OPT

OPT (Optional Practical Training) is an employment opportunity for F-1 visa holders through the U.S. government.  For each academic level at NU (undergrad, grad), students can receive 12 months of total OPT time. Students with a STEM degree can apply to renew their OPT for an additional 24 months.  Pre-completion OPT is done while students are studying and is part-time during their studies and full-time during holidays. Post-completion OPT must be at least 20 hours a week.

Post-completion OPT is the most common.  It is critical to begin your application punctually.  Students can submit applications 90 days before their program end date on their I-20 and up to 60 days after their program end date.  If students wait until the last minute, their OPT duration might be shortened due to USCIS process timeline. 

Please contact the International Student Services Office if you are interested.  OPT is quite complex, and it is hard to give adequate advice over the Internet.

To apply for OPT, please follow the following steps:

  1. Undergraduate students should apply for graduation and receive an updated degree audit from the Registrar’s Office. Graduate students, do not worry about the degree audit as we will communicate with your program coordinator.
  2. Pay off your student account balance. We will check this.
  3. Fill out the OPT Application form and email it to international@northwestu.edu.
  4. Schedule a meeting with the International Student Services office.

The OPT Application will be done online, have these documents ready and saved in your computer: 

  • Scan of your valid passport biographical page (with extension page, if applicable).
  • Scan of your most recent F-1 visa stamp/status approval notice.
  • Scan of your most recent I-94.
  • Scans of all previous I-20 forms at your current academic level.
  • Scans of any previous Employment Authorization Document (if applicable).
  • Scans of any job offer letter for your upcoming OPT period, if you have one (not required).
  • Credit or Debit card – ready to pay $470.
  • Digital 2×2 photo of you with a white background (photo must be taken within the last 6 months).

Note: Premium Processing Cost: $1,780 in addition to the $470 filing fee.

After you gather all of the necessary documents we will create a new OPT I-20 for you that will show your requested OPT start and end dates. This new I-20 must be signed and dated, and it must be included in the OPT Application for USCIS.

While you are waiting for your OPT to be approved:

  • USCIS should mail you a receipt number within a few weeks once they have received your application.  This number is very important in case you want to call USCIS regarding the status of your application.
  • If applying online you can log-in to check the status of your application. 
  • USCIS takes approximately 2-4 months to approve OPT applications.
  • You must receive your EAD card before you can begin working.
  • You must not begin working before your EAD start date.
  • Do not leave the United States until you have received your EAD card!

Once you secure a job offer, you must email it to international@northwestu.edu.

Stem OPT Extension

What makes you eligible to apply for a STEM OPT Extension?
  • You graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science, Biology, Computer Science or a Bachelor of Arts in Math (or possibly another STEM related degree, check with ISS staff if you think you may be eligible)
  • You are in a valid period of standard post-completion OPT
  • You have an offer of paid employment for at least 20 hours per week for an employer that is enrolled and in good standing with E-Verify, the electronic employment eligibility verification program administered by USCIS.
When can you apply for STEM OPT Extension?

You can apply for the extension at anytime before the end of your standard post-completion OPT.

If your extension is not approved before the the end date of your OPT (written on your EAD card) you can continue working for 180 days. If your extension has not been approved after 180 days, you must stop working. However you are allowed to remain in the country while you wait for the decision on your STEM OPT extension.

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