If you’re an international student looking for practical, on-the-job experience, Optional Practical Training (OPT) has historically been the best first step for you. Unfortunately, recent news regarding OPT, including two different lawsuits, may give students pause as they consider life after graduation. Despite these recent developments, OPT is still a popular path to start a professional career.
OPT Defined
Optional Practical Training, or OPT, is a program that allows international students such as yourself to gain experience in their field of study while remaining in the United States. OPT is often paid work and can be taken during your schooling (pre-completion OPT) or after you complete your degree (post-completion OPT). Most commonly, F-1 international students will use OPT to extend their stay in the U.S. after graduation.
Most OPT programs last 12 months, but recent changes allow students who study science, technology, engineering, and/or mathematics (STEM) to remain in the country for up to 36 months after completing their degree.
For students familiar with the H-1B visa program, OPT differs in that there is no cap on the number of participants and you are not required to be sponsored by your employer. If you still have questions, check out this excellent FAQ page by the National Association of Graduate-Professional Students.
Challenges Students May Face Applying for OPT
OPT currently places no limits on the number of applicants or participants, which makes it a very popular program. Unfortunately, OPT’s popularity has led to some challenges, including a long waiting period for work authorization due to the sheer number of applications submitted. Some students have reported waiting up to 5 months for their application to clear.
And, of course, OPT is subject to change. Recently the OPT application form, I-765, was lengthened from 2 to 7 pages, with some questions causing confusion at first. In addition, the current administration is trying to issue a rule that will restrict or eliminate the OPT and STEM OPT programs.
How Optional Practical Training Benefits Students
With those challenges in mind, you may be thinking that OPT seems like a lot of hassle. Here are five reasons why OPT is worth the effort:
- Optional Practical Training empowers you to gain paid experience in your field of study.
- Optional Practical Training can help you land a more permanent job with an employer willing to sponsor your work visa.
- Optional Practical Training doesn’t require employer sponsorship.
- Optional Practical Training students pay less in taxes than their H-1B counterparts.
- Optional Practical Training work experience is a big reason why 73% of students choose to study in the United States in the first place.
Eligibility for OPT
Considering the numerous benefits of OPT, you may be wondering if you’re eligible for the program. You can apply for OPT if:
- You will have been a full-time student for at least one academic year by the requested OPT start date AND
- You are maintaining a valid F-1 status during the application process AND
- You have not already used any of your allotted OPT time at the same degree level.
How to Apply for OPT
As May graduations approach, now is a great time to discuss applying for OPT with your international student advisor. If you are at all interested, you should reach out to your advisor as soon as possible, as the application window can vary depending on your degree and whether you will be pursuing pre-completion or post-completion OPT.
The first step in your application is completed by your Designated School Official (DSO). Once you’ve expressed interest, they will endorse your Form I‑20 (Certification of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status), and update your records in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS).
Next, you will need to file Form I-765 (Application for Employment Authorization with USCIS), accompanied by the required $410 fee and required documentation. The form is seven pages long, and students can access detailed instructions for filing correctly. Make sure to reach out to your advisor for help during this process.
Key Takeaway
If you are interested in continuing to live in the United States after you graduate, OPT is still the best path to legal employment. While there are some challenges to overcome, the OPT program is incredibly popular and can help you start a professional career. Make sure to stay up-to-date on your OPT options and the laws that govern them so that you don’t miss the opportunity to apply when the time comes.
Coming to America: An International Student Perspective
The first time someone hears my accent, they immediately start a guessing game. “Are you from England?” The next one often is,“Are you from Down Under?” “A Kiwi perhaps?”
No, I’m from South Africa.
“Oh?” Eyebrows shoot up and a pause always follows. “But you’re white!”
Yes. Over the years, I’ve gotten really good at smiling sarcastically.
What usually follows is a series of “interesting” questions. No, we don’t ride elephants to work. No, we don’t have chimpanzees as pets. Yes, we speak English. Do you?
I confess, sometimes I have fun with it. I did tell someone that all South Africans know how to climb lamp posts to avoid lions in the streets. I know. I’m sorry. Please don’t judge me.
