Post-completion OPT

Students can submit post-completion OPT applications to USCIS no earlier than 90 days before and no later than 60 days after their Program End Date (the last day of the finals week of the graduating quarter). If USCIS receives an OPT application before or after the window allowed, your application will be denied.

Students must upload a copy of the post-completion requested OPT I-20 issued by an International Student Advisor to their online I-765 application PRIOR to submitting the online application. Allow 5 business days to have this new I-20 issued.

USCIS must receive the I-765 filing within 30 days from the issuance of the post-completion OPT I-20.

USCIS takes 90 days or longer to process OPT applications, so act early!

Students must choose an OPT start date. The start date is the earliest possible date that you might want to work if you have a job. Choose a date within 60 days from the Program End Date (the last day of the finals week of the graduating quarter).

To request post-completion OPT I-20, log in the ISSS Portal, go to the Student Requests and Document section and click on Post-Completion Optional Practical Training (OPT) Recommended I-20 Request form. 

Be firm on OPT start date. Once a post-completion OPT I-20 is issued, this date cannot be changed. If you are failing to graduate after your post-completion OPT I-20 is issued, contact your International Student Advisor immediately! 

**Note for Winter Quarter Graduates thinking about H-1B: 

• Consider choosing a post-completion OPT start date after April 1 to access to the Cap Gap Extension benefit. 
• This benefit automatically extends OPT until September 30 if your OPT expires before this date. H-1B begins on October 1.

• Make sure you write your US mailing address correctly! Or you may not receive your EAD. Please use this USPS Address Look Up Tool. 
• USCIS will send you I-797C, Notice of Action (NOA) and Employment Authorization Document (EAD) to your U.S. postal mailbox mentioned on I-765. 
• Make sure your full name appears on the mailbox of where you currently live. 
• Thinking about moving within the next 6 months?
  • U.S. Postal Service will NOT forward government mail, even if you file a forwarding address/ change of address request.
  • Ask permission from a friend to use their address (C/O) OR Set up a P.O. Box (available for about $10/month)
• Sign up for USPS Informed Delivery if available. 
• Continue to update contact info via MyUW while engaged in OPT. 

• A digital copy of U.S. passport style photo
• A digital copy of of I-94 or F-1 Approval Notice (Form I-797) 
  • Trouble downloading I-94?  
• A digital copy of all previously issued EADs (front and back) (if you have them)
• A digital copy of previously issued I-20s with CPT or OPT authorization (all except instruction pages) (if you have them)
• A digital copy of post-completion OPT requested I-20 (make sure it is signed and dated)
• A digital copy of valid passport ID page (optional)
• A digital copy of most recent F-1 visa (optional)
• A digital copy of UWT unofficial transcript (optional)
• A valid credit card or U.S. bank account information with enough funds to pay the $410 fee

Former students are no longer eligible for full access to UW Gmail including Google Drive. Be sure to set email forwarding from your UW email address to your personal email address by visiting this page. To learn more visit this page.

All Student and Exchange Visitor Program related emails will be sent to the student's UW email address as recorded on their SEVIS records. International Student Advisors will continue to email alumni at their UW email address.

• SEVP Portal is a web-based tool in which students can log in to update their address, phone number, and employer information. 
• SEVP Portal set up link will be sent to students' UW email address on or after the first day of post-completion OPT start date. 
• To learn more about the SEVP Portal, visit the SEVP Portal Help page.
• Remember, you should not participate in work (paid or unpaid) that is not directly related to your program. You will be asked to explain how the job is relevant. If you enter information about a job that does not relate to your degree program, it is a violation of your OPT and visa status and it will not stop the unemployment clock.
• Remember, you must report changes in your address and employer info within 10 days. If you go over this time period to report your employment start date, you will see an error message. 
• If you want your personal email address to be reflected on your SEVP Portal account after the initial set up, email uwtiss@uw.edu.

Students who requested a Social Security Number (SSN) card to be issued when filing Form I-765 should receive their SSN card in the mail from the Social Security Administration within 7 days after receiving their EAD. Students who do not receive their SSN cards should review the info on this document:

Consider purchasing annual coverage of UW's ISHIP insurance so that it lasts until August 31st after you graduate regardless of your class enrollment. It is highly risky not to have health insurance in the U.S. We have created a list of OPT student-friendly insurance companies. 

• Students should not depart from the U.S. once they reach their Program End Date and while their post-completion OPT application is pending with USCIS. This can be considered as an abandonment of their post-completion OPT application and they may not be readmitted into the U.S.
• Once post-completion OPT application is approved, students may travel outside the U.S. and seek readmission into the U.S. with the following documents:
  • Passport valid for at least 6 months into the future:
    • Countries listed here have a special agreement with the U.S. that allows their citizens' passports to be valid for reentry purpose up to the date of expiration. 
  • F-1 Student Visa:
    • Check the expiration date and the number of allowed entries on your visa. Most visas have "M" (multiple) printed under entries. This means there is no limit on the number of entries for which you can use your visa. If your visa is expired or if you have already used the number of entries you are allowed, you will need to renew your F-1 student visa at the U.S. Consulate/Embassy office outside of the U.S. (preferably in your home country).
    • If you are seeking re-entry to the U.S. after traveling back from a contiguous country (Canada, Mexico, or adjacent islands) for less than 30 days, you may be permitted to re-enter with an expired F-1 visa. This is called Automatic Visa Revalidation. 
  • Form I-20, endorsed for travel by DSO:
    • Your I-20 needs to be authorized for travel on page 2 by an International Student Advisor. For students engaged in post-completion OPT, the signature is valid for six months. To receive a signature, submit I-20 Update/Travel Authorization form via ISSS Portal. 
    • We recommend student's I-20 to be up to date showing "Post-completion OPT Approved" and their employer's name and location printed. Email International Student Advisor to obtain an updated I-20. 
  • EAD    
  • An employment offer letter or letter of employment from your employer, internship, or volunteering site
  • Evidence of Financial Resources (optional but strongly recommended):
    • A bank statement, a letter from your sponsor, or a scholarship award letter. The amount should cover one year of expenses that you are responsible for as indicated on the first page of your I-20.

During post-completion OPT:

• Begin training only after you receive your EAD card and on or after the USCIS approved post-completion OPT start date.
• Only engage in training directly related to your major. Students will be asked to explain how each employment is related to their course of study when reporting their employment.  Remember, you should not participate in any work (paid or unpaid) that is not directly related to your program (for example, driving for Uber/Lyft, delivering food, selling items at a mall, child care, musical performances, etc.). If you enter information about a job that does not relate to your degree program, it is a violation of your OPT and visa status and it will not stop the unemployment clock.
• Must work at least 20 hours/week (multiple positions of training are OK, training does NOT have to be paid).
• Self-employment is OK but you must have a proper business license.
• Must not accrue more than 90 calendar days of unemployment. Your SEVIS record will be terminated if you go over the allowed days of unemployment. 
• Report physical address and/or mailing address and employment changes within 10 business days in the SEVP Portal. Contact ISSS if you missed this reporting time frame.

After post-completion OPT:

• Students who successfully complete their post-completion OPT have a 60 days grace period benefit.
• During the grace period, students can do the following:
  • Depart from the U.S.
  • Change to different immigration status.
  • Be admitted to a new program of study and request SEVIS Record Transfer.