Pre-Completion Optional Practical Training

Pre-Completion OPT

"Pre-completion" Optional Practical Training (OPT) is employment authorization for F-1 students who are still enrolled in their degree program. The employment must be directly related to the student's major area of study.

Pre-completion OPT is deducted from the 12 months of Post-completion OPT available at each degree level. It is relatively uncommon because many students save their OPT for employment after completing their program through Post-completion OPT.

For more information about OPT (including the differences between Pre-completion and Post-completion OPT, eligibility, and the application process), please review the ISS OPT Workshop.

If you are interested in learning more about post-completion OPT, please follow this link to the Post-completion OPT Info Page.

When to apply

Pre-completion OPT is only used when:

The OPT start and end date will be during a program of study (not after graduation).
The training opportunity might not be suitable for Curricular Practical Training (CPT).
- Students who are not graduating soon and need authorization for an internship, practicum, or other work/training required for their degree should first consider CPT.

Students who are graduating soon and need OPT approval to work after graduation, you must apply for post-comletion OPT.

Graduate students may be eligible to apply for post-completion OPT while completing thesis or dissertation requirements; that is different from Pre-completion OPT.

To apply for pre-completion OPT, you must have been continuously enrolled full-time for at least on academic year.

Choosing a start date

Pre-completion OPT start date

Pre-completion OPT must begin after being enrolled for one full academic year.
You must choose a pre-completion OPT start date between the first and last day of the fall and/or spring semesters (part-time) or between the first and last day of the summer semester (part-time/full-time).

Pre-completion OPT end date

Your pre-completion OPT end date (the last day that you are authorized to work) will be at the end of the semester.
This means that you will need to apply for pre-completion at the beginning of the summer semester or beginnning of the fall/spring semesters.

Graduate Students

If you have completed all your credit bearing coursework and in thesis/dissertation/research hours only, you don't qualify for pre-completion OPT. You will need to apply for post-completion OPT.

Pre-completion OPT Considerations

Benefits

A job offer is not required to submit a pre-completion OPT application. However, ISS advises having a job offer to avoid using pre-completion OPT authorization unnecessarily.
After USCIS approval and with the pre-completion OPT EAD card, students may work for multiple employers during the authorized period, provided each job is directly related to their major and otherwise complies with OPT requirements.
There are no unemployment days for pre-completion OPT.
Pre-completion OPT may provide an authorization option when an off-campus opportunity does not qualify for CPT.

Impact on Post-completion OPT

Pre-completion OPT time is deducted from future post-completion OPT.
Authorized pre-completion OPT reduces the 12 months of post-completion OPT avaliable at teh applicable degree level:
- Part-time pre-completion OPT deducts from post-completion OPT at a .5 rate
- Full-time pre-completion OPT deducts from post-completion OPT at a 1 to 1 rate.
Once OPT is authorized, unused authorized time generally cannot be recovered. Request dates you reasonably expect to use.

Reporting while on Pre-completion OPT

There is no reporting requirements while on pre-completion OPT

Work Hours

Part-time
- May be used during semesters when you are enrolled full time
- Allows up to 20 hours per week
- Is deducted from the 12-month OPT allowance at a 50% rate
Full-time
- May be used during your annual vacation and between academic semesters breaks
- Allows more than 20 hours per week
- Is deducted from the 12-month OPT allowance at the full rate.

It is not possible to easily switch from part-time authorization to full time (and vice versa). A change in authorization would require a new USCIS application and a new EAD.

Cost

Pre-completion OPT requires students to file the Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, with USCIS. USCIS fees can change, so students should confirm the current amount in the USCIS Fee Calculator before filing.

Premium processing is optional and does not replace the Form I-765 filing fee. The total cost is the applicable Form I-765 fee plus the premium-processing fee, if requested. ISS cannot guarantee USCIS processing times or expedite an application on a student’s behalf.

How to apply

Step 1
Complete the ISS Pre-completion OPT Workshop and score 100% on the modular quizes. Learn basic information, eligibility for OPT, and how to apply for OPT in this Workshop. The ISS Pre-completion OPT Workshop is MANDATORY in order to apply for OPT benefits.

Please follow the instructions below to complete the workshop:

Login to canvas.ou.edu
Click Courses on the left
Click All Courses
Click Browse More Courses at the top right
Search for OPT.
Click Join this Course for the course labeled ISS Pre-completion OPT Workshop
Click Enroll in Course
Click Go to Course

Step 2
Fill out the OPT I-20 request form and attach necessary documents (listed in the ISS Pre-completion OPT Workshop)

ISS will create your new I-20 recommending you for Pre-completion OPT and email you when it is ready to be picked up. You will then send it to USCIS with the rest of your OPT application documents.

OPT I-20 Request Form

Online I-765

USCIS accepts OPT applications submitted online. If you choose to file your OPT application online, read the USCIS instructions carefully and review your supporting documents before submitting. Do not submit a paper OPT application in addition to your online OPT application.

For additional information, please see the USCIS website.

If you plan to file your application online and want your ISS advisor to review your application materials, please set up an OPT Document Review appointment at iadvise.ou.edu/iss. Before your appointment, complete the information on the online I-765., but do not submit your application.

Pre-completion OPT Application Instructions (PDF)

Pre-completion OPT Reporting

There are no reporting requirements while on pre-completion OPT.

Reporting is optional.

ISS recommends that you report your employment while on pre-completion OPT. You can do so with the following form.

Report your opt Employment