Office of International Student Services | La Sierra University | 4500 Riverwalk Pkwy, Riverside, CA 92515
951.785.2237 | 951.785.2919 fax |
oiss@lasierra.edu
|
APPLICATION PROCEDURE FOR OPTIONAL PRACTICAL
TRAINING (OPT) FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
You may apply for OPT 90 days before your last day of classes or up 60 days after your last day of
instruction. WE STRONGLY suggest that you apply as early as possible rather than later. It generally
takes at least 90 days to get your OPT card.
To apply for your OPT, you will need to bring the following documents to the OISS:
Your original LSU I-20 Form with stamp from the Port of Entry.
All other I-20’s issued to you (if applicable), including past schools/academic levels.
Verification of Completion of Program (attached) signed by the Records Office (undergraduate
students) or your program advisor (graduate students).
Passport (must be valid for at least six months into the future).
I-94 card (usually attached to your visa)
A completed I-765 Form (available from our web site). In item #16 on the form indicate the
appropriate code. Please read the instructions CAREFULLY as an error in this part will cost you
a new filing fee and a lot of time to fix [C.3.B.]!
Please sign the I-765 form with a small signature so it does not touch any line.
Use a BLACK ballpoint pen.
Two passport-style photos.
$380 check or money order made payable to “Department of Homeland Security.”
Your EAD cards (any work permit card you ever had), if applicable.
$10 check or cash to cover mailing and printing costs.
The OPT application review by USCIS varies from one service center to another. It takes about 3-5
months to be processed. It is difficult to get a duplicate EAD card; therefore, we strongly suggest that on
line 3 of the I-765 form you write the address listed below. However, you may put your personal address
§
if you prefer
.
c/o International Student Services
La Sierra University
4500 Riverwalk Prkwy.
Riverside, CA 92515
NOTE: If you put our address on the form, all the correspondence will come to our office and we will
notify you when it arrives. If you put your address, you will be responsible for providing our office with a
copy of your OPT card when you receive it.
OPT Application | Updated: 04/29/2013