F-1 Students Seeking Optional Practical Training Can Now File Form I-765 Online
Beginning Monday, April 12, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will accept online filing of Form I-765 for the purposes of F-1 students seeking optional practical training (OPT). OPT is temporary employment authorization which allows international students in F-1 status to gain work experience in jobs related to their field of study. The transition to online filing will allow applicants to submit forms electronically, check the status of their case anytime from anywhere, and receive notices from USCIS online instead of waiting for them in the mail.
F-1 students who are nearing graduation and interested in applying for OPT should attend an OPT Workshop to initiate the process. Upcoming workshop dates can be found on the OIS events calendar. In the workshop, OIS Advisors will explain the benefit and application processes, including how to file Form I-765 online. It is important to note that while Form I-765 can now be filed online, the requirement for an F-1 student to be in status and physically in the U.S. at the time of filing has not changed.
International students and administrators can read the full USCIS announcement on their website and contact the Office of International Services at ois@uic.edu or (312) 996-3121 with questions.