Whether OPT application and approval is possible after receiving a degree from a Canadian school
I heard from a company I applied to that OPT application and approval is possible even after receiving a degree from a Canadian school, and while going through the interview and hiring process with that company, questions came up as I personally researched the OPT application process — so I’m sending this consultation.
USCIS and related sites describe OPT as being for those who hold a U.S. student visa, F-1 (“Optional Practical Training (OPT) for F-1 Students”), and I couldn’t find any case, whether online or through acquaintances, of a foreign national completing a Canadian undergraduate or graduate degree and then working in the U.S. through OPT, and the documents needed for the OPT application process (I-20, I-94, etc.) don’t apply to me since I’m studying in Canada — I’d like to ask whether I’m eligible to apply for OPT, and if so, what documents could substitute for the ones that don’t apply to me.
Hello, OPT is a concept only granted to F-1 graduates in the U.S.
Canadian university graduates would have something under a different name, offered only within Canada.
So, since OPT — offered only to U.S. students — doesn’t apply to Canadian graduates, if there’s some source claiming otherwise, please ask that company to show you where they got that information.
Please keep this in mind.
What is OPT?
F-1 students who plan to work in the U.S. can apply for Optional Practical Training (OPT), a temporary employment authorization that provides an opportunity to apply knowledge gained in the classroom to a practical work experience off-campus.
OPT is a benefit of your F-1 visa status and not a separate work visa or visa category. You continue to be in F-1 student visa status while you are on OPT and must abide by all F-1 regulations during your period of OPT. This is the last work authorization that will not need employer sponsorship until you have a Green Card.
Timing Considerations: Most students are eligible to apply for a total of 12 months of OPT at each higher degree level. OPT can only be used once per higher degree level even if you have multiple degrees per level. The 12 months of OPT must be used all at once, it cannot be broken up. OPT must be used directly after graduation; it cannot be saved for later. You cannot start work until you have received your EAD card and reached the start date on the card.
Eligibility: To be eligible for OPT, you must maintain valid F-1 student status at the time of application, be enrolled full-time for at least one full academic year in the U.S., be physically present in the U.S. when you submit your application, and intend to work or volunteer in a professional development opportunity directly related to the major field of study.
Additional Considerations: You do not need to have a job in order to apply for OPT. All work must directly relate to your field of study. Students with degrees in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM) may be eligible for a 24-month extension to their 12 month post-completion OPT. You do not need paid employment (volunteering is ok). You can work on multiple opportunities at one time.