Pre-OPT is a work benefit opportunity to gain off-campus work experience and is requested to be used before the completion of a degree program.
F-1 students are eligible for a total of 12 months of OPT per degree program. Those 12 months can be used while earning your degree (Pre-OPT), after earning your degree (Post-OPT), or a combination of both (Pre- and Post-OPT).
If 12 months of full-time Curricular Practical Training (CPT) have been used, the student will not be eligible for Pre-OPT or Post-OPT.
To allow for the 7-day ISSC processing time and the 90-day USCIS processing time, ASU ISSC recommends applying for Pre-OPT at least 97 days prior to the date you wish your employment authorization to begin. This will maximize your opportunity to receive your EAD card on time.
The ISSC processing time is up to 7 business days, which does not include weekends or ASU observed holidays. During peak seasons, processing times may be more than 7 business days as we deal with a higher volume of requests.
Pre-OPT recommended I-20s will be issued no more than 90 days prior to the recommended Pre-OPT start date.
We recommend that you attend an OPT Information Session prior to beginning the application process.
Submit your application materials to the ISSC through the Pre-OPT I-20 Request eForm through the ISSC eForm Portal no more than 97 days prior to your employment start date. ISSC will release your I-20 on or after the 90th day prior to your employment start date.
Please have the following materials ready prior to submitting the e-Form:
Once the ISSC issues your I-20 with the Pre-OPT recommendation, USCIS must receive your application within 30 days of the date your I-20 was issued.
Please Note: This deadline is critical - applications received by USCIS more than 30 days after your I-20 was issued will be denied by USCIS. This time frame is counted by the day, not by the month. Remember, not all months have the same amount of days, so you must count out the specific days to make sure you are within the correct time frame. The ISSC recommends applying online at least the day before this deadline to ensure your application is received by USCIS in time. The USCIS application portal does not have the same time zone as Arizona; therefore, depending on when you submit your application, it may be receipted by USCIS the next day.
USCIS recommends applying for Pre-OPT through their USCIS online application portal.
For detailed instructions on completing the application with USCIS, please refer to the Self-Guided Pre-OPT Packet Review Canvas course.
Disclaimer: The information provided in the Canvas course is general guidance and should not be construed as formal legal advice. ISSC cannot guarantee the approval of your application to USCIS nor be held liable for the outcome of your application.
If you are interested in Premium Processing for your application, please visit the USCIS Premium Processing webpage for details. You can apply for premium processing along with your application to USCIS.
Review of Social Media: Please note that USCIS will review all applicants’ social media content as a part of the adjudication process. This could include anything you have posted, shared, reacted positively to, etc. Certain content may have a negative impact on your benefit request. Please see this April 9, 2025 USCIS announcement for more information as to what specific content may cause issues.
Please remember, USCIS processes and approves your application, NOT ASU. Therefore, you should contact USCIS regarding application issues and/or delays.
Once submitted, your requested dates cannot be changed. If you decide to not pursue your Pre-OPT application, you may be able to withdraw your application before it has been processed. We recommend consulting with the ISSC before withdrawing your application.
OPT is a benefit of F-1 students. Each F-1 student gets 12 months of OPT for each degree level. They can use OPT before the degree completion (Pre-OPT), after the degree completion (Post-OPT), or combine Pre-OPT and Post-OPT to make the total 12 months of OPT. For this calculation, use 50% of the actual period for part-time Pre-OPT; 100 days of part-time Pre-OPT period will deduct 50 days from 12 months of OPT Period.
Under the regulations, part-time Pre-OPT authorizes work for 20 hours per week or less, and full-time Pre-OPT allows work for more than 20 hours per week. The regulations do not state a maximum number of working hours per week. Thus, overtime is possible. However, we recommend that our students keep any overtime to a minimum. The primary activity while on an F-1 visa should be to study. Work should not delay the degree completion.
CPT is a work authorization that allows you to participate in an off campus internship as part of your curriculum. The authorization is processed through the ISSC after all academic unit processes have been completed. Pre-OPT is a benefit F-1 students may participate in. The process is completed by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) after ISSC’s recommendation based on your academic unit’s endorsement. Can I accrue unemployment days during the Pre-OPT period? No. Until the degree completion date, study is the F-1 students’ primary activity. Pre-OPT is simply an extra-curricular activity.
There is not a regulation to prohibit having an on-campus job while working on the Pre-OPT authorization. However, it is important to remember that studying should be your primary activity while in F-1 status. We do not recommend any activities that may lessen your focus on your academic studies and possibly hinder your academic progress.
As long as work is directly related to your major, you can work. Paid employment/internship, work for hire, self-employed, employment through an agency or consulting firm, unpaid employment/internship. Multiple employers are also permitted as long as you comply with the authorized work hours (Part-time 20 hours or less per week; full-time more than 20 hours per week).