Select your degree level, graduation semester, and graduation year and then click "confirm."

 Note: For additional dates, please consult the Penn Academic Calendar.

Your OPT Application Processing Timeline

We recommend filing your OPT application online. Please refer to our guide for applying for OPT online and our OPT application checklist.

Remember, you must send your OPT application within 30 days of the date you receive your OPT I-20 from ISSS. Otherwise, your application will be denied.

Choosing Your OPT Start Date

Your OPT start date is the date on which your Employment Authorization Document (EAD) becomes valid and on which you begin accruing unemployment if you have not yet found a job.

Do not begin working before your start date, even if you have already received your EAD!

Choosing Your OPT End Date

F-1 international students get 365 days of OPT time per degree level. Your end date depends on how many days of OPT you have left.

Have you ever used OPT at your current degree level?

Previous OPT Authorizations

Use your previous Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) to fill in the start and end dates for your any OPT employment undergone at your current degree level. When you're done, click "Calculate Remaining OPT Time."

Use the date picker below to calculate your OPT end date based on your selected start date.

If your OPT employment start date is , then your latest possible end date is Your start date plus the number of OPT days you have available..

Your OPT Timeline Summary

Program End Date:
Earliest Start Date:
Latest Start Date:
USCIS Application Deadline:
OPT Days Remaining:
Selected Start Date:
Latest Possible End Date:

Email My Summary

Enter your email address below to copy the summary information into an email that you can send to yourself for future reference.