• Pre-Completion OPT: The OPT application must be received by USCIS no sooner than 90 days before the requested OPT start date. The OPT application must also be received by USCIS within 30 days of the OPT recommendation (the date ISSS issued the OPT I-20). Please be advised, although you are not permitted to apply any sooner than 90 days before the requested start date, USCIS may take up to 5.5 months to process the OPT application (to check current processing times go to the case processing times website and choose form I-765 and Potomac Service Center under the drop-down menus). This means you can select an earlier start date if you want to give USCIS more time to process the application but this time will be considered "used" if granted by USCIS even if you don't work during that time. 
• Post-Completion OPT: The OPT application must be received by USCIS no sooner than 90 days before the program end date, and no later than 60 days after the program end date. Your SEVIS record will automatically complete on the 60th day. Allow yourself sufficient time to submit the request to ISSS, have the application processed and then mailed to USCIS.
  • In addition, the Form I-765 and I-20 in support of post-completion OPT must be received by USCIS no later than 30 days after the DSO/International Student Advisor updates SEVIS with the OPT recommendation.
  • Since all post-completion OPT must be completed within the 14-month period (includes 12 months of OPT and 60-day grace period) following the completion of studies, the Employment Start Date for F-1 student Post-Completion OPT requests may be no more than 61 days beyond the Program End Date.
• STEM OPT Extension: The OPT application must be received by USCIS no sooner than 90 days before the current post-completion OPT expires and no later than the current post-completion OPT expiration date. The OPT application must also be received within 60 days of the date the ISSS office issues the STEM OPT I-20.