Pre Completion OPT
Pre-Completion Optional Practical Training (OPT) is employment authorization prior to degree completion, when CPT is not an option or for graduate students who are in their final semester and have completed all coursework and are only left with project/thesis/comprehensive exam. This is a multi-step application process in which students must request and get an I-20 with pre-completion OPT recommendation from ISSS to then file their application with U.S, Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Employment authorization comes from USCIS.
Quicklinks:
- Pre-Completion OPT Eligibility Requirements
- Part-Time Vs. Full-Time Pre-Completion OPT
- Affect on Post-Completion OPT
- When to Apply for Pre-Completion OPT
- How do I apply for Pre-Completion OPT?
- What should I do while Pre-Completion OPT (form I-765) is pending?
- What should I do after Pre-Completion OPT (form I-765) is approved?
- How do I maintain F-1 status while on Pre-Completion OPT?
- Frequently Asked Questions (Pre-Completion OPT)
Tutorials:
Pre-Completion OPT Eligibility Requirements
You must meet ALL of the following criteria to be eligible for Pre-Completion OPT.
- Must have been a full-time student for at least one consecutive academic year. *OPT eligibility requirements may reset due to a leave of absence or SEVIS record termination. Please consult with an ISA for more information.
- Be in valid F-1 status when requesting the OPT I-20 from ISSS and when the application is submitted to USCIS.
- Be in good academic standing: your cumulative GPA on your transcript must be at an acceptable level (minimum 3.0 for graduate students and 2.0 for undergraduate students).
- Be physically present in the U.S. when requesting the OPT I-20 from ISSS and submitting your application to USCIS.
Part-Time Vs. Full-Time Pre-Completion OPT
- Pre-Completion OPT can be full-time (more than 20 hours per week) or part-time (20 hours or less per week).
- Full-time Pre-Completion OPT is only available to students:
- during summer or
- Graduate students who have completed all course requirements and are only left with a project/thesis/comprehensive exam in their final semester.
Affect on Post-Completion OPT
Students are eligible for 12 months of Optional Practical Training. Time used for pre-completion OPT, will be subtracted from your 12 months.
- Working Full-Time?
- Time will be subtracted at the full rate.
- Example: If your approved full-time Pre-Completion OPT dates are October 1, 2025-December 1, 2025. This is 62 days of work, subtracted at the full rate. This would give you 303 days of Post-Completion OPT eligibility.
- Working Part-Time?
- Time will be subtracted at half the rate.
- Example: If your approved part-time Pre-Completion OPT dates are October 1, 2025 - December 1, 2025. This is 62 days of work, subtracted at half the rate, is a total of 31 days subtracted. This would give you 334 days of Post-Completion OPT eligibility.
When to Apply for Pre-Completion OPT
Pre-OPT Term (Program Completion Term) |
I-20 Program End Date |
First day to submit Pre-OPT request to ISSS via iSpartan | First day to apply for Pre-OPT (Send documents to USCIS) |
First Possible Pre OPT Start Date | Latest Possible Pre OPT End Date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fall 2024 | 12/18/2024 |
100 Days Prior to Requested Pre OPT Start Date |
90 Days Prior to Requested Pre OPT Start Date |
08/21/2024 | 12/18/2024 |
Spring 2025 | 05/21/2025 | 12/19/2024 | 05/21/2025 | ||
Summer 2025 | 08/19/2025 | 05/19/2025 | 08/19/2025 |
How do I apply for Pre-Completion OPT?
- View the Pre-Completion OPT Tutorial.
- Email ISSS at international-office@sjsu.edu to request the Pre-Completion OPT I-20 Request iSpartan link as early as 100 days before the anticipated start date. ISSS cannot recommend pre-completion OPT until 90 days before the requested Pre-Completion OPT start date.
- When you submit the e-form, it will be sent to your Academic Department for them to review and sign off on your OPT request. If your Academic Department approves the form, it will then be sent to the ISSS office for processing. Once your Academic Department has signed off on your OPT request, you will receive an email that your request has been routed to ISSS for processing.
