Optional Practical Training (OPT)

Notice that this information has not been updated for new ruling

IMPORTANT NOTICE On September 14, 2026, a federal judge issued a preliminary injunction to delay the implementation of the D/S final rule. The rule will not be implemented while litigation proceeds. Consequently, current F and J regulations under the “duration of status” framework are still in place and this webpage currently reflects those regulations. Please contact ISSP at globe@wm.edu with any questions. Visit the Immigration Updates webpage for more information about the elimination of D/S final rule.

Notice that all information on this page is up to date

As of September 30, 2026, all OPT webpages and resources have been updated to reflect the Fall 2026 post-completion OPT application period and the pre-completion OPT application process.

Optional Practical Training (OPT) gives F-1 students the opportunity to gain work experience in their program or major field of study for up to 12 months while continuing to maintain their F-1 status with an immigration record/I-20 at William & Mary.

There are two types of OPT available to F-1 students:

1. Pre-Completion OPT: Any portion of OPT used before the program end date listed on your I-20. It may be full-time (more than 20 hours/week) or part-time (20 hours/week or less).
2. Post-Completion OPT: Any portion of OPT used after the program end date listed on your I-20. It must be at least 20 hours/week or full-time.

ISSP recommends avoiding the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to assist you with your OPT application, as AI tools may provide inaccurate or incomplete information and omit information specific to W&M and VIMS. We recommend using resources provided by ISSP. 

Quick Facts about OPT:

• Field relevance: Your job must relate directly to your major area of study.
• Academic year completion: You must be in F-1 status for one full academic year before you are eligible for OPT work authorization.
• Timing options: Available before graduation (called pre-completion OPT) or after graduation (called post-completion OPT). See our Employment webpage for additional pre-graduation employment options.
• Job offer: You do not need a job offer prior to applying for pre- or post-completion OPT.
• Academic level: OPT can only be used once per degree level (e.g. bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral). If you plan to earn multiple degrees at the same level, it may not be possible to split OPT or use it later.

Eligibility

• You must be in F-1 status for at least two semesters directly prior to when you want to start OPT. If using OPT after graduation, you must have been in F-1 status for two semesters directly prior to graduation.
• To be eligible to use OPT, you must not have used 12 months of full-time CPT (defined as more than 20 hours of work per week).
• F-1 students are granted 12 months of OPT once per degree level (e.g. bachelor's, master's, doctorate). If you previously used OPT at the same degree level or prior to graduation, you may not be eligible for additional OPT.
• Pre-Completion OPT Only: Undergraduates must have declared a major.

Application Timeline

For students planning to use pre-completion OPT (OPT before graduation), the earliest you can apply is 90 days before completing one full academic year in F-1 status and/or 90 days before the employment start date. All employment on pre-completion OPT must end before your graduation date.

For students planning to use post-completion OPT (OPT after graduation), the earliest you can apply is 90 days before your program end date. The latest you can apply is 60 days after your program end date, before the end of your 60-day grace period.

Students are strongly encouraged to apply as early as possible. Benefits of applying early include having time to fix errors in your application, additional processing time for your application, and being able to take other actions earlier, such as extending your driver's license or applying for an SSN.

See Applying for OPT for more details about the application timeline.

Duration

OPT employment can only take place during the employment dates listed on your Employment Authorization Document (EAD) card. Unless you have applied for the STEM OPT Extension or your employer has filed for an H-1B on your behalf, you must stop working by the end date listed on your EAD card.

After pre-completion OPT ends, students must submit a new application to USCIS to apply for post-completion OPT. After post-completion OPT ends, students have a 60-day grace period before they must leave the U.S.

Pre-Completion OPT

Students must maintain a full course of study during their period of pre-completion OPT if it will occur while classes are in session. PhD students who have completed all coursework must continue to make normal progress towards completing their thesis or dissertation.

Students can only apply for part-time or full-time OPT in a single application, not both.  If applying to work while classes are in session, work is limited to part-time, except for PhD students in the dissertation phase of their program. If applying to work during official university breaks, students may apply for full-time work.

All employment on pre-completion OPT must end by the student's graduation date/program end date.

Information for Employers

Employer sponsorship is not needed to hire an international student on Optional Practical Training (OPT). The student is responsible for applying for their OPT work authorization, and once approved, they will receive an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) card. This card will state the specific start and end dates for the OPT period. The student may begin working once they receive their EAD card AND have reached the start date listed on the card.

Resources for completing the I-9 for an international student hire:

• USCIS I-9 resource for international students
• USCIS list of acceptable documents for the I-9