Types of OPT
Eligibility
Undergraduate and Non-Thesis Graduate students will need to make sure they have met all of their requirements for graduation to ensure they can have post-completion OPT in their intended semester. Graduation is not an automatic process. Please go to this page to learn more about the graduation process: Graduation Process - Office of International Programs and Services. You may apply for OPT if you meet the following additional requirements:
| Requirements |
|---|
| 1. You are maintaining your F-1 status at the time you apply |
| 2. Full-time Degree-seeking student in a valid non-immigrant status for at least one academic year |
| 3. You hold a valid I-20 that reflects your current major field and degree level |
| 4. You have been at George Mason and at your current degree level (Bachelor’s, Master’s PhD) for one semester |
| 5. You hold a passport that is valid for at least the next 6-months |
| 6. You are physically present in the U.S. and have not departed the U.S. since completing your program of study |
| 7. You have not used one year or more of OPT or full-time CPT at your current degree level. |
| 8. You are in your final semester of your academic program for undergrad and non-thesis students, or you are in your final semester of coursework for thesis students. |
If you have any questions about your eligibility, please meet with an OIPS advisor before you start the OPT application process.
Reporting Requirements
While you are on Post-Completion OPT, you must:
- Report your new employment information as soon as you start working
- Report employment changes within 10 days of changing (new employment, additional employment, unemployment, edits to employment, or acquisitions/mergers);
- Report changes to residential address within 10 days of moving
- Report final departure from the U.S.;
- Report changes of status to a new visa type
Please note: Reporting is required while on Post-Completion OPT
How do I report?
- Report your employment and address updates using the OPT/STEM OPT Employment Update Form available on the F-1 and J-1 forms page of the OIPS website.
How do I show that my work is related to my major?
- When you report to OIPS, you must include your position duties AND what you learned in your major area course work AND how your duties and what you learned are connected. You may also reference previous coursework and projects as supplemental information.
Here are examples of good position descriptions:
- I am working at a hospital playing the harp in patient rooms. I also conduct hands-on harp beginner workshops for long-term patients. On average, I work at the hospital 35 hours a week. My duties directly utilize the skills and knowledge I acquired from my coursework and degree in music therapy.
- I work full time as an Electrical Engineer at ABC Corp., a government contractor. In my job, I analyze client requirements for electrical systems and provide them with cost estimates of such systems. My work requires understanding of electrical circuit theory, which I studied in-depth at the University of ABC.
- I work full time as a Loan Officer at a mortgage company, Happy Homes, where I meet with clients and evaluate, authorize and recommend approval of loan applications. On a daily basis, I use the knowledge I gained in my credit analysis, sales and marketing classes that I took as part of my major program of study.
- I am employed as a Computer and Information Research Scientist at ABC Research Institute. I work as part of a team of scientists and engineers that designs experiments to test the operation of various software systems. My work builds on research in complex algorithms and machine learning, which I studied as part of my dissertation.
How many hours should I work while on OPT?
- Students on Post-Completion OPT must work at least 20 hours per week total. Working for multiple employers to reach 20 hours total is permitted with this type of OPT. There is no maximum limit for the number of hours you can work each week on post-completion OPT
Application Timeline
Students can apply for Post-Completion OPT with USCIS as early as 90 days before their program end date and as late as 60 days after their program end date. Students can complete the OPT workshop and request the OPT I-20 130 days before the program end date. Please see the deadline tabs for current and upcoming program end dates.
| Step | Earliest Application Day | Processing Times | Special Notes |
| OPT Workshop | 100 days before program end date | Self-paced | Completion of this workshop is mandatory before proceeding. |
| OPT I-20 Request | 100 days before program end date | Varies | Collaborate with your academic advisor to complete this step. |
| OPT I-20 Issuance | N/A | 7-10 business days | Issued after the OPT I-20 request is processed. |
| USCIS Application | 90 days before program end date | Varies; typically, 90-150 days | Submit Form I-765 to USCIS; processing times can vary. |
| Receive EAD Card | N/A | 2 - 4 weeks | Employment can commence upon receipt and the start date indicated on the EAD. |
Please Remember!
- OPT Workshop: Completion is mandatory and must be done before requesting the OPT I-20.
- OPT I-20 Request: Requires academic advisor signature and acknowledgement.
- USCIS Application: Must be filed within 30 days of the OPT I-20 issuance and no later than 60 days after your program end date. Timely submission is crucial to avoid processing delays.
- Processing Times: USCIS processing can take approximately 90 to 150 days. It’s recommended to apply as early as possible to accommodate these timelines. Note: USCIS will adjust the start date on your EAD if your application is processed after the requested start date.
- Employment Authorization: You may begin employment only after receiving your Employment Authorization Document (EAD) and upon reaching the start date specified on the card.
