Optional Practical Training

Post-completion OPT is for students that wish to be employed in the U.S. after the completion of their degree in a position that is directly related to their degree program. Students applying for post-completion OPT can request the I-20 recommending post-completion OPT up to 90 days before the date that they will complete their course of study and must submit their OPT application to USCIS NO LATER THAN 60 days after the date that they will complete their course of study. See below for a visual representation of the application timeline.

• For most Bachelor’s and Master’s students, the day that degree requirements are completed is the last registered class day or the end of exams; please refer to the JHU academic calendar for these specific dates.
• For doctoral students, the date when degree requirements are completed varies by school.

  • Consult an OIS Advisor for specific details.

Once a student has completed all degree requirements, the I-20 program end date is shortened to reflect that last date of required enrollment. Even if graduation is weeks or months later, the I-20 program end date reflects the date the degree requirements were met. The requested OPT start date must be within 60 days of the I-20 program end date. OPT applications must be receipted by USCIS no later than 30 days after the I-20 recommending OPT was issued by OIS or 60 days after the I-20 program end date, whichever is sooner.  Applications filed too early or too late will be denied by USCIS.

When filing a post-completion OPT application with USCIS, it is important that the correct eligibility category be selected: (C)(3)(B).

You can check USCIS’ OPT processing time by visiting their website, selecting “I-765 Application for Employment Authorization” under “Form”, selecting “Based on a request by a qualified F-1 academic student [(c)(3)]” under “Form Category”, and selecting “Potomac Service Center” under “Field Office or Service Center.” There you will be able to see their estimated time range for processing OPT applications. Review these points when determining when you should apply for post-completion OPT:

• You can submit an OPT application to USCIS no sooner than 90 days before the program completion date and no later than 60 days after the completion date

  • Remember that you first need an I-20 recommending post-completion OPT from OIS before you file your OPT application with USCIS
  • If you wish to begin working immediately upon completing your degree requirements, you should plan to apply for OPT as soon as you are within 90 days of your degree program completion date

    • Read the section on Premium Processing below if you are either close to your degree program completion date or interested in receiving your Employment Authorization Document (EAD card) quickly

  • Your requested OPT Start Date cannot be changed after you have filed your application with USCIS

• You must have your EAD card in hand and have reached the start date on the EAD in order to work

  • If your employment start date has arrived and you do not yet have your EAD card you cannot begin employment
  • The start date on your EAD card may not be the same as the date you requested. Additionally, you will need your EAD card to complete the I-9 verification process with your employer

• Students must be in the U.S. when filing their post-completion OPT application with USCIS

  • If you depart the U.S. before filing your OPT application with USCIS and your degree program completion date has passed, you cannot re-enter as an F-1 student and apply for OPT

When requesting the I-20 recommending OPT from OIS, you will need to select an OPT start date. The requested start date must be within 60 days of your degree completion date. It can be as early as the day after your degree program completion or the end date on your I-20. For example, if you finish all degree requirements by April 30th, the last day you may request to start your period of OPT will be June 29th. The date you request as the OPT start date does not necessarily mean that is the start date that will be approved. USCIS will do its best to provide an EAD card that starts on or shortly after the requested OPT start date. Therefore, you must have the Employment Authorization Document (EAD) in your possession and the start date on the EAD must be reached before you may engage in employment. Also, once you have completed all degree requirements you do not have authorization to work in any capacity (on or off campus) until you have received your EAD.

Once you have filed your OPT application with USCIS, your requested start date cannot be changed.  

PhD Students – Determining Your I-20 Program End Date 

It’s important to note that this information is in reference to I-20 program end dates and post-completion OPT start dates. Your graduation date, academic program completion date, or other academic deadlines may not be the same as the I-20 program end date.

PhD students eligible for post-completion OPT have several options to consider for the I-20 program end date, but it must be within a term they will enroll in. In consultation with their academic advisor, PhD candidates can select their final date of completion based on:

• Completion date of dissertation – if this date is before the last date of your final semester of enrollment
• Thesis defense date – if your defense date is before the last date of your final semester of enrollment
• Submission of dissertation – if this date is before the last date of your final semester of enrollment
• Upon completion of coursework (before entering the dissertation stage of your program) – this is not commonly chosen because PhD students often want to work on their dissertation before seeking a post-completion OPT authorization
• Last date of your final semester of enrollment

If choosing an I-20 end date that is before the completion of all degree requirements, students should consult their JHU academic department to ensure that there are no conflicts with their I-20 end date, OPT requested start date, and their school’s enrollment or stipend requirements.