People’s perceptions are interesting to me. Having been an international student, I know I have a unique perspective concerning the challenges they face. I attended both a community college and a four-year university.
What it means to be from South Africa
South Africa has a population of 58 million people, almost the same size as United Kingdom (66 million). I’m from the town of Bloemfontein, a tight-knit community of 250,000 people located 250 miles south of Johannesburg. I like to think of Bloemfontein as a “large” small town since it seems like it is impossible not to run into someone you know while out and about.
The South African school system is quite different from America’s. It is based on your home language of either English or Afrikaans, and whether or not your parents want you to be in a co-ed school or not. I chose an English-based, all-girls school. Regardless of which school you attended, school fees are relatively expensive and school uniforms are a must.
Friday nights are spent hanging out at the mall with your friends or going over to their house for a braai (what Americans call a barbecue). Early Saturday mornings are typically reserved for the “boere” (farmers) market to purchase local produce and enjoy the most delicious pancakes (known elsewhere as crepes), followed by a couple of afternoon beers with your friends and family while watching a rugby or cricket match. Nights usually end with a braai or by venturing out to our only block that has three or four bars to choose from. Sundays almost always start with attending church service, followed by going to our favorite coffee shops for a cup and a tasty pastry or slice of cake.
My Perspective of America Before Coming Here
After graduating high school at the age of 17, I chose to forego the “straight to university” route and work as an intern. After a couple of months, I rudely realized hospitality management wasn’t for me. Knowing my career uncertainty, my aunt suggested I move to the United States and stay with her in Kansas. Of course, after seeing American movies portraying college life, I eagerly anticipated joining a sorority, participating in American football-filled weekends, and hailing a taxi to bustling places I needed to go. I applied for a visa and to attend Johnson County Community College, located in the Kansas City suburb of Overland Park, Kansas. I got accepted, and a couple of months later, I packed my bags and boarded my first airplane.
I imagined America in full “Hollywood” view; big tall buildings, expansive city parks like Central Park, brick façade apartments with fire escapes like the ones in the sitcom “Friends,” and a Starbucks on every corner (at least that part was true). I was excited to shop at Whole Foods, walk down the busy streets with my Starbucks in hand, and catch the subway to somewhere new.
I opened the window shade on the airplane and reality shone in the cabin. I saw…cornfields. Lots and lots of cornfields.
Experiencing Almost Immediate Culture Shock
I arrived in the middle of summer (July 2nd to be exact) and culture shock hit me hard as I stepped off the airplane. Thick humidity snatched my breath away. Then, on the way to my aunt and uncle’s house from the airport, they took me to my first American store—Cabela’s. It was far from what I had pictured in my mind, but my excitement to be in America was still at an all-time high.
Days later, culture shock really sat in. There were times where I struggled to understand the Midwestern accent. I also had to remind myself which side of the road to drive on, (I still do).
Portion sizes of food and movie popcorn baffle me to this day, as well as the endless soda refills. For comparison, in South Africa, a large popcorn is the equivalent to a medium in the United States. And, eating out was more of a weekend activity before moving to the United States. Also, the taste of food was very different than what I was used to.
Even something as simple as greeting one another in the States took some getting used to. For example, Americans say, “Hey! How are you?” as a greeting. In South Africa, if you ask someone how they are, you opened the door to a quick conversation about someone’s physical well-being. Having access to Wi-Fi 24/7 was another strange concept. In South Africa, the only time you are connected to Wi-Fi is either at home or at work.
Additionally, going to a coffee shop and having a beverage with friends has a different meaning in the States. There are multiple unique coffee shops to choose from in South Africa, not a handful of massive chain stores. Grabbing a drink after work to watch the sunset on a patio at a bar happens more often than not. We even have a name for it: “sundowners.” In the United States, happy hours are reserved for a Friday night if we get off of work early enough, otherwise working on the weekends has become all too familiar. There are still times where I catch myself explaining to others what I mean when I say a certain phrase or when an American needs to explain to me that the Super Bowl is more than just a concert that centers around a football game.
But one of the biggest cultural shock moments happened when I first used the American healthcare system. In this experience I learned how a careless healthcare selection could change my life from good, to bad, to real ugly…then back to good!