- Please note that if you apply for OPT with USCIS near your program end date or in your 60-day grace period, and you do not use premium processing, you may lose some of your OPT period as your OPT needs to start in the grace period.
Deadlines
| Program Completion (PC) date | Earliest date USCIS will accept OPT applications (90 days before PC date) | Latest date USCIS will accept OPT applications (60 days after PC date - or earlier if end of 60 days falls on a weekend) | Earliest date you can request to start work (PC date + one day) | Latest date you can request to start work (PC date + 60 days) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring 2025 Graduates | 05/14/2025 | 2/13/2025 | 7/11/2025 | 05/15/2025 | 7/13/2025 |
| Summer 2025 Graduates | 12wk: 8/9/2025 A: 6/27/2025 B: 7/26/2025 C: 8/06/2025 D: 7/26/2025 | 12wk: 5/11/2025 A: 3/29/2025 B: 4/27/2025 C: 5/08/2025 D: 4/27/2025 | 12wk: 10/8/2025 A: 8/26/2025 B: 9/24/2025 C: 10/03/2025 D: 9/24/2025 | 12wk: 8/10/2025 A: 6/28/2025 B: 7/27/2025 C: 8/07/2025 D: 7/27/2025 | 12wk: 10/8/2025 A: 8/26/2025 B: 9/24/2025 C: 10/05/2025 D: 9/24/2025 |
| Fall 2025 Graduates | 12/17/2025 | 09/18/2025 | 02/13/2026 | 12/18/2025 | 02/15/2026 |
*F-1 students are required to complete the online OPT workshop + quiz BEFORE they can pick up an OPT packet in OIPS.
Process
The OPT application process with USCIS can take up to four months. OIPS recommends that you start the OPT application process early to make sure you do not miss any important deadlines. The image below depicts the key OPT application steps and processing times. Please take a moment to review the steps and processing times/comments.
*You will need to request and complete the OPT workshop before you can request the OPT I-20*
Fees
The current fee is $470. This fee is always subject to change. Please see this page from the DHS website to confirm the current fee before you submit your application to USCIS.: Department of Homeland Security
Thesis/Dissertation Students
Important Information for Thesis/Dissertation Students:
*Please remember that every thesis student’s situation is different and it is best to speak to an international advisor about OPT*
Thesis/Dissertation students have different eligibilities and a different application timeline than other students for Post-Completion OPT. Note: Your defense date may impact on-campus work authorization. Please speak with an OIPS advisor on your timeline on-campus commitments.
Eligibility:
Unlike other students, Thesis/Dissertation students do not need to complete their academic program in order to start Post-Completion OPT. Thesis/Dissertation students only need to complete all of their coursework for their degree before they go on OPT.
Students in this situation will only need to take 998 or 999 (798 and 799 for Master’s students). If you have other credits you need to take than you are not yet eligible for Post-Completion OPT.
Besides the requirement that students complete their degree in the semester they apply for OPT, all other eligibility requirements are the same.
OPT Application Timeline
All students, including thesis/dissertation students can apply for OPT with USCIS 90 days before and up to 60 days after (or earlier if the last day falls on a weekend or holiday) their program completion date, but thesis/dissertation students can choose their own end date once they complete all of their course work.
The earliest program end date thesis/dissertation students can choose is the last day of classes for the semester they complete their coursework in. The earliest you could have as a Post-Completion OPT start date would be the day after your program end date. For example, for thesis/dissertation students completing their coursework in Spring, if their final day of class is 5/10, and they choose that as their end date, then the earliest day they can request as their OPT start date is 5/11.
Thesis/Dissertation students can choose any day as their program end date between the earliest date as described above and their thesis/dissertation defense date. For example, if a student’s last day of class for the semester they finish their coursework is 5/10 and they defend their thesis on 11/13, then they can choose any date as their program end date between 5/10 and 11/13 with 11/13 as the latest possible program end date.
If that same student wanted to start OPT on 7/3, then they could choose 7/2 as their program end date and apply for OPT 90 days before 7/2.
Thesis/Dissertation students who decide not to go on Post-Completion OPT before they complete their degree will have their defense date as their program end date.
Other Important Notes:
- Thesis/Dissertation students who choose to go on Post-Completion OPT before they finish their degree have until the last day of their OPT period to complete their thesis/dissertation and defend.
- Thesis/Dissertation students can take 999 and 998 while they are on OPT, but they cannot take additional coursework toward another degree.
- Thesis/Dissertation students are also eligible for Pre-Completion OPT during this time. The Pre-Completion OPT would need to be part-time and half of the amount used will be subtracted from the length of the Post-Completion OPT period later on. The start date could be any date once the student meets the eligibility requirements for off-campus work and the period could extend until the program end date, which would be the defense date.