Optional Practical Training
Watch the OPT Presentation
| Preconditions | Student must have been lawfully enrolled on a full-time basis at a DHS-approved school for one full academic year before being eligible for OPT. Available both before and after completion of the educational objective, but different rules apply to pre- and post-completion OPT. Students in English language training programs are not eligible for OPT. F-1 and F-3 "border commuter students" are eligible only for OPT following completion of the course of study. |
| Location | Students may engage in OPT for any employer for the duration of OPT authorization, as long as the employment qualifies under OPT standards. |
| Duration | Cumulative maximum of 12 months per educational level. Part-time OPT is deducted from the 12 month limit at 50%. |
| Hours per week | 20 hours/week limit for pre-completion OPT done while school is in session and student still has coursework to complete. Over 20 hours/week can be requested for pre-completion OPT done during official school breaks or after student has completed all coursework required for the degree while the student is completing a thesis or dissertation. For post-completion OPT, only full-time OPT can be requested. |
| Field/level of work | Must be directly related to and commensurate with the level of the student's course of study. |
| Offer of employment | No offer of employment is required, but the student is expected to work or be actively seeking employment after the OPT EAD is issued. |
| Effect on other work | Prior use of full-time Curricular Practical Training for one year or more eliminates eligibility for Optional Practical Training. |
| Approval process | Must apply for and receive an EAD from USCIS with asssistance of DSO before work begins. EAD application must be properly filed with USCIS before the student's program completion date. Student must begin application procedures sufficiently in advance to allow the DSO to update the SEVIS record with the recommendation, and to ensure that I-765 accepted by USCIS prior to the student's program completion date. |
| Miscellaneous | If doing pre-completion OPT, must maintain a full course of study during the period of employment (unless done during school breaks). Degree candidates that have completed all coursework must continue to make normal progress towards completing the thesis or dissertation required for their degree. |
Contact Us
Mailing Address
Sam Houston State University
Office of International Programs
SHSU Box 2150
Huntsville, TX 77341-2150
Physical Address
1908 Avenue J, Farrington Bldg., Suite 116
Huntsville, TX 77340
International Undergraduate Advisor email: ugrad.intl@shsu.edu
Phone: 936-294-3892
International Graduate Advisor email: grad.intl@shsu.edu
936-294-4607
