Whether you apply for pre-completion or post-completion OPT, you should apply as early as possible so that you receive your work authorization card (EAD) in time 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.
Additional Considerations for PhD Students
The I-20 completion date determines when you can apply for OPT. For PhD students, the I-20 completion date is often flexible because F-1 regulations allow you to apply for OPT before you officially graduation. You can apply as soon as you've completed your course requirements, provided you have your academic adviser's support. Below are the common scenarios PhD students encounter. If you have any questions, please contact your OISS Adviser.
- OPT based on completion of course requirements
F-1 regulations permit PhD students to apply for OPT upon completion of all course requirements, even before submitting the dissertation or graduating. Some students may chose to pursue this if they have long-term, full-time employment secured.
- Your I-20 completion date in this scenario will correspond to your last day in student status at Yale. This date must be determined in consulation with your academic advisor. This date must be the 15th of the month or last day of the month to align with stipend payments. Your stipend will end on your I-20 completion date.
- You must continue to puruse your PhD while on OPT to maintain your OPT status. Failure to complete your PhD may result in termination of your F-1 status, including your OPT. You may also need to enroll in Dissertataion Completion Status with the Graduate School.
- OPT based on Submission of Dissertation and Graduation
For some PhD students, your OPT application will be dependent on when you submit your dissertation. Below are how dissertation submission deadlines impact your OPT application window:
- If you submit your dissertation by the March deadline, then your I-20 will be shortend to the May graduation date. The May graduation date will be your I-20 completion date, from which you can determine your OPT start date.
- If you submit your dissertation after the March deadline, but before the end of the subseqent Fall semester add/drop period (often in early September), then the latest possible end date for your I-20 will be August 31st. August 31st will be your I-20 completion date, from which you can determine your OPT start date.
- If you submit your dissertation by the October deadline, then your I-20 will be shortened to the December semester end date. The December semester end date will be your I-20 completion date, from which you can determine your OPT start date.
- If you submit your dissertation after the October deadline, but before the end of the Spring semester add/drop period (often end of January), then the latest possible completion date for your I-20 will be December 31st. December 31st will be your I-20 completion date, from which you can determine your OPT start date.
- If you submit your dissertation after the end of the Fall semester (mid-December), but before the Spring semester add/drop period (often near the end of January), then your I-20 will be shortened to December 31st. December 31st may be your I-20 completion date, from which you can determine your OPT start date.