F-1 Practical Training (OPT)
Questions and Answers
1. Q: Is Practical Training a separate visa status?
A: No. Practical Training is a benefit of F-1 status. While engaging in practical training, you still are considered
to be an F-1 student under the visa sponsorship of Duke University.
2. Q: An internship is not required for students in my major and there is no optional class that requires all students
who take that class to do an internship, but I don't want to use any of my Optional Practical Training time. Can I
use a "special readings" course or independent study under the direction of my advisor to use Curricular
Practical Training?
A: If the internship is not required and if there is no class which requires all students taking the class to an
internship, then the answer is "NO." You must apply for pre-completion Optional Practical Training.
Unfortunately, special readings and independent studies do not qualify for Curricular Practical Training.
3. Q: How much does it cost to apply for Optional Practical Training?
A: The application fee for OPT is currently $340.00.
4. Q: When should I apply for Optional Practical Training?
A: Immigration will not allow you to file for OPT earlier than 120 days BEFORE your 12-month period of OPT
begins. You can apply for OPT as early as 120 days BEFORE your graduation date, and if you choose to do so,
this means your start date will have to be the day after graduation.
RESTRICTION: if enrolled in a 1-year program (e.g., LL.M.), you can apply no earlier than 90 days before your
program's end date. The dates in the following examples will not apply.
You also must understand that the 12-month period of OPT can begin no later than 60 days AFTER graduation
- the length of time F-1 students may remain in the U.S. after they graduate. NOTE: We cannot guarantee how
long Immigration will take to process OPT applications.
Example: If graduation is May 14, you could file for OPT as early as January 15. Your work period would begin
May 15th. If you want to postpone the start date as long as possible, your period of OPT could begin no later
than July 14, which means you could apply as early as March 15.
It is important to note that you are NOT required to begin working on the start date of your OPT period.
However, the 12-month clock starts ticking down from that first day of your OPT period, and if you don't actually
work on the first day, you simply forfeit one day of authorized work. If you don't begin work until one month later,
then you have lost that amount of time.
5. Q: If I graduate in May, why should I file so early?
A: Currently, the processing time for OPT applications can take 2-3 months. This can change at any time. If you
must start work immediately after graduation, then you need to give Immigration as much time as possible to
process your application. NOTE: our office has no control over nor an ability to influence Immigration processing
times.
6. Q: I don't have a job yet, I haven't sent out resumes and I have not had any interviews. When do I apply?
A: You may wish to file for the latest possible start date. For December graduates, you may begin filing the end
of September; for May graduates, the middle of March. In either case, your latest possible start date will be 61
days after graduation. While you still may not have a job, you must understand that the 12-month clock starts
ticking down beginning with the first day of the OPT period. Any un-worked days are lost.
7. Q: What happens after I submit my application to Immigration?
A: After USDHS-CIS has processed your application, most Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) will
be sent directly to the International Office, and you will be contacted by us to come in and claim yours. It is
possible, though rare, that an EAD may be sent to the USDHS-CIS Office in Charlotte, NC, and this will require
personal pick-up.
8. Q: After I submit my application, how long will I have to wait before getting an answer from CIS?
A: Allow 2-3 months.
9. Q: What can I do to expedite the processing of my application?
A: Nothing. Immigration adjudicates applications on a first-come/ first-served basis with no exceptions.
10. Q: I absolutely must have my work authorization right away. What can I do?
A: Unfortunately, nothing. Immigration does not offer same-day processing at local offices nor does CIS provide
any mechanism for processing urgent requests. Students should, therefore, plan to apply for work authorization
well in advance of their projected starting dates.
11. Q: How can I find out the status of my application?
A: After submitting your application to the USDHS-CIS Office in Texas, the International Office will receive an
official receipt notice from CIS which you can access. In the lower left corner of the receipt notice is a telephone
number that you can call to obtain information about your application. When calling, you must refer to the receipt
number (SRC number), which is located in the upper left corner of the receipt notice. If you pay by personal
check, when cashed, your SRC number also will appear on the back of your check. Additionally, you may wish
to use the Immigration on-line status web site. To access this, go to:
https://egov.uscis.gov/graphics/cris/jsps/index.jsp?textFlag=N. You must enter the Receipt Notice number,
Questions and Answers
1. Q: Is Practical Training a separate visa status?
A: No. Practical Training is a benefit of F-1 status. While engaging in practical training, you still are considered
to be an F-1 student under the visa sponsorship of Duke University.
