F-1 Optional Practical Training (OPT) - Harvard International Office

Jump to navigation

Campus Services *For more information, please visit the Campus Services website

Services

• Buildings & Facilities
• CommuterChoice
• Dining
• Energy & Utilities
• Housing
• ID Cards
• Mail
• Parking
• Printing
• Real Estate
• Sustainability
• Transit & Fleet
• Tools
• Travel

Departments

• Dining
• Energy & Facilities
• Events Management
• Global Support Services
• Harvard Faculty Club
• Harvard International Office
• Harvard Real Estate
• Harvard University Housing
• Office for Sustainability
• Transportation

• Getting Started
  • 1. Student Visa Process
       1. Student Visa Options
       2. Applying for your Visa
       3. Transfer to Harvard and Change of Level
       4. Arriving in the U.S., HIO Registration, & Orientations
       5. New Student Welcome Guide
    2. Scholar Visa Process
       1. Scholar Visa Types
       2. Applying for your Visa
       3. J-1 Transfer to Harvard
       4. Arriving in the U.S., HIO Registration, & Orientations
       5. New Scholar Welcome Guide
    3. Student Intern Visa Process
       1. J-1 Student Intern Visa
       2. Applying for your Visa
       3. Arriving in the U.S., HIO Registration, & Orientations
       4. New Student Intern Welcome Guide
    4. Dependents and Family Members
       1. Dependent Visas
       2. Employment of J-2 Dependents
       3. Inviting Friends and Family Members to the U.S.
       4. Resources for Dependents
       5. New Alien Registration Requirements (Spring 2025)
       6. Travel Guidance for Commencement and Reunion Guests
• Forms
  • 1. For All
       1. Change of Address Form
       2. HIO Dependent Data Sheet
       3. HIO Registration Form
       4. Travel Signature Request Form
       5. Visa Document Request Form
    2. For Students
       1. F-1 OPT Application Forms
       2. F-1 Post-Completion OPT Reporting Form
       3. HIO USCIS I-765 Receipt Information Reporting Form
       4. F-1 STEM OPT Application Forms
       5. F-1 OPT Cap Gap Request Form
       6. F-1 STEM OPT Reporting Form
       7. Host Program for International Students
       8. J-1 Academic Training Application Form
       9. J-1 Academic Training (AT) Evaluation Reporting Form
       10. J-1 On-Campus Employment Authorization Request Form
       11. Transfer-In Form For Students
       12. SEVP Portal Reset Request
    3. For Scholars & Student Interns
       1. J-1 Scholar Occasional Lecture Authorization Form
       2. J-1 Student Intern Certification of Enrollment and Expected Degree Completion
       3. J-1 Student Intern Evaluation Form
       4. Transfer-In Form For Scholars
    4. For Administrators
       1. HIO e-Form
       2. HIO Notice of Extension or Departure (eNED)
       3. ISD Manual
       4. J-1 Certification of English Language Proficiency
       5. J-1 Student Intern Checklist
       6. J-1 Student Intern Intake Form
       7. International Student and Scholar Incident Reporting Form
• Travel
  • 1. Travel Within the U.S.
    2. Travel Outside the U.S.
    3. Travel on Post-Completion OPT, STEM OPT, or AT
    4. Renewing a Visa
    5. Issues While Traveling & Emergencies
    6. eShipGlobal Instructions
• Maintaining Visa Status
  • 1. For Students
       1. Your Immigration Responsibilities
       2. Working in the U.S.
       3. F-1 CPT
       4. F-1 Employment with an International Organization
       5. F-1 OPT
       6. F-1 STEM OPT
       7. J-1 Academic Training
       8. Extensions
       9. Leave of Absence
       10. Leaving Harvard and Transferring Out
    2. For Scholars
       1. Your Immigration Responsibilities (J-1 Scholars)
       2. Your Immigration Responsibilities (all other visas)
       3. J-1 Scholar Occasional Lectures & Consultations
       4. Scholar Extensions
       5. Leaving Harvard and Transferring Out
    3. For Student Interns
       1. Your Immigration Responsibilities
       2. Student Intern Extensions
       3. Ending Your Internship
• Harvard Resources
  • 1. Welcome Guide
       1. Bank Accounts & Credit Cards
       2. Cell Phones
       3. Harvard ID
       4. Health Care & Insurance
       5. HIO Orientations
       6. Host Program
       7. Housing
       8. J Exchange Visitor Guide
       9. Safety, Scams, & Identity Protection
       10. Spouses, Partners, & Children
       11. State Issued ID
    2. Taxes & Social Security
       1. Prepare for Tax Season
       2. General Tax Information
       3. Tax Residency
       4. Sprintax Returns
       5. Tax Reporting Documents
       6. Tax Deadlines
       7. Tax ID Numbers (SSN/ITIN)
       8. Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN)
       9. Social Security Number (SSN)
       10. State Taxes
       11. Tax Refunds
       12. Departing Harvard
       13. Additional Tax Resources
    3. Campus Resources
       1. Academic Life
       2. Athletic Facilities
       3. Counseling Services
       4. Harvard's International Community
       5. Libraries and Museums
       6. On-Campus Dining
       7. Religious Services
       8. Transportation
• HU Administrators
  • 1. Visa Sponsorship Process
       1. FAQ For International Students and Campus Stakeholders: What You Need to Know
       2. About Visa Sponsorship at Harvard
       3. Step 1: Academic Appointments and Funding
       4. Step 2: Initiate Visa Sponsorship Request
       5. Step 3: Informing the HIO
       6. Step 4: Extending Visa Status & Leaving Harvard
       7. Using ISD
    2. Visa Information
       1. Types of Scholar Visas
       2. J-1 Research Scholar and Professor Visa
       3. J-1 Student Intern Visa
       4. H-1B Specialty Occupation Visa
       5. O-1 Extraordinary Ability Visa
       6. TN Visa for Canadians and Mexicans
       7. E-3 Visa for Australians
       8. Hiring International Students
       9. 212e and 12/24 Month Bars for J Visa Holders
       10. Notice of Filing of Labor Condition Applications
• Search
  • Placeholder

