Pre-Completion OPT

A student may apply for Pre-Completion OPT up to 90 days before meeting the requirement of one full academic year in F-1 status. However, the requested Pre-Completion OPT start date must be after satisfying the one academic year requirement (i.e., two consecutive academic semesters, not including summer sessions). 

OIS recommends submitting the Pre-Completion OPT I-20 Request and filing with USCIS early to avoid delays, as processing times vary significantly. 

When completing the Pre-Completion OPT I-20 request, students are required to select a preferred start and end date for authorization. OIS suggests selecting a start date that is at least two to three months in the future from the date the application is submitted to USCIS. 

Pre-Completion OPT is typically recommended on a semester basis. It cannot extend beyond the Form I-20 program end date. Once the Pre-Completion OPT application is filed with USCIS, the requested start and end dates cannot be changed. 

All standard Optional Practical Training is capped at a cumulative total of 12 months per degree level. (The 24-month STEM OPT Extension is separate.) Because of this limit, Pre-Completion OPT directly reduces the overall balance, leaving less Post-Completion OPT time after graduation: 

• Part-Time Deduction: Approved part-time Pre-Completion OPT is subtracted from Post-Completion OPT at a half-time rate. For example, four months of approved part-time Pre-Completion OPT will deduct two months from Post-Completion OPT, with only 10 months of Post-Completion OPT remaining. 

• Full-Time Deduction: Approved full-time Pre-Completion OPT is subtracted from Post-Completion OPT at a full-time rate. For example, three months of approved full-time Pre-Completion OPT will deduct three months from Post-Completion OPT, with only nine months of Post-Completion OPT remaining. 

Students can request a Pre-Completion OPT I-20 from OIS through Trojan International.  

Students must provide their academic advisor’s contact information so that the advisor can confirm their expected graduation date.  This will determine the lastest possible Pre-Completion OPT end date. The advisor listed on the form must be an academic advisor, student support staff member or another designated academic department staff member. 

OIS takes 10 business days to process the Pre-Completion OPT I-20 Request. The 10-business-day period does not begin until the student’s academic advisor completes their portion of the Pre-Completion OPT I-20 Request. 

An OIS advisor will review the student’s academic and immigration records to determine all Pre-Completion OPT eligibility requirements are met. If a student’s Pre-Completion OPT I-20 Request is incomplete or has errors, OIS will contact  the student via their USC email account with instructions on how to correct and resubmit the request form. The 10-business-day processing time will restart once OIS receives the resubmission.   

If the information provided on the Pre-Completion OPT I-20 Request is accurate and no further clarification is needed, the OIS advisor will issue a Pre-Completion OPT I-20 and send it to the student’s USC email account. 

Please note that the SEVIS system contains a fixed number of majors that occasionally do not match the exact program name. Based on certain classification criteria, the CIP code option that most closely matches the student’s USC program has been designated by the student’s academic department for official use in SEVIS and on the Form I-20. U.S. consular and immigration officers are aware of this, as this happens often, especially with programs that have unique majors/major names. 

Once students receive their Pre-Completion OPT I-20 from OIS, they must print, sign and date it. USCIS does not permit students to sign the Form I-20 electronically; therefore, students must sign it by hand in black ink. 

Students must quickly move on to the next step, filing the Form I-765, as the Pre-Completion OPT I-20 is valid for only 30 days from the I-20 issue date. 

• Students must file the Form I-765 within 30 days of the issue date on page 1 of their Pre-Completion OPT I-20.  
  • If the student misses this 30-day deadline, they must submit the OPT I-20 Reprint (Missed 30 Days/Date Change) Request in Trojan International before submitting the Form I-765 to USCIS. 
• Students may file the Form I-765 as early as 90 days prior to meeting the one academic year requirement, but must ensure the requested Pre-Completion OPT start date is after they have met this one academic year requirement.
• USCIS follows Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) for submission deadlines. Your application must be submitted by 23:59 UTC on the specified deadline, regardless of your local time zone. To avoid denials for missed filing deadlines, we strongly recommend submitting your application at least one day before the due date. Please plan accordingly and confirm UTC conversions for your time zone.

