

Yes, you must notify ISSS immediately for a timely immigration action (cancel pending OPT request) to be taken on your SEVIS record and advise you on your immigration options immediately.   
 
After your OPT application is received by USCIS, ISSS can no longer cancel your pending OPT recommendation in SEVIS. You will need to officially request to have your OPT application withdrawn. Please contact USCIS for further instructions on how to withdraw your OPT application. You must also contact ISSS to let us know you are withdrawing your application. Please note that withdrawing your application is not guaranteed and could result in the loss of some of your OPT time.

Please contact ISSS immediately. Depending on the information in the notice, our advice may vary, but prompt action is crucial.

You should receive your EAD Card within 2 weeks of your OPT approval by USCIS. Please check your case status here to know when your card was mailed and make note of the mail tracking number. The case status will update once delivered.   
 
If you do not receive your card after the case status shows it was delivered, you may need to submit an application for a replacement OPT EAD. Please contact ISSS immediately.

Applicants who receive their approved EAD card from USCIS should receive their Social Security card from the Social Security Administration within the following 2 weeks. Please contact your local Social Security office if you do not receive it in a timely manner or see any error on it.

Please contact ISSS immediately so we can advise accordingly as some EAD card errors result in a delay in employment start dates. 

If you filed your OPT application online with USCIS (receipt numbers starting with IOE), then this is not considered an error. No further action is needed.

Work

Yes, you may continue applying to jobs while your OPT application is pending, but you cannot begin employment of any kind without OPT approval and before your OPT start date. 

You may begin employment if all the conditions below are met. Otherwise, you are considered to be in serious violation of your F-1 status, which may lead to deportation and ineligibility for reinstatement of your status:   
1. The OPT application has been approved  
2. Employment Authorization Document (or EAD Card) has been received  
3. The OPT start date shown on the EAD Card has been reached 

Students with approved OPT may be employed in the following circumstances:  
1. Paid or unpaid work in the major field of study anywhere in the U.S.  
2. Work for hire [1099 contract employment] or self-employment 
3. Multiple employers 
 
Students authorized for part-time Pre-Completion OPT may not work more than 20 hours per week during the period of authorization. To work more than 20 hours per week requires a new Pre-Completion OPT application be submitted to USCIS. 
 
ISSS recommends keeping detailed employment evidence for your records. 

Students on Pre-completion OPT are not subject to an unemployment limit. However, please remember that if you have no employment after applying for Pre-completion OPT, you cannot request to save your unused OPT time.

Yes.   
 
When you report your employment with a staffing agency, the address you report must be the location where you are physically working. Be mindful that some recruiters and placement agencies may engage in fraudulent activity. You should ensure the agencies you are using are trustworthy and reputable. Reputable recruiters will not modify your resume or academic background to secure OPT placement.   
 
If you witness a fraudulent activity by an OPT recruiter or company, please contact the ICE Homeland Security Investigations tip line.

Yes, as long as the employment is directly related to your major field of study. Please review the Reporting and Unemployment section above for more information on how to report employment changes to ISSS via iEagle.

Extension

If you have not used 12 months of full-time OPT at your degree level, then you may extend your Pre-Completion OPT by submitting another application to USCIS for an extension of Pre-Completion OPT.

During Fall and Spring semesters, you may only be authorized for part-time Pre-Completion OPT. During summer semesters, if you want to change to full-time Pre-Completion OPT, you will need to submit a new application to USCIS.