2. Q: An internship is not required for students in my major and there is no optional class that requires all students
who take that class to do an internship, but I don't want to use any of my Optional Practical Training time. Can I
use a "special readings" course or independent study under the direction of my advisor to use Curricular
Practical Training?
A: If the internship is not required and if there is no class which requires all students taking the class to an
internship, then the answer is "NO." You must apply for pre-completion Optional Practical Training.
Unfortunately, special readings and independent studies do not qualify for Curricular Practical Training.
3. Q: How much does it cost to apply for Optional Practical Training?
A: The application fee for OPT is currently $340.00.
4. Q: When should I apply for Optional Practical Training?
A: Immigration will not allow you to file for OPT earlier than 120 days BEFORE your 12-month period of OPT
begins. You can apply for OPT as early as 120 days BEFORE your graduation date, and if you choose to do so,
this means your start date will have to be the day after graduation.
RESTRICTION: if enrolled in a 1-year program (e.g., LL.M.), you can apply no earlier than 90 days before your
program's end date. The dates in the following examples will not apply.
You also must understand that the 12-month period of OPT can begin no later than 60 days AFTER graduation
- the length of time F-1 students may remain in the U.S. after they graduate. NOTE: We cannot guarantee how
long Immigration will take to process OPT applications.
Example: If graduation is May 14, you could file for OPT as early as January 15. Your work period would begin
May 15th. If you want to postpone the start date as long as possible, your period of OPT could begin no later
than July 14, which means you could apply as early as March 15.
It is important to note that you are NOT required to begin working on the start date of your OPT period.
However, the 12-month clock starts ticking down from that first day of your OPT period, and if you don't actually
work on the first day, you simply forfeit one day of authorized work. If you don't begin work until one month later,
then you have lost that amount of time.
5. Q: If I graduate in May, why should I file so early?
A: Currently, the processing time for OPT applications can take 2-3 months. This can change at any time. If you
must start work immediately after graduation, then you need to give Immigration as much time as possible to
process your application. NOTE: our office has no control over nor an ability to influence Immigration processing
times.
6. Q: I don't have a job yet, I haven't sent out resumes and I have not had any interviews. When do I apply?
A: You may wish to file for the latest possible start date. For December graduates, you may begin filing the end
of September; for May graduates, the middle of March. In either case, your latest possible start date will be 61
days after graduation. While you still may not have a job, you must understand that the 12-month clock starts
ticking down beginning with the first day of the OPT period. Any un-worked days are lost.
7. Q: What happens after I submit my application to Immigration?
A: After USDHS-CIS has processed your application, most Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) will
be sent directly to the International Office, and you will be contacted by us to come in and claim yours. It is
possible, though rare, that an EAD may be sent to the USDHS-CIS Office in Charlotte, NC, and this will require
personal pick-up.
8. Q: After I submit my application, how long will I have to wait before getting an answer from CIS?
A: Allow 2-3 months.
9. Q: What can I do to expedite the processing of my application?
A: Nothing. Immigration adjudicates applications on a first-come/ first-served basis with no exceptions.
10. Q: I absolutely must have my work authorization right away. What can I do?
A: Unfortunately, nothing. Immigration does not offer same-day processing at local offices nor does CIS provide
any mechanism for processing urgent requests. Students should, therefore, plan to apply for work authorization
well in advance of their projected starting dates.
11. Q: How can I find out the status of my application?
A: After submitting your application to the USDHS-CIS Office in Texas, the International Office will receive an
official receipt notice from CIS which you can access. In the lower left corner of the receipt notice is a telephone
number that you can call to obtain information about your application. When calling, you must refer to the receipt
number (SRC number), which is located in the upper left corner of the receipt notice. If you pay by personal
check, when cashed, your SRC number also will appear on the back of your check. Additionally, you may wish
to use the Immigration on-line status web site. To access this, go to:
https://egov.uscis.gov/graphics/cris/jsps/index.jsp?textFlag=N. You must enter the Receipt Notice number,
