Carnegie Mellon University
August 22, 2014

Fall 2014 Optional Practical Training (OPT) Sessions

To all F-1 students who will complete their program this semester, if you would like to work in the U.S. following graduation, you must apply for OPT!  

If you are planning to apply for OPT this semester, it is mandatory that you attend one of the following OPT sessions with the Office of International Education (OIE).  We cannot schedule individual advising appointments to provide this information, so plan ahead to find a session that will fit your schedule. 

Note: OPT applications can be filed with USCIS 90 days prior to program completion or within the 60 day grace period following program completion.  OIE strongly recommends applying before completing your program because applications can take 60 to 90 days to be approved by USCIS.

Students in J-1 status who are expecting to complete their program this semester should read the handout onAcademic Training and schedule an appointment with their J-1 Alternate Responsible Officer (an OIE advisor if CMU issued your DS-2019).

Fall 2014 OPT sessions will be held from 12 noon to 1:30 p.m. on the following dates:

DATE

LOCATION

November 25

Warner Hall, 1st floor, Carnegie East Conference Room

December 3

Warner Hall, 1st floor, Carnegie West Conference Room

December 9

Warner Hall, 1st floor, Carnegie East Conference Room

Students must register for a session in advance.  To register:

  1. Visit CMU’s The Bridge here: http://bit.ly/OIE-OPTsessions
  2. View the OPT sessions by logging in. Click “Log In” in the top right-hand corner.  You will then see all of the OPT sessions listed.
  3. Choose the session that best fits into your schedule.
  4. RSVP for the session.

    Prior to attending the session, you must read the OPT instructions and informational powerpoint and if you're ready, you can have your academic advisor complete the OPT recommendation form.  Bring the OPT packet to the session.  You may wish to also bring your passport and I-20 to the session.  We also recommend that you bring the USCIS Form I-765 to the session.  

Graduate students in Tepper and Heinz programs may choose to attend a session held in their school.  Details about the school-based OPT sessions will be announced separately.