Post-Completion
Optional Practical
Training (OPT)
Online Workshop
What is OPT?
Post-Completion Optional Practical Training (OPT) is a type of
employment authorization approved by U.S. Citizenship and
Immigration Services (USCIS) for eligible F-1 students interested in
engaging in employment in the U.S.
directly related to their major
field of study
after their degree completion.
F-1 students may be eligible for an initial 12 months of OPT per
higher degree level achieved.
Applicants do not need an employment offer to apply for OPT.
To be eligible, F-1 students:
Must have maintained valid F-1 status for at least one academic year.
Must not have had 12-months of OPT authorization for the same degree level.
Must not have accrued 12 months or more of full-time Curricular Practical
Training (CPT) authorization for the same degree level.
• Part-time CPT authorization does not affect OPT eligibility.
• Heavy CPT usage (either part-time or full-time) can cause your OPT application to be subject
to additional scrutiny.
Eligibility Requirements
Must be completing a UCLA degree program in the next 90 calendar days.
Must be within the U.S. with F-1 status while OPT application is pending
with USCIS.
USCIS must receive OPT application materials before the 60-day grace
period ends. The 60-day grace period begins after your “program end date”
listed on page 1 of the OPT I-20.
Application Process
How To Apply
STEP 1: Review the entire OPT Workshop PDF on the Dashew Website
STEP 2: Pay the $340 Dashew Center OPT Administrative Processing Fee
STEP 3: Submit OPT I-20 request in MyBruin International portal
STEP 4: Receive OPT I-20 from the Dashew Center
STEP 5: Prepare and complete OPT application forms and supporting
documents
STEP 6: Submit OPT application to USCIS for processing
Application Timeline
When To Apply
Students may request an OPT I-20 from the Dashew Center as
early as 90 days before their program completion date (as
confirmed on your Verification of Degree Completion Form)
It is highly recommended that students submit their OPT I-20
request to the Dashew Center 90 days before their degree
completion date.
USCIS requires approximately 3+ months to approve an OPT
application. You can check recent processing times on USCIS’s
website.
OPT I-20 Request Procedures
To request an OPT I-20, please:
Update your email address in MyUCLA (make sure that you will have
access to this email address after graduation, because it will be
listed in your F-1 SEVIS record and used to create your SEVP Portal
account)
Submit the OPT I-20 request via the MyBruin International portal and
upload the following:
$340 OPT Administrative Processing Fee payment confirmation
Verification of Degree Completion Form
(signed by College
Academic Advisor or SAO)
Your OPT I-20 request will be processed within 10 business days of a
completed submission request.
OPT I-20 Request
When completing the OPT
I-20 Request, you must
indicate your requested
OPT start and end dates.
After you log in to MyBruin International
portal, click “F-1 Student Services” and
then click “Initial 12-Month OPT I-20
Request”.
OPT Start and End Dates
Students must input their requested OPT start and end dates when
submitting their OPT I-20 request in the MyBruin International portal.
Requested OPT start date must fall within the 60-day grace period, based on
the end date listed on your Verification of Degree Completion Form
.
Graduate students must consult with their Student Affairs Officer (SAO) to
select an appropriate program completion date based on their defense date,
filing date, or the official quarter end date.
If you find that you will not complete your degree on time or do not wish to
move forward with your OPT request / application, contact the
Dashew
Center
or schedule an appointment with an International Student Counselor
for more details.
OPT Start Date Selection
Degree Completion Program End Date OPT Start Date Window
Select any date within this period as your OPT Start Date.
Spring Quarter 2024 06/14/2024 06/15/2024 – 08/13/2024
(earliest submission to the Dashew Center : 03/16/2024)
Summer Session A 2024 08/02/2024 08/03/2024 – 10/01/2024
(earliest submission to the Dashew Center : 05/04/2024)
Summer Session C 2024 09/13/2024 09/14/2024 – 11/12/2024
(earliest submission to the Dashew Center : 06/15/2024)
Fall 2024 12/13/2024 12/14/2024 – 02/11/2025
(earliest submission to the Dashew Center : 09/14/2024)
Winter 2025 03/21/2025 03/22/2025 – 05/20/2025
(earliest submission to the Dashew Center : 12/21/2024)
Application Timeline
90 days
Apply up to
3 months
before
Program
Completion
date
Program
Completion
date
60 days
Requested OPT start date must
fall within the 60-day grace
period
OPT End
Date
12 months
60 days
Grace period: Students
may remain in the U.S. but
may not continue
employment
Students
must depart
the U.S.,
transfer,
begin a
new degree
program, or
change visa
status by
this date
Verification of Degree Completion
This form must be completed by
an Academic Advisor / Student
Affairs Officer (SAO).
Your Academic Advisor / SAO
must confirm your expected
program completion date.
