OPT Calculator

Program End Date

Refer to your I-20 to fill in your program end date:


Program End Date

Your I-20 program end date will be
.

Please note: If your school splits the semester into Term A and Term B, and you will complete your program at the end of term A, your program end date will be the end of term A. Insert the term A completion date as a custom date below.

For Spring Term 2024: Use the I-20 program end date listed above and NOT the date on your printed I-20 if it states 5/22/2024.


Program End Date

Your I-20 program end date will be
.


As a doctoral student, you have some flexibility in determining your program end date for OPT purposes. You may want to use a custom date, such as your dissertation defense date.

Note that after your program end date, you are no longer eligible to engage in on-campus employment as a student or receive funding from your department.  OPT employment can begin only after you have received your EAD card, and are within the dates printed on your EAD card.

Consult with your academic adviser or an ISSO adviser before finalizing your custom end date.


Program End Date

Your I-20 program end date will be
.

For schools that split the semester into Term A and Term B: If you will complete your program at the end of term A, enter the Term A completion date into the custom date below.


 

 


Program End Date

Your I-20 program end date will be
.


Please note: Not all Columbia University certificate programs are OPT eligible.

If you have not confirmed that your certificate program is OPT eligible please consult with the certificate program coordinator or the ISSO. 


OPT Application Processing Timeline

First day
to apply
90 days
Program
completion date
60 days
Last day for USCIS
to receive your application

Your earliest date to apply to the ISSO for an OPT I-20 is .

The last day for USCIS to receive your application is . APPLY AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE! USCIS takes approximately 90 days to process your application.

Now that you know when to begin the OPT process, learn how to choose your start date.


Choosing your start date

Program
completion date
1 day
Earliest OPT
start date
59 days
Last OPT
start date

When you apply for OPT you must choose your OPT start date from the 60 days following your I-20 program completion date. Your start date can be between and .

How do I choose my start date [Video]?

Now, learn how to calculate your OPT end date.


Calculating your OPT end date

This depends on how much OPT time you have left at the same level.

Have you ever used OPT during your current level of study?

Fill in your start and end dates below as listed on your EAD Card(s):
Start date End date Type of
employment
0 day(s)
 
Total: 0 days used of 365
ERROR: OPT time limit exceeded. Please make sure your start and end dates match your EAD card.

Remaining OPT Time:

You have a total of 365 days. If your OPT start date is then your OPT end date will be .
ERROR: Please select a date between and .

Remaining OPT Time:

You have a total of 365 days. If your OPT start date is then your OPT end date will be .
ERROR: Please select a date between and .

Summary

Your I-20 Program end date
Earliest date to submit your application to the ISSO
Earliest OPT start date you may request
Latest OPT start date you may request

You have 365 days left for your OPT.
If your OPT start date is , then your OPT end date is .

APPLY AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE! Recently, USCIS has been taking 90- 120 days to adjudicate OPT requests. Hopefully, you will receive your approval within this timeframe; however, it could take longer.

Now that you have your dates needed for your application, return to the OPT application instructions.