Page Contents
Notes on Processing
Online Filing
ISS recommends online filing over paper filing, which uses traditional mailing. The filing fee for online I-765 applications is also slightly less than the paper-filing fee, and processing times seem to be faster. The following instructions relate to online filing only.
Before submitting an application to USCIS, you must submit an OPT request to ISS first in order to get the I-20 with OPT recommendation. This allows ISS to review your application materials before submission to USCIS. Without the I-20 with OPT recommendation, your I-765 application will be automatically denied and you will not be able to get a refund of the filing fee.
Premium Processing
USCIS provides "premium processing" for OPT applications. This request guarantees a decision within 30 days of the receipt date of the I-765 application. On the online form, one of the first questions will be whether an applicant wishes to file a Premium Processing request (form I-907). This requires you to pay an I-907 fee (currently $1,685) in addition to the I-765 filing fee. As an applicant, you must decide if a quick decision is worth the fee. It will depend on how early you file your application in relation to the OPT requested start date. Although you may not wish to pay for Premium Processing initially, you still have the option of requesting it later while your OPT application is pending.
USCIS Processing Times
To view processing times for OPT applications, go to the USCIS Processing Times webpage. On the drop-down menu for "Form," choose "I-765 | Application for Employment Authorization." For "Form Category," choose "Based on a request for a qualified F-1 academic student [(c)(3)]." The "Field Office or Service Center" is "Potomac Service Center." Then click on "Get processing time" for the current information.
Select OPT Type
Pre-Completion OPT (c)(3)(A)
When to Apply
The earliest that a student may apply is 90 days before the start date of eligibility. The date of eligibility starts after the completion of one academic year as an F-1 student. You must have been continuously enrolled full-time during this time. For example, if you started your degree program in fall semester, your eligibility for Pre-Completion OPT would start after the end of spring semester. A student may also apply at any time after the start of eligibility. Just keep in mind that the requested start and end date must be before graduation.
View the video for filing the online Form I-765 for Pre-Completion OPT.
Step 1. Prepare the evidence
- Passport
- Passport-style photo (digital for online filing)
- Any previous I-20s with CPT or OPT authorizations (This is only required if you have previous CPT or OPT)
- I-94 Arrival-Departure Record (most recent) - download from CBP I-94 website
- Copy of school transcript showing at least one year of enrollment
Step 2. Create USCIS account
Step 3. Fill out the online I-765 through your USCIS account, but do not pay or submit to USCIS at this time
- Do not choose "Premium Processing" unless you are in a rush to get approval within a month. Average USCIS processing times are usually fine for those applying early enough.
- Do not pay or submit your application yet. You must get an I-20 with OPT recommendation from ISS to upload to your application.
- Download a draft of your answers as a PDF. It should look like a PDF of the paper form with the words "Electronic Form Only" as a watermark on top of each page.
- Submit the PDF copy of your I-765 answers to ISS for review in Step 5.
Step 4. Complete ISS OPT request form with your Academic Department
Step 5. Submit OPT request to ISS
- Go to Submit Request on ISS website. Log request and upload the following:
- Completed ISS OPT request form
- PDF copy of online Form I-765 (draft)
- Passport
- Passport-style photo
- Past I-20s with CPT or OPT authorizations
- I-94 Arrival-Departure Record (most recent)
- Copy of school transcript showing at least one year of enrollment
Step 6. ISS issues I-20 with OPT recommendation
- ISS Advisor will review your OPT application documents and make an OPT recommendation in your SEVIS record
- A new Form I-20 with the OPT recommendation will be created for you and sent via UH Filedrop
- Download the Form I-20 from the UH Filedrop link before the link expires in 14 days
- Sign and date your new Form I-20
- Scan and upload the new, signed Form I-20 into your online I-765 under "Evidence"
Step 7. Complete the online I-765, pay and submit to USCIS
- USCIS must receive the completed I-765 including your new OPT Form I-20 within 30 days of the I-20 issuance date
Step 8. Download and print receipt
Approval
- USCIS will inform you when your OPT has been approved, and that your EAD is being created.
- USCIS will inform you that the EAD has been mailed to you via USPS, and will provide you with a tracking number.
- There is a limit of how long your EAD may remain in your mailbox before USPS returns it to USCIS. Therefore, you should make sure you or someone you trust is checking your mail.
- If you applied for a Social Security Number through the I-765, you should receive it within about two weeks of your OPT start date.
Post-Completion OPT (c)(3)(B)
When to Apply
The earliest that a student may apply is 90 days before the completion date of their program (i.e., graduation date), as long as they have fulfilled the one year enrollment as F-1 that is required to be eligible. The latest that a student can apply is 60 days after the completion date. However, filing near the end of the 60-day window is not recommended. In total, this provides a 5-month window in which the student may apply.
View the video for filing the online Form I-765 for Post-Completion OPT.
Step 1. Prepare the evidence
- Passport
- Passport-style photo (digital for online filing)
- Any previous I-20s with CPT or OPT authorizations (This is only required if you have previous CPT or OPT)
- I-94 Arrival-Departure Record (most recent) - download from CBP I-94 website
Step 2. Create USCIS account
Step 3. Fill out the online I-765 through your USCIS account, but do not pay or submit to USCIS at this time
- Do not choose "Premium Processing" unless you are in a rush to get approval within a month. Average USCIS processing times are usually fine for those applying early enough.
- Do not pay or submit your application yet. You must get an I-20 with OPT recommendation from ISS to upload to your application.
