OPT Timeline: When to Apply for OPT & STEM OPT
OPT and STEM OPT timeline for F-1 students: filing windows, USCIS processing stages, and when to apply for post-completion OPT and the STEM extension.
Filing windows and processing stages
1. The 90-day pre-completion window
You can file your post-completion OPT application with USCIS as early as 90 days before your program end date. Filing early matters because USCIS processing can take several months, and your EAD must be approved before you can start working.
2. Your program end date
Your DSO recommends OPT in SEVIS and updates your I-20. Your requested OPT start date must fall within 60 days after your program end date.
3. The 60-day post-completion window
After your program ends you have a 60-day grace period. Your OPT application (Form I-765) must reach USCIS within 30 days of your DSO's SEVIS recommendation and before the grace period closes.
4. USCIS processing & EAD
USCIS reviews your I-765 and issues an EAD card. Standard post-completion OPT lasts up to 12 months. Track unemployment days carefully — you may accrue no more than 90 days of unemployment during OPT.
5. STEM OPT extension timeline
If you hold a qualifying STEM degree and work for an E-Verify employer, you can apply for a 24-month STEM OPT extension. File Form I-765 up to 90 days before your current OPT expires — and before it lapses — with a completed Form I-983 training plan.
Never miss a filing window
OPT and STEM OPT deadlines are unforgiving — a missed window can mean losing your work authorization. MyF1Status's Deadline Tracker maps your 90-day and 60-day windows, EAD expiration, and STEM extension dates so you always know exactly when to file.
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.