Optional Practical Training (OPT)

Optional Practical Training (OPT) is a type of temporary employment available to eligible F-1 students that must be approved by USCIS. Employment must be directly related to the student’s major area of study and appropriate to the level of education. OPT can be authorized for up to 12 months per educational level.

🔹 Pre-Completion OPT 

• This type of OPT is not common.
• This is employment that occurs while you are in your degree program, before your I-20 program end date.
• Employment may only be part-time while classes are in session (20 hours or less per week). Full-time employment is only allowed during breaks or annual vacation sessions.

🔹 Post-Completion OPT 

• This type of OPT is very common.
• Available after completing your program of study, after your program end date. * 
• Employment must be full-time (more than 20 hours per week).
• Can be approved for 12 months, less any OPT time used pre-completion, which is counted at a half-rate. Example: Four months of part-time Pre-Completion OPT is subtracted from the total as two months.
• Can be applied for as early as 90 days before your program end date and no more than 60 days after your program end date.
• You may accrue no more than 90 days of unemployment, which is cumulative, or you will lose your F-1 status.

* Completion of studies is defined as the actual date that you complete all requirements for a program of study (such as the date of your final exams, or submission of your thesis or dissertation). It is not automatically considered to be the date of your graduation ceremony, or degree conferral date (at MIU, this only occurs in June, or in December).

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OPT Application Process at MIU

If you are enrolled in a program other than Computer Science, please contact: dso@miu.edu

MIU Computer Science Applicants Requirements:

Download the PDF and read it carefully and completely. Then contact International Student Services to start your application process.

Please contact: 

Samantha Kelly—DSO: skelly@miu.edu

Beth Rasmussen—DSO: beth.rasmussen@miu.edu

Email us at dso@miu.edu