OPT Guidelines and Application

Optional Practical Training Guidelines

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) grants Optional Practical Training (OPT) work authorization for those in lawful F-1 status who desire to work in the U.S. in their fields of study. To apply for OPT, an F-1 student must receive a recommendation by the International Student Advisor in the office of International Student Services (ISS) before filing an application to USCIS.

OPT is authorized up to 12 months cumulatively for all students who intend to complete their academic programs at Hampshire College. A 24-month extension after the initial 12 months is available only for certain eligible students with designated CIP (Classification of Instructional Programs) codes. Please speak with an International Student Advisor to see if your CIP Codes qualify.

OPT Eligibility

The student must have been enrolled on a full-time basis at Hampshire College for one full academic year (i.e., two semesters).
The student has not been engaged in full-time Curricular Practical Training ("CPT" over 20 hours a week) for more than 12 months cumulatively before applying for OPT.

Note: Post-completion OPT (after your program completion) will be the most applicable to Hampshire students (i.e., after completion of all degree requirements for your degree) versus pre-completion OPT.

OPT Application Procedures

When to apply:

F-1 students may apply for post-completion OPT up to 90 days before their program end date. Students can apply up to 30 days after their program end date to allow for adequate processing time. International Student Services highly recommends that students apply as soon as possible within 90 days of their program end date. In addition, the application must be properly filed (received by USCIS) within 30 days of the date International Student Services recommends OPT in SEVIS.

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.

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 residences close for the semester you are graduating. You can find this date on the Hampshire College Academic Calendar.

Reasons to File as Early as Possible

The U.S. government (USCIS) can take three to five months to process your OPT application and you can check the USCIS processing times. You must select "I-765" for form type. For Field Office or Service Center, most of our students' applications go to the Potomac Service Center. For December graduates, you should apply by mid-September; for May graduates, by mid-February. By applying early, you can avoid the risks that come from an OPT request being denied after the grace period has ended.

Choosing Your Start Date:

The earliest start date you can request is the day after you complete all requirements for your program of study. The latest start date you can request is 60 days after you complete all your requirements. You can review these deadlines on the Academic Calendar.

Choosing Your End Date:

You have one year of OPT available per academic level of study. If you've never before used OPT at your current academic level, then you will put an end date one year after your selected OPT start date. For example, if you are indicating a start date of July 2, 2024, your end date would then be July 1, 2025. If you have done more than 11.5 months of full-time Curricular Practical Training (CPT) then there is a risk that OPT is no longer available to you. If you have reached 12 months or more of full-time CPT, then OPT is no longer available to you.

How To Apply:

STEP 1: OPT Info Session or Make an Appointment with International Student Services
International Student Services will reach out to graduating Div III F-1 international students and hold an OPT Info Session each semester. If you cannot make the session, then you must schedule an appointment with your International Student Advisor. Read this entire webpage carefully and make sure you are eligible. Then gather and prepare all of the items you need for your OPT application and email them to iss@hampshire.edu.

STEP 2: Submit a Request to ISS for an I-20 Recommending You for OPT

In order to submit your request successfully, you will need to email ISS (iss@hampshire.edu) copies of your:

OPT Request Form
I-94 record
Passport photo/biography page (page with your photograph, name, date, and place of birth)
Your previous employment authorization document (EAD) if you've previously been authorized for work in the U.S.

Once ISS receives both your request for an OPT recommendation I-20, we will send an email to your Hampshire email address when your new I-20 is ready.

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.

After processing, you will receive a new I-20 with OPT recommendation.

STEP 3: Get Your New I-20

Get your new I-20 once you receive an email from ISS. You will receive further instructions with your new I-20. Once you have received an updated I-20 with the OPT recommendation, make sure to print your new I-20, sign and date it.

STEP 4: File your OPT Application Online

Create a myUSCIS account (Instructions on how to create an online USCIS online account). Select the I-765 Form to file once logged in. Review our OPT Filing Guide for more details on filing the online I-765.

STEP 5: Assemble and Review Your OPT Application

Once you have assembled your OPT application, you may contact ISS to make an appointment to review your application. Incomplete or incorrect applications can cause serious delays. If you have questions about your application, schedule an advising appointment in person or online.

STEP 6: Submit Your OPT Application to USCIS

USCIS must receive your application within 30 days of the date your I-20 was issued. If you missed this deadline to submit your OPT application to the U.S. government, request an updated OPT-recommended I-20 from ISS.

Also note that USCIS will not accept applications received 60 days or more beyond your academic program completion date.

If you decide NOT to apply for or use your OPT:

You must notify us. If you fail to notify us, your ability to work in the U.S. in the future could be denied.

STEP 7: Confirm USCIS Received Your Application and Track Your Application Status

Receive electronic and paper receipts from USCIS within 60 days. The U.S. government can take three to five months to process your OPT application. Check the USCIS processing times. [You must select "I-765" for form type. For Field Office or Service Center, most of our students' applications go to the Potomac Service Center].

Once you get your receipt notice, check your case status with your receipt number at www.uscis.gov.

Your approval notice and EAD (OPT card) should arrive within 5 months.

Let us know:

if you do not receive both receipts within these timelines
if you notice any mistakes on your EAD
if you get a denial or request for more information from USCIS

STEP 8: Set Up Informed Delivery With the U.S. Postal Service

Once USCIS sends you any information regarding your application, they will send official notification to you through the U.S. postal service.

Informed delivery allows you to digitally preview your mail and manage your packages scheduled to arrive soon. Learn more about how to set up your informed delivery account.

STEP 9: Review Your Employment Authorization Document (EAD) and Social Security Number (SSN)

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 U.S. 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. Learn more about how to apply for a Social Security Number.

STEP 10: Report Your OPT Employer to ISS and the U.S. Government within Ten Days of Any Update

While on OPT, the U.S. government requires you to report your employer information. While you are on post-completion OPT, you cannot be unemployed for more than 90 days. If you don't report your job information or you are unemployed for 90 days while on OPT, the government will end your F-1 OPT and terminate your SEVIS record. You would then need to leave the U.S. immediately. Learn how, when, and what to report to ISS while on OPT on our OPT Reporting Guide.

STEP 11: Keep Your Hampshire College Email Account Active

All important alumni communication from Hampshire College (not only our office) will be through your school email account. Find more information here about keeping your Email account active.

OPT and Beginning a New Academic Program

The U.S. government regulations state that optional practical training employment is automatically terminated when a student transfers to another school or begins study at another educational level. Only recreational or avocational classes are permissible while on OPT.