{"id":696,"date":"2024-05-08T08:50:32","date_gmt":"2024-05-08T12:50:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/iso\/?page_id=696"},"modified":"2026-09-15T12:26:37","modified_gmt":"2026-09-15T16:26:37","slug":"eligibility","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/iso\/current-students\/working\/f-1-opt\/eligibility\/","title":{"rendered":"Post-Completion OPT Eligibility"},"content":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"parent":656,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page-templates\/one-column.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_members_access_role":[],"_members_access_error":""},"class_list":["post-696","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":{"lead_in":"","display_title":"","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_above":[{"acf_fc_layout":"text","anchor":"","css_class":"","title":"<h2><strong>Post-completion OPT<\/strong><\/h2>","content":"<h4><strong>Overview<\/strong><\/h4>\r\nOptional Practical Training (OPT) is a benefit of\u00a0F-1\u00a0status that allows eligible students to gain practical work experience directly related to their field of study. OPT is tied to the student\u2019s current degree level and must be recommended by ISO before\u00a0you apply\u00a0to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).\r\n\r\nPost-Completion OPT\u00a0is employment authorization\u00a0used after completing your degree requirements. Post-Completion OPT must be\u00a0full-time (more than 20 hours per week).\r\n\r\nYou may be eligible for full-time\u00a0Post-Completion OPT\u00a0if you have:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Completed all degree requirements, including any required thesis or dissertation; or<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Completed all coursework and have only a thesis or dissertation remaining, depending on your academic program and circumstances.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h4><strong>Key points<\/strong><\/h4>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>You do\u00a0not\u00a0need a job offer\u00a0to apply for OPT.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Your employment\u00a0must be directly related to your major or field of study.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>You may work for multiple employers, as long as each position is directly related to your field of study.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>You must apply for Post-Completion OPT\u00a0during the 90-day period before your program end date and no later than\u00a0the end of your 60-day grace period.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>You cannot\u00a0begin working until USCIS approves your OPT and your EAD is valid.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h4><strong>Eligibility<\/strong><\/h4>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Maintain valid F-1 status and make normal progress toward your degree.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Be enrolled full-time for at least one academic year (two semesters or three quarters).<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Have not previously used 12 months of full-time OPT at the current or a higher degree level.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Have not exceeded 12 months (365 days) of full-time\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/iso\/current-students\/working\/f-1-cpt\/\"><strong>Curricular Practical Training (CPT)<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0at that degree level.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Time spent on\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/iso\/current-students\/working\/pre-completion-opt\/\"><strong>Pre-Completion OPT<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0is deducted from the total 12-month OPT allowance, with part-time OPT counting at half the rate. For example, four months of part-time OPT is equivalent to two months of full-time OPT.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Be physically present in the United States at the time your OPT application is submitted.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h4><strong>Important note<\/strong><\/h4>\r\nIf you change your immigration status (e.g., from F-1 to H-1B or another visa category) or begin a new degree program before or during your approved OPT period:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Any unused portion of your OPT is forfeited.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>OPT cannot be deferred, transferred, or saved for later use.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>OPT is only valid while you remain in F-1 status at the degree level for which it was approved.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>","background_color":"#ffffff","width":"width-medium"}],"sidebar":"show__sidebar","sidebar_feed":"menu_select","menu":"36","page_links":null,"sub_menu":"","content_modules":[{"acf_fc_layout":"text","anchor":"","css_class":"","title":"<h2 id=\"page-title\" class=\"title\">OPT employment options<\/h2>","content":"<p data-start=\"87\" data-end=\"886\">You may only begin working once you have received your Employment Authorization Document (EAD) and the start date on the card has arrived. Employment can only occur within the dates printed on your EAD. Your job must be directly related to your field of study, and after your program completion date, you may only work on- or off-campus if the employment aligns with your academic field and falls within your authorized OPT period.