Employment includes any practical training opportunities directly related to your major field of study (certificates/minors do not count). This may include:
- Internship
- Volunteer Opportunity
- Contracted specialist (1099)
- Staffing agency/Temporary agency
You are expected to work over 20 hours per week for both full-time pre-completion OPT and post-completion OPT.
If you are approved for part-time pre-completion OPT, you should work a maximum of 20 hours per week.
Students on OPT may have multiple job opportunities at once and should report all employment to ISS.
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90 Days of Unemployment Rule
You should not exceed more than 90 days of unemployment during your authorized period of OPT. The days of unemployment begin on the EAD card start date.
You can do any of the following before reaching 90 days of unemployment:
- Depart the U.S.
- Report your departure to ISS on the online OPT/STEM Reporting Form. Submit proof of departure. Failure to depart may result in you accruing days of unlawful presence in the U.S.
- Return to UW-Madison for another academic program
- The new full-time academic program must start within five months of your last date of employment, 90th day of unemployment, or your EAD card end date, whichever is earlier.
- Once you are admitted to another full-time academic program, you can submit the Change of Education Level request with sufficient financial documentation to ISS.
- If this update is done before your EAD card expires, you will lose any remaining OPT authorization you have at that same degree level.
- Attend another U.S. institution for another academic program
- The new full-time academic program must start within five months of your last date of employment, 90th day of unemployment, or your EAD card end date, whichever is earlier.
- Once you are admitted to another full-time academic program, you can submit the Transfer Out request with proof of admission to ISS.
- If this update is done before your EAD card expires, you will lose any remaining OPT authorization you have at that same degree level.
- Change your U.S. immigration status
- If you have been approved for another U.S. non-immigrant or U.S. immigrant-intent visa status, submit proof of your approval to ISS at iss@iss.wisc.edu. ISS will update your SEVIS record and UW-Madison file.
We encourage you to use the many career-related resources available to UW-Madison students and alumni to help you find the right practical training opportunity for you!