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Office ofInternational Student Support

Optional Practical Training (OPT)

Optional Practical Training is one type of work permission available for eligible F-1 students. Students are eligible for 12 months of practical training at each educational level.

There are three types of OPT: pre-completion, post-completion, and STEM Extension. OPT allows students to get real-world work experience related to their major course of study. A student must complete a full academic year (two consecutive semesters) in order to be eligible to apply for OPT.

LIFTFAR eligible students can request financial support for the OPT application process through the LIFTFAR Opportunity Fund.

OPT and Study Abroad

Please read the College’s policy on studying abroad and OPT. The College has determined that F-1 students studying abroad for either the full academic year or the spring semester may not apply for OPT while abroad. The logistics of applying for OPT while abroad involve an extraordinary amount of risk for program participants that the College does not support. Students who want to apply for OPT for a summer internship are encouraged to study abroad in the fall semester of their junior year.

OPT Google Drive

Students preparing to apply for OPT are encouraged to review the documents in this Google Drive before their OPT appointment with their DSO, particularly the FAQ documents, e-Filing Guide, and the recording for the info session for the type of OPT they are applying for.

Access the Google Drive

How To Apply for OPT

  1. Attend an OPT Information Session: these are offered in the spring semester. If you are applying outside of this timeframe, please contact hc-isso [at] haverford.edu.
  2. Depending on how you plan to file your application to USCIS, please review the E-Filing Guide or I-765 Paper Application Guide and Mail-In Checklist.
  3. Complete the OPT Recommendation Request Form.
  4. Meet with your Designated School Official.

Applying for OPT STEM Extension? Complete the OPT Recommendation Request Form and please ensure that you upload a completed I-983 form. Please note that the earliest that you can apply for OPT STEM Extension is 90 days before the expiration date of your post-completion OPT.

I-983 Resources

Haverford College OPT Forms

Questions? Please contact hc-isso [at] haverford.edu (ISSO).

CPT and OPT

What is the difference between Curricular Practical Training (CPT) and Optional Practical Training (OPT)?

CPT is practical training that is connected to the curriculum. You must be receiving credit through the Experiential Learning Credit Program or through a course receiving academic credit. CPT is employer specific and is only available pre-graduation. OPT is optional for any student who meets the eligibility requirements and is not attached to any credit or requirement.

OPT is not employer specific and may be done before or after you graduate. OPT is authorized by USCIS whereas CPT is authorized via the International Student Support Office. F-1 students are eligible for 12 months of OPT at each educational level, and students in STEM eligible majors may apply for a 24 month extension. Part-time CPT has no impact on OPT eligibility. However, using 12 months of full-time CPT eliminates OPT eligibility.

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) Pre-Completion Optional Practical Training (OPT)
You must have a job offer to apply for work authorization You can apply without securing a job offer.
Students must be receiving academic credit via a course enrollment or receiving experiential learning credit. Does not have any credit requirements.
Students apply to Haverford’s ISSO office and there are no application costs. Students must apply to US Citizenship and Immigration Services and the application currently costs USD $410.
Part-time CPT does not have any impact on OPT eligibility (regardless of number of days of authorization). 12 months (365 days) of full-time CPT eliminates OPT eligibility. Pre-completion OPT work authorization time is deducted from the student’s 12 month total OPT eligibility.
CPT is employer specific. This means that the employer is named in the student’s I-20 at the point of issuing their work authorization. The student can only work for this employer. Students on OPT can work for multiple employers and change employers more easily. Students report who they are working for after they start working.
Typically processed within 10 business days. Average processing time is 10 - 12 weeks.