Post-completion OPT
- You do not need a job offer to apply for post-completion OPT.
- You need to be a degree-seeking student who has been in full-time student status for
at least one academic year.
- Exchange students do not qualify for OPT, as they will not obtain a degree from the University of South Carolina.
- If you are in the dissertation phase of your PhD degree, then you can apply for post-completion OPT prior to your actual graduation. It is typically recommended that you pursue post-completion OPT in this situation rather than pre-completion OPT.
Pre-completion OPT
- Federal regulations do not required you to have a job offer to apply for pre-completion OPT. However, ISS strongly recommends that you do not apply for pre-completion OPT without a job offer, as you risk wasting your post-completion OPT time if you are not able to find a job.
- You need to be a degree-seeking student who has been in full-time student status for
at least one academic year.
- Exchange students do not qualify for OPT, as they will not obtain a degree from the University of South Carolina.
24-month STEM OPT Extension
See the STEM Optional Practical Training section of the ISS website.