Optional Practical Training (OPT)

• You do NOT need to have a job offer in order to apply for OPT.
• You must have been a full-time student for at least one academic year in the U.S. (3 quarters at MCC). Enrollment in ESL courses/ English Language School is NOT considered as part of the one academic year requirement.
• You must currently be in F-1 status.
• You must be in good academic standing and be making normal progress toward finishing your degree.
• You must not have used more than 12 months of OPT in the past at your current degree level. F-1 students may request Post-Completion OPT to obtain work in their field of study once per educational level (Associate's, Bachelor's, Master's, Doctorate)
• If you are finished with your academic program, you can still apply for OPT as long as the government receives your application within 60 days of the date you finished your studies at MCC AND you have not left the US since completing your program.
• For additional information please visit the USCIS website: Optional Practical Training (OPT) for F-1 Students | USCIS

• before you finish your studies (this is called Pre-Completion OPT)
• after you finish your studies (this is called Post-Completion OPT)
• or a combination of the two, as long as the total amount of OPT does not exceed 12 months.

Please note, if you apply for and are approved for Pre-Completion OPT, any time you are approved for (regardless of whether you actually find a job) deducts from the total 12 months of OPT you have at your current degree level. If you get approved for Pre-Completion OPT and don’t use it, it still deducts, so plan ahead of when you plan to use OPT.

Pre-Completion OPT that is 20 hours or less per week will be deducted at half the rate. For example, if you work four months for 20 hours or less per week for Pre-Completion OPT, you would have two months deducted from your 12 month total. Therefore, you would then have ten months of OPT to use before or after graduation.

The earliest you can apply is 90 days prior to your completion date. It is recommended to apply no later than 30 days after the end of the quarter to allow for adequate processing time. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will not accept applications received 60 days or more beyond the completion date. Please note, if you are applying for OPT after you complete your program of study, you must:

• not have traveled outside of the U.S. after finishing your degree and
• be physically present in the U.S. in F-1 status to be eligible to apply.

Your Completion Date

You first need to know the date you will finish all of your academic requirements to get your degree. This is the final date of the quarter on the MCC Academic Calendar which can be viewed here: Metropolitan Community College Academic Calendar. If you have any questions about your completion date please contact us.

Reasons to Apply Early

The US government can take three to five months to process your OPT application. Check the US government processing times. You must select "I-765" for form type. Then select “Based on a request by a qualified F-1 academic student (c)(3)”. For Field Office or Service Center, most applications go to the “Potomac Service Center”. By applying early, you can avoid the risks that come from an OPT request being denied after the grace period has ended.

Step 1: Make an appointment with International Student Services to check your eligibility. https://booknow.appointment-plus.com/7r4b77mm/?e_id=4151

Step 2: If eligible, please select a desired start date from the "Dates to Apply for Post Completion OPT" chart below.

Step 3: Decide if you will apply for part time (20 hours a week) or full time work (more than 20 hours per week).

Step 4: Email iss@mccneb.edu your desired start date and if you would like to work part time or full time.

Step 5: ISS will email an OPT I-20 recommendation to your MCC email.

Step 6: Sign and date the I-20 in blue ink and send a copy of all pages back to iss@mccneb.edu.

Step 7: Gather the required documents to apply.

Step 8: Follow the application directions to apply for OPT online within 30 days. If you apply after 30 days of the OPT I-20 issuance date, your application will be denied.

Prepare clear, readable, and unencrypted digital copies of the required documents. USCIS accepts the following file formats: JPG, JPEG, PDF, TIF, or TIFF.

Required Documents:

• Passport-Style photograph (Taken within the last 30 days, not previously used for any US government application. Consider using the US government's photo tool to troubleshoot issues with photos before submitting them to your application.
• Most Recent I-94 record
• Previously Issued Employment Authorization Document (EAD) (Front and back; if applicable)
• Image of Passport biographical page(s) uploaded under section "Employment Authorization Document or Government ID". Also include a renewal page if the original has expired, and pages showing amendments such as name changes, corrections etc.
• OPT-Recommended I-20 from ISS (Also any past CPT I-20s only for post-completion applications)
• Proof of past and present enrollment. Upload your unofficial transcript. This is available through Student Self Service
• USCIS I-765 Filing Fee paid via credit card or direct bank withdrawal at “Review and Submit” section of e-File system. DO NOT PAY BEFORE APPLICATION IS FULLY COMPLETED AND REVIEWED. Payment officially submits application to USCIS.

