F-1 Students Seeking Optional Practical Training Can Now File Form I-765 Online
/USCIS announced on April 12, 2021 that F-1 students seeking optional practical training (OPT) can file Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, online if they are filing under the following categories:
(c)(3)(A) Pre-Completion OPT
(c)(3)(B) Post-Completion OPT
(c)(3)(C) 24-Month STEM Extension
Online filing of Form I-765 is restricted solely to F-1 students filing Form I-765 for OPT. Any Form I-765 application that is filed for an ineligible employment category will be denied and the fee retained. Online filing allows students to check the status of their case and receive notices from USCIS online as opposed to waiting for a notice to arrive in the mail. Students must first crate a USCIS online account at myaccount.uscis.gov. The online version of Form I-765 can be found on the USCIS Forms Available to File Online page.
International students are encouraged to check with their international offices regarding the filing of their OPT applications.
