Optional Practical Training, also know as OPT, is an employment benefit granted from
United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) that enables eligible F-1
students to work anywhere in the U.S. at a job related to their major and at a level
commensurate with their academic training. No job offer is required to apply.

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for OPT, you must be an F-1 student that has been in lawful status
for at least 12 consecutive months prior to your requested OPT begin date. In order
for study abroad or National Student Exchange time to count as part of this 12-month
requirement, you MUST have completed one semester of full-time fall or spring enrollment
at Southeastern prior to participating in the exchange program. You may participate
in OPT prior to graduation (pre-completion OPT) or after graduation (post-completion
OPT).  

Requesting OPT

On OPT you may work:

• Part-time or full-time during summer vacation if participating in pre-completion OPT
• Twenty hrs/wk during the academic year, even if it is your last semester and you are
  enrolled part-time
• Full-time after completing your studies

 

The total time you may participate in OPT is a maximum aggregate of 12 months per
each higher degree level you complete.  The first request would be for 12 months of
OPT based on your Bachelor’s, the second request would be for 12 months OPT based
on your Master’s, and the third request would be for 12 months OPT based on your doctorate.

Please note that once USCIS has authorized OPT employment (issued you an EAD card
with approved begin and end dates), there is no provision to change or cancel the
authorized period of OPT, even if you are unable to work during the adjudicated period. You will lose the opportunity
for OPT at that degree level.

For more information on the OPT application process, please download the OPT Instructions
below

                                          

 

When to apply

Please note that Commencement Day is not your actual academic completion date on your
I-20. The earliest you may apply for OPT is 120 days prior to your requested begin
date (which must be after your program completion date).  However, to avoid losing
time on your OPT, we recommend that you apply no later than 90 days prior to your
requested begin date.

The International Services Office will contact all graduating students each semester
with information on OPT appointments.  Students graduating in May and July will be
contacted starting February 16 and students gradating in December will be contacted
starting September 16.

To request an appointment with our office, please use the Student Online Request Form.

Once You Are On OPT – Reporting requirement

You must inform the international services office of any and all employment.  Any
changes in employment must also be reported.  You are also required to report any
changes in your physical address.  To report this information, please select the button
below.

                             

 

In addition to reporting to the International Services Office, you also have the option
to login to your own portal also known as the SEVP Portal launched by the Student
and Exchange Visitor Program.  The portal is a tool that F-1 students on post-completion
OPT or STEM OPT extensions may choose to use to report changes to their home address,
telephone number and employer information. The portal is accessible from both your
mobile device and computer.

You will receive an email with instructions on creating a portal account after your OPT is approved by USCIS.  This email will come from [email protected]. If you do not see the email, check your spam or junk folder. If you still do not
see it, contact the International Services Office to have it sent again to an email
address of your choice.  The initial email will be sent to your Southeastern Webmail
account.

 

Traveling Outside the U.S.

While on OPT, you retain F-1 status. Therefore, traveling outside the U.S. while on
OPT is very similar to traveling as a student.  When traveling outside the U.S., you
must take the following items with you to be eligible for re-entry:

• Your valid passport
• A valid F-1 visa stamp in your passport (If your visa stamp has expired, you must
  go to a U.S. embassy outside of the U.S. to apply for a new one.  You may not use
  any other visa stamp other than a valid F-1)
• Your original I-20 with your OPT recommendation
• Signature for re-entry located on page 2 of your OPT I-20
• Your current employment authorization card (EAD)
• A job offer letter, employment letter, or letters of possible interviews scheduled

Leaving the U.S. for extended amounts of time during your authorized OPT period may
cause problems with your re-entry, especially if you do not have a letter of employment
or job offer to present to the officer at the port of entry.  

We highly recommend that you do not leave the U.S. without an EAD card after completing
your studies while your OPT application is pending with USCIS. 

After OPT

Because you maintain your F-1 status while on OPT, a 60 day grace period follows the
end of your EAD card. During this time, you are not allowed to work. You must exit
the U.S., be accepted to start a new program of study, or change your status. If you
continue as an F-1 and transfer to a new institution, your new school must gain possession
of your SEVIS record within this 60 day grace period.  If you transfer before your
OPT ends, a SEVIS transfer will end your OPT so be careful when you request a SEVIS
transfer.