Practical Training for International Students

Directly related to an F-1 student’s major area of study, OPT training provides you with practical experience in your field of study during or upon completion of your degree program.

• Pre-completion OPT is OPT authorized to be engaged in before the student’s program end date. Students with approved pre-completion OPT may work up to 20 hours per week while school is in session. Students who are eligible to register for the next term and who plan to do so may have approval to work full time when school is not in session.
• Post-completion OPT is OPT authorized to be engaged in after the student’s program end date.

An F-1 student who has attended DeVry University on a full-time basis for at least one academic year may be authorized for up to 12 months of OPT per education level.

An F-1 student may apply and engage in OPT during the following periods:

• During student's vacation, as long as student intends to register for the next semester
• While school is in session, provided does not exceed 20 hours per week

After completion of all course requirements for bachelor's and master's programs

Allowed employment for regular pre- and post-completion OPT must be related to F-1 student's degree program, including:

• Multiple employers. F-1 student may work for more than one employer, but all employment must be related to student’s degree program and, for pre-completion OPT, cannot exceed the allowed per week cumulative hours.
• Short-term multiple employers (performing artists). F-1 student, such as a musician or other type of performing artist, may work for multiple short term employers (gigs). The student should maintain a list of all gigs, the dates and duration.
• Work for hire. This is also commonly referred to as 1099 employment, where an individual performs a service based on a contractual relationship rather than an employment relationship.
• Self-employed business owner. F-1 student on OPT may start a business and be self-employed. The student must be able to prove that they have the proper business licenses and is actively engaged in a business related to their degree program.
• Employment through an agency or consulting firm. F-1 student on post-completion OPT must be able to provide evidence showing they have worked an average of at least 20 hours per week while employed by the agency.
• Paid employment. F-1 student may work part time (at least 20 hours per week when on post-completion OPT) or full time.
• Unpaid employment. F-1 student may work as a volunteer or unpaid intern, where this practice does not violate any labor laws. The work must be at least 20 hours per week for an F-1 student on post-completion OPT. An F-1 student must be able to provide evidence acquired from their employer to verify they have worked at least 20 hours per week during the period of employment.

While on OPT, F-1 Student must submit to the International Student Advisor the F-1 Student Post-Completion Optional Practical Training Employment Reporting Form

• An F-1 student should report changes in employment to their International Student Advisor within 10 business days of change
• DeVry University is responsible for updating the student's record to reflect these reported changes for the duration of the time that training is authorized. For more see below "Reporting employment status"

Each day an F-1 student is not employed in a qualifying job is counted toward the limit on unemployment time. The limit is 90 days for students on post-completion OPT.

There is a 60-day period for an F-1 student after the completion of a course of study or an authorized period of post-completion OPT, allowing the F-1 student time to prepare for departure from the United States, apply for a transfer to another school, request a change of education level at the current school or take steps to otherwise maintain legal status.

Authorization to engage in optional practical training employment is automatically terminated when F-1 student transfers to another school or begins study at another educational level.

Please visit the following website for guidance about travel while on the 12-month period of OPT: www.ice.gov/sevis/travel/faq_f2.htm

Name of the employer
Start date of employment
Mailing address for the employer

Name of the previous employer
Ending date of the employment with the previous employer
Name of the employer
Start date of employment
Mailing address for the employer

Report at the beginning of the first gig and indicate "Multiple short term gigs"

Indicate "Self-employed work for hire"
Indicate the start date of the contract

(ending more than 10 days between the end of one contract and the beginning of another contract or new job)
Indicate "Self-employed work for hire"
Indicate you have no current contract
Ending date of the last contract worked

Indicate "unemployed"
Ending date of last job

Indicate "Self-employed business owner"
Indicated date went into business

Indicate "Self-employed business owner"
Indicate date business closed or student no longer worked for the business full time

(Student decides to exit the United States and complete his or her F-1 status prior to the end date of OPT)
Indicate "Completing OPT and exiting the United States"
Date of exit

1. Complete either the F-1 Student Pre or F-1 Student Post Completion Optional Practical Training Recommendation Request form and submit to your International Student Advisor.

