A Guide for Filling Out the I-765
Application for Employment
Authorization Online
Applying for Pre-Completion Optional
Practical Training (OPT)Rev. 03.15.2022

Read USCIS Instructions
 This is a general guide to help you complete Form I-765. It is yourresponsibility to ensure that your I-765 is completed correctly, fully (withsufficient supporting documents and required evidence) and is filed ina timely manner.
 Please read the Instructions for the Form I-765 athttps://www.uscis.gov/I-765
 Following this guide does not guarantee approval of your OPT by USCISand should not be construed as legal advice.

Create an Account Visit https://myaccount.uscis.gov/
 Create an account A USCIS Account confirmation email will besent to you. Follow the instructions in theemail to confirm your account. It is
important that you timely check your Inbox
and/or other folders for the email withinstructions on confirming your account.

Terms of Use

Carefully read the terms ofuse and click “I Agree” tothe acknowledgement.

Password Creation
Follow the prompts tocreate a password andverification method.
Please keep your login
credentials confidential.
Then provide answers tofive security questions.

USCIS AccountClick on My USCIS to begin yourapplication.

Select “