How To Apply For OPT - International Student Insurance

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  • Overview
  • What is OPT?
  • How to apply for OPT
  • OPT Student Health Insurance
  • Overview
  • What is OPT?
  • How to apply for OPT
  • OPT Student Health Insurance
How to Apply for OPT

Applying for OPT is a technical process, one in which you will need to be aware of all deadlines, work closely with your international student office, and otherwise be on top of the requirements. It's easy to make a mistake, and if you do, your application could be delayed or even denied, which could compromise your opportunity to find a job in the US.

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Timing

You must have been enrolled in a US-based school for at least 9 months (one academic year) before you can apply for any OPT (pre or post-completion). You can apply for post-completion OPT as early as 90 days before graduation, and up to 60 days after graduation. On the application itself, you will indicate a desired start date for your employment. You cannot start to work until you have received your Employment Authorization Document (EAD) from USCIS, you have been in the US for at least 12 months, and the start date listed on your EAD has arrived or passed. Since USCIS can take some time to act (3–5 months at minimum) on your request and get your EAD to you, you should apply for OPT as early as possible. You do not need to have a job lined up yet to apply.

Sometimes, USCIS will return your I-765 (EAD application) back to you with a correction request.

Application Steps

Typically, your international student advisor or someone within the international student office will help you through the process of applying for OPT. Always check with your international student advisor about the process, as it can differ from school to school. The information here is offered as a general guide. Here are the basic requirements:

number 1

I-765 Form

This is the main application for employment authorization to be submitted to USCIS; depending on your school’s policy, your international student advisor may be able to assist you with this application, or they may provide you with detailed instructions but expect you to fill it out on your own. You can also download the instructions from the USCIS site to double-check all of the information and processing tips you receive from your school. Regardless of your advisor’s involvement, it’s important to know that the I-765 is your responsibility and you are in charge of making sure the information on it is correct and accurate. The I-765 can now also be completed online, but check with your international student advisor to know the best way to do this. Even though you can complete the I-765 form online, you still have to meet with your advisor in order to obtain your OPT I-20 and get advisor approval for the work authorization application.

Your OPT application is NOT considered complete without this signed OPT 1-20, so it’s important to understand that meeting with your school’s DSO (an international student advisor who can produce and sign your I-20) is an imperative part of the OPT application process. number 2

OPT Recommendation Form

Your school may have an internal but required OPT recommendation form, where an advisor will sign off on start and end date and other specifics of your proposed OPT. number 3

$410 Filing Fee

The filing fee must be paid by check or money order–NOT cash. There is also a credit card form that can be sent but students have reported delays in processing or even denials due to cards not being able to be run, so a check or money order might be the safest route.

Be sure to talk with your international student advisor about the correct way to fill out the check or money order to avoid any processing delays. There are very specific details that need to be included on the check or money order so it’s best to get these instructions from your international student advisor. number 4

Two passport-style photos

Identical color photographs of you taken within 30 days of filing your application. There are specifics in the I-765, but any place that does “passport photos” should get it right. Write your name and SEVIS ID number on the back of each photo, taking care to use a pencil or light inked pen that won’t bleed through and cause markings on the photo itself. number 5

Document Copies

You will need copies of your most recent Form I-94 (print here), previous EAD Card (if applicable), most recent I-20 signed by you and your DSO with OPT request visible on page 2 (pages 1 & 2), a copy of your current passport ID page, and a copy of your F1 Visa passport page. You may also need copies of previous work authorization I-20s, such as CPT I-20s or pre-completion OPT I-20s.

This list will provide you with some guidance on what will be involved in applying for OPT. However, we cannot stress enough how important it is to begin discussions about how to apply for OPT with your international student advisor or someone in the international student office as early as possible. You will need their help! You cannot apply for OPT without the DSO-approved OPT I-20, so be sure to involve them, even if you think you understand the application process.

If you are planning on participating in OPT, or if you are currently on OPT without insurance, you can enroll in our international student health insurance plan below.

Student Health Insurance

Need insurance while studying overseas? The Student Secure plan is designed for both international and study abroad students.

Email* Primary DestinationPrimary Destination Choose One: United States Afghanistan Aland Islands Albania Algeria American Samoa Andorra Angola Anguilla Antarctica Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Aruba Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bermuda Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Bouvet Island Brazil British Indian Ocean Territory British Virgin Islands Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burma Burundi Cambodia Cameroon Canada Cape Verde Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad Chile China Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Colombia Comoros Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Cook Islands Costa Rica Cote d'Ivoire Croatia Cuba Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic East Timor Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) Faroe Islands Fiji Finland France French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern & Antarctic Lands Gabon Georgia Germany Ghana Gibraltar Greece Greenland Grenada Guadeloupe Guam Guatemala Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana Haiti Heard Island and McDonald Islands Holy See (Vatican City) Honduras Hong Kong (SAR) Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Israel Italy Jamaica Japan Jersey Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Korea, North Korea, South Kosovo Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Laos Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macao Macedonia Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Man, Isle of Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania Mauritius Mexico Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova Monaco Mongolia Montenegro Montserrat Morocco Mozambique Namibia Nauru Nepal Netherlands New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria Niue Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Norway Oman Pakistan Palau Palestinian Territory, Occupied Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Pitcairn Islands Poland Portugal Puerto Rico Qatar Reunion Romania Russia Rwanda Saint Helena Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Pierre and Miquelon Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Samoa San Marino Sao Tome and Principe Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa South Sandwich Islands South Sudan Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Suriname Svalbard Swaziland Sweden Switzerland Syria Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania Thailand The Bahamas The Gambia Togo Tokelau Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United States United States Minor Outlying Islands Uruguay Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela Vietnam Virgin Islands Wallis and Futuna Western Sahara Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe Select the country where you need coverage. If you will be traveling to multiple countries, choose your primary destination. Coverage is worldwide outside your home country, and not limited to your host country. Date of Birth Start DateStart Date Date that coverage should begin. This date cannot be more than 9 months from today. End DateEnd Date This date cannot be more than 12 months from the date coverage begins. Buy Now * By providing your email, you consent to receive email communications from us. Learn more about OPT with our OPT Student Health Insurance section
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