International students in the US universities are preparing to apply for work experience through the Optional Practical Training program (OPT). Several US universities have announced that international students can begin applying for Optional Practical Training in American companies after completing their academic program around May 2026.
OPT is a work authorization for students on F-1 visas, allowing them to gain professional experience at US firms after graduation. Foreign students holding F-1 study visas can engage in OPT for up to 12 months, with a 24-month extension for those holding STEM degrees.
OPT used while you are still enrolled in your course of study, before your program end date, is called pre-completion OPT. Pre-completion OPT is deducted from the 12 months of OPT eligibility, and most students prefer to save OPT for after program completion.
Students in their 12-month OPT authorization period, with a qualifying STEM degree and working for an E-Verify registered employer, may apply for a 24-month STEM extension of their OPT.
At a workshop hosted by TCU International Services on February 4, assistant director Eunah Bang explained that students must maintain a valid F-1 status to apply.
One of the most important factors in the OPT application process is timing. Applications can be submitted by students up to 60 days after the program’s end date and up to 90 days prior.
Students applying after their program completion date may be ineligible for the full 12 months of Optional Practical Training (OPT).
Once a student decides to apply, they must go through their university before submitting their application to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the agency responsible for immigration and work authorization in the United States.
International students need a recommendation from a Designated School Official (DSO) in International Services, issued through an updated I-20 form, to apply for OPT. USCIS must receive your application within 30 days of the DSO’s recommendation or before the end of your 60-day grace period, whichever occurs first.
Students must submit Form I-765 for employment authorization after receiving the OPT-recommended I-20, along with supporting documents such as copies of previous I-20s with CPT or OPT authorizations, the latest I-94 arrival record, a valid passport, and an F-1 visa.
For initial filing, the online fee for OPT students is $470, while for paper filing it is $520. You can apply as early as 90 days before your expected program completion (generally, the program end date is the last date of final exams for your graduating semester).
USCIS must receive your complete OPT application with no errors during the OPT application period (up to 90 days before your program completion date and up to 60 days after your program completion date).
USCIS must receive your application within 30 days of when the ISO recommends the OPT on your I-20 in SEVIS. If you fail to submit your application within 30 days after the day your OPT was recommended, but you are still within the 60-day grace period, please contact the ISO to renew your OPT recommendation and get an updated I-20. USCIS will deny OPT applications received after the 30-day deadline and after the 60-day grace period.
The OPT program is facing several risks as the voice against hiring foreign workers is increasing in the US. The OPT program could be modified or eliminated according to several proposals floated by US lawmakers and the authorities.
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) proposed a new OPT rule, aiming to better align practical training with the program’s goals and objectives. The OPT program is also being criticized for being established through regulation instead of Congressional action, raising concerns about its status as a significant temporary worker program without adequate protections for U.S. workers.
US lawmakers have also proposed the ‘Fairness for High-Skilled Americans Act of 2025,’ aiming to abolish the Optional Practical Training Program. Representative Paul A. Gosar argues that the OPT program negatively impacts American workers by allowing employers to hire lower-cost foreign labor.
Jessica Vaughan, Director of Policy Studies at the Center, suggested that Congress evaluate visa categories such as Optional Practical Training for potential tighter management or elimination.
Some US lawmakers are suggesting taxing the earnings of international students in the Optional Practical Training program by eliminating their current exemption from FICA taxes.
OPT program is still popular among international students. According to the Open Doors 2025 Report on International Educational Exchange, in the 2024–2025 academic year, the number of international graduate, undergraduate and non-degree students showed a decline of 2% to 4% but the number of international students who remained in the United States to gain practical work experience through Optional Practical Training (OPT) grew by 21% to reach 294,253.