Post-Completion Optional Practical Training (OPT) is temporary employment authorization approved by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services that students can use after they have completed their degree. Employment on Post-Completion OPT must relate directly to a student’s major field of study.
At UT, you must complete an OPT Workshop before you may apply for post-completion OPT.
During the workshop you will learn:
You can complete the OPT Workshop online in myIO. You can also access the OPT Workshop materials here:
Module 1: OPT Overview
Module 2: When to Apply for OPT
Module 3: How to Apply for OPT
Module 4: While OPT is Pending
Module 5: After OPT is Approved
Please report your OPT employment or volunteer work within 10 days of your start date and anytime there is a change. Reporting your employment is important because the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) must verify that you are employed and not in violation of the 90-day unemployment rule. You can update your employment details directly to your SEVIS record through the SEVP Portal. Personal contact information should be updated in MyUT.
Once your OPT is approved and your EAD card arrives, upload a copy for ISSS to review. This is an important step because it allows ISSS to review important details in your immigration record and make any corrections if necessary.
Any time there is a change to your employment, report the change directly to your SEVIS record using the SEVP Portal. You will receive an email with instructions on creating a portal account once your OPT is approved. This email will come from do-not-reply.sevp@ice.dhs.gov. If you do not see the email, check your spam or junk mail folder. If you still do not see it, contact hotline@austin.utexas.edu to have the email sent again. SEVP has created an SEVP Portal Help page with instructions on using the portal. If you have any questions about the portal or need assistance, call the SEVP Response Center at 703-603-3400.
If you change your immigration status, upload in myIO a copy of your Change of Status Approval Notice. An international student advisor will review your information to confirm that USCIS appropriately completed your record.
If you decide to return to your home country and not use your OPT authorization, send an email to hotline@austin.utexas.edu to confirm that you don’t want to use the remainder of your OPT along with the date you plan to leave the United States. An international student advisor will complete your SEVIS record and report your departure from the United States.
Yes! ISSS strongly recommends e-filing over mailing a paper application. ISSS only provides published instructions for e-filing your OPT application.
CAUTION: If you choose to file your I-765 application online, you must first receive an OPT I-20 from ISSS, showing an OPT recommendation on page 2, before beginning the online filing process. The OPT I-20 is an essential part of the application; without it, your application will be denied.
Track your case status >
Submit an online case inquiry with USCIS >
Call USCIS National Customer Service Center: 1-800-375-5283
Yes. You must be physically present in the United States when you apply for OPT and when USCIS receives your application.
If you have an OPT application pending with USCIS and have not yet graduated, you can travel as you normally would as an F-1 student. For instance, if you applied for OPT in May, are enrolled during the summer, and will graduate in August, you may still travel as a student until your I-20 end date. It is important to note that re-entry to the U.S. immediately before your official graduation date carries an increased risk of denial of entry.
Texas Global does not recommend international travel after graduation while your OPT application is pending. Traveling during this period can jeopardize the approval of your application. We recommend discussing your travel plans with an international student advisor before departing the U.S.
If you depart the U.S. after graduating and your OPT application is approved, you will need to make arrangements with a friend or family member to have your EAD card mailed to you. USCIS does not forward EAD cards, so it is very important to provide a valid U.S. mailing address on your application.
If you are going to Canada or Mexico or other contiguous territories (except for Cuba) and staying for less than 30 days, you can re-enter the U.S. on your expired F-1 visa stamp, a valid passport, EAD card, and an I-20 with a valid travel signature. This process is called Automatic Visa Revalidation (AVR). Tell the immigration official at the port of exit (border) that you intend to stay outside the U.S. for less than 30 days and that your U.S. visa is expired. Make sure to have all your documents before you travel and present those documents to reenter the U.S. Additional details about AVR can be found on our Know Before You Travel page.
If you are traveling elsewhere and your F-1 visa is expired, you must visit a U.S. embassy or consulate to apply for a new F-1 visa. Please reference our Applying for a U.S. Visa page for more information on the visa renewal process. In addition to the documents listed on the Visa Information page, you will also need to bring your EAD card and employment letter with you to the visa appointment.
Many UT students successfully travel and renew their F-1 visas while on OPT. However, the risk of denial for an F-1 visa renewal while on OPT is slightly higher than when you are enrolled in an academic program. As the F-1 student visa requires applicants have intentions to return to their home country upon completing their academic program, the visa application could be denied if the embassy official is not convinced of your intention to return home.
During your visa appointment it is important to demonstrate that your intent still matches the purpose of the non-immigrant F-1 student visa category. Be prepared to answer how your stay in the United States is temporary and be prepared to demonstrate that you do not intend to immigrate to the United States. You can do this by showing strong ties to your home country, such as family, property, or employment waiting for your return. Evidence can often be subjective, so use your best judgment to decide what documents you want to take with you to your visa appointment.
Please consult an Immigration Attorney for guidance regarding international travel if you plan to pursue the H-1B process, have an H-1B petition pending with USCIS, or have an I-797 H-1B approval notice.
For international travel, the travel signature on page 2 of your I-20 should be less than 6 months old by the date of your return to the U.S.
If you need an updated travel signature, please complete the I-20 Travel Signature Request form in myIO.
International Student Advisors are available to assist you while you are on OPT. For general questions or requests, please email hotline@austin.utexas.edu. For non-general inquires, please schedule an appointment to speak with an international student advisor. Please keep in mind that international student advisors are trained in student visa topics. For information on employer-sponsored visas or residency applications, please consult with your employer's representative or a qualified immigration attorney.