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  6. Optional Practical Training (OPT)
  7. Optional Practical Training (OPT) - Initial Request
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Optional Practical Training (OPT) - Initial Request

Application Requirements:

  • UCM I-20

    • You can apply for Post-Completion OPT up to 90 days before your program end date and up to 30 days after your program end date. 

      • Please note that the post-completion grace period  is shortened from 60 days to 30 days. 
      • For OPT calculation purposes, your I-20 program end date will be updated to the Thursday following finals week of your graduating semester.
    • - OPT I-20 request must be submitted to International Student Services.
    • - At the time of submission, the ISS fee must be paid. We only require one OPT fee payment. Changes in employment do not require an additional fee. 
  • USCIS Request
    • - Once the OPT I-20 is received, OPT  applications must then be submitted to USCIS through the online I-765 application.

If you will be applying for OPT between September 15, 2026 and March 18, 2027 and you have not traveled outside of the U.S., on or after September 15, 2026, you will not need to complete the I-539 Extension of Stay application. You will only need to complete the I-765 application for OPT. 

If you travel outside of and return to the  U.S on or after September 15, 2026, you will be subject to the new regulations and will have to complete the I-539 Extension of Stay and I-765 OPT applications at the same time.

We strongly advise against traveling outside of the U.S. while your Form I-765 application is pending with USCIS. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and/or USCIS may consider international travel an abandonment of your application, which could jeopardize your nonimmigrant status and prevent re-entry into the U.S. 

All students who are applying for OPT after March 18, 2027 will have to complete both the I-539 Extension of Stay and the I-765 OPT application at the same time.

Students may begin work only after the following two events:

    1. USCIS issuance of the Employment Authorization Document (EAD approval card)
    2. OPT start date listed on the EAD card has arrived

Students are not required to have the employer updated I-20 in hand to begin work on post-completion OPT.

 

Upcoming OPT Live  webinars (click the link to register):


OPT Resources:

Eligibility Criteria:

  • GPA - Meets minimum GPA requirements on the most recent transcript.
  • Not currently on academic probation status.
    • Undergraduate/Bachelor's: 2.0+
    • Graduate/Master's: 3.0+
      • If a student does not currently meet minimum GPA requirements, they must wait for grades to be released at the end of the semester to apply for OPT.
  • One-year full-time enrollment - Meets minimum full-time enrollment requirement of one year of enrollment within the U.S.
    • By the expected OPT start date, the student must have attended full-time for at least a full fall and spring semester.
      • A reduced course load for the final semester approved by International Student Service is acceptable.
    • The student must not have left the U.S. and returned on a new initial I-20 and SEVIS number within the year.
      • Recent travel is okay, as long as the same I-20 and SEVIS ID were held for a year or more.
    • In final semester of enrollment -  Students must be completing all enrollment requirements in the current semester to be eligible to apply for post-completion OPT.
      • Students applying for OPT must have already submitted the application for graduation.
      • Job offer not required - Students are not required to have a paid or unpaid job offer to apply for OPT. However, once approved for OPT students must begin working within their degree field within 90 days of the approved OPT start date. Work may be paid or unpaid.

OPT Dates and Deadlines

Application Deadlines: You may apply for Post-Completion OPT up to 90 days before your program end date and up to 30 days after program completion. The program end date on the I-20 will be updated to the Thursday after finals week.

USCIS must not receive the application before or after the application window.

Start date: You must select an OPT start date that falls between one week after finals week and 30 days after your program end date. The program end date on the I-20 will be the Thursday after finals week.

OPT Dates/Semester Fall (December completion) Spring (May completion) Summer (August completion)
Application dates September 19th - February 15th February 15th - July 12th May 15th - October 12th
Start date options December 19th - February 15th May 15th - July 12th August 14th - October 11th

 

Within 30 days of OPT I-20 issuance:

USCIS must not receive the application more than 30 days after the issue date found on the OPT I-20.

If application is not submitted to USCIS within the 30-day period, contact isss@ucmo.edu to request an OPT I-20 cancellation and reissue.

If a 'rejection notice' is received from USCIS, contact isss@ucmo.edu to request an OPT I-20 cancellation and reissue.

  • This is especially important if resubmission after the rejection notice will near the 30-day period from when the OPT I-20 was issued.

Health Insurance:

For information regarding enrolling in UCM Health Insurance while on OPT please go back to the forms page and select Health Insurance.

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