To be eligible for OPT, you must: 

• Be in valid F-1 status
• Have been a full-time student for at least one academic year
• Have completed, or are in the process of completing, your final degree requirements (except for pre-completion OPT).

You are not eligible to apply for OPT if: 

• You have previously applied for, and been granted, 12 months of OPT at the same degree level
• You have used 12 months or more of full-time CPT

You must be physically present in the U.S. to apply for OPT

You can calculate your OPT application window by confirming your degree program completion date. This should be the end date listed on page 1 of your Form I-20. 

If the program end date on your Form I-20 does not agree with your actual degree completion date as noted in your Workday record, you may need to adjust your Form I-20 end date. If you have questions about your Form I-20 end date, email GA_CISS@bentley.edu. 

• Earliest Date to Apply: 90 days before your degree program completion date.
  • You are eligible to submit your application for OPT to USCIS as early as 90 days before your degree program completion date
• Latest Date to Apply: 60 days after your program completion date. (Not recommended)
  • Your OPT application must be received by USCIS at the latest by 60 days after your program completion date.

• When you apply for OPT, you will need to choose your OPT start date.
• Your OPT start date can be any day during your 60-day grace period, from the day after your Form I-20 end date, to as late as 60 days after your Form I-20 end date.  
• To calculate your OPT application window, you can use an online date calculator

Your requested start date is based on personal preference. Some things to keep in mind when choosing your OPT start date: 

• Do you want to start your employment immediately, OR do you plan on taking a vacation after graduation
• Will you need additional time to find a job, OR do you have a job that wants you to start as soon as possible? Major U.S. holidays and weekends. s. Most companies have employees starting on Monday, and do not hire around major holidays.

STEP 1: Read the information on this page carefully and attend an OPT Information Session to understand the complete OPT application process.  

STEP 2:  Apply for program completion in Workday and make sure that the program completion date on your Form I-20 is the same as your program completion date in Workday.  

STEP 3:  Pay the Bentley I-20 Maintenance Fee of $150 and keep a copy of your fee receipt.  The fee receipt is one of the documents that must be uploaded to your OPT Request Form.  Bentley students submitting an OPT application are required to pay a Form I-20 Maintenance Fee. This fee covers the cost of maintaining your record after you have graduated and are no longer paying Bentley tuition or fees. Students on OPT have full access to CISS and all of our resources (advising, record maintenance, tax software, and more) throughout their OPT period. 

STEP 4: Request an OPT Recommendation Form I-20.  Log in to the CISS Portal, navigate to the Control Center, and submit the "OPT Request."   Submit this request only after you have reviewed the OPT instructions and have decided on your OPT start date.   

Upload: 

• A copy of your "I-20 Maintenance Fee Receipt"
• A copy of your most recent Form I-94

Watch this instructional video to guide you through how to submit an OPT Request in the CISS Portal. Processing an OPT request can take 5-7 business days

STEP 5: Obtain the OPT Recommendation Form I-20 from CISS.  You will be notified by email when your new Form I-20 is ready for download from the CISS Portal.  You can then go to your CISS Portal to download your Form I-20.  Print out the form and review it carefully to verify that the information is correct.  Sign and date the bottom of page 1. Your OPT recommendation and dates will listed on page 2 of your Form I-20.  

DO NOT SUBMIT YOUR OPT APPLICATION TO USCIS WITHOUT THE OPT RECOMMENDATION FORM I-20, AS IT WILL BE DENIED. 
 
STEP 6: Prepare your documents and file your application with USCIS online. For additional guidance, please review our Tips for Filing your OPT Application.

YOU MUST BE PHYSICALLY PRESENT IN THE U.S TO APPLY FOR OPT

Expediting your OPT/STEM Application- Premium Processing 

Applying for Premium Processing allows you to expedite your OPT/STEM OPT application for a fee. The United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) has stated that the expected processing timeline for Premium Processing cases is 30 calendar days. USCIS will accept requests for Premium Processing filed with an OPT or STEM OPT application.

You can apply for Premium Processing with Form I-907 for a $1,685 fee. This is in addition to the $470 Form I-765 application fee.

Students are encouraged to apply for OPT early within their 90-day application window and to check the  USCIS Form I-765 processing times prior to submitting a Premium Processing request.

Request for Further Evidence (RFE):

• In some cases, USCIS may request additional documentation from you by sending a Request for Further Evidence (RFE). You will also receive an RFE if your application is not complete.
• If you receive an RFE, please read the letter thoroughly. USCIS will explain why you are receiving the RFE and what documentation you need to provide. You must reply to the RFE immediately to ensure that your OPT Application is still adjudicated.
• Receiving an RFE will delay the processing time.

Rejections or Denials:

• If your OPT application is denied or rejected by USCIS, please contact CISS at  GA_CISS@Bentley.edu as soon as possible and attach a copy of your rejection letter or denial notice.
• If your OPT application is denied, the duration of your legal F-1 status reverts to being defined as lasting through the Form I-20 program end date plus 60 days of grace period. If you are still within the grace period, you may stay in the U.S. for the remainder of the 60 days, and you may have the opportunity to submit a new OPT

• You will receive an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) once you have been approved for OPT.   
• This card will contain your personal information and OPT employment authorization dates.
• Make sure that your card contains accurate information, including your full legal name.
• You will use this card, along with your F-1 visa and OPT Form I-20, to prove your eligibility to work to work in the U.S. 

Contact the CISS for assistance if your EAD contains incorrect information, or is lost, damaged or stolen.

When your OPT is approved, you will receive an email from SEVP on or around your OPT start date that will instruct you to set up your SEVP Portal. You must follow these instructions and set up your SEVP portal to report your address and employment information. 

