{"id":3430,"date":"2019-04-18T15:35:01","date_gmt":"2019-04-18T19:35:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/global\/?page_id=3430"},"modified":"2026-01-26T14:54:28","modified_gmt":"2026-01-26T19:54:28","slug":"optional-practical-training","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/global\/office-of-international-students-and-scholars\/resources\/optional-practical-training\/","title":{"rendered":"Optional Practical Training"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"type-intro fullwidth\">Optional Practical Training (OPT) is a work authorization that allows F-1 international students to gain experience in their field of study. Students may apply for post-completion OPT during their final semester. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Optional Practical Training Workshops<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Spring 2026<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Graduating at the end of the semester? Want to work in the US after graduation? These workshops will provide an overview of the OPT application process and answer any questions you might have. All sessions will cover the same material.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"cl-wrapper cl-card-wrapper\"><a class=\"cl-card  \" href=\"https:\/\/uri-edu.zoom.us\/meeting\/register\/mC-2j7dWTGOfCqJze-YcDw\" title=\"\"><div class=\"cl-card-container text\"><div class=\"cl-card-text\"><h2>OPT Workshop<\/h2><p>Thursday, February 12, 3pm-4:30pm<\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"cl-card-container button\">register now<\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"cl-wrapper cl-card-wrapper\"><a class=\"cl-card  \" href=\"https:\/\/uri-edu.zoom.us\/meeting\/register\/Lt3Z1k5TRTSO563Gr8cK8Q\" title=\"\"><div class=\"cl-card-container text\"><div class=\"cl-card-text\"><h2>OPT Workshop<\/h2><p>Wednesday, February 25, 5pm-6:30pm<\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"cl-card-container button\">register now<\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"cl-wrapper cl-card-wrapper\"><a class=\"cl-card  \" href=\"https:\/\/uri-edu.zoom.us\/meeting\/register\/sZ3rdJ0hQ2eFN7kRhUAKFg\" title=\"\"><div class=\"cl-card-container text\"><div class=\"cl-card-text\"><h2>OPT Workshop<\/h2><p>Tuesday, March 10, 1pm-2:30pm<\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"cl-card-container button\">register now<\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<p><strong>Ready to submit your OPT request? Submit your request to OISS on Sunapsis. <\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\"><div class=\"cl-wrapper cl-card-wrapper\"><a class=\"cl-card  \" href=\"https:\/\/sunapsis.uri.edu\/istart\/controllers\/start\/StartEngine.cfm\" title=\"\"><div class=\"cl-card-container text\"><div class=\"cl-card-text\"><h2>URI OPT Request<\/h2><\/div><\/div><div class=\"cl-card-container button\">submit request on sunapsis<\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Employment Extensions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Optional Practical Training\/STEM<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Students may seek a 24-month OPT extension. The application must include the employer name as listed in E-Verify, along with the E-Verify Company Identification Number, or a valid E-Verify Client Company Identification Number. Students who file their STEM extension applications with USCIS on time, may continue working while their applications are pending for 180 days or the date of the decision, whichever date is earlier. This interim extension minimizes disruption in the student\u2019s employment and also ensures that employers will conduct the necessary employment eligibility re-verification.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>After being granted the 24-month STEM extension:<\/strong><br>The student must report to his or her designated school official by e-mail, every six months. In addition student must report within 10 days of changes in any of the items below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Legal name<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Residential, mailing, and e-mail address<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Job title or position<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Employer name and address<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Supervisor name and contact information<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Employment start-date and end-date<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The requirement to report continues if the student\u2019s 24-month STEM extension is extended further by the automatic cap-gap extension.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Optional Practical Training\u2013Cap-Gap<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The period of time when an F-1 student\u2019s status and work authorization expire through the start date of their approved H-1B employment period is known as the \u201cCap-Gap\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Cap-Gap occurs because an employer may not file, and USCIS may not accept, an H-1B petition submitted more than six months in advance of the date of actual need for the beneficiary\u2019s services or training. As a result, the earliest date that an employer can file an H-1B cap-subject petition is April 1 for the following fiscal year, starting October 1. If USCIS approves the H-1B petition and the accompanying change of status request, the earliest date that the student may start the approved H-1B employment is October 1.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\"><a class=\"cl-button   prominent\" href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/global\/international-students\/employment\/optional-practical-training\/cap-gap\/\" title=\"\">Cap-gap information<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Cap-Gap Extensions<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Current regulations allow certain students with pending or approved H-1B petitions to remain in F-1 status during the cap-gap period. This is referred to as filling the \u201ccap-gap,\u201d meaning the regulations provide a way of filling the \u201cgap\u201d between the end of F-1 status and the beginning of H-1B status that might otherwise occur if F-1 status is not extended for qualifying students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Eligibility for an Extension<\/strong><br>H-1B petitions that are timely filed, on behalf of an eligible F-1 student, that request a change of status to H-1B on October 1 qualify for a cap-gap extension. Once a timely filing has been made, requesting a change of status to H-1B on October 1, the automatic cap-gap extension will begin and will continue until the H-1B petition adjudication process has been completed. If the student\u2019s H-1B petition is selected and approved, the student\u2019s extension will continue through September 30. If the student\u2019s H-1B petition is denied, withdrawn, revoked, or is not selected, the student will have the standard 60-day grace period from the date of the rejection notice or their program end date, whichever is later, to prepare for and depart the United States.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Students are strongly encouraged to stay in close communication with their petitioning employer during the cap-gap extension period for status updates on the H-1B petition processing.<\/p>\n\n\n<section class=\"cl-wrapper cl-boxout-wrapper\"><div class=\"cl-boxout  \"><p>\n<h1>We&#8217;re here to help<\/h1>\n<p><strong>Office of International Students and Scholars<br \/>\nOffice Hours:<\/strong><br \/>\nMonday &#8211; Friday<br \/>\n8:30am &#8211; 4:30pm Eastern Time<\/p>\n<p><strong>International Center, 3rd FL<\/strong><br \/>\n37 Lower College Road<br \/>\nKingston, RI, 02881<br \/>\nPhone: 401.874.2395<br \/>\nissoff@etal.uri.edu<\/p>\n<p><strong> Follow us on social media!<br \/>\nInstagram &#8211; uri_intl<br \/>\nX &#8211; uri_intl<br \/>\nFacebook &#8211; URI Office of International Students &amp; Scholars<\/p>\n<p><\/p><\/div><\/section><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Optional Practical Training (OPT) is a work authorization that allows F-1 international students to gain experience in their field of study. Students may apply for post-completion OPT during their final semester. Optional Practical Training Workshops Spring 2026 Graduating at the end of the semester? Want to work in the US after graduation? These workshops will [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4861,"featured_media":0,"parent":28675,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"class_list":["post-3430","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3430","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4861"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3430"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3430\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":30060,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3430\/revisions\/30060"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/28675"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3430"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}