Dashew Center staff are not able
to complete this form.
Electronic signatures will be
accepted.
Final Term Requirements
• Students must be enrolled in at least one in-person degree-required course
taken on campus during their final quarter.
• If under enrolled during the final quarter, all students must provide a final
quarter Reduced Course Load (RCL)
.
• Students are not able to have more than one online course. If enrolled in
only one course, it must be in-person.
• If a graduate student is on filing fee, filing fee approval must be reflected in
the Student Records System.
• Students who are requesting CPT in their final term should first be CPT
authorized before submitting their OPT I-20 request to the Dashew
Center.
OPT Administrative Processing Fee
What does the OPT Administrative Processing Fee cover?
The Dashew Center OPT Administrative Processing Fee pays for systems required by
the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to maintain a student’s F-1 SEVIS
record during their OPT period.
SEVIS maintenance fees are covered for currently enrolled UCLA students through
enrollment fees. Since students will not be enrolled at UCLA during their OPT period,
they will be charged an OPT Administrative Processing Fee by the Dashew Center, as
SEVIS record maintenance is still required during a student’s OPT and STEM OPT
Extension period to allow the Dashew Center to process F-1 benefits such as travel
authorization, I-20 requests, STEM OPT Extension and Cap Gap requests, and OPT
employment and address updates.
Students are required to pay the Dashew Center OPT Administrative
Processing Fee each time they apply for Post-Completion OPT or
STEM OPT Extension per degree level.
OPT Administrative Processing Fee
The Dashew Center OPT Administrative Processing Fee for the
initial 12-Month Post-Completion OPT application is $340.00
To Pay the fee:
Log in to your Dashew Center account
Click on the ‘Pay’ link for ‘F-1 OPT: Initial 12-Months’
OPT Administrative Processing Fee
Follow the instructions on the payment site to pay the OPT
Administrative Processing Fee by debit or credit card.
To review your payment submission, click on ‘My Payments’ and
a record of your payment submission will appear.
OPT Administrative Processing Fee
Sample
A receipt of your payment will be sent by UCLA Corporate
Financial Services to your email address reported in MyUCLA.
Please be sure that your email address is written correctly and valid.
A copy of your payment receipt or screenshot of payment
history is required for your OPT I-20 Request.
If you cannot locate the payment receipt
email, please provide us a screenshot of
the payment history screen from your
Dashew Center account.
After You Submit Your
OPT I-20 Request to the Dashew Center
After you submit your OPT I-20 Request documents to the Dashew
Center via email, an F-1 Counselor will review and issue your OPT I-20.
Once you receive your OPT I-20, please print and sign (with wet-ink
signature only
) the student attestation section at the bottom of page 1
of the OPT I-20. Next, make a copy of pages 1 and 2 to include with
your OPT application materials.
Prepare your OPT application materials for submission to USCIS by
following the OPT Application Submission Instructions
.
USCIS must receive your OPT application:
Within 30 days of your OPT I-20 issue date (as indicated on page 1 of your OPT I-20).
Applications received by USCIS later than 30 days from the issuance date on page 1 of
the OPT I-20 will be denied.
Before the
60-day grace period ends. The 60-day grace period begins after your
“program end date” listed on page 1 of your OPT I-20. Applications received by USCIS
after the 60-day grace period will be denied.
Once you submit your completed OPT application online, you will be issued an application
receipt number and will be able to access your application receipt notice through your MyUSCIS
account.
If OPT is approved, your EAD card will be mailed to the U.S. mailing address provided on your I-
765 Form.
If you would like information about USCIS’ Premium Processing of OPT applications, please visit
the USCIS website here
.
Students can file their application online or by mail. DHS recommends online filing. Here are some of the
benefits of filing online:
USCIS Online Filing
For instructions on how to file your OPT application online with USCIS, please see our
guide here
.
USCIS receives online forms faster than paper
forms
Receive receipt notice of your application
immediately
Receive USCIS notices online, and sign up for
email/text notifications
Track and review your application after
submission
Pay fees online
Respond to requests for evidence online
Send USCIS secure messages about your case
Easy access to all USCIS correspondence
Upload additional documentation to
application after submission
Update your mailing and physical address
U.S. Style Passport Photos
Options to have your passport photo taken near UCLA:
Passport Photo Requirements
When filing online, please follow the instructions provided in the I-765 /
MyUSCIS application portal.
You can also reference the Department of State passport photo tool here.
On-Campus
Campus Photo Studio
Ackerman Union A-Level
310-206-8433
Off-Campus
FedEx Office
1520 Westwood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90024
310-475-0789
CVS
1001 Westwood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90024
310-209-9141
After OPT Application Submission to USCIS
Applicants will receive an I-797 Notice of Action Receipt Notice from USCIS after
the OPT application was received by USCIS.