2. You will receive a signed Form I-20 from the International Student Advisor making the recommendation

3. Gather required application materials:

• Check or money order for $380 made payable to: Department of Homeland Security
• Completed Form I-765 (download Form at www.uscis.gov)
• Photocopies of new I-20 form provided to F-1 student by International Student Advisor at campus location
• Photocopy of paper I-94 (front/back) or print out of electronic I-94 record
  • If have a passport admission stamp, visit: www.cbp.gov/i94 to access and print out electronic I-94 record.
• Photocopy of Passport and Visa
• Two recent passport-style photos on white background
  • The photos must be 2 x 2 inches; the images must be 1 inch from the hair to the chin and 1.25 inch from eye height to the bottom of the photo. Your name and I-94 number must be printed in pencil on the back of the photos. For an example photo, see https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/photos/photo-examples.html.

4. File Form I-765 at one of the official Filing Addresses for Form I-765

• An F-1 student can apply for 12 months of OPT at each education level, (i.e., F-1 student may have 12 months of OPT at the bachelor’s level and another 12 months of OPT at the master's level)
• Student will receive a new Form I-20 from the International Student Advisor at a campus location that shows recommendation for employment
• An F-1 student must apply for work authorization by electronically filing a Form I-765, "Application for Employment Authorization," with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and paying a filing fee. USCIS will send F-1 student Form I-766, "Employment Authorization Document," (EAD) upon approving Form I-765
• An F-1 student must wait to start work until after receive EAD

An F-1 student may file for pre-completion OPT up to 90 days before completes a full academic year. If F-1 student has already completed a full academic year, they may apply for pre-completion OPT up to 90 days in advance of the requested employment start date.

An F-1 student may apply for post-completion OPT up to 90 days before program end date and up to 60 days after program end date. The application must be properly filed with the correct USCIS Service Center. In addition, the application must be properly filed within 30 days of the date the submission of the recommendation for OPT in SEVIS.

Post-completion OPT employment authorized start and end dates:

• The start date will be the requested start date or the date of approval, whichever is later. (A start date more than 60 days after the program end date is treated as a request to start on the 60th day after the program end date.)
• The end date will be the earliest of:
  • The requested end date. (If USCIS adjudicates the Form I-765 after the requested start date, the end date will be extended to reflect the later start date.)
  • The date on which the student's remaining allotment of OPT expires. For example, a student who previously used three months of full-time pre-completion OPT will have only nine months of OPT time remaining.
  • 14 months after the student’s program end date.

Effective as of 10 May 2016, the new rule allows a 24-month extension of Optional Practical Training (OPT) for foreign STEM graduates, meaning that, in addition to an initial one-year OPT period allowed all foreign graduates in the US, that those completing a STEM program may stay and work for up to three years after graduation.

A qualified F-1 student may apply for an extension of OPT while in a valid period of post-completion OPT. The extension will be for an additional 24 months, for a maximum of 36 months of OPT, if all of the following requirements are met:

• F-1 student has not previously received a 24-month OPT extension after earning a STEM degree.
• The degree that was the basis for the F-1 student's current period of OPT is a bachelor's or master's degree in one of the degree programs on the current STEM Designated Degree Program List.
• F-1 student's employer is registered in the E-Verify program, as evidenced by either a valid E-Verify company identification number or, if the employer is using a designated agent to perform the E-Verify queries, a valid E-Verify client company identification number, and the employer is a participant in good standing in the E-Verify program, as determined by USCIS.
• The employer agrees to report the termination or departure of an OPT employee to the International Student Advisor at F-1 student's school or through any other means or process identified by DHS if the termination or departure is prior to end of the authorized period of OPT. Such reporting must be made within 48 hours of the event.

An F-1 student who has completed a bachelor's or master's degree in a STEM CIP that is approved for the 24-month extension and is currently engaged in post-completion OPT may apply for the 24-month extension if they have a job or job offer from an E-Verify employer.

Allowed employment for students during a 24-month extension of OPT:

An F-1 student authorized for a 24-month extension must work at least 20 hours per week for an E-Verify employer in a position directly related to approved STEM CIP. For an F-1 student who is on a 24-month extension, this employment may include:

• Multiple employers. An F-1 student may work for more than one employer, but all employment must be related to their degree program and all employers must be enrolled in E-Verify.
• Work for hire. This is also commonly referred to as 1099 employment, where an individual performs a service based on a contractual relationship rather than an employment relationship. The company for whom the student is providing services must be registered with E-Verify.
• Self-employed business owner. An F-1 student on a 24-month extension can start a business and be self-employed. In this situation, the student must register their business with E-Verify and work full time. The student must be able to prove that they have the proper business licenses and is actively engaged in a business related to their degree program.
• Employment through an agency or consulting firm. An F-1 student on a 24-month extension may be employed by an employment agency or consulting firm. The employment agency or consulting firm must be registered with E-Verify, but the third parties contracting with the agency or firm (for which the F-1 student is providing services) need not be.

