International Student Services

Optional Practical Training (OPT) at UT Tyler

Optional Practical Training refers to employment authorization that is granted by USCIS to an F-1 student after receiving their application for permission to begin employment in a position related to their course of study following a minimum of one year of full-time studies. Eligible students can apply to receive up to 12 months of OPT employment authorization before completing their academic studies (pre-completion) and/or after completing their academic studies (post-completion). However, all periods of pre-completion OPT will be deducted from the available period of post-completion OPT.

Time spent at an English Language Training program, if any, is excluded when determining whether a student meets the one-year requirement for OPT eligibility. 

The types most common at UT Tyler are listed below.  

Types of OPT

1. Pre-Completion - Any portion of OPT used before a student's program end date, part-time (under 20 hrs per week) during school sessions, or full-time with authorization and depending on place of employment.
2. Post-Completion – OPT used after a student's program end date; post-completion OPT can only be full-time. If you participated in pre-completion OPT, USCIS will deduct that amount of time from your post-completion OPT authorization period. For example, if you participated in 10 months of pre-completion OPT, you would be eligible for only up to two months of post-completion OPT.  
3. STEM OPT Extension – Second, 24-month period of OPT granted to students on OPT with a Department of Homeland Security-designated Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) degree when authorized.

 

Apply for OPT

Optional Practical Training Applicants will need to review the below documents and familiarize with the process before making the request to a DSO to obtain the required recommendation in their SEVIS portal.

1. Administrative Fee Payment Instructions
2. OPT Application Checklist
3. Form I-765 Application for OPT (Supplements: OPT I-765 Completion Guide | Sample OPT I-765)
4. OPT I-20 Request Form

 

Unemployment on OPT

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security limits the number of days of unemployment permitted during OPT.

• Students in standard OPT Period: Limited to a maximum of 90 days during the Post-Completion OPT period.
• Students with a 24-Month OPT Extension: An additional 60 days is provided, limiting unemployment to a combined total maximum of 150 days during the 24-month OPT period.

Students should report all periods of employment to avoid unnecessary accrual of unemployment days.