Illustrated Guide: How to Apply for OPT Online (Form I-765)
This illustrated guide walks F-1 students through completing Form I-765 online for OPT employment authorization, covering the three OPT categories, required documents, field-by-field instructions, and review and payment steps before submission.
Since April 2021, the following three common types of OPT for F-1 visa holders can be applied for online:
- (c)(3)(A) – Pre-Completion OPT.
- (c)(3)(B) – Post-Completion OPT.
- (c)(3)(C) – STEM OPT Extension (24-Month Extension of OPT for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) students).
The following step-by-step screenshots explain how to fill out Form I-765 to apply for an OPT Employment Authorization Document (EAD).
Preparation Before You Start
- USCIS online account: If you don't have one, register for an account; two-step verification via phone or email is required.
- Scanned copies of your passport, I-94, and I-20;
- 2×2 inch color passport-style photo with a white background. You can DIY it; see our tutorial, it's very simple!
Getting Started
- Log in to USCIS, go to My USCIS, and select account type: I am an applicant.
- Under "File a form," select "Application for Employment Authorization (I-765)."
- Select the "Basis of eligibility" and "Reason for applying" according to your situation.
- Preparer and interpreter information: International students generally do not need to provide interpreter information.
About You
- Your name: Enter your given name and family name. Single-character given names are usually fine; for example, for "Li Ming," put Ming and Li in the given name and family name fields respectively. For a two-character given name like "Li Xiaoming," you can enter Xiao Ming in the given name field; it is not recommended to put Ming in the middle name field because the middle name on documents is usually abbreviated (though there is no guarantee that USCIS won't treat Ming as a middle name...).
- Your contact information: Provide your phone number and address. Addresses are divided into mailing address and physical address. The mailing address can be a PO Box, but in that case be sure to provide your physical address, which is your actual residential address in the U.S.
- Describe yourself: Provide your gender and marital status. Gender options are limited to male and female.
- When and where you were born: Enter your city, province, country of birth, and date of birth.
- Your immigration information: Provide your nationality, I-94 number, passport information, etc.
- Other information: A-number (Alien Registration Number, starting with A); if you don't have one, check "No." USCIS Online Account Number: some people who have previously filed certain forms have this number; if you don't have one, check "No."
- Whether you have an SSN: Some people who have worked on campus have an SSN. If you don't have an SSN and want one, check "Yes" for "Do you want the SSA to issue you a Social Security card?"
Evidence
- Upload a 2×2 inch passport-style photo. You can DIY the photo: (1) take a photo with your phone against a simple background at home; (2) use the free tool on Adobe's official website to remove the background and save as a jpg with a white background; (3) crop to a square according to the photo requirements; (4) use our free tool to format the photo. Then print it out. See {https://gonglue.us/17269}.
- Upload your I-94: A screenshot of the electronic I-94 webpage is sufficient, in jpg or pdf format; see {https://gonglue.us/15029}.
- Upload a previous EAD, passport, or government-issued ID: The document must include a photo, name, and date of birth.
- Upload previous CPT or OPT authorization records (if any): These are available in your SEVIS record, in jpg or pdf format.
- Upload your I-20.
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Additional Information
If you need to provide additional explanation for the information you previously entered, upload it here.
Review and Submit
On this page, you can review all the items you previously filled out; if you find any errors, you can still go back and correct them. After reviewing, check the statement and sign electronically, then pay the fee and submit the form. Once the $410 application fee is paid, the form cannot be modified and the fee is non-refundable.
We wish everyone a smooth application process!
