{"id":656,"date":"2024-05-08T08:49:07","date_gmt":"2024-05-08T12:49:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/iso\/?page_id=656"},"modified":"2026-09-15T12:44:21","modified_gmt":"2026-09-15T16:44:21","slug":"f-1-opt","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/iso\/current-students\/working\/f-1-opt\/","title":{"rendered":"F-1 Post-Completion Optional Practical Training"},"content":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"parent":576,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_members_access_role":[],"_members_access_error":""},"class_list":["post-656","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":{"lead_in":"","display_title":"F-1 Optional Practical Training (OPT)","subtitle":"","call_to_action":"","hero_image_placement":"no_image","hero_media":"images","hero_pattern_option":"","hero_video":"","hero_image_landing":"","hero_image_landing_two":"","hero_image_landing_three":"","content_modules":[{"acf_fc_layout":"card_grid","anchor":"","css_class":"mt-0 pt-15","title":"","description":"Post-Completion Optional Practical Training (OPT) is a great way to gain real-world experience in your field of study. It\u2019s an authorization that allows you to work in the United States for up to 12 months, usually after you graduate. No job offer is required to apply, and the work permission may be used at different employers during the authorized employment period.\r\n
Eligibility <\/strong><\/p>","card_text":"Understand if you\u2019re eligible to apply for post-completion OPT.","card_background_color":"#f4f4f4","card_hover_color":"#283faf","card_link":{"title":"","url":"\/iso\/current-students\/working\/f-1-opt\/eligibility\/","target":""},"card_hover_arrow":"hover_arrow","card_image":"","card_image_size":"","card_image_placement":"","card_image_hover_state":"hover_fade","card_image_link":""},{"card_title":" Applying <\/strong><\/p>","card_text":"Learn about the application process and requirements for post-completion OPT.","card_background_color":"#f4f4f4","card_hover_color":"#283faf","card_link":{"title":"","url":"\/iso\/current-students\/working\/f-1-opt\/applying\/","target":""},"card_hover_arrow":"hover_arrow","card_image":"","card_image_size":"","card_image_placement":"","card_image_hover_state":"hover_fade","card_image_link":""},{"card_title":" Form I-765<\/strong><\/p>","card_text":"Get tips for completing the required USCIS I-765 form for post-completion OPT.","card_background_color":"#f4f4f4","card_hover_color":"#283faf","card_link":{"title":"","url":"\/iso\/current-students\/working\/f-1-opt\/i-765\/","target":""},"card_hover_arrow":"hover_arrow","card_image":"","card_image_size":"","card_image_placement":"","card_image_hover_state":"hover_fade","card_image_link":""}]},{"acf_fc_layout":"card_grid","anchor":"","css_class":"","title":" Reporting<\/strong><\/p>","card_text":"Review reporting requirements and how to report these changes.","card_background_color":"#FFFFFF","card_hover_color":"#283faf","card_link":{"title":"","url":"\/iso\/current-students\/working\/f-1-opt\/reporting\/","target":""},"card_hover_arrow":"hover_arrow","card_image":"","card_image_size":"","card_image_placement":"","card_image_hover_state":"hover_fade","card_image_link":""},{"card_title":" STEM OPT Extension<\/strong><\/p>","card_text":"If you have a STEM degree, you may be eligible for an additional 24 months of OPT.","card_background_color":"#FFFFFF","card_hover_color":"#283faf","card_link":{"title":"","url":"\/iso\/current-students\/working\/f-1-opt\/stem\/","target":""},"card_hover_arrow":"hover_arrow","card_image":"","card_image_size":"","card_image_placement":"","card_image_hover_state":"hover_fade","card_image_link":""},{"card_title":" Cap Gap Extension<\/strong><\/p>","card_text":"If you are considering a transition to a work-based immigration status, you may be eligible for an extension.","card_background_color":"#FFFFFF","card_hover_color":"#283faf","card_link":{"title":"","url":"\/iso\/current-students\/working\/f-1-opt\/cap-gap\/","target":""},"card_hover_arrow":"hover_arrow","card_image":"","card_image_size":"","card_image_placement":"","card_image_hover_state":"hover_fade","card_image_link":""}]},{"acf_fc_layout":"card_grid","anchor":"","css_class":"","title":" Events and workshops <\/strong><\/p>","card_text":"","card_background_color":"#f4f4f4","card_hover_color":"#283faf","card_link":{"title":"","url":"\/iso\/events\/","target":""},"card_hover_arrow":"hover_arrow","card_image":"","card_image_size":"","card_image_placement":"","card_image_hover_state":"hover_fade","card_image_link":""},{"card_title":" Study in the States website<\/p>","card_text":"","card_background_color":"#f4f4f4","card_hover_color":"#283faf","card_link":{"title":"","url":"https:\/\/studyinthestates.dhs.gov\/","target":""},"card_hover_arrow":"hover_arrow","card_image":"","card_image_size":"","card_image_placement":"","card_image_hover_state":"hover_fade","card_image_link":""},{"card_title":" USCIS website<\/p>","card_text":"","card_background_color":"#f4f4f4","card_hover_color":"#283faf","card_link":{"title":"","url":"https:\/\/www.uscis.gov\/working-in-the-united-states\/students-and-exchange-visitors\/optional-practical-training-opt-for-f-1-students","target":""},"card_hover_arrow":"hover_arrow","card_image":"","card_image_size":"","card_image_placement":"","card_image_hover_state":"hover_fade","card_image_link":""},{"card_title":" Travel guidelines<\/p>","card_text":"","card_background_color":"#f4f4f4","card_hover_color":"#283faf","card_link":{"title":"Student Travel","url":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/iso\/current-students\/student-travel\/","target":""},"card_hover_arrow":"hover_arrow","card_image":"","card_image_size":"","card_image_placement":"","card_image_hover_state":"hover_fade","card_image_link":""}]}]},"yoast_head":"\nReporting and extensions<\/strong><\/h2>","description":"","background_color":"#f4f4f4","width":"width-large","columns":"3","cards":[{"card_title":"
Related resources<\/strong><\/h2>","description":"","background_color":"#FFFFFF","width":"width-medium","columns":"2","cards":[{"card_title":"