Optional Practical Training

Optional Practical Training (OPT) is an off-campus employment authorization for eligible F-1 students who wish to work in a job related to their field of study. OPT can be done during your studies (pre-completion OPT), after completion of your studies, (post-completion OPT) or a combination of both.

F-1 students with certain science, technology, engineering or mathematics degrees can extend their Post-Completion OPT. For more information, visit 24-Month STEM OPT Extension.

Pre-Completion OPT

Pre-Completion OPT is for eligible F-1 students interested in working off-campus before graduation where employment is related to their field of study or major.

Eligibility for Pre-Completion OPT

F-1 students are eligible to apply for Pre-Completion OPT if they meet all of the following requirements:

Post-Completion OPT

Post-Completion OPT is for eligible F-1 students interested in working in the United States after graduation where employment is related to their field of study or major.

Eligibility for Post-Completion OPT

F-1 students are eligible to apply for Post-Completion Optional Practical Training (OPT) if they meet all of the following requirements:

When to Apply for OPT

How to Apply for OPT

  1. View the ISS Optional Practical Training (OPT) Overview Video. You are responsible for understanding the information in this video prior to proceeding to Step 2.
  1. Mail the application by using the ISS Guidelines for Preparing and Mailing your OPT Application to USCIS.
  2. File the application Online by first gathering the documents listed on the E-Filing Pre & Post-Completion OPT Document Checklist, then submit to USCIS by following the Pre and Post-Completion OPT Step by Step E-Filing Guide.

Note: For current USCIS processing time, please refer to this USCIS webpage.

Maintaining Status While on Post-Completion OPT

After USCIS approves your OPT application and you receive your EAD card, please upload a copy of your OPT EAD card directly to: https://uee-file01.fullerton.edu/ using these instructions.

You must report to ISS within 10 days of your employment start date by submitting the OPT Employer Update form.

Visit our Maintaining Status While on Post-Completion OPT webpage to learn more about how to maintain status.

Additional Resources on OPT

F-1 students are eligible to apply for Pre-Completion OPT if they meet all of the following requirements:

  1. In valid F-1 status for one academic year (two semesters)
  2. In good academic standing and not on academic probation: minimum GPA for undergraduates is 2.0; minimum GPA for graduate students is 3.0
  3. Pursuing a bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree; or I-20 approved certificate program
  4. Not been granted 12 months of cumulative full-time Curricular Practical Training in their current academic program
  5. Eligible to enroll in the next term and will graduate in a future term

F-1 students are eligible to apply for Post-Completion Optional Practical Training (OPT) if they meet all of the following requirements:

  1. In valid F-1 status for one academic year (two semesters)
  2. In good academic standing and not on academic probation: minimum GPA for undergraduates is 2.0; minimum GPA for graduate students is 3.0
  3. Pursuing a bachelor’s, master’s or a doctoral degree; or I-20 approved certificate program
  4. Not been granted 12 months of cumulative full-time Curricular Practical Training in their current academic program
  5. Has met or is in the process of meeting all graduation requirements (including English writing proficiency requirement, comprehensive exams, projects or thesis) and will no longer be enrolling in the next semester or session

Applying for Pre-Completion OPT

The earliest time you may submit an OPT application to USCIS is 90 days before your requested start date.

Applying for Post-Completion OPT

The earliest time you may submit an OPT application to USCIS is 90 days before graduation date.

  1. Attend a mandatory a Pre-Completion OPT or Post-Completion OPT workshop to learn more about OPT. Refer to the Employment Workshops page for the schedule. Your attendance will be recorded in our records.
  2. Download the OPT Application Packet and prepare all required documents.
  3. Submit the completed OPT Application Packet to the ISS office and allow time for processing. If you did not attend an OPT workshop, ISS will not accept your OPT Application Packet.
  4. Pick up your OPT Packet after receiving notification from ISS Office.
  5. Assemble your OPT Packet by signing and dating the documents, attaching your check or money order and including an envelope of photos.
  6. Mail your OPT Application Packet to USCIS within 3 business days of receiving your packet from the ISS office. USCIS may take as long as 90 days to process and make decisions on OPT applications.

This site is maintained by Extension.

2600 Nutwood Ave., Suite 950 Mailing Address: 800 N. State College Blvd, PLN-120 , Fullerton, CA 92831

To report problems or comments with this site, please contact eipcommunications@fullerton.edu.
© California State University, Fullerton. All Rights Reserved.

social media icon facebooksocial media icon twittersocial media icon linked insocial media icon instagramsocial media icon youtube

Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act Notification:

Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, the current Annual Security Report (ASR) is available for viewing at: https://hr.fullerton.edu/risk-management/clery-act. This report contains the current security and safety-related policy statements, emergency preparedness and evacuation information, crime prevention and sexual assault prevention information, and drug and alcohol prevention programming. The ASR also contains statistics of Clery Act crimes for California State University, Fullerton for the last three (3) calendar years. Paper copies are available upon request at the CSUF Police Department.

CSUF is committed to ensuring equal accessibility to our users. Let us know about any accessibility problems you encounter using this website. We'll do our best to improve things and get you the information you need.