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Since 1864, we have been investing in and creating resources for deaf and hard of hearing children, their families, and the professionals who work with them.
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Charles Reilly, Ph.D.Executive Director
(202) 250-2294 (videophone)(202) 651-5150 (voice)(800) 451-8834 (voice)(202) 651-5746 (fax)Email
Optional Practical Training (OPT) is an off-campus employment authorization that allows F-1 students to gain work experience.
To be eligible, the student must meet the following basic requirements:
You do NOT need to have a job offer in order to apply for OPT, although once you are approved for OPT, the time is deducted from your 12 months, regardless of whether or not you actually work.
If you are interested in either post-completion OPT or in the STEM program, please scroll down the page and read the eligibility requirements for those programs.
OPT requires an application to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The USCIS may take up to three months to process an application for OPT. It is recommended that you apply as early as possible.
If you are interested in applying for OPT, please stop by Research Support and International Affairs, Building 103, to pick up an application.
In order to be eligible for OPT, the international student must:
NOTE: International students do NOT need to have a job offer in order to apply for OPT, although once they are approved for OPT, the time is deducted from their 12 months regardless of whether they actually work.
In order for international students to be eligible for a 17-month OPT extension, they must:
In addition, the STEM application must be received by USCIS prior to the end of the initial period of post-completion OPT employment. The authorization is for full-time employment after the completion of program requirements and current OPT. STEM employment may be authorized only to the student with current post-completion OPT authorization. Authorization ends 17 months after the initial period of standard post-completion OPT.
Post-OPT Responsibilities for F-1 Students:
International students who are in the U.S. on an F-1 visa continue in F-1 status during their period of authorized Post-completion of Studies Optional Practical Training (OPT), and therefore have certain legal responsibilities. The following is a list of these responsibilities:
In addition, students in the U.S. on an F-1 visa should be aware of the following:
Optional Practical Training (OPT) Spotlight:
Mayumi Iwata, a native of Japan, completed her degree in Deaf Education and Elementary Education at Gallaudet in December 2012. After graduating, Iwata took advantage of a wonderful opportunity and obtained a position teaching fourth grade at the California School for the Deaf through Optional Practical Training (OPT).
Iwata credits OPT for matching her with a job based on the skills she learned by earning her Gallaudet degrees. This positive experience provided her a sample of the unlimited opportunities that lay ahead.
When asked if she had any advice for other students, Iwata stated, "If there is a job that fits your degree, then why not take advantage of this opportunity? The one-year time limit may be short, but the experience you gain is worth it. You can apply the work experience and training you receive through this program and to your home country when you return."
Admissions Requirements
Spring 2021 – Dec 12Fall 2021 – May 15