To maintain your status while on OPT, you must follow the USCIS requirements and procedures noted below:

OPT Employment Must Be: 

• Directly related to your major field of study
• At least 20 hours per week (if working multiple jobs, must be a combined 20 hours per week)
• Can be classified as a full-time or part-time job, internship, self-employment, contract, or temporary position
• Paid or unpaid

Unemployment Limits

• You have a limit of 90 days of unemployment during your 12 months of OPT.  If you accumulate 90 days of unemployment, you will lose your employment authorization and your F-1 status.  If you are approaching your 90-day unemployment limit, please email the CISS at GA_CISS@bentley.edu for instructions on the next steps. 

Report Your Employment and Address Information
Once your OPT is approved, you will receive an email (to your Bentley email) from SEVP (do-not-reply.sevp@ice.dhs.gov) around the start date of your OPT with instructions on how to create your SEVP Portal account.  If you do not receive this email, check your spam or junk mail folder. You should set up your SEVP Portal as soon as possible.   While you are on OPT, you must report your address and employment information.  

If you need to report employment that began more than 10 days in the past, you will not be able to enter the information in the SEVP directly. You can submit the “OPT Employer Update Request” in the CISS Portal, and we will update the information for you.

Other Information Updates: 
Be sure to report any of the following changes to the CISS by emailing GA_CISS@bentley.edu within 10 days of the change:

• Legal name
• Personal local address
• Current telephone number

Process for Setting Up Your SEVP Portal

• On or around the start date of your OPT, you will receive an email (to your Bentley email) from SEVP (do-not-reply.sevp@ice.dhs.gov) with instructions on how to create your SEVP Portal
• If you do not receive this email, check your spam and junk folders first, and if you have not received it, send an email to GA_CISS@bentley.edu. You can add the email listed above to your Trusted Sender List (non-spam list) to ensure that the email goes to your inbox
• The email will contain an access link to the SEVP portal
• Click on the link and set up a unique password. You must remember this password for future use. You must change your password every 90 days, and you should not share your password with anyone under any circumstances.  When your password is close to expiring, you will be prompted by the SEVP portal to change your password upon logging in.
• Go to the Department of Homeland Security Study in the States website to access step-by-step instructions on how to set up and use your SEVP Portal.

Instructions for Using the SEVP Portal

• You must access the SEVP portal every 90 days, even if you do not have any updates to make.
• The SEVP portal will lock after 90 days of inactivity, and you will have to contact your CISS Advisor to reset your account.
• Once you report your employment or a change of employment, you can request an updated Form I-20 to reflect this new information by submitting a Form I-20 Reprint Request in the CISS Portal.
• If you are working for multiple employers while on OPT, you must report all of your employer information in the SEVP Portal.  You would click on “Add New Employer” to add the information for another employer
• If you change employers, you can add the new employer, but DO NOT delete the previous employer information. 

Traveling while your OPT application is pending should be undertaken with some caution for the following reasons:

• USCIS may send you a request for further evidence (RFE) on your OPT application. while you are away.
• If your OPT application is approved while you are out of the U.S., you will be expected to have your EAD in hand to re-enter the United States.  USCIS will send your EAD to the U.S. address you indicated in your application.

If your OPT is pending and you are still a student (before your Form I-20 end date): You can travel outside of the U.S. and return. You must carry the usual immigration documents with you, including:

• Passport valid for at least 6 months into the future
• Unexpired F-1 visa
• Most recent Form I-20 signed for travel in the past 12 months

If your OPT is pending and you are no longer a student (after your Form I-20 end date): You can travel outside of the U.S. and return with some risk. You must be cautious in this scenario, as USCIS may send you notices about your OPT application. Check your USCIS account regularly for updates on your OPT application. You must carry the usual immigration documents with you, including:

• Passport valid for at least 6 months into the future
• Unexpired F-1 visa
• Most recent Form I-20 signed for travel in the past 6 months*
• Form I-797 Receipt Notice from USCIS
• Proof of employment (Recommended, although not required) 

If you are in your approved OPT period: You can travel outside of the U.S. and return. You must carry the usual immigration documents with you, including:

• Passport valid for at least 6 months into the future
• Unexpired F-1 visa
• Most recent Form I-20 updated with OPT Approval and signed for travel in the past 6 months*
• EAD
• Proof of employment (Recommended, although not required) 

*Please note that Form I-20 travel signatures are only valid for 6 months during OPT.

If you travel outside of the U.S. while you are on OPT and your visa has expired, you will need to apply for a new F-1 visa to return to the U.S. and continue your OPT. If you need to apply for a new visa while you are on OPT.  Keep in mind that the purpose of the F-1 visa is for educational purposes, and that you must prove "non-immigrant intent" and/or have plans to return to your home country once your educational objectives are completed. 

To renew your F-1 visa while on OPT, contact the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in your home country to inquire about the visa renewal process. You will be required to schedule a visa appointment.

You must carry the usual immigration documents with you, including:

• Passport valid for at least 6 months into the future
• Unexpired F-1 visa
• Most recent Form I-20 updated with OPT Approval and signed for travel in the past 6 months*
• EAD
• Proof of employment (Recommended, although not required) 

Social Security Numbers (SSN) are required for all individuals employed in the U.S. They are used primarily for tax purposes. They do not serve as proof of employment authorization, but they are needed for your employer to pay you and so that you can pay taxes. While you are employed in the U.S., you must follow both immigration regulations and U.S. tax regulations. For more information on taxes, please refer to the tax section of our website and Tax Information for International Students.

Some students may already have an SSN from previous on-campus or CPT employment. In this case, you do not need a new SSN for OPT. Your SSN will remain the same for all employment in the U.S.