IS

• The training is
  • related to and an integral part of your major program of study
  • temporary in nature
• You have been lawfully enrolled full-time in your program of study for at least one academic year (eight months)
• You are currently in lawful status

Requirements

• You must receive written authorization before you may begin your CPT.
• You may only work up to 20 hours per week during your required periods of enrollment, typically fall and winter semesters. However, you may work more than 20 hours per week during your annual vacation period, whether or not you are taking classes.
  
• You must be enrolled for academic credit throughout the duration of the training unless the internship is required for graduation.

Authorization Procedure

1. Obtain a signed letter from your prospective employer on company letterhead that provides:
   • Name of firm
   • Nature of training, specifying that it is an internship, cooperative education, or practical training
   • Type of position as part-time (less than 20 hrs/wk) or full-time (more than 20 hrs/wk)—full-time employment is only allowed during.
     
   • Beginning date of training that must be a future date on or after the first day of the semester or term. The beginning date must be after the day that International Services receives the letter because authorization may not be given retroactively.
   • Ending date of training that must be before the first day of classes for the next semester/term unless you have been granted approval for multiple consecutive semesters
     
     Note: These dates become the official beginning and ending dates that will be listed on your new Form I-20.
2. Review your employer letter with your department’s internship coordinator and obtain a signed letter on department letterhead that provides:
   • Certification the proposed internship (training) is related to your major program of study
   • Name of firm where you will be doing your internship
3. Enroll in the appropriate work study, practicum, field program, internship or cooperative education class; check with your academic advisor about the course you should enroll in for academic credit. If the internship coordinator indicates in their letter that this internship is required for graduation, a non-credit internship is permitted.
   
   Note: If the internship is required for graduation, steps 1 and 3 above are not necessary; all of the information may be provided in the letter from the department internship coordinator.
   
   
4. At least five days prior to the beginning date of the training,
   • come to International Services
   • complete and submit a Request for Approval of Curricular Practical Training along with the following:
   • Letter from prospective employer
   • Letter from internship coordinator
5. International Services will review your request; if it is approved, you must return to pick up your new authorizing Form I-20 before you may begin your training.
6. You are required to renew authorization every semester.

• You may be eligible to participate in temporary employment before completion of the requirements for your educational program (bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees) providing:
  • The practical training is for the sole purpose of training,
  • It is related to your field of study and is less than 12 months in duration,
  • You have not accrued one year or more of full-time curricular practical training (CPT),
  • You have been enrolled as a full-time student for at least one academic year (eight months), and
  • You are otherwise in legal status at the time of application.
• For undergraduates, the completion date is determined as the last day of the last semester attended; for graduates, it is determined as the completion date of all program requirements, not necessarily the last day of the last semester attended or the graduation date.

Requirements

• Before training begins, you must have
  
• received your Employment Authorization Document (EAD) and
  
• arrived at the authorized start date.
• Must work no more than 20 hours per week during the school year—full time employment is permitted only during your vacation period—unless, as a graduate, you have completed all of your coursework and are enrolled in thesis credit; in this case, you may apply to work full time.
• Must conclude your OPT before you complete your program of study requirements. You may, however, apply for Post-Completion Practical Training by submitting a new application covering the remainder of the 12 months of total OPT eligibility.
• If you are a transfer student, you may apply up to 90 days before the end of your first full academic year at BYU, provided the training will not begin until after the completion of your first year here.
• You do not need to have secured employment before applying.

Conditions

• Any Optional Pre-Completion OPT time will be deducted from the available 12 months of training, leaving the remainder for Post-Completion Practical Training.
• OPT is available for a period of 12 months for each educational level completed, but may not be carried over to the next level if not used in the first.
• OPT can not be extended beyond 12 months.
• Authorization for OPT is automatically terminated if you transfer to another school or begin study at another educational level.
• If you are a Canadian or Mexican citizen, you may also qualify for TN status. more
• EADs will not be forwarded by the postal service, so if you are planning to move, you may want to put our office address on the I-765 (1351 WSC, Provo, UT 84602). However, if you do, you must update your contact information in Route Y (address, email, phone) so we can reach you when your EAD arrives.

Application Procedure

Because your EAD will only be delivered to the address listed in your application,if you are planning to move, you may elect to list our office address on your I-765 (1351 WSC, Provo, UT 84602). However, if you do, you must keep your address, email and phone update in Route Y so we can reach you when your EAD arrives.

