{"id":24147,"date":"2024-01-16T19:39:34","date_gmt":"2024-01-16T19:39:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.uwb.edu\/international-student-services\/?page_id=24147"},"modified":"2026-04-02T21:24:14","modified_gmt":"2026-04-02T21:24:14","slug":"post-completion-opt-application","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.uwb.edu\/international-student-services\/f-1-benefits\/practical-training\/post-completion-opt\/post-completion-opt-application","title":{"rendered":"Post-completion OPT Application"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. Start and end date<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Choosing your OPT start date is often one of the most difficult decisions. Keep in mind that you are not required to have a job before applying, nor is it expected that you will immediately have a job. Nonetheless, you must still choose a start date for your 12-months of employment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Start Date<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The start date must be within <strong>60 days<\/strong> of your program end date (final day of exams for your graduating quarter).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You cannot change your start date after applying.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The date you request may be altered by USCIS.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>This only usually happens if your application is not authorized by your requested start date.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If you choose a later start date but find employment sooner, you must inform you employer that you cannot begin working until your authorized start date.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">End Date<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>If you have not used Pre-completion OPT, your end date will be entered by ISS staff. It will be 12 months minus one day from your requested start date.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>For example:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Start date: 01\/10\/2024<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>End date: 01\/09\/2025<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If you have used Pre-completion OPT, that time must be subtracted from your end date. Please contact uwbintl@uw.edu so we can help you work out your end date.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. Post-completion OPT recommendation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Request your recommendation at the <a href=\"https:\/\/iss.uwb.edu\/\">international student portal<\/a>.<\/strong> In <strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><em>3 &#8211; 5 days<\/em><\/span><\/strong>, you will receive a new I-20 with a Post-completion OPT recommendation on the second page.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>This document is <strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><em>required<\/em><\/span><\/strong> to apply for Post-completion OPT.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You can request this up to 90 days before your program completion.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Requesting this I-20 will verify your intent to complete your program of study.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Your program end date will be shortened (if not already accurate) to match the end of your graduating quarter.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You will receive an email when your new I-20 is ready.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Post-completion OPT recommendation is only valid for 30 days.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. Form I-765<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Form I-765 can be submitted online at <a href=\"https:\/\/my.uscis.gov\/\">my.uscis.gov<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>You can only submit an I-765 <strong><em><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">after<\/span><\/em><\/strong> receiving a Post-completion OPT recommendation on your I-20. <strong><em>Submitting Form I-765 without a Post-completion OPT recommendation will result in a denial.<\/em><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You must submit an I-765 within <strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><em>30 days<\/em><\/span><\/strong> of the Post-completion OPT recommendation issue date. <strong><em>Submitting Form I-765 more than 30 days after the I-20 issue date will result in a denial.<\/em><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You are responsible for correctly filing Form I-765 with USCIS. ISS can assist you with questions, but filing Form I-765, verifying your uploaded documents, and paying the I-765 filing fee are solely your responsibility.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Make sure you file Form I-765 under category C3B (Post-completion OPT).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Use your personal email address on the form, do not rely on access to your UW email.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. Waiting for authorization<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>After filing Form I-765, you must wait for your authorization. The average time is <strong>90 days<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Expect to receive a notification for a Biometrics Appointment. If you receive this notification, you will need to attend your Biometrics Appointment for your application to proceed.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If your program end date arrives, you will be in a pending stage and should take the following into consideration.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>You can remain in the US while your Form I-765 is pending.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>We do not recommend travelling outside the US. You will not be able to re-enter the US without authorization. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If you receive a request for evidence from USCIS, inform ISS and respond to USCIS.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Typically, these requests can be fulfilled by uploading additional documents to your pending application.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5. Employment Authorization Document (EAD)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>After approval, you will be sent an EAD.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You cannot start working until you receive the EAD.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The EAD can take <strong>1 &#8211; 2 weeks<\/strong> to arrive.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Use the USPS tracking number you receive from USCIS to make sure your EAD arrives.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If your EAD is lost in the mail, please inform ISS immediately.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"is-style-highlight-paragraph-grey-background\"><em>It doesn&#8217;t end here! Make sure you read how to maintain your OPT on our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.uwb.edu\/international-student-services\/?page_id=24151\">requirements and FAQ page<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>1. Start and end date Choosing your OPT start date is often one of the most difficult decisions. Keep in mind that you are not required to have a job before applying, nor is it expected that you will immediately have a job. Nonetheless, you must still choose a start date for your 12-months of&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":70,"featured_media":0,"parent":24149,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_is_archived":false,"_archived_contact_email":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-24147","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":{"related_links":{"toggle_visibility":false,"link_1":"","link_2":"","link_3":"","link_4":"","link_5":""},"highlight_box":{"toggle_visibility":false,"title":"","content":"","button":"","button_style":"angled-purple-button","button_screen_reader_text":""},"contact_type_1":{"toggle_visibility":false,"contact_title":"Contact Us","email":"test@uwb.edu","phone":"(206) 999-1234","box":"Box 358500","address_line_1":"18115 Campus Way NE","address_line_2":"Bothell, WA 98011-8246","location":""},"contact_type_2":{"toggle_visibility":false,"contact_title":"","email":"","phone":"","box":"","address_line_1":"","address_line_2":"","location":""},"social_media":{"toggle_visibility":false,"facebook_url":"","instagram_url":"","linkedin_url":"","twitter_url":"","youtube_url":""},"blog_archive_sidebar_visibility":false},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.0 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Post-completion OPT Application - International Student Services<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.uwb.edu\/international-student-services\/f-1-benefits\/practical-training\/post-completion-opt\/post-completion-opt-application\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Post-completion OPT Application - International Student Services\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"1. 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