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Practical training provides international students with experience in their field of study during or after completing a program in the United States. This training offers valuable work experience by sharpening and adding to the skills students have learned in school. Read below to learn about the types of practical training available to F-1 students. Types of Practical Training for F-1 Students Optional Practical Training (OPT)

PLEASE NOTE: The Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) ended its Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) guidance on May 11, 2023, consistent with the end of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency. As a result, all related statements, guidance and FAQs previously released by SEVP also terminated on May 11, 2023, and this content may be outdated. Learn more.   

On April 22, 2021, the U.S.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced that F-1 students who are applying for optional practical training (OPT) authorization can file the Form I-765, “Application for Employment Authorization,” online if filing under the following categories:

On March 19, the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) released the latest version of the annual SEVIS by the Numbers report. This year, the report features a "COVID-19 Impact" section highlighting the impact of pandemic on international student enrollment in the United States. Below is a summary of the COVID-19 related trends outlined in the 2020 SEVIS by the Numbers report.

On Tuesday, March 30, 2021, the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) will upgrade the I-901 fee payment system functionality on FMJFee.com to allow for the transfer of bulk filer payments. Exchange Visitors reapplying for a visa within 12 months of the date of the initial Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) I-901 fee payment or those reapplying for status as an exchange visitor at a U.S. port of entry within 12 months of the date of the initial SEVIS I-901 fee payment may request a fee transfer.

The Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) released the latest version of the SEVIS by the Numbers report, which is now available on ICE.gov/SEVIS/whats-new. The report uses Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) data from calendar year 2019 and calendar year 2020. This year, the report features a "COVID-19 Impact" section highlighting the pandemic's effect on international student enrollment during calendar year 2020. This section includes insights such as:

On Feb. 26, 2021, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced flexibilities for certain international students affected by delayed receipt notices for Forms I-765, “Application for Employment Authorization.” These flexibilities apply only to applications received on or after Oct. 1, 2020, through May 1, 2021, inclusive.

General Information The Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA) requires an annual verification that all users who access a federal system have both the business need and the authorization to access the system. To comply with FISMA, principal designated school officials (PDSOs) and responsible officers (ROs) must annually verify that all PDSOs, designated school officials (DSOs), ROs and alternate responsible officers (AROs) who have access to the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS):

The Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) recently updated the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List at ICE.gov/SEVP to reflect changes made as part of the U.S. Department of Education’s 2020 Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) conversion. The STEM Designated Degree Program List is a complete list of fields of study that the U.S.