1. Complete the F-1 Student Optional Practical Training STEM Extension Recommendation Request Form and submit to your International Student Advisor.

2. You will receive a signed Form I-20 from the International Student Advisor making the recommendation

3. Gather required application materials:

• Check or money order for $380 made payable to: Department of Homeland Security
• Completed Form I-765 (download Form at www.uscis.gov)
• Photocopies of your new I-20 form provided by your International Student Advisor from a campus location
• Photocopy of paper I-94 (front/back) or print out of electronic I-94 record
  • If you have a passport admission stamp, visit: www.cbp.gov/i94 to access and print out electronic I-94 record.
• Photocopy of Passport and Visa
• Two recent passport-style photos on white background
  • The photos must be 2 x 2 inches; the images must be 1 inch from the hair to the chin and 1.25 inch from eye height to the bottom of the photo. Your name and I-94 number must be printed in pencil on the back of the photos. For an example photo, see https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/photos/photo-examples.html

4. File Form I-765 at one of the official Filing Addresses for Form I-765

An F-1 student meeting the eligibility requirement may file for a 24-month extension of employment authorization by filing Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, with the appropriate fee, prior to the expiration date of F-1 student's current OPT employment authorization.

If an F-1 student timely and properly files an application for a 24-month OPT extension, but the Form I-766, Employment Authorization Document, currently in the student's possession, expires prior to the decision on the student's application for 24-month OPT extension, the student's Form I-766 is extended automatically.

• An F-1 student may file for 24-month extension up to 120 days prior to the end their post-completion OPT.
• F-1 student must ensure that Form I-765, supporting evidence, and fee payment reach the proper USCIS Service Center before their current OPT expires. USCIS recommends that students file within 90 and 120 days of expiration date of current OPT.
• If F-1 student has properly filed, the student's period of 24-month extension starts the day after the expiration of the student's original period of OPT.

Students with an approved 24-month OPT extension have additional reporting obligations:

• Within 10 days of the change, the student must report to their International Student Advisor a change of legal name, residential or mailing address, employer name, employer address, and/or loss of employment.
• The student must make a validation report to their International Student Advisor every six months starting from the date the extension begins and ending when the student's F-1 status ends, the student changes educational levels at the same school, or the student transfers to another school or program, or the 24-month OPT extension ends, whichever is first.
• This report is due to the student's International Student Advisor within 10 business days of each reporting date.

Curricular Practical Training may only be authorized while student is enrolled in appropriate coursework that has an applicable internship experience as a part of the course curriculum and if such coursework is applicable degree program:

• INTP 491 – Internship I
• INTP 492 – Internship II
• INTP 585 – Graduate Internship

Present to your International Student Advisor:

• Passport
• Form I-94
• Visa
• Form I-20

Submit F-1 Student Curricular Practical Training Request Form to your International Student Advisor, including:

• Verification signature from your Student Support or Student Success Advisor
• Name and course number of the internship for which you will be earning
• Training period requested
• Name and address of the company/institution where you will be working
• Course Instructor review and signature

• CPT must relate to major and the experience must be part of program of study
• Student will receive a new Form I-20, “Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status," that shows the ISA at your location has approved employment
• An F-1 student may begin curricular practical training only after receiving new Form I-20
• If F-1 student participated 12 months or more on full-time CPT, student is ineligible for OPT, but part-time CPT is fine and will not stop F-1 student from doing OPT
• A request for authorization for CPT must be made to the International Student Advisor at a campus location

Please note: Each Metro may have their own established pre-requisites for CPT.

CPT may only be authorized while students are enrolled in appropriate coursework that includes applicable internship experience and if such coursework is applicable to their degree program.

These are the appropriate course(s) for which students are enrolled and seeking CPT approval:

• INTP 491 – Internship I
• INTP 492 – Internship II
• INTP 585 – Graduate Internship