• Make sure you are physically present in the United States when you file the Form I-765. Filing from outside the United States will result in a denial of your Form I-765. 
• Ensure your bank account has sufficient funds to cover the non-refundable Form I-765 filing fee to avoid USCIS rejecting your application. 
• Carefully review our Guide to Filing Form I-765 for Pre-Completion OPT to avoid mistakes that could lead to a rejection, request for evidence or denial of your application. Please note that in order to access this guide, students must log in using their USC email address.
• Create a myUSCIS account if needed. 

Students will need to upload a copy of the hand-signed Pre-Completion OPT I-20 along with other supporting documents and pay the non-refundable Form I-765 filing fee with a credit or debit card.  

Students who want a response from USCIS before the estimated processing time can apply for Premium Processing for an additional fee. 

To apply for Premium Processing, students can either request it when initially filing the I-765 application or file Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing Service, at a later time. USCIS guarantees a response within 30 business days, not including weekends or holidays, of filing for students who apply for Premium Processing. Attending the required biometrics appointment may reset the processing time. Please refer to the case status section of your myUSCIS portal for additional guidance. 

In December 2025, USCIS updated its policy on how photographs are collected and reused for immigration applications.

At this time, OPT and STEM OPT applicants must still submit two passport-style photos that meet U.S. Department of State passport photograph requirements, in accordance with current USCIS and OIS instructions.

USCIS may also determine that a new photo is needed and may require a biometrics services appointment at a local Application Support Center. If you receive a biometrics notice or scheduling instructions, you must follow them carefully.

Please regularly check your email, USPS mail and USCIS online account for a biometrics notice and to ensure your mailing address is up to date. If you receive any USCIS notice about photos or biometrics and have questions, submit the Request to Review USCIS Notice and then attend OIS advising for assistance.

If you have been notified that a biometrics appointment will be scheduled but have not received your biometrics appointment notice within two weeks, you should submit a USCIS Case Inquiry for Non-Delivery of Notice.

USCIS has expanded the use of social media review in certain immigration applications. As a result, officers will conduct a closer review of a student’s immigration history and compliance with U.S. laws and students’ online activity may be considered as part of USCIS’s vetting process.  

Promoting or supporting anti-American or antisemitic views will be considered serious negative factors and may lead to a denial of the application. The new policy is effective Aug. 19, 2025, and applies to both pending requests and those filed on or after that date. 

 

If the Pre-Completion OPT application is approved, USCIS will issue an approval notice which will be available in the student’s myUSCIS account under the documents tab. 

Sample USCIS Approval Notice:   

In addition to the approval notice, USCIS will send students their Employment Authorization Document (EAD) via USPS. Students must wait until they receive the EAD in the mail to confirm their approved OPT start and end date and cannot begin to work until they possess the physical EAD card.

Students must check the EAD for accuracy. If an error is made on the EAD, students should join OIS drop-in advising to speak with an advisor. Examples of mistakes could include:

• Misspelled name
• Incorrect birthdate
• Incorrect category
• Incorrect start and/or end date

USCIS may send students an I-797C Notice of Action: Rejection, Request for Evidence (RFE), or an I-797C Notice of Action: Denial. If you receive one of these notices, you must submit the Request to Review USCIS Notice to receive further guidance. After submitting the form, an advisor will review your case and follow up with the next steps.

Rejection

If an application is rejected, the student will receive an I-797C Notice of Action: Rejection. USCIS will indicate the reason for rejection on the I-797C. A student who receives a rejection notice should: 

1. Submit the Request to Review USCIS Notice. 
2. Meet with an advisor during OIS drop-in advising to determine eligibility to resubmit Form I-765. 
3. If eligible, request an updated Pre-Completion OPT I-20 using the OPT I-20 Reprint Request in Trojan International. 
4. File a new Form I-765, along with supporting documents, through myUSCIS no more than 30 days from the new Pre-Completion OPT I-20 issue date.  

Request for Evidence

A student may receive a Request for Evidence (RFE) if USCIS needs more information before processing their application, such as if the payment method was not accepted. The RFE will specify which additional documents are required and the specific deadline for responding. The student will need to submit the Request to Review USCIS Notice before responding to the RFE.

