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Optional Practical Training (OPT) is an employment benefit offered through the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) that enables international students with F-1 status to gain 12 months of off-campus work experience in their field of study.

Graduating F-1 students who are eligible and interested in applying for Post-OPT work authorization are encouraged to apply early. The earliest the International Students and Scholars Center (ISSC) will accept applications is Sept. 8, 2026.

To allow for both ISSC and USCIS processing times, you may submit your Post-OPT I-20 eForm request to ISSC up to 97 days prior to your program completion date.

• The program completion date for undergraduate students is typically the degree conferral date of the semester. The fall 2026 degree conferral date is Dec. 14, 2026.
• The program completion date for graduate students depends on your final academic requirements. Completion includes dissertation approval after defense, as well as receipt of comprehensive exam results or project defense. However, in most cases, the degree conferral date of the semester is the program completion date. The fall 2026 degree conferral date is Dec. 14, 2026. You may need to consult with your academic advisor to determine your program completion date.

Note: You do not have to have a job in order to apply for OPT.

Apply for Post-OPT

Be advised that USCIS processing times generally increase with applications submitted later in the semester. It is not uncommon for applications to take an average of 90 days or more. Therefore, we recommend you apply early in the application season!

USCIS can receive applications up to 90 days before your program end date, which means ISSC can produce OPT-recommended I-20s as early as Sept. 15, 2026. I-20s are issued on a first-come, first-served basis.

Please note: Applying early in the application window increases your chances of obtaining your authorization by your requested start date and receiving OPT for the entire 12-month period.  

New federal regulations affecting F-1 students take effect on Sept. 15, 2026, including changes to how long students are admitted to the U.S.

Students who are currently in the U.S. in F-1 status with an I-94 showing D/S (Duration of Status) and do not depart the U.S. on or after Sept. 15, 2026, generally will not need to file a separate Extension of Stay (EOS) application with USCIS when applying for Post-OPT.

However, students who travel internationally and re-enter the U.S. on or after Sept. 15, 2026 will be admitted until a specific date. Depending on that date and the requested OPT period, they may need to file an Extension of Stay application in addition to the OPT application.

If you are considering international travel on or after Sept. 15, we strongly encourage you to review the new regulations and understand how travel could affect your OPT application before making travel plans.

Learn more about the new F-1 regulations and travel considerations

The ISSC has pre-recorded Post OPT informational videos on our ISSC YouTube Channel.

You can also join live webinars—see our events webpage for details about upcoming webinars.