- Download a draft of your answers as a PDF. It should look like a PDF of the paper form with the words "Electronic Form Only" as a watermark on top of each page.
- Submit the PDF copy of your I-765 answers to ISS for review in Step 5.
Step 4. Complete ISS OPT request form with your Academic Department
Step 5. Submit OPT request to ISS for review
- Go to Student Request on ISS website. Log request and upload the following:
- Completed ISS OPT request form
- PDF copy of online Form I-765 (draft)
- Passport
- Passport-style photo
- Past I-20s with CPT or OPT authorizations
- I-94 Arrival-Departure Record (most recent)
Step 6. ISS creates a new Form I-20 with OPT recommendation
- ISS Advisor will review your OPT application documents and make an OPT recommendation in your SEVIS record
- A new Form I-20 with the OPT recommendation will be created for you and sent via UH Filedrop
- Download the Form I-20 from the UH Filedrop link before the link expires in 14 days
- Sign and date your new Form I-20
- Scan and upload the new, signed Form I-20 into your online I-765 under "Evidence"
Step 7. Complete the online I-765, then pay and submit to USCIS
- USCIS must receive the completed I-765 including your new OPT Form I-20 within 30 days of the I-20 issuance date
Step 8. Download and print receipt
Approval
What to expect from USCIS:
- USCIS will inform you when your OPT has been approved, and that your EAD is being created.
- USCIS will inform you that the EAD has been mailed to you via USPS, and will provide you with a tracking number.
- There is a limit of how long your EAD may remain in your mailbox before USPS returns it to USCIS. Therefore, you should make sure you or someone you trust is checking your mail.
- If you applied for a Social Security Number through the I-765, you should receive it within about two weeks of your OPT start date.
STEM OPT Extension (c)(3)(C)
When to Apply
The earliest that a student may apply is 90 days before the end date of their current Post-Completion OPT, or any time within that 90-day window. Applying after the end date of Post-Completion OPT is too late.
View the video for filing the online Form I-765 for STEM OPT Extension.
Step 1. Prepare the evidence
- Current OPT EAD
- Passport
- Passport-style photo (digital for online filing)
- I-94 Arrival-Departure Record (most recent) - download from CBP I-94 website
- Diploma or official transcript showing degree awarded in a field eligible for STEM Extension
- Form I-983 (submit to ISS only, not to USCIS)
- Follow the I-983 instructions provided by SEVP.
Step 2. Create USCIS account (if you don’t have one)
Step 3. Fill out the online I-765 through your USCIS account, but do not pay or submit to USCIS at this time
- Do not choose "Premium Processing" unless you are in a rush to get approval within a month. STEM applicants get an automatic extension of 180 days once the application is timely filed and is pending, so there is really no need to choose Premium Processing.
- Do not pay or submit your application yet. You must get an I-20 with OPT recommendation from ISS to upload to your application.
- Download a draft of your answers as a PDF. It should look like a PDF of the paper form with the words "Electronic Form Only" as a watermark on top of each page.
- Submit the PDF copy of your I-765 answers to ISS for review in Step 5.
Step 4. Complete ISS OPT Request form
Step 5. Submit OPT request to ISS
- Go to Submit Request on ISS website. Log request and upload the following:
- Completed ISS OPT request form
- PDF copy of online Form I-765 (draft)
- Current OPT EAD
- Passport
- Passport-style photo
- I-94 Arrival-Departure Record (most recent)
- Diploma or official transcript showing degree awarded in a field eligible for STEM Extension
- Form I-983 (follow the instructions for completing Form I-983)
Step 6. ISS creates a new Form I-20 with STEM OPT recommendation
- ISS Advisor will review your STEM OPT application documents and make a STEM OPT recommendation in your SEVIS record
- A new Form I-20 with the STEM OPT recommendation will be created for you and sent via UH Filedrop
- Download the Form I-20 from the UH Filedrop link before the link expires in 14 days
- Sign and date your new Form I-20
- Scan and upload the new, signed Form I-20 into your online I-765 under "Evidence"
Step 7. Complete the online I-765, pay and submit to USCIS
- USCIS must receive the completed I-765 including your new STEM OPT Form I-20 within 60 days of the I-20 issuance date and before the end of regular OPT
Step 8. Download and print receipt
Approval
- Upon receipting of your application, your employment authorization is automatically extended up to 180 days or until USCIS approves or denies your application, or if it is withdrawn, whichever comes first. Use the receipt with your current EAD to verify this authorization to your employer.
- USCIS will inform you when your OPT has been approved, and that your EAD is being created.
- USCIS will inform you that the EAD has been mailed to you via USPS, and will provide you with a tracking number.
- There is a limit of how long your EAD may remain in your mailbox before USPS returns it to USCIS. Therefore, you should make sure you or someone you trust is checking your mail.
- Once you have your card, please use UH Filedrop to send a copy of it to ISS (issmanoa@hawaii.edu) for confirmation.
What to expect from USCIS:
- Upon receipting of your application, your employment authorization is automatically extended up to 180 days during a pending STEM OPT application. Use the receipt with your current EAD to verify this authorization to your employer.
- USCIS will inform you when your OPT has been approved, and that your EAD is being created.
- USCIS will inform you that the EAD has been mailed to you via USPS, and will provide you with a tracking number.
- There is a limit of how long your EAD may remain in your mailbox before USPS returns it to USCIS. Therefore, you should make sure you or someone you trust is checking your mail.