OPT Timeline: When to Apply for OPT & STEM OPT
Review the official filing windows for post-completion OPT and STEM OPT, including the separate deadlines tied to your program, EAD, and DSO recommendation.
The short answer
For post-completion OPT, USCIS may receive Form I-765 from 90 days before through 60 days after your program end date, but it must also receive the filing no more than 30 days after your DSO enters the recommendation in SEVIS. For STEM OPT, the filing may be submitted up to 90 days before the current EAD expires and no more than 60 days after the DSO recommendation, and USCIS must receive it before the current OPT authorization expires. Confirm your exact dates and current filing instructions before submitting.
Filing windows and processing stages
1. Ask your DSO to recommend OPT
Your DSO must enter the OPT recommendation in SEVIS and annotate your Form I-20 before you file Form I-765. A recommendation is not USCIS approval, and it starts a separate filing deadline.
2. Post-completion OPT filing window
USCIS may receive a post-completion OPT application no earlier than 90 days before and no later than 60 days after the program end date. Within that window, USCIS must also receive the application no more than 30 days after the DSO enters the OPT recommendation in SEVIS.
3. Requested start date and permission to work
The requested post-completion OPT start date cannot be more than 60 days after the program end date. You may not begin OPT employment until USCIS authorizes it and the start date shown on the EAD has arrived.
4. USCIS review and case tracking
USCIS processing times vary and are not a promise for an individual case. Use the live USCIS processing-times and case-status tools rather than a fixed estimate. If approved, post-completion OPT may be authorized for up to 12 months, reduced by pre-completion OPT used at the same educational level.
5. Employment and unemployment during post-completion OPT
Authorized OPT employment must be directly related to your major area of study. Federal guidance limits aggregate unemployment during post-completion OPT to 90 days. Discuss reporting and employment questions with your DSO.
6. STEM OPT extension window
A student who otherwise qualifies may file Form I-765 for a 24-month STEM OPT extension up to 90 days before the current post-completion OPT EAD expires, no more than 60 days after the DSO enters the STEM recommendation in SEVIS, and before the current OPT authorization expires. The student and qualifying employer complete and sign Form I-983 and submit it to the DSO before applying; follow the current Form I-765 instructions for the USCIS filing.
Plan around your own dates
Program dates, DSO recommendation dates, and EAD dates create different filing boundaries. MyF1Status can help you organize the dates you save, but it does not verify eligibility or guarantee that a filing is timely. Review the current Form I-765 instructions and confirm your individual timeline with your DSO or qualified immigration counsel.
MyF1Status is for educational and planning purposes only. It is not legal advice. Always confirm immigration decisions with your DSO or a qualified immigration attorney.