Applicants can check the status of their OPT application online via their MyUSCIS or
by using the receipt number in their I-797 Notice of Action Receipt Notice.
USCIS Case Status: https://egov.uscis.gov/casestatus/landing.do
Applicants will receive a notice from USCIS with the decision approximately 3+
months from the date their OPT application was received by USCIS.
If OPT is approved by USCIS, applicants will receive First Class mail containing their
Employment Authorization Document (EAD) card in about 2-3 weeks after receiving
the approval notice.
If your OPT application has been approved by USCIS and your
OPT start date has been reached, you will receive an email from
SEVP with a link to create a SEVP Portal account. Follow the
instructions provided in the email to create your account. If you
are locked out of your SEVP Portal account, log in to MyBruin
International Portal and submit the “SEVP Portal Reset” request.
Employment Authorization Document (EAD)
Sample
After you receive your EAD card, submit PDF copies of
the front and back of your card via
MyBruin International portal
EAD Card Restrictions
Students may not begin employment until they have received their
Employment Authorization Document (EAD) card and the start date
as indicated on the EAD card has been reached.
Students may not continue working beyond the end date of the EAD
card.
Exception
: Students with a timely filed, pending 24-month STEM
OPT Extension application with USCIS, or a valid Cap-Gap I-20 may
continue employment beyond their OPT end date without receiving a
new EAD card. For more information, please review the STEM OPT
Extension online workshop
.
Address and Mailing of EAD Card
We recommend that you provide a mailing address for your OPT
application that will be valid for at least 4 months from your application
submission date.
If you move before receiving the EAD card you may risk losing your
EAD card in the mail, even if you file a change of address with USCIS
after submitting your OPT application to USCIS for processing.
Check your address using the USPS Address Tool.
U.S. Postal Service (USPS) does not forward federal mail, even if you
request mail forwarding services from USPS.
If you need to change your address, you can do so in your MyUSCIS
account
or file the form AR-11 with USCIS online.
If Your EAD Is Lost, Stolen or Destroyed
• If you did not receive an EAD card that USCIS mailed, you may want
to contact USCIS and USPS to attempt to locate the card. You can
also submit an
inquiry on non-delivery of a card.
• If unable to locate the EAD card, you can request a replacement
EAD card from USCIS online, which will require a new I-765 form,
filing fee, and supporting documents.
• If your EAD is lost, stolen, or destroyed after you received it, request
a replacement EAD by filing a new Form I-765 and filing fee (if
required), unless a fee waiver is requested and approved.
• For more information about lost, stolen, or destroyed EAD cards,
please see the USCIS EAD card website
.
For other EAD card issues, please contact us at: o[email protected]la.edu.
OPT Unemployment
Students on OPT have a total of 90 cumulative calendar days
(including weekends and holidays) of allowed unemployment time
during their 12-month OPT period that begins on the start date of
their EAD card if employment has not been reported to the SEVP
Portal.
How to calculate your days of unemployment: Add all of the days
you have been unemployed from the start date of your OPT
(including holidays and weekends) as stated in the SEVP Portal. This
is your total unemployment time.
Employer approved time off does not count as unemployment
time. (Examples: Sick leave, vacation time, holiday closures)
Exceeding 90 days of unemployment will end the OPT period
and you must depart the U.S. Please schedule an
appointment with a Dashew Center F-1 Counselor or email
OPT@saonet.ucla.edu
prior to this happening to discuss
options.
OPT Employment Requirements
• If you are authorized for OPT, you must work part-time (at least 20 hours per
week) or full-time.
• OPT employment must be directly related to your degree at UCLA (major
area of study).
Who determines if my OPT employment is directly related to my degree?
U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) leaves this discretion to
students to determine. Should DHS audit your OPT employment and
find that your employment is not related to your degree, you will be in
violation of your F-1 status.
Working in a field that is not related to your UCLA degree (e.g., major) is
considered unauthorized employment and is a serious violation of your F-1
status, which can negatively impact future immigration benefits in the U.S.
You can refer to UCLA General Catalog or your
department’s website to check the learning
outcomes of your degree program.
OPT Employment Types
Paid Employment: A student must work at least 20 hours per week.
Multiple Employers: A student may work for more than one employer, but
all employment must be related to the student’s degree program.
Employment for 1 employer must be at least 20 hours per week.
Short-term multiple employers: A student, such as a musician or other
type of performing artist, may work for multiple short-term employers
(gigs). The student should maintain a list of all gigs, the dates and
duration. Employment must be at least 20 hours per week.
Work for Hire (Contractual): This is commonly referred to as 1099
employment, where an individual performs a service based on a
contractual relationship rather than employment relationship. If
requested by DHS, the student must be prepared to provide
evidence showing the duration of the contract period and the
name and address of the contracting company. Employment
must be at least 20 hours per week.