<\/p>\r\n<p data-start=\"888\" data-end=\"1498\">During your Post-Completion OPT period, you are allowed a maximum of 90 days of unemployment time starting from the EAD start date if you are not employed. You must <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/iso\/current-students\/working\/f-1-opt\/reporting\/\">report<\/a> all employment to pause the unemployment time accrual in SEVIS. It is the F-1 student's responsibility to track unemployment time and plan accordingly.<\/p>\r\n<p data-start=\"124\" data-end=\"296\">To meet OPT requirements, your job must be directly related to your field of study, and you must work at least 20 hours per week. An employment offer is not required to apply for OPT, and you may hold multiple jobs at once, or change employers during your authorized OPT period. SEVIS defines employment as either:<\/p>\r\n\r\n<ul data-start=\"298\" data-end=\"492\">\r\n \t<li data-start=\"298\" data-end=\"344\">\r\n<p data-start=\"300\" data-end=\"344\"><strong>Full-time:<\/strong> More than 20 hours per week<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n \t<li data-start=\"345\" data-end=\"492\">\r\n<p data-start=\"347\" data-end=\"492\"><strong>Part-time: <\/strong>20 hours or less per week<br data-start=\"387\" data-end=\"390\" \/><em data-start=\"390\" data-end=\"492\">Note: If you work exactly 20 hours per week, SEVP requires you to report it as part-time employment.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h4><strong>Eligible OPT employment<\/strong><\/h4>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li data-start=\"621\" data-end=\"650\"><strong>One or more employers:<\/strong> You may work for multiple employers at one time.<\/li>\r\n \t<li data-start=\"621\" data-end=\"650\"><strong>Multiple short-term employers (common for ESM students):<\/strong> If you are a musician or performing artist, you may accept various gigs or project-based work. Be sure to maintain a detailed record of each engagement, including dates, locations, and duration.<\/li>\r\n \t<li data-start=\"621\" data-end=\"650\"><strong>Temporary or part-time jobs:<\/strong> Allowed if directly related to your field of study and total at least 20 hours per week.<\/li>\r\n \t<li data-start=\"651\" data-end=\"718\">\r\n<p data-start=\"653\" data-end=\"718\"><strong>Volunteer or unpaid internships:<\/strong> You may work as a volunteer or as an unpaid intern, where this practice does not violate any labor laws.<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n \t<li data-start=\"719\" data-end=\"838\">\r\n<p data-start=\"721\" data-end=\"838\"><strong>Self-employment or entrepreneurial activities:<\/strong> You may start your own business and work as a self-employed individual, as long as the business is directly related to your degree field. You must be able to demonstrate that you have the appropriate business licenses and are actively managing and operating the business in a manner consistent with your area of study.<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n \t<li data-start=\"839\" data-end=\"889\">\r\n<p data-start=\"841\" data-end=\"889\"><strong>Independent contractor roles (1099 employment):<\/strong> You may provide services based on a contractual agreement rather than a traditional employee-employer relationship. If you engage in freelance or \u201cwork-for-hire\u201d projects, be sure to keep documentation that includes the contract dates, the nature of the work, and the name and address of the contracting organization.<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n \t<li data-start=\"890\" data-end=\"935\">\r\n<p data-start=\"892\" data-end=\"935\"><strong>Employment through an agency or consulting firm:<\/strong> You may secure work through a staffing agency or consulting firm. To maintain OPT compliance, you must be able to provide documentation showing that you averaged at least 20 hours of work per week while employed through the agency.<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>","background_color":"#ffffff","width":"width-large"},{"acf_fc_layout":"card_grid","anchor":"","css_class":"","title":"<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Related resources<\/strong><\/h2>","description":"","background_color":"#f4f4f4","width":"width-large","columns":"3","cards":[{"card_title":"<p class=\"u-card-title\">Study in the States<\/p>","card_text":"","card_background_color":"#FFFFFF","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":"<p class=\"u-card-title\">USCIS<\/p>","card_text":"","card_background_color":"#FFFFFF","card_hover_color":"#283faf","card_link":{"title":"","url":"https:\/\/www.uscis.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":"<p class=\"u-card-title\">Applying for OPT<\/p>","card_text":"","card_background_color":"#FFFFFF","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":"<p class=\"u-card-title\">Maintaining valid status<\/p>","card_text":"","card_background_color":"#FFFFFF","card_hover_color":"#283faf","card_link":{"title":"","url":"\/iso\/current-students\/maintaining-status\/","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":"<p class=\"u-card-title\">Contact ISO<\/p>","card_text":"","card_background_color":"#FFFFFF","card_hover_color":"#283faf","card_link":{"title":"Contact","url":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/iso\/contact\/","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":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.4 - 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