Notice of Intent to Deny

Upon review of the supporting evidence, USCIS may identify concerns and issue a Notice of Intent to Deny (NOID). This warning letter allows students to provide any new evidence addressing the concerns noted. The NOID includes a response deadline and failure to respond by that date can result in a denial of their application. The student will need to submit the Request to Review USCIS Notice before responding to the NOID.

Denial

If an application is denied, the student will receive an I-797C Notice of Action: Denial for the Pre-Completion OPT application, which will indicate the reason for the denial. Due to USCIS processing times, a student who is denied may not be eligible to reapply if they have graduated are nearing their graduation date. A student who receives a denial notice should:

1. Submit the Request to Review USCIS Notice.
2. Immediately meet with an advisor during OIS drop-in advising to determine eligibility to resubmit Form I-765.
3. If eligible, request an updated Pre-Completion OPT I-20 using the OPT I-20 Reprint Request in Trojan International.
4. File a new Form I-765, along with supporting documents, through myUSCIS no more than 30 days from the new Pre-Completion OPT I-20 issue date.

Students who miss the filing deadline should join OIS drop-in advising to discuss their plans with an advisor.

In addition to complying with U.S. laws and immigration requirements, failure to meet the following requirements for OPT employment may result in the automatic termination of the student’s SEVIS record by SEVP and/or USCIS.

Direct Relation to Major

Any employment on Pre-Completion OPT must be directly related to the student’s major. USCIS determines whether a job is related. Therefore, the student should be able to:

• Provide an explanation to USCIS if asked how their job is related to their major at USC.
• On a day-to-day basis, they apply the knowledge they gained from their academic program to their job.

Students will use the following template as a guide if needed in the future: “I work [insert full-time or part-time] as a [insert job title] for [insert employer name]. My duties include [insert list of job duties]. At this job, I use [insert list of relevant skills/knowledge from your coursework], which directly relates to my USC [insert degree level] in [insert field of study].”

Hours of Employment

The number of hours permitted to work per week depends on whether the student is seeking part-time or full-time authorization:

• Part-Time Pre-Completion OPT (20 hours or fewer per week): Students are strictly limited to part-time authorization during the fall and spring semesters.
• Full-Time Pre-Completion OPT (More than 20 hours per week): Students may be authorized for full-time work during the official summer vacation period only if continuing their academic program in the subsequent fall semester.

Types of Employment Permitted While on OPT

The following types of employment are permitted while a student is on Pre-Completion OPT:

• Standard, part-time or full-time employer: Student works for one employer. Work hours depends on what the Pre-Completion OPT was authorized for.
• Multiple employers: Student works for more than one employer.
• Multiple short-term employers: Musicians or other performing artists may work for multiple short-term employers (i.e., gigs). Students should maintain a list of all gigs, including the dates and durations.
• Work for hire/contract: Also commonly referred to as “1099 employment,” the term “work for hire” describes a service based on a contractual agreement rather than an employment relationship. This means that the individual is performing a service.
• Self-employment: A student may start a business and be self-employed. The student must be able to prove to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that they have the proper business licenses and are actively engaged in a business related to their degree program. OIS recommends that a self-employed student consult a lawyer.
• Employment through an employment/staffing agency or consulting firm: A student may gain employment through a third-party agency.
• Unpaid/volunteer jobs: A student may work on a volunteer basis or as an unpaid intern, where this does not violate any U.S. labor laws. Labor laws vary by state. Check with the company’s human resources department for restrictions.

U.S. Address Update

While on Pre-Completion OPT, students must submit the SEVIS U.S. Address and Contact Update via Trojan International within 10 days of any change in their U.S. address. Please note that updating your home address does not automatically update your Pre-Completion OPT employment if you are working remotely from home.

Reporting Employment Update to OIS

To maintain F-1 status while on approved OPT, students are required to report any change in employment within 10 days. All updates must be submitted to OIS through the Pre-Completion OPT Employment Update Form in Trojan International.

The student must report the following changes:

• Adding new employer(s).
• Changes to current employment, such as:
  • Job title
  • Employer name
  • Employer worksite address
  • Start or end date
  • Relationship to the field of study
• Permanent departure from the United States and forfeiture of the remaining Pre-Completion OPT period.

Failure to comply with mandatory reporting requirements may result in the termination of the student’s immigration status by SEVP and/or USCIS.