Carnegie Mellon University
January 10, 2017

Spring 2017 Optional Practical Training (OPT) Sessions

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 normal processing time is 75 to 90 days.

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

Spring 2017 OPT sessions will be held on the following dates:

DATE LOCATION
January 25, 12:00-1:30 pm Cohon University Center, McConomy Auditorium
February 1, 5:00-6:30 pm Cohon University Center, McConomy Auditorium
February 7, 12:00-1:30 pm Cohon University Center, McConomy Auditorium
February 14, 12:00-1:30 pm Cohon University Center, Rangos 1
February 27, 12:00-1:30 pm Cohon University Center, Rangos 1
March 20, 12:00-1:30 pm Cohon University Center, Rangos 1
April 4, 12:00-1:30 pm Cohon University Center, Rangos 1
April 25, 12:00-1:30 pm Cohon University Center, Rangos 1
May 24, 12:00-1:30 pm Cohon University Center, Dowd
June 20, 12:00-1:30 pm Cohon University Center, Danforth Conference Room
July 17, 12:00-1:30 pm Cohon University Center, McKenna

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

  1. Visit CMU’s The Bridge: http://bit.ly/OIE-OPTsessions
  2. Click “Log In” in the top right-hand corner.  You must then click “Office of International Education” and then “Events”.
  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 (pdf). Also, for your own reference, please bring a copy of the OPT instructions along with the USCIS Form I-765.  You may also wish to review the OPT PowerPoint slides (pdf).