Pre-Completion OPT

Pre-Completion Optional Practical Training (OPT) is work authorization for F-1 students to gain practical off-campus work experience within your field of study that begins and ends before your program completion date. Activity while on Pre-Completion OPT needs to directly relate to your major field of study.

As an F-1 student, you are eligible for 12 months of OPT at each degree level (i.e., Bachelor's, Master's, Doctoral). If you do not have an internship or practicum option, Pre-Completion OPT may be right for you.

Applying for Pre-Completion OPT

1. Review detailed information about Pre-Completion OPT in this Powerpoint.
2. Request your Academic Advisor or Pogram Coordinator to complete the Pre-Completion OPT Academic Advisor Recommendation Form.
3. Once the Pre-Completion OPT Academic Advisor Recommendation Form has been completed, submit the Pre-Completion OPT Request E-Form in the MyOIE POrtal to request an I-20 with a recommendation for OPT.
4. Apply for Pre-Completion OPT authorization with USCIS. Refer to the Powerpoint for details on the process to file Form I-765, which can only happen after you have received your I-20 from OIE recommending Pre-Completion OPT.

Reporting Pre-Completion OPT Employment

After your Pre-Completion OPT application is approved and your Pre-OPT EAD start date is reached, email oie@andrew.cmu.edu with the subject line 'Pre-Completion OPT Reporting'. Include the following information in your email:

• name of the company
• the employer's address, 
• the job start and end dates
• your job title
• 2-4 sentences of how the job is related to your major field of study. View this PDF for sample OPT job explanations. 

OIE is required to keep information about your employment on file and you are required to report any changes to your employment within 10 days of the change.