DePaul University

Optional Practical Training (OPT) is off-campus employment authorization for F-1 students that may be obtained from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to lawfully pursue employment in their academic field of study. F-1 students may apply for a total of 12 months of OPT to be used before completion of studies (pre-completion OPT) and/or after completion of studies (post-completion OPT). To be eligible, students must have maintained F-1 status (full-time enrollment) for a minimum of one academic year, which at DePaul University is equivalent to at least three consecutive quarters. USCIS must receive the post-completion OPT application no earlier than 90 days prior to the degree program completion date and no later than 60 days following the degree program completion date.