USCIS Announces Online Filing Options for F-1 Students Seeking OPT — What to Know

USCIS now lets many F-1 students file Form I-765 online for Pre-OPT (c)(3)(A), Post-OPT (c)(3)(B), and the 24-month STEM OPT extension (c)(3)(C) through a free USCIS online account—streamlining submission, receipts, and case tracking. Always start on the official I-765 page to confirm online availability and the current edition.

Timing rules you can’t miss (the “90/60/30” framework)

• Post-OPT: USCIS must receive your I-765 no earlier than 90 days before your program end date and no later than 60 days after it. In addition, the application must arrive within 30 days of your DSO’s OPT recommendation on page 2 of the new I-20. Filing outside these windows risks denial
• STEM OPT: File the I-765 before your current EAD expires and within 60 days of the DSO’s STEM recommendation in SEVIS; filing before the recommendation or after 60 days will be denied.

What to upload (online)

• Signed I-20 with the OPT/STEM recommendation (make sure the DSO signature is recent—see timing above).
• Passport ID page, most recent I-94, prior EAD(s), and a compliant passport-style photo.
• For STEM OPT, include Form I-983 and proof your employer participates in E-Verify.

Premium processing & receipts
Eligible F-1 OPT and STEM OPT applicants may request premium processing (Form I-907) per USCIS’s phased expansion; filing remains optional. Online filers receive an electronic receipt in the account, then an I-797C by mail.

Avoid these common mistakes

• Picking the wrong eligibility code (use (c)(3)(A)/(B)/(C) exactly).
• Submitting without the new OPT-recommended I-20 or with an I-20 that’s too old for your filing window.
• Filing before the DSO recommendation appears in SEVIS (STEM) or after the 30/60-day clocks.

Pro tips
Create your USCIS online account first, verify your address for EAD delivery, and add G-1145 (if filing by mail). Keep PDFs readable and consistent; mis-sized photos or mismatched dates trigger delays. When in doubt, confirm requirements on the USCIS I-765 and OPT/STEM OPT pages—the agency updates these as policies evolve.