• After receiving the OPT recommendation I-20 from ISS, create a myUSCIS account. Use a personal email address for the account.
• From the myUSCIS account, select “File A Form online”, select “Application for Employment Authorization (I-765)”.
• It is the student’s responsibility to complete the Form I-765 application fully and accurately in accordance with USCIS instructions.
• Choose the correct authorization you are applying for:
• Pre-completion OPT: (c)(3)(A) (before graduation)
• Post-completion OPT: (c)(3)(B) (after graduation)
• Submit all required documents to application.
• Download a copy of the application for your reference. You cannot make any changes once the application is submitted.
• A receipt number will show immediately upon filing, and a paper notice will also be mailed to you. Keep this for your records.
• Requests for Evidence, biometrics appointment info, approvals, denials will show in the "Documents" section.
• The G-1145 is not part of the online application; it is only available when mailing a paper application.
• OPT applications can generally take anywhere from 2-5 months to process.
• If you move, update your mailing address with both USCIS through its How to Change Your Address page and the U.S. Postal Service through its Official USPS Change-of-Address page within 10 days.

Important Notice: These directions are provided as a resource but should not be considered legal advice. The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) makes the final decision on OPT applications. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure accuracy and completeness before submission to the US government. Incomplete applications may result in delay or denial. MCC in no event shall be held liable for any delay, denial, or mistake on a student’s OPT application.

Job resources You may start looking for jobs, but you may not start work without an EAD Card/OPT approval. The following are general resources to search for jobs related to your course of study.

Career Services: Career Experiences

Indeed: Job Search | Indeed

LinkedIn: LinkedIn Job Search: Find US Jobs, Internships, Jobs Near Me

If OPT is Approved:

• F-1 students are required to report personal contact information (name, address, phone number and email address) and employment information changes to International Student Services at iss@mccneb.edu within 10 days of the change. This includes stopping work for any job.
• F-1 students must email a PDF of their Employment Authorization Document (work permit) and job offer letter to iss@mccneb.edu.
• F-1 students need to report their employment information by either of the following:
  • 1. Emailing ISS and completing an OPT Employment Form
  • 2. Logging into in the SEVP Portal. The government will email a link to the approved students to their personal email addresses.
• If an F-1 student decides to leave the U.S. or wants to stop OPT prior to the OPT expiration date, please email ISS before leaving the U.S.

Contact us if you notice any mistakes on your EAD. Please note: you must confirm that the start and end dates of your post-completion OPT are accurate as soon as your post-completion OPT is approved. On occasion, the US government makes errors on the end date listed on the Employment Authorization Document (EAD, i.e. the OPT card) of post-completion OPT for students who were previously approved for pre-completion OPT at the same academic level as their current post-completion OPT.

If you don't already have a Social Security Number and did not apply for one when you completed the I-765, remember that you must have one to get paid. If you completed the Social Security related questions on your I-765 form, you should receive your Social Security card within a month of your OPT approval.

All OPT employment, including Post-completion OPT, must be in a job that is related to the student’s degree program. The following information comes from Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) Guidance. Note that policy guidance is subject to change. There are various type of allowable employment while on OPT. Please contact ISS for questions about any of the options below. The following employment options during post completion OPT include but are not limited to:

• Regular paid employment in a position directly related to the student’s program of study. For post-completion OPT, the work must be for at least 20 hours per week. Students may work for multiple employers, as long as it is directly related to the student’s program of study.
• Payment by multiple short-term multiple employers. Students, such as musicians and other performing artists, may work for multiple short term employers (gigs). The student should maintain a list of all gigs, the dates and duration.
• Work for hire. This is also commonly referred to as 1099 employment where an individual performs a service based on a contractual relationship rather than an employment relationship. If requested by DHS, students should be prepared to provide evidence showing the duration of the contract periods and the name and address of the contracting company.
• Self-employed business owner. Students on OPT may start a business and be self-employed. The student should be able to prove that he or she has the proper business licenses and is actively engaged in a business related to his or her degree program.
• Employment through an agency. Students on post-completion OPT must be able to provide evidence showing they worked an average of at least 20 hours per week while employed by the agency.
• Volunteers or unpaid interns: Students may work as volunteers or unpaid interns, where this practice does not violate any labor laws. The work should be at least 20 hours per week for students on post-completion OPT. A student should be able to provide evidence, acquired from the student’s employer, to verify that he or she worked at least 20 hours per week during the period of employment.