Post-Compleon OPT I-765 Online Filing Guide
Overview
1. Create a USCIS online account or sign in to your exisng account.
2. Select “File a Form Online”
3. Under “Select the form you want to le online” select “I-765, Applicaon for
Employment Authorizaon” then click on “Start Form”
4. Read the instrucons carefully and proceed to complete the I-765 applicaon.
Note: Do NOT make payment or submit the applicaon before obtaining the I-
20 with the OPT recommendaon from the ISO.
5. Aer submission, retain your receipt # and be sure to monitor your case status
closely.
See detailed guide below.
Note: This is a logiscs guide to the online I-765 OPT Applicaon. It is important
you refer to our OPT webpage for eligibility and applicaon requirements for
the OPT applicaon.
Create a USCIS online account or sign
in to your exisng account at hps://
myaccount.uscis.gov/
Select “File a form online”
Select “I-765, Applicaon for Employment Authorizaon”
Click on “Start Form”
Read through the instrucons, then click “Next” then “Start” to start the form.
Select (c)(3)(B) for Post-Compleon OPT
If this is your rst me ling an I-765 form, answer
NO. If you have previously led an I 765, regardless
of the category, answer YES.
• Select Inial Permission if this is your rst
me applying for OPT for your current de-
gree level
• Select Replacement if your EAD card was
lost/stolen or if you never received it from
USCIS
• Select Renewal if you are using this appli-
caon to apply for STEM OPT
If you have a legal representave
assisng you, answer “Yes”.
Otherwise, answer “No”.
Enter your legal name as indicated
on your passport and I-20.
If you do not have any other
names, answer no. If you answer
yes, the system will prompt you to
enter other names used.
You should use a telephone number
and email that you will have access
to for at least 6-8 months.
This is the address where USCIS will
mail your EAD card and any other rel-
evant documents for your OPT/STEM
applicaon. USCIS may take on aver-
age 4-6 months to adjudicate your ap-
plicaon. Therefore, you will want to
put a mailing address that you will
have access to for at least 6 months.
Once you enter your address, USCIS
will ask you to verify the address. As
the recommended address is for-
maed for USPS mailing, you should
select the recommended address if it
looks correct to avoid potenal de-
lays.
If the mailing address is dierent from
where you live, you should select
“No”. The system will then prompt
you to enter your current residence
address. Otherwise, select “Yes”.
Complete your informaon in the following pages accordingly.
Note: if you are a cizen/naonal of
more than one country, click the “add
country” buon to add all countries
where you hold cizenship.
Please pull your most recent I-94 here
and enter your Admission record num-
ber as shown on your I-94. Then com-
plete your last arrival informaon ac-
Complete your passport and travel
document informaon accordingly. The
travel document number may be le blank
unless you have a travel document other
than your passport.
Select “F1 - Student, Academic Or
Language Program” for your current
immigraon status. If you are not currently
in F-1 status, you are not eligible to apply
for OPT.
Your SEVIS Number can be found on your
I-20 (Upper le corner of page 1 of I-20)
If you have previously been issued an
Employment Authorizaon Document
(EAD) card, your A-Number is the USCIS#
on your EAD card. Otherwise, check the “I
do not have or know my A Number”.
Select “yes” if you already have a SSN. The
system will then prompt you to enter your
SSN.
You should then select “no” to “Do you
want the SSA to issue you a Social Security
card.
If you do not have a SSN, follow direcons
in the following page.
If you do not have a SSN, you should select
“no”. The system will be prompted to ask if
you want the SSA to issue you a SSN. If you
select “yes”, you must agree to the
“Consent of Disclosure”. You will then be
required to enter informaon for both of
your parents. If you choose to apply for the
SSN along with your OPT applicaon, you
will generally receive your SSN card 1-2
weeks aer receiving your EAD card.
Upload a copy of your most recent I-94.
Upload a passport photo of you that
meets USCIS specicaons
Upload a copy of your most recent passport
and if applicable, the front and back of any
previously issued EAD card(s).
Important Note: If your passport has expired,
you must renew before applying.
Upload a copy of previous
I-20s with CPT or OPT
authorizaon. If you do
not have one, please leave
blank.
Upload a copy of the I-20 with
your OPT recommendaon.
Please ensure the I-20 is
signed with wet blue ink.
Important Note: Your
applicaon will be rejected
without this I-20 resulng in
the loss of your applicaon
fee.
This secon can be le blank.
However, you may also choose to
upload any previous I-20s and SEVIS
numbers (if applicable).
Make sure to review your applicaon
very closely. If you see any nocaons
for errors/alerts, you must address
them.
If no errors/alerts are picked up, you
will see a green nocaon. Click next
to review your I-765 informaon.
Do not go beyond this point if you have not yet received an I-20 with the OPT
recommendaon from the ISO. Click on “View dra snapshot” to generate and download
a PDF of your applicaon. Send this dra PDF of your I-765 applicaon and any supporng
documents to the internaonalservices@tcu.edu email so that an ISO advisor may review and
process your request. You may save and exit to complete this applicaon at a later me.
If you have the I-20 with the OPT recommendaon, please move forward with the applicaon.
Review each of these pages
carefully. You will be prompted
to agree to the “Applicant’s
Statement”, digitally sign the
applicaon, and nally pay the
applicaon fee.
Once you click “Pay and Submit, you will be redirected to the
Pay.gov website for payment of the OPT applicaon fee.
You will have the opon to pay either pay the fee using Credit Card
or with ACH from a Savings or Checking account. If the payment is
successful, you will be redirected back to USCIS website where you
should get conrmaon indicang your I-765 applicaon was suc-
cessfully submied.
Your submied applicaon will automacally be assigned a USCIS
receipt number. We recommend you print out an electronic receipt
from your myUSCISaccount portal. You should also receive a paper
receipt noce in the mail in 1-2 weeks.
Important NOTE!
USCIS filing fee is not refunda-
ble. Avoid clicking the back or
refresh button on your browser. If
you have not yet received the I-20
with the OPT recommendation
from the ISO, you should NOT
complete the payment at this time.
Click Cancel to be taken back to
the USCIS online portal.
After you pay, you will be redirected to a screen confirming that your
form was submitted. Click “Go to my cases” to view your case card and
receipt notice. Please save a copy of your receipt number for your rec-
ords.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Once you submit your payment information, you
will not be able to change or edit your I-765 application.
You are all set!
Be sure to check on the progress of your application by accessing “Case
Status” in your USCIS online account.
Please do not hesitate to reach out to the ISO at
internationalservi[email protected] if you have any questions or concerns.