So you might be wondering when is the appropriate time to apply for Post-Completion OPT if you will graduate in Fall 2014 or defend your dissertation within the next 120 days. The answer to your question is now! For some students who already have a full-time job offer to begin immediately after Fall 2014 graduation, the best time to apply for OPT is late August or during the month of September. In this particular situation, it is advantageous to apply early because the processing time for OPT can range anywhere between 2-3 months. By applying early, you put yourself in a good situation to have your EAD card in hand before you start work. Please remember that before you can apply for Post-Completion OPT, you have to attend an OPT workshop in the International Office. You can register for the OPT workshop through the ISSS website.
