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Online I-765 Application for Pre- Completion OPT

Applying for Pre-Completion Optional Practical Training (OPT) requires submitting an online application to USCIS.

The instructions included here are specific to individuals applying online for Pre-Completion OPT only.

Please Note

You should keep in mind that the I-765 application is your personal application for employment authorization. You are responsible for following all USCIS instructions and making sure that the application is correct and complete. Northwestern University and NU’s OISS will NOT have access to your application and cannot correct, edit, or change any information on your application for you. If you have any issues or questions regarding your I-765 application, you will need to work directly with USCIS. OISS advisors can provide some guidance and help if you do need to contact USCIS; we encourage you to communicate with OISS for assistance.

Step 1: Prepare Your Documents

When you submit the online I-765 application for Pre-Completion OPT, you will need to prepare to enter the following information and upload the following documents. You will enter information and upload photos and documents into myUSCIS once you start your application.

Prepare Your Digital Photos

You must prepare a digital passport-style photo taken within the last thirty days and the photo must follow the U.S. Department of State Photo Composition Template.

OISS strongly recommends students applying for OPT use a professional visa/passport photo service (such as the photo department at Walgreens or CVS) to ensure the photo meets all requirements for the OPT application. We are aware of numerous circumstances in which students initially received approval utilizing the online photo tool, and later had their OPT application rejected due to issues with the photo. The acceptance of your digital image or photo is at the discretion of USCIS.

Be sure to check that your photo file has an acceptable name that follows USCIS's file name formatting outlined in the instructions and is saved as either a .jpeg / .jpg or .png file type. The online OPT application has a photo tool you can use to check your photo.

Please see our 1/28/2026 update regarding recent trends.

Step 2: Create Your myUSCIS Account

Create a myUSCIS Account on uscis.gov

• If you have a USCIS account from a previous benefits application, you can login to your existing account to submit the new application.
• If you do not have an existing myUSCIS account, set up your account by going to uscis.gov and selecting "Sign In" --> "Create Account"
  • You can also create an account from the main USCIS home page at https://www.uscis.gov --> "Sign up”
  • Another option is to go to the File Online section of the USCIS web site and clicking on the "Create an Account or Sign In" box
• You must use your e-mail to create your myUSCIS account.
• The system will send you a one-time PIN to log into your account; you will need to continue to use two-factor authentication when signing-in to your account.
• Follow all other USCIS instructions to finalize the account creation process.
• Keep your account information secure as you will need to return to your account to finish the application and to view updates once you have submitted your application.

Review USCIS's Tips

Once you create your myUSCIS account, read through USCIS's Tips for Filing Forms Online page. After you have reviewed the information, start your online I-765 application (next step).

Step 3: Prepare and Submit Your Online I-765 Application for Pre-Completion OPT

Important Notes on Timing

You will be able to save and return to the application at a later time and date, but OISS recommends you complete all application steps and submit your application within 15 days of your Pre-Completion OPT I-20 issuance date.

You must file your COMPLETE application within 30 days of the date the OISS processed your OPT request (date on new I-20 with Pre-Completion OPT recommendation).

If more than 30 days have passed since your Pre-Completion OPT I-20 was issued and you have not submitted your application, you will need to submit a new OPT request at the OISS Portal and email your OISS advisor.

Start Your Online Form I-765 Application for Pre-Completion OPT

Remember to first submit your OPT request in the OISS Portal to receive your new I-20 with the Pre-Completion OPT recommendation.

Once you have created and logged-in to your myUSCIS account, follow these steps to file your online I-765 application.

1. Look for the option to "File a Form Online"
2. Look for the option to file Form I-765 (toward the bottom) - be sure to select the correct form!
3. Once you have selected Form I-765, you will be prompted to start the online I-765 application

 

Completing the Online I-765 for Pre-Completion OPT

Section 1: “Getting Started”

• Basis of eligibility: select the correct eligibility code
  • (c)(3)(A) for pre-completion Optional Practical Training
• Reason for applying:
  • If this is your first OPT application at this academic level, select “initial permission to accept employment”
  • If this is not your first OPT application at this academic level, select "renewal of your employment authorization document"

Section 2: “About You”

