{"id":737,"date":"2019-11-15T10:24:17","date_gmt":"2019-11-15T15:24:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/global\/?page_id=737"},"modified":"2025-07-02T16:08:40","modified_gmt":"2025-07-02T20:08:40","slug":"optional-practical-training-opt","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/global\/current-students\/f-1-students\/f-1-student-employment\/optional-practical-training-opt\/","title":{"rendered":"Optional Practical Training (OPT)"},"content":{"rendered":"
Pre-Completion OPT is Optional Practical Training that you can apply for while you are a student (before you graduate). The application process for pre-completion OPT is the same as the process for post-completion OPT. The only difference is that you must select “pre-completion” in MyGlobal Portal when completing the OPT request and you must select “pre-completion” on the I-765 Employment Application.<\/span><\/p>\n Please note the following about pre-completion OPT:<\/p>\n The request for the I-20 to apply for pre-completion OPT is available on MyGlobal Portal.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n The first thing to do when thinking about applying for OPT is to attend a required OPT workshop. <\/a>After attending an OPT workshop, you may submit your OPT request in MyGlobal Portal.<\/a><\/p>\n Once received through MyGlobal Portal<\/a>, your OPT request will be reviewed by the Office of Global Engagement. When approved, you will receive an \u201cOPT requested\u201d I-20. This new I-20 indicates that one of the 精品成人福利在线 University Designated School Officials has entered an OPT request for you in SEVIS. You have 30 days<\/strong> from when the OPT request is entered in SEVIS to submit the online OPT application and supporting required documents to USCIS.<\/span><\/p>\n Once you have the OPT I-20 in hand, you can begin to fill out the Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, online.<\/span> https:\/\/www.uscis.gov\/i-765<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Do not file the Form I-765 online until you have received your updated Form I-20 recommending OPT from the Office of Global Engagement. <\/strong><\/p>\n Have digital versions of all required documents ready in a folder to drag and drop into the USCIS system. Make sure the files are clear and readable, not encrypted or password-protected, in English, and in one of the following accepted file formats: JPG, JPEG, PDF, TIF, or TIFF.<\/p>\n REMEMBER:<\/strong> You may not begin working, volunteering or interning until you have <\/span>received your EAD card, AND not until the start date printed on the Employment <\/span>Authorization Document (EAD).<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n The earliest that you can submit an OPT application is 90 days before your program end date. The latest is 60 days after your program end date (your grace period). It is recommended that you apply earlier rather than later.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n USCIS can take up to 90 days to process your application and reach a decision. It is recommended that you apply as soon as you are eligible to! <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n This is entirely up to you, but your chosen start date MUST begin within your 60 day grace period (the 60 days from your program end date).<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n If your application is pending but you have not yet completed your academic program (the end date on your I-20), you are free to travel. If your program has ended and your OPT application is pending, it is not recommended that you travel until you are approved and have your <\/span>Employment Authorization Document (<\/span>EAD) card in hand.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n Yes! You are not required to have a job at the time of application. Students receive 90 consecutive days (including weekends) of \u201cunemployment\u201d time within the 12-months listed on the EAD card. This allows you to still keep your status while searching for a job. If you are still unable to find employment during this time and you run out of unemployment time, your OPT will automatically expire.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n Once you receive your OPT approval, you will be mailed an <\/span>Employment Authorization Document (<\/span>EAD) card – please note that EAD cards can take additional time to be mailed. Remember to make a copy of the Approval Notice and EAD (front and back) for your records. You are not authorized to begin employment until the start date on the EAD has been reached, even if you have the card in hand.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n If you have a job, you may begin working on the start date that is reflected on the EAD card. You MUST submit an OPT employment update through <\/span>MyGlobal Portal<\/a><\/strong> so that the Office of Global Engagement team can enter it into SEVIS. Entering your employment information will stop your unemployment time from accruing.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n Don\u2019t worry! Students are given 90 days of unemployment time to use if they are approved for OPT and do not yet have a job. Unemployment will start the day that you are approved for OPT if you do not submit your employment information to <\/span>MyGlobal Portal<\/a><\/strong>. You have 90 consecutive days (including weekends) to find employment. Once your employment is entered, your unemployment time will stop accruing. If you lose your employment, you must let us know, and your unemployment time will pick up from where it left off.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n For the first 12 month period of Post-Completion OPT, the employment does not have to be paid employment. Employment can include self-employment, an unpaid internship, or volunteering in a position directly related to your academic field. Please note the <\/span>regulations on volunteer work<\/a>.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n For the 24-Month STEM Extension, employment must be traditional paid employment with a company that is enrolled in the E-Verify program.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n The SEVIS database automatically calculates unemployment days based on the information students submit to <\/span>MyGlobal Portal<\/a><\/strong>.<\/strong> If a job is not entered into SEVIS by the end of the 90 days, there is a chance that your record will auto-terminate.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n
\n
I-765 Online Filing:<\/span><\/h4>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
OPT Application Frequently Asked Questions<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\n
My OPT Application Was Approved (or Denied), Now What?<\/strong><\/h2>\n