Calculate your timeline to Apply for OPT
Introduction to OPT
Optional Practical Training (OPT) is a popular benefit of being an F-1 international student. The ability to work within your field of study for at least a year (and another two if in a STEM field), provides valuable work experience. To receive this benefit, you must apply through your international services office for a new OPT I-20 and then apply through the USCIS website (US Citizenship and Immigration Services).
Deciding when to apply for OPT with USCIS can be one of the most difficult aspects of the application process. Homebase offers a free tool that can be used to calculate when to apply and help determine your OPT start date. By simply entering your I-20 Program End Date, Homebase can assist in generating an estimated timeline. Your international services office’s timeline for processing OPT I-20s will vary. The timeline Homebase provides is calculated based on the federal government’s regulations covering OPT applications.
OPT Timeline: When is the earliest or latest an F-1 student can apply for OPT? Using this tool, you can easily calculate your dates based on the I-20 Program End Date. You should get your I-20 Program End Date from your international services office or your I-20 before using the calculator.
OPT Start Date: The exact date you can use as the beginning of your OPT period is often not clear, based on when the “60-day grace period” ends. Homebase’s calculator will help provide the date range during which you can request the start date for your OPT when applying to USCIS.
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Charlotte Roulet
Associate Director, GSU