• Your name:
  • Include any names you have identified as currently or in the past
• Your contact information:
  • Current mailing address: this should be a valid address where you can receive your OPT application materials including the mailed paper receipt notice, approval notice, and EAD card. This should be an address where you can receive mail for approximately 6 months into the future in case of application processing delays.
• If you will move from your current apartment or travel internationally earlier than 6 months into the future, it is recommended you include a friend or family member’s address in your I-765. Put their name in the “in care of” field.
• You can also obtain a Post Office Box to receive your mail from USCIS.
• Mail from USCIS will come from the U.S. Postal Service, or USPS. You can sign up for informed delivery to receive notifications about mail you receive.
• If you include a friend or family member’s address, select “no” to the question is your current mailing address the same as your physical address?
• Under “where in the United States do you live” enter your current address even if you will move during your OPT application process.
• Other information: F-1 students generally do not have an A-number or a USCIS online account number unless they have applied for OPT before.

Section 3: “Evidence”

To complete the online I-765 form, you will need to upload required documents and evidence. Save all documents as .pdf or .jpeg documents and follow USCIS's requirements for file names using English letters, numbers, spaces, periods, hyphens, underscores, and parentheses only. 

1. “2 x 2 photo of you”: follow the guidelines outlined above
2. “Form I-94”: Your I-94 entry record
3. PREVIOUS CPT OPT I-20s
4. “Employment Authorization Document or Government ID”: Upload your passport biographical page
   • If you have previously applied for OPT, upload a copy of your previous EAD card(s).
   • If you do not have your previous EAD card, you can upload your approval notice or receipt notice for that period of OPT with a statement explaining your EAD card was lost, your OPT dates, and your program information.
5. “Form I-20”: Most recent I-20 with Pre-Completion OPT recommendation
   • Request a new I-20 with an OPT recommendation at the OISS Portal.
   • Your Pre-Completion OPT recommendation at the top of page 2 of your I-20. Be sure to check this recommendation as soon as you receive your new OPT I-20.
   • Be sure to print, sign (in ink) and then scan your I-20 before you upload it
   • This I-20 must be uploaded and your complete I-765 application submitted to USCIS within 30 days from the OPT I-20 issue date.
6. Any other evidence relevant to your application and your particular circumstances.

Section 4: “Additional Information”

This section is to provide additional explanations or information for your responses in your I-765 or for your uploaded evidence. This section does not allow for uploads.

In this section you can include additional information such as:

• Previous SEVIS ID #s or previous academic studies
• If you have multiple citizenships and uploaded different passport biographical pages, this is a good place to include the explanation of your dual citizenship while emphasizing which citizenship was used to obtain your F-1 status.
• If your I-20 is less than 1 academic year but you otherwise qualify for OPT, include an explanation that you have attended an SEVP certified school for one academic year if you began your program remotely but otherwise qualify for OPT. In this case, we also suggest including a copy of your transcript under “unsolicited evidence”

Section 5: “Review and Submit”

MyUSCIS will review your application for accuracy and completeness. Correct any errors under the “alerts and warnings” section. If there are no alerts or warnings, your application has been checked for completeness. There is an option to print this page or save your draft I-765 as a .pdf file. NU OISS encourages you to save your draft before submitting.

Submit Payment

1. Once your application is complete, the system will direct you to Pay.gov, a US government payment site, to pay the required I-765 application fee.
2. There, you will be able to pay the application fee using a US credit / debit card or through an ACH transfer (direct withdrawal) from your US checking account.
   1. If you pay by direct withdrawal, you will need to provide your bank account number and your bank's ABA routing number
   2. Look at a copy of a bank check or bank statement from your account for your account number and your bank's ABA routing number or contact your bank for assistance.
3. IMPORTANT: Once you submit your payment information and that payment is successfully received, USCIS considers your application OFFICIALLY SUBMITTED.
   1. You cannot change or edit your I-765 application responses after payment has been submitted.
   2. The fee is non-refundable once payment has been made.
4. Once your application is submitted, your application will automatically be assigned a USCIS receipt number.
   1. You can print out an electronic receipt from your myUSCIS portal.
   2. A paper receipt will follow in the mail a few weeks after the electronic submission

Do NOT submit your online OPT application without your Pre-Completion OPT I-20 with your Pre-Completion OPT recommendation. You request this I-20 by submitting the OPT Request at the OISS Portal.