Although PhD students have options for which to base the I-20 Program End Date, they should keep in mind: 

• The date student and their advisor indicate on the Post-Completion OPT Request eForm is the date that OIS will use as their I-20 program end date. This may mean that OIS will shorten their I-20 program end date
• PhD students cannot work on campus or be paid after the I-20 Program End Date until: 

  • they are in an authorized period of post-completion OPT
  • have their Employment Authorization Document (EAD) in their hand and
  • are working in a position directly related to the major field of study

• PhD students can continue revising and submitting their dissertation while authorized for post-completion OPT. However, the dissertation must be finished prior to the last day of Post-Completion OPT authorization because the degree must be conferred before being eligible for the STEM OPT Extension

Contact OIS if additional clarification is needed.

You can report your employment in the SEVP Portal or complete the OPT Reporting Form to have OIS report your employment information on your behalf. If you complete the OPT Reporting Form, you’ll be able to indicate on that form that you want an updated I-20 with your employer information on page 2 of the I-20. If you update your employment information yourself in the SEVP Portal, you may complete the Travel Signature/I-20 Reprint Form and indicate that your reprint reason is “update”. OIS will then issue an I-20 with the employer information on page 2 of the I-20.  

Reporting process through iHopkins

If you continue to have access to JHY systems using your JHED login:

• Go to http://iHopkins.jhu.edu
• Click “Login” under “Active JHED Login”
• Login with your JHED ID and password
• Once logged in, click on “F-1 Practical Training”, then click on “OPT Reporting Form”

If you no longer have access to JHU systems using your JHED login:

• Go to http://iHopkins.jhu.edu
• Click “No JHED Login”
• Click “Email me my limited access pin”
• Enter your Hopkins/University ID
• A pin will be emailed to your email address that is on file with the OIS
• Once you receive the pin, log in using your Hopkins ID, date of birth and pin
• Once logged in, click on “F-1 Practical Training”, then click on “OPT Reporting Form”

If you experience difficulties accessing iHopkins, please email oistechsupport@jhu.edu.

Any changes to your personal or professional information that occur must be reported within 10 business days in order to maintain your F-1 status. Failure to report in a timely manner will be considered a violation of your F-1 status and may jeopardize your legal status in the US.

If any of these changes occur, please report them within 10 business days:

• New Employment – When reporting a new employer, you will be required to explain how the job relates to your degree.  You may review some examples of acceptable explanations here
• Change in Employer’s Address
• Start and/or end date of employment
• Any periods of unemployment
• Change of U.S. address
• Change of personal phone number and/or e-mail address
• Change of immigration status (i.e. H1B, F-2, J-2, Permanent Resident, etc.) A copy of the approval notice must be submitted to the OIS
• Date of departure- if you decide to leave the U.S. and will not return to use the remainder of your OPT

During post-completion OPT you must work at least 20 hours per week in order to maintain your F-1 status. There is no maximum number of hours you can work. You may also have multiple OPT employers as long as each job is related to your degree program. The following activities are considered allowable employment on standard post-completion OPT: 

• regular paid employment
• multiple short-term employers 
• work for hire 
• self-employed business owner 
• employment through an agency 
• unpaid internships 

Go back and review the information from “Requesting OPT Start Date.”

OIS cannot give a specific answer to this question because there are too many factors to consider. How close to finding a job are you? Do you want to take a break after school before working? If you do have a job lined up, when is it supposed to start? Are you applying with enough time to allow for USCIS processing?

The earliest possible start date you can request is the next day after your program end date or the end of date on your I-20. The latest start date you can request is 60 days after your program end date or the end date on your I-20. For example, if the program end date is May 24^th. You may select May 25^th as an earliest OPT start date. The latest OPT start date may be July 23^rd.

For the OPT application process, we use the degree completion date as the program end date. The program end date may differ than the degree conferral date or graduation date.

For most bachelor’s and Master’s students, the program end date is the day on which degree requirements are completed is the last registered class day or the last day of the final exam period based on each school academic calendar.

Doctoral students have more flexibility when determining the program end date. Doctoral students must discuss with an advisor to determine a proper end date. The date can be any day within the final semester. Students must enroll in their final semester and be able to remain enrolled until the expected degree end date.  Students should check with their school/program if there will be any specific requirement when determining the program end date. More information about online application is available on USCIS website.

Yes, as long as you filed for OPT before the end of your grace period, you can stay in the U.S. until your application has been processed, even if that goes beyond the 60 day grace period.