- Once submitted to ISSS, processing times is 5-7 business days. ISSS will email you
when the new I-20 has been issued. USCIS is accepting digitally signed I-20's, so
we will email you the I-20 with Pre-Completion OPT recommendation. You will need this
I-20 with Pre-Completion OPT recommendation, to file your application with USCIS.
**When you submit the e-form, it will be sent to your Academic Department for them to sign off on your OPT request. If your Academic Department approves the form, it will then be sent to the ISSS office for processing. - While you are waiting for your I-20, review the following tutorial. It will give you
a list of documents to gather for your application, as well as I-765 guidelines.
- *Online filing of I-765 for OPT/STEM OPT.
Do not submit your Pre-Completion OPT application to USCIS until you have the new I-20 with Pre-Completion OPT recommendation from ISSS.
- *Online filing of I-765 for OPT/STEM OPT.
- Once you have your I-20 and have prepared your Pre-Completion OPT packet, please be aware that USCIS must receive your completed Pre-Completion OPT application within 30 days of the new OPT I-20 issuance date. Make sure to visit USCIS's website for the most up-to-date form (I-765) and instructions.
- USCIS offers 2 different ways to file an I-765 (Pre-Completion OPT) application with
USCIS, via online or mailing. We recommend that you file the I-765 online. Review ISSS Online filing of I-765 for OPT/STEM OPT.
-
Only if you are unable to file online, then you can mail your application and supporting documents to USCIS. Review ISSS Mailing I-755 for OPT/STEM OPT. (BEFORE mailing your application, we highly recommend meeting with an Advisor from ISSS to find out why you are unable to file online).
-
- Approximately 2-4 weeks after USCIS receives your application, you should receive
a receipt notice with a USCIS case number.
- If you file online, you will be able to access your receipt notice in your USCIS online account.
- Check your filing receipt for any errors and email ISSS if there are any errors.
- Once your OPT is approved by USCIS, you will receive an approval notice (I-797 Notice
of Action) and EAD (Employment Authorization Document).
- You cannot start working until your OPT has been approved, you have your EAD card in hand, then work within the authorized dates (noted on the card) in a job (paid or unpaid) that is related to your major.
- Working before your OPT is approved or before you have received your EAD card in hand, is a violation of your F-1 visa status.
- Submit a copy of your Employment Authorization Document (EAD) to ISSS via email at international-office@sjsu.edu
What should I do while Pre-Completion OPT (form I-765) is pending?
Do not Work
You cannot start working until your OPT has been approved, you have your EAD card in hand, then work within the authorized dates (noted on the card) in a job (paid or unpaid) that is related to your major. Working before your OPT is approved, before you have received your EAD card in hand, or outside the approved dates is a violation of your F-1 visa status.
Check Processing Time Online
Click here to check I-765 application processing times at Potomac Service Center.
Under <Forms> select ’I-765’, for <Service Center> select ‘Potomac Service Center’, click the ‘Get Processing Time’ button.
OPT processing can take 2-3 months, sometimes longer. You may add premium processing to your already filed OPT application, by filing the form I-907 and paying the premium processing fee. (You can learn more about premium processing in our FAQ section on this page).
Check your Case Status Online
Enter the Receipt Number from your USCIS receipt notice (Form I-797C). You also have an option to sign up for an account to get automatic case updates, including a U.S. Postal Service (USPS) tracking number.
Update Your Address
Have you moved after applying for Pre-Completion OPT? And this move affect where your EAD card will be mailed? Update your mailing address with USCIS here: Online Change of Address. Please note that the longer you wait to update your address once you have a pending Pre-Completion OPT application, the less likely it is that USCIS will send your I-797 receipt notice and EAD to the correct mailing address. We advise you to use this feature with extreme caution and to speak with us before doing so.
Sign up for USPS Informed Delivery
Sign up for this service to receive delivery status notifications.
Label Your Mailbox
To ensure proper and timely delivery of any USCIS notifications, including the application approval and EAD card, we strongly recommend you add a label to your mailbox with your full name (Last and First Name used on Form I-765).
What should I do after Pre-Completion OPT (form I-765) is approved?
EAD Typographic Error(s)
After receiving your Employment Authorization Document (EAD), check the card for any errors, especially the work authorization dates.
