Whether you apply for pre-completion or post-completion OPT, you need to apply as early as possible because you need to have your work authorization card (EAD) to start working and to travel. We advise you to plan accordingly and submit your OPT application as early as possible as it can take 90 days or longer for USCIS to process it.
Pre-Completion OPT is for off-campus employment before graduation.
Apply as Early as Possible
You can apply as early as 90 days before your requested employment start date.
Employment Start Date
If you do not know the exact date you will start working, you may choose the earliest date you hope to start working as your prospective start date and calculate your application timeline accordingly.
Pre-Completion OPT Sample Application Timeline
Post-Completion OPT is for any type of work after graduation. Please note that if you do not apply for OPT and depart from the U.S. during the 60 day “grace period”, your eligibility for OPT ends when you leave the U.S.
Apply as Early as Possible
If you are graduating, you can apply as early as 90 days before your program end date.
- For most students at Yale, the program end date is the Commencement date, but please check your I-20 to find out your actual program end date.
- If your program end date is the Commencement date in May, the earliest you can apply for post-completion OPT is the end of February (90 days before your program end date).
- The latest you can apply for OPT is 60 days after your program end date.
- Your application must be received by USCIS by this date.
OPT Start Date
- Your OPT start date begins within 60 days of your program end and ends 12 months after this date.
- Your OPT start date is generally based on your employment start date (as long as it is within 60 days after your program end).
- If your employment start date is longer than 60 days after your program end, your OPT start date will still be 60 days after your program end, as this is the latest date possible to select.
- If you are not sure when your employment will start, you should make your best estimate based on desired time off. Your OPT start date must be within 60 days after your program end, as this is the latest date possible to select.
- If you do not start work on your OPT start date,you have up to 90 days within the 12-months of the card that you can be “unemployed” and still keep your status.
- You cannot change your start date after submitting your OPT application, so be sure to discuss the timing of this date with your adviser if you are unsure.
Post-Completion OPT Sample Application Timeline