Keyword

U.S. immigration updates: DHS releases updated guidance on the presidential proclamation affecting H-1B visa holders. Read the new guidance

See our updated FAQs for more information. Go to FAQs

Serving Harvard's International Community

You are here

1. Home
2. Maintaining Visa Status
3. For Students

Optional Practical Training (OPT) is a benefit for F-1 students to work off-campus in a field directly related to their major area of study.

• An offer of employment is not required to apply for OPT.
• Any employment undertaken while on OPT must be directly related to your field of study.
• To qualify for OPT, you must be in active F-1 status for two consecutive semesters preceding the start date of OPT.
• You also must be physically present in the U.S. and in active F-1 status at the time of application.

Please review the instructions under How to Apply carefully to understand and complete the OPT application process.

The HIO provides general guidance on your OPT/STEM OPT application based on information obtained from reliable sources and reflecting our years of experience in working with students. We make every attempt to ensure that we provide you with the most up to date information available. Any advice provided to you by our office (as well as the information in this packet) does not constitute legal advice, however. The OPT/STEM OPT application is a personal application for which you are responsible; the application preparation and USCIS case decision will vary depending on the facts at issue in your particular case. The HIO does its best to provide you with the most current guidance, but please be mindful that USCIS may change its interpretation of these policies, procedures, regulations, and eligibility requirements at any time. The HIO is not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for the results obtained from USCIS.

• Your Immigration Responsibilities
• Working in the U.S.
• F-1 CPT
• F-1 Employment with an International Organization
• F-1 OPT
  • OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
  • F-1 OPT Application Forms
    • OPT: When to Apply
    • OPT: How to Apply
    • OPT Instructional Videos
    • OPT Date Verification Form
    • Touchnet Credit Card Payment
    • HIO OPT Request Form
    • USCIS OPT Application Checklist
    • USCIS e-Filing I-765 OPT Application Guide
    • Premium Processing
  • After Submitting your OPT Application
    • HIO USCIS I-765 Receipt Information Reporting Form
    • Employment Authorization Document Issues
  • OPT Rules and Responsibilities
  • Travel on Post-Completion OPT, STEM OPT, or AT
    • Travel Considerations While on OPT
  • Ending Post-Completion OPT
    • Transitioning to H-1B Status
  • Cap Gap I-20 Request
• F-1 STEM OPT
• J-1 Academic Training
  • J-1 Academic Training Application Form
    • Touchnet Credit Card Payment
  • Travel on Post-Completion AT
  • J-1 Academic Training (AT) Evaluation Reporting Form
  • Transitioning to H-1B Status
• Extensions
• Leave of Absence
• Leaving Harvard and Transferring Out

Share This

Dining

• Residential Dining
• Retail Dining
• Crimson Catering

Transportation

• Shuttle Information
• Evening Van Service
• Charters

Campus Life

• David Rubenstein Treehouse
• Living in HUH
• Graduate Commons
• Leasing/Property Management

RELATED SERVICES | HARVARD.EDU | PRIVACY POLICY