Program End Date for Doctoral Students

I-20 Program End Date Considerations

As a doctoral student, you are eligible to apply for OPT at any time after completion of your coursework.

However, if you wish to apply for OPT before completing your final requirements (defense, dissertation submission, revision submission), you will need to choose a “Program End” date for your I-20.

The end date you choose can be on or before (but no later than) the current Program End Date on your I-20.

Your OPT application needs to be received at the Service Center before the chosen Program End Date.

After the program end date you choose (which will be printed on your OPT I-20), you cannot work anywhere (on- or off-campus, paid or unpaid) until you receive your OPT card and the start date on the card arrives.

Please note:

  1. You need to complete all requirements for your degree before the end date on the OPT card.
    (Enrolling in classes as necessary to maintain candidacy is permissible from an immigration perspective.)
  2. To maintain your immigration status while on OPT, you need to work in your field of study at least 21 hours per week. You are allowed only 90 days of unemployment during the 12 month period.
    (The 90 day count begins on your OPT card start date.)

Most students wait until they are very close to completing all degree requirements before applying for OPT because you need to be able to finish your degree requirements and work over 20 hours a week while on OPT.

If you still require a substantial amount of time to complete your degree requirements and do not feel comfortable with the idea of completing your degree requirements while looking for work/working, it may be best to consider an extension to your I-20 before applying for OPT.

You need to discuss the choice of end date with your academic advisor before they complete the Academic Advisor Verification e-form, because you will be required to stop working after your program end date.