If you receive an EAD card from USCIS that contains a typographic error, please email us at international-office@sjsu.edu to inform us of the error, so we can advise you accordingly.
Allowable Work
Work with the dates of the authorized (EAD) Employment Authorization Document. You may only work from the start date to the end date listed on the EAD.
All employment (paid and unpaid) must be related to your major field of study.
How do I maintain F-1 status while on Pre-Completion OPT?
While on Pre-Completion OPT, you must follow certain rules to maintain your F-1 status:
- Pursue a full course of study (i.e., 12 units for UGRED and 9 units for GRAD).
- Unless authorized by ISSS for
- Be mindful of allowabout online credits. Only one course or 3 units per a student’s
full-time enrollment can be online. The other remaining courses must be in-person
or hybrid.
- If you only have one course to complete in your final semester, this course cannot be online.
- Make progress toward degree completion.
- Maintain a valid I-20.
- Know your expiration date.
- Extend in a timely manner.
- Shorten - if you are finishing your degree program earlier than expected.
- Update if major changes.
- Maintain a valid travel signature.
- Validity of 12 months, when pursuing degree.
- Report a change of address within 10 days of moving via MySJSU.
Continue to File Your Taxes
For information on how to file your taxes while on Pre-Completion OPT, please review our resources on Taxes.
Frequently Asked Questions (Pre-Completion OPT)
- Do I need to have a job or job offer to apply for Pre-Completion OPT?No, a job or job offer is not required when applying.
- How soon could I apply for Pre-Completion OPT?Students may submit their Pre-Completion OPT I-20 Request via iSpartan to ISSS as early as 100 days before their anticipated employment start date. ISSS cannot recommend Pre-Completion OPT until 90 days before the requested Pre-Completion OPT start date.
- Since OPT processing can take 2-3 months, sometimes longer, for USCIS to process,
is there a way to speed up the processing?
Yes. Students filing for Pre-Completion OPT have the option to file for Premium Processing. USCIS will take adjudicative action within 30 days or will refund Premium Processing fee.
You can file for Premium Processing, when submitting your I-765 application to USCIS. You will be prompted to complete the Form I-907 along with your I-765.
You have the option to add the Premium Processing to your already filed application, by completing the Form I-907 for Premium Processing and paying the fee.
If you choose to file for premium processing for your pre-completion OPT application, you still need to get an I-20 from ISSS with the Pre-Completion OPT recommendation prior to filing your application with USCIS.Filing Fee for Premium Processing: $1,685 if you are filing Form I-907 for a pending Form I-765 with eligibility category (c)(3)(A) Pre-Completion OPT. Please note: These fees are in addition to all other filing fees required by the application or petition you are submitting.
USCIS will take adjudicative action within 30 days or will refund Premium Processing fee.
- What can I do if I’ve been waiting for more than 90 days for my EAD card?You may be able to submit an inquiry ticket through USCIS's website. You can add premium processing to your pending application in your USCIS online account, by filing the form I-907 and paying the fee for premium processing. You may also schedule an appointment with an International Student Advisor. Please check the USCIS Case Processing page to stay apprised of the current USCIS processing times for I-765 applications.
- What if I have Pre-Completion authorization, but don’t ever find a job?The time you utilize, regardless of whether you find a job or not, will be deducted from the 12 months of OPT you are granted, but your F-1 status will still remain valid.
- What should I do once I receive my EAD in the mail?Please submit a copy of your EAD to the ISSS office via email, international-office@sjsu.edu
- Can I change employers during Pre-Completion OPT?Yes, you may change employers while on Pre-Completion OPT, as long as the job is related to your major field of study at SJSU.
- What type of status do I have during Pre-Completion OPT?
You will remain in F-1 status as long as you continue to maintain your F-1 status as a student while on Pre-Completion OPT.
- Why don’t I have access to the SEVP Portal?Access to the SEVP Portal is limited to F-1 and M-1 status students on Post-Completion OPT.
- Will there be a problem if I do not report my employment within 90 days of my EAD
start date?Students on Pre-Completion OPT are NOT required to report their employment. However, the time used while on Pre-Completion OPT, whether a student finds a relevant job or not, will be deducted from the overall 12 month Post-Completion OPT period.
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