U.S. employers must check to make sure all employees, regardless of citizenship or national origin, are authorized to work in the United States. Having an Employment Authorization Document (Form I-766/EAD) is one way to prove that you are authorized to work in the United States for a specific time period. OPT applicants will need to apply for an EAD from United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to work.

Post-Completion OPT

• You can submit the Form I-765 up to 90 days before the program end date on your I-20
• You MUST submit the Form I-765 within 60 days after your I-20 program end date (your grace period)
• You MUST submit the Form I-765 within 30 days of ISS recommending your OPT in SEVIS. This may differ from the date the Form I-20 is issued.

24-Month STEM Extension

• You can submit the Form I-765 up to 90 days before the expiration of your current 12-month OPT EAD card
• You MUST submit the Form I-765 no later than the expiration of your current 12-month OPT EAD card
• You MUST submit the Form I-765 within 60 days of ISS recommending your STEM OPT in SEVIS. This may differ from the date the Form I-20 is issued.

Here are some tips that you could use to apply for your Employment Authorization Document:

1. Complete the OPT Canvas course. F-1 student visa holders must complete the OPT Application Canvas Course in order to apply for OPT. Click the link to add yourself to the course. ISS recommends that students complete the course at the beginning of their final semester. The course covers OPT, documents, the I-765 application, and sending it to USCIS.
2. If you decide to file your application I-765 by mail, make sure that you are using the most updated version of the form. Click on “Edition Date” on this USCIS webpage to find the latest edition. You can find the edition date at the bottom of the page on the form and instructions.
3. If you decide to file your application I-765 by mail, you can take the required passport size photos (2in x 2in) in a Walgreens, CVS, or Walmart. However, if you file your I-765 online, there are several phone app options that can help you take an electronic passport size photo for free. All you need is a white background. The photographs must not be older than six months.
4. If you will be submitting any document as evidence that is not in English, ensure that you also submit a certified English translation. Some translation services include Rush Translate and Rapid Translate, among others.
5. If you mail your application, it is good practice to include a cover letter with your complete, legal name, date of birth, and a list of documents that you are including in your application.
6. If you mail your I-765 application, it is good practice to make a copy of your application and document packet for future reference. If you file your I-765 online, save a copy of your application.
7. If you mail your application, make sure to send it in a way that you can track delivery. You will need to check for the correct mailing address depending on the service that you will use to mail your application, and if you are paying premium processing or not. Check for the correct mailing address in the USCIS webpage under “Foreign Students”.

After you submit your I-765 Application:

You will still be in legal F-1 status while your I-765 application is pending with USCIS.