Meet with your academic advisor or graduate program coordinator to request an OPT recommendation letter (sample provided on our website).
The academic advisor letter must meet these criteria:
- On U-M departmental letterhead
- Indicate the major(s) and degree level at which the student will be applying for OPT
- The final term in which the student is registered for required credits
*Note for PhD students: Ph.D. candidates who wish to request a post-completion OPT start date earlier than the standard I-20 program end date should obtain an OPT recommendation letter which specifies the date of dissertation defense or program completion
You must have completed this OPT Certification Course within 5 months of requesting the OPT I-20, and print the Optional Practical Training (OPT) Certificate.
Prepare your OPT I-20 request documents to include ALL of the following:
- Optional Practical Training (OPT) Certificate (available for download after you complete this certification course)
- OPT recommendation letter from academic advisor or graduate program coordinator
- Copies of all previously issued CPT and/or OPT I-20s from any degree level (all pages except instruction page). If you have never had CPT or OPT, you may submit your most recent I-20
- Copy of Most Recent I-94
- Copy of any previous OPT EAD cards (front and back) and corresponding OPT I-20
  - Write the degree level for which the previous OPT was granted on the copy of the EAD card (e.g. bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral)
- Unofficial transcript from Wolverine Access
If applying for Post-completion OPT, submit your OPT I-20 request via the M-Passport portal. Pre-completion OPT I-20 requests can only be submitted after meeting with an advisor during virtual drop-ins."
The International Center will review and process your OPT I-20 request in approximately 2 weeks and will notify you when your new I-20 is available.
Once your I-20 is ready, please review your program dates and OPT requested dates for accuracy. You will need to print your I-20 and hand sign your name (on page 1, under student attestation).
Submit your complete OPT application to USCIS (discussed in the next module).