Step 1—Submit the following to International Services:

• Signed letter from your academic advisor on letterhead stating your degree title and expected completion date
• Completed Request for Approval of Optional Practical Training which will result in a new Form I-20 recommending your OPT
• Completed Application for Employment Authorization Form I-765—answer Item #16 on page 10 with ( c ) ( 3 ) ( A )

Step 2—Five days later return to International Services and do the following:

• Pick up, sign and copy your new Form I-20
• Pick up an envelope addressed to the USCIS Service Center

Step 3—Mail your application paying attention to the following:

• It is advisable to make a copy of everything you send to USCIS for your personal records.
• Assemble your application materials in the following order:
  • Completed Form I-765
    
  • 340 dollar check—preferred—or money order payable to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
  • Copy of your new application Form I-20, properly endorsed, showing recommendation of your OPT and dated within 30 days of USCIS receipt
  • Copies of all previous Form I-20s if you have participated in Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
    
  • Copy of your Form I-94 Departure Record (front and back)
  • Copy of your last EAD (front and back) id you have received one. If no prior EAD has been issued, you must submit a copy of your federal government issued identity document, such as a passport showing your picture, name, and date of birth; a birth certificate with photo ID; a visa issued by a foreign consulate; or a national ID document with photo and/or fingerprint. The identity document photocopy must clearly show your facial features and your biographical information.
  • Two identical passport-style color photos of yourself taken within 30 days of filing—we recommend you place them in a small plastic bag
• We recommend that you use certified return receipt mail as you send your materials to:
  (for U.S. Postal Service deliveries)
  USCIS
  Nebraska Service Center
  P.O. Box 87765
  Lincoln, NE 68501-7765
  (for courier/express non-U.S. Postal Service deliveries)
  USCIS
  Nebraska Service Center
  850 S. Street
  Lincoln, NE 685081225

Step 4—After you have sent your application to the USCIS Nebraska Service Center:

• Wait until your EAD arrives before you start working.
• Make sure that you fax, send or leave a copy of your EAD with International Services.
• Report your emplouyment information as described above as soon as your OPT begins.
• Report any changes in the above information within 10 days and confirm it again every six months even if there have been no changes.
• Terminate your employment when your EAD expires or when you transfer your SEVIS record to another school or begin study at another educational level with a new I-20 whichever occurs earliest.

If you move during the processing of your OPT application to an address not in your application materials, within 10 days of the move submit the information to both places listed below:

1. USCIS, using Electronic AR-11 to inform those processing your application of your new address.


2. BYU, using Route Y to up update your personal information which also automatically updates your address in the SEVIS database. Submitting #1 does not update #2. Remember, you must update in Route Y within 10 of any address change.

What is Optional Practical Training? Optional Practical Training (OPT) is temporary employment that is directly related to an F-1 student’s major area of study.

How do I receive authorization for OPT? You must submit an application to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). See the detailed steps below.

When may I start? Post-completion OPT may only begin after the completion of your course of study.

• For undergraduates, the completion date is the last day of the last semester attended.
• For graduates, it is the completion date of all program requirements, not necessarily the last day of the last semester attended or the graduation date.

Who may I work for while on OPT? Possible types of OPT employment situations may include:

• Short-term multiple employers: musicians and other performing artists may work for multiple short term employers (gigs).
• Work for hire: Do contract work for another company; this is commonly known as 1099 contract work.
• Self-employed business owner: Start a licensed business and be self employed working full-time.
• Employment through an agency: Work for a staffing/employment agency at other companies where they send you.
• Regular employment: Work for an established business or organization.

How long may I work?

• Availability extends for one 12-month period directly after each higher educational level and may not be carried over if not used.
• Any authorized Pre-Completion OPT months are deducted from the available 12 months.
• If you have a pending H-1B application or if your major field of study and subsequent employment is in science, technology, engineering or mathematics, you may be able to extend your training. Q&As
  
• If you are a Canadian or Mexican citizen, you may also qualify for TN status. more

When does my F-1 status expire?

• 60 days after completion of your studies if you do not apply for OPT or
• 60 days following completion of your OPT.
  

May I travel outside the U.S. during my OPT?

• We advise you not to leave the U.S. between your program end date and when you receive your employment card. Such travel is considered an abandonment of your application, and you may be ineligible to reapply.
• If your OPT has been approved:
• If you travel before you get a job, you may not be able to reenter unless you have a written job offer.
• If you have a job, you may travel and reenter to resume employment. However, this travel time is added to your total of allotted unemployment days unless authorized by your employer. See the explanation of unemployment days under Requirements.
• more

For Additional Questions and Answers from U.S. Government click here

ELIGIBILITY

In order to qualify for post-completion OPT, you must:

• Register for required course credit during the semester or term you complete your program,
• Accrue less than a total of one year of any full-time curricular practical training,
• Be in lawful status for at least one academic year,
• Submit your OPT application so that it is received by USCIS between 90 days before and