This information is for the University of Houston hiring departments who have hired or are interested in hiring a foreign national. This information does not constitute legal advice.

An F-1 student may receive permission to work on or off campus in a job directly related to his or her major area of study for the purpose of practical training for up to 12 months. OPT employment can occur:

• While school is not in session or during a vacation break, on a full-time or part-time basis (CPT recommended); or
• While school is in session, on part-time basis not to exceed 20 hours per week (CPT recommended); or
• After the completion of a degree program, for at least 20 hours per week.

Issuance of an Employment Authorization Card (EAD) is required for OPT employment.

The student can work for more than one employer in OPT as long as there are no labor law violations.

Students in CPT for one year or more are not eligible for OPT under the degree program in question, unless the student's graduate studies require CPT.

Pre-Completion OPT

F-1 students may apply for OPT prior to the end of the degree program, to work in a field related to his or her major area of study.  UH F-1 students are encouraged to explore Curricular Practical Training (CPT) options as an alternative prior to pre-completion OPT (particularly those students pursuing STEM disciplines).  To discuss your options, schedule an appointment with an International Student Counselor at ISSSO.  Pre-completion OPT is limited to no more than 20 hours per week while school is in session.  It can be on a full-time basis while school is not in session or during the vacation break.

The student may apply for pre-completion OPT no earlier than 90 days prior to the completion of the first full academic year. After completion of a full academic year, the student can apply as early as 90 days prior to the requested employment start date.

Time used as pre-completion OPT is deducted from any time the student may have in post-completion OPT.

Students in CPT for one year or more are not eligible for OPT under the degree program in question, unless the student's graduate studies require CPT.

F-1 students on pre-completion OPT that are completing degrees in the Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM) disciplines must apply for post-completion OPT (with a new USCIS fee) prior to being eligible to apply for an OPT STEM extension (an additional application to USCIS with an additional fee). UH F-1 students are encouraged to visit ISSSO’s website for additional information or schedule an appointment with an International Student Counselor in ISSSO to discuss their specific situation.

Post-Completion OPT

Individuals holding an EAD based on post-graduation OPT may be employed at UH in faculty or staff positions. The following factors apply to individuals working pursuant to OPT in order to maintain proper F-1 status:

• Employment eligibility begins on the validity start date indicated on the EAD or the date the EAD is issued, whichever is later.
• The job(s) must be in a field directly related to the individual's major area of study.
• The individual must work at least 20 hours per week in one job or more than one job combined.
• The individual may be unemployed for no more than 90 calendar days during the EAD validity period.
• The individual may work as unpaid intern as long as it does not violate any labor laws

Post-completion OPT can be requested as early as 90 days prior to the degree program end date and no later than 60 days after the degree program end date. 

Any time used in pre-completion OPT will be deducted from post-completion OPT.

Students in full-time CPT for one year or more are not eligible for OPT under the degree program in question, unless the student's graduate studies require CPT.

Post-completion OPT is an employment benefit of F-1 status and certain eligibility criteria apply.  Changes in personal and employment information must be reported to ISSSO during the OPT period. ISSSO continues to provide special services for UH alumni during the OPT and OPT extension periods. Additional information on OPT is available online on the OPT Overview page.

Unemployment in OPT

A student in post-completion OPT may be unemployed for no more than 90 calendar days.

Unpaid Internship in OPT

The hiring college, department or division must submit to Human Resources a detailed description of the internship program to determine whether or not it would be in violation of labor laws.  Individuals on post-completion OPT may engage in unpaid internship opportunities to maintain their F-1 status if meeting specific criteria.  Individuals on OPT STEM extensions may not engage in unpaid internships to maintain F-1 status.

OPT STEM Extension

UH will employ individuals pursuant to OPT STEM Extension. Our eVerify number is 246171. All I-983 forms must be reviewed by Human Resources. Please note that persons in OPT-STEM Extension status cannot be unpaid.

Potential Gap in Employment Eligibility

Graduating F-1 students may be eligible for employment pursuant to Form I-20 until its expiration, which normally is the date of graduation.  Even if Form I-20 says that OPT has been requested to start on a certain date, OPT employment eligibility does not go into effect until the start date indicated on the EAD or the date the EAD is issued, whichever is later.

End of OPT Eligibility at UH

OPT employment eligibility will end on the expiration date of the EAD. To maintain employment eligibility beyond the EAD validity, please contact the Immigration Specialist for options for employment in other temporary classifications. The Non-Immigrant (Temporary Visa) Worker section contains information about temporary classifications that allow employment at UH.  F-1 s students wishing to continue their educational pursuits (and resume student employment) should visit ISSSO for guidance.

H-1B Cap Gap Extension of OPT

UH is not subject to the congressionally-mandated limit on the number of individuals who may be granted H-1B status during each fiscal year and therefore F-1 students employed at UH pursuant to OPT are not eligible for H-1B Cap Gap Extensions. Additional information about H-1B Cap Gap Extensions is available from ISSSO.