OPT Employment Types
Self-Employed Business Owner: A student on OPT may start a business and be
self-employed. The student must be able to prove that they have the proper
business licenses and are actively engaged in a business related to the
student’s degree program. Employment must be at least 20 hours per week.
Third-Party Employers: Employment must constitute a bona fide employer-
employee relationship. A student must be able to provide evidence showing
they worked at least 20 hours per week while employed by the third-party
employer (e.g., staffing agency, talent agency, consulting firms).
Unpaid Employment: A student may work as a volunteer or unpaid intern,
where this practice does not violate any U.S. labor laws. The work must be at
least 20 hours per week. A student must be able to provide evidence acquired
from the student’s employer to verify that the student worked at least 20 hours
per week during the period of employment.
*The Dashew Center recommends obtaining job verification documentation
for all employment (dates, hours, duties, and other pertinent information)
OPT Reporting Requirements
Submit Copy of EAD Card to the Dashew Center
Email PDF copies of the front and back sides of your EAD card via MyBruin
International portal
F-1 students on OPT are required to report the following information during their
OPT period within 10 days of any change through the SEVP Portal
:
1. OPT Employment Status
Job title and detailed description of how the job is related to your degree
Start and end dates of employment
Part-time (up to 20 hours/week) or Full-time (more than 20 hours/week)
employment
Company name, address, and phone number
2. Update Contact Information
Verify residential address and U.S. telephone number
OPT Reporting in the SEVP Portal
Re-setting SEVP Portal Account
Within 72 hours of the OPT start date
listed on the EAD card, you should
receive an email with instructions to
access your SEVP Portal for the first time.
Note: The SEVP Portal activation link will
only be active for 14 days.
If you do not receive an email from SEVP
after your start date, please submit a
“SEVP Portal Reset” request via your
MyBruin International portal.
Updated I-20 Requests
Students may request an updated I-20 from the Dashew Center after they
receive their EAD card in the mail. An updated I-20 is not required to maintain
F-1 status, but is highly recommended if a student will be traveling
internationally and re-entering the U.S. after their program completion date.
The updated I-20 will show a student’s OPT status as ‘APPROVED’ on page
2 and will include employment information that has been reported
through the SEVP Portal.
To request an updated I-20, please submit an “I-20 Update Request” via your
MyBruin International portal and select “OPT Update” reason. You may be
asked to submit the copies of the front and back of your EAD card
Cap Gap: Transition to H-1B
Cap Gap – a period in which a student’s F-1 status and OPT authorization is
automatically extended by USCIS to bridge the gap between the end of their
F-1 status and the start of their H-1B status.
The most common situation occurs when a student’s OPT ends in the Spring
or Summer and their F-1 status expires 60 days later, leaving a gap of several
months before the start of the student’s H-1B status on October 1.
If granted by USCIS, the Cap Gap automatically extends a student’s F-1
status and OPT authorization without requiring a new EAD card. The Cap
Gap must be reflected in SEVIS before the Cap Gap I-20 can be issued by the
Dashew Center.
Cap Gap I-20 Request
The Cap Gap is available to F-1 students in all fields of study
engaging in OPT with pending or approved cap-subject H-1B
petitions (granted by USCIS).
To request a Cap-Gap I-20:
1. Report any/all OPT employment through the SEVP Portal
2. Submit the ”Cap-Gap I-20 Request via MyBruin International
portal. You will be asked to update the following:
• Copy of H-1B Receipt Notice or Approval Notice from USCIS
(I-797A or I-797C)
• Copy of front and back of EAD Card
International Travel
If OPT application is Pending with USCIS: The Dashew Center does not
recommend traveling outside of the U.S. once the OPT application has been
submitted to USCIS.
After OPT application is Approved by USCIS: Documents required to re-
enter the U.S. in valid F-1 status after OPT has been approved and EAD
card received:
Valid Passport (with at least 6 months validity from re-entry date)
Valid F-1 Visa
Endorsed OPT I-20 (each travel authorization signature is valid for 6
months from the date it was last signed and must be valid at the time
of entry to the U.S.)
EAD Card
Proof of Employment or Offer Letter (Verification document from an
employer verifying your job title, job duties, duration and start date of
employment written on company letterhead)
Visa Status During OPT
F-1 students engaging in OPT will still hold F-1 status in the U.S.
The Dashew Center will maintain an F-1 student’s SEVIS record during their
approved OPT period.
F-1 students may continue to request services from the Dashew Center such
as advising appointments, support letters, and travel authorization during
their approved OPT period.
F-1 students engaging in OPT are still required to obtain a travel signature
from the Dashew Center on their I-20 to re-enter the U.S. in valid F-1 status
after traveling abroad.
Each travel authorization signature is valid for 6 months from the date it was
last signed and must be valid at the time of entry to the U.S.