You should not engage in any activity (paid or unpaid) that is related to your degree program and/or is a position that satisfies your OPT employment requirements until you have your EAD in hand and have reached the start date on the EAD. Bona fide volunteer opportunities such as cleaning up a local neighborhood or serving food in a soup kitchen are the only types of volunteering that would not require the OPT EAD.

You are able to choose to file the I-765 to USCIS either by mailing the application to USCIS or filing online application via USCIS portal. You must be physically present in the US when you file I-765. Here are the advantages of online application.

• Online filing allows applicants to submit forms electronically. No cost of mailing involved
• To receive notices from USCIS online right away instead of waiting for them in the mail
• To check the status of the OPT case anytime from anywhere
• Application fee can be paid using credit/debit card
• No need to file G-1145 form

You are not able to change your application after you file the I-765 to USCIS. If you will be moving before USCIS approves your OPT application, you most likely need to change your address information with USCIS. If you mailed I-765 to USCIS, you should contact USCIS Contact Center – National Service Customer line and ask for your address to be updated. You may also find the contact phone number on your OPT receipt notice. If you filed I-765 online, check your USCIS Case Status online and see if you are able to change address in online portal.

The case tracker on the USCIS website will only provide general updates approximately 2 to 3 times during the OPT application process. You’ll know that your case has been received and is in processing. This is what the case tracker will indicate for majority of the time. It should update when OPT has been approved and then again when the EAD has been sent to you.

USCIS takes three to five months to review your OPT application, but it can take longer. Your case might show “received” status the whole time your case is being reviewed. You can call the USCIS Customer Service line 800-375-5283 to see if they can give you an update on your case status. You can also create an account on the USCIS website to receive email updates whenever there is a change in your case. Unfortunately, there is no way to expedite your application. You just have to wait.

First, contact OIS right away if your plan has changed and you will not need to apply for an OPT. OIS will help determining if you will be able to cancel your OPT or not.

If you received an I-20 with OPT recommendation from OIS but you have not filed I-765 to USCIS, OIS can cancel OPT recommendation in your SEVIS record.

If you filed I-765 and received a receipt notice, you have to submit a request to withdraw I-765 to USCIS.  You might be able to withdraw your OPT application only if your OPT application status is pending status. If USCIS approves your OPT and issued an EAD before processing your withdrawal request, no OPT withdrawal is possible. You will have lost an opportunity to re-apply for an OPT later at the same degree level.

Contact your local US Post Office to see if they have any record of your EAD shipment. If not, call the USCIS Customer Service Number to see if it was returned to them or if the EAD was lost in the mail. If the EAD was returned to USCIS, you can request that they reship it to you, which can take up to 30 days. If the EAD was lost in the mail you will have to request a replacement. The replacement process is similar to the initial OPT application process and requires you to pay the application fee again. Once you receive the receipt for the replacement, you can work for up to 90 days while you wait for the new EAD.

It is extremely important to make sure you’re entering a valid mailing address on the I-765 that will allow you to receive your card. The EAD card cannot be forwarded to a new address and will instead be returned to USCIS. If this happens, you will need to file and pay for a replacement card, which will take longer and delay your ability to work. If you do not know your next address at the time of filing, please use the address of a trusted friend or family member inside the US who can ensure you are able to retrieve your card; when filling out the I-765, entering different physical and mailing addresses is permitted for this reason. If you need to move and were not expecting to move at the time of filing, you will need to file a Change of Address with USCIS in your online account.

You have to determine if your job is related to your major. You need to be able to explain how the job uses the skills you gained from the degree program you just completed, if you are ever asked. OIS will update your F-1 record in SEVIS using the information you provide on the OPT reporting form. We recommend that you keep records of all job descriptions and offer letters you receive during OPT, just as we recommend you keep copies of all of your immigration documents.

The SEVP Portal is an online system that allows students on OPT to view and update their employment and address information. Students will receive an email to set up SEVP Portal account from OPT start date. If you have not received an email from SEVP to set up your SEVP portal after an OPT start date, please send an email to OIS@jhu.edu and request SEVP password re-set.

You can choose whether you report OPT employment via the SEVP Portal or directly to JHU via iHopkins, the “OPT Reporting Form”. Use of the SEVP Portal is optional. It is your choice as to which option to use but keep in mind that you must update your address and employment information using one method or the other.  You do not have to report the same information to both.

Once you report employment or address update either through the SEVP Portal or iHopkins, the information will be entered into your F-1 record and viewable in the SEVP Portal.  The main difference is that reporting OPT employment updates through iHopkins will give you an opportunity to request a new I-20, while the SEVP Portal will not do that.

Although it’s not mandatory to get a new I-20 after you have reported employment, it is best practice to request one. The new I-20 will have up-to-date, accurate information and a new travel signature that will be valid for the next six months. You will only be able to request a new I-20 if you report your employer information via iHopkins. If you report only through the SEVP Portal, you will not have the opportunity to request a new I-20. It is encouraged to do both the iHopkins reporting and the SEVP Portal reporting if you are interested in receiving a new I-20.

You are still in F-1 status. You maintain your status by working at least 20 hours per week in a job related to your major and complying with OPT reporting requirements.

You may be eligible for JHU health insurance if you are employed by JHU while on OPT. Check with the JHU department where you are employed to see if you’re eligible. Otherwise, JHU does not offer health insurance to former students.

Yes. OIS will not know you are working at JHU (or anywhere else) unless you report your employment through iHopkins or the SEVP Portal. Otherwise USCIS will assume that you are unemployed and you will continue to accumulate days of unemployment.

If you no longer have access to JHU systems using your JHED login:

• Go to http://iHopkins.jhu.edu
• Click “No JHED Login”
• Click “Email me my limited access pin”
• Enter your Hopkins/University ID
• A pin will be emailed to your email address that is on file with the OIS
• Once you receive the pin, log in using your Hopkins ID, date of birth and pin
• Once logged in, click on “F-1 Practical Training” in the menu on the left, then click on “OPT Reporting Form”

If you experience difficulties accessing iHopkins, please contact oistechsupport@jhu.edu

It usually takes 48 hours for your information to display in the SEVP Portal after the OIS updates your F-1 SEVIS record.

Yes, you should report the change, but it’s important to note that the employer info listed on your I-20 will not be updated because it only lists the employer name. However, your job title is recorded in your F-1 SEVIS record.

If you change your status prior to the end of your OPT, fill out the OPT Reporting Form in iHopkins, indicating you have changed your status and provide a copy of your I-797 or I-94 card so that we may end your F-1 record.

If an employer is filing an H-1B petition for you and that employer is subject to the annual H-1B cap, your OPT period may be automatically extended to cover the gap between the end of your original OPT period and the start of the H-1B petition. Information on the “Cap Gap” process is sent to all students on active OPT in early April. If you do not receive your H-1B application result by October 1^st you must stop working until the H-1B is approved.

If you have left the U.S. or changed your status and do not plan to continue on OPT, fill the OPT Reporting Form and indicate that you are reporting “A change in my immigration status” to confirm you will give up your OPT benefits. Only fill out the reporting form once you have already left the US or your change of status has been approved to avoid a loss in status. If you left the US, you cannot return and use remaining OPT at a later date because F1 status will be complete.

If you will continue to use your JHU email, you must email ois@jhu.edu to request your Portal account be reset. If you would like to change your email address, you will need to fill out the “OPT Reporting” eForm in iHopkins. Once we process your eForm, you will get an email from SEVP with new login information and can reset your password.

To change the username/email address on your SEVP Portal account, you must fill out the “OPT Reporting” eForm in iHopkins. Once we process your eForm, you will get an email from SEVP with new sign in information and can reset your password.

When your DSO adds the information in SEVIS, it can take up to three business days for you to see an update in the SEVP Portal. The Portal does not show SEVIS updates in real time. Your reporting is accepted and you do not need to update it again in the SEVP Portal.

You must complete the OPT Reporting form in iHopkins to add any older employment to your SEVIS record. The regulations specifically state that employment changes, including starting a new position or ending an existing position, must be reported within 10 days. Only the DSO can add or edit employment information after you have exceeded that time.

The Portal does not accept the same employer twice if the dates of employment for the two positions overlap. If you are working in two different positions with the same employer at the same time, you can work around this restriction by adding additional info to the employer name in the SEVP Portal such as the name of the department, division or center. For example, instead of reporting your employer name as “Johns Hopkins University”, you would report “Johns Hopkins University, Human Resources.”

If your new address is not recognized by the Portal, the DSO must override the address update in the Portal. To update the new physical address to the DSO, you must fill out the OPT Reporting eForm in iHopkins and indicate you are reporting an address update.

This occurs sometimes when a student transfers their SEVIS record from another school where they were on a period of OPT. There is a glitch in the SEVP Portal that sends an auto-generated email. You can disregard the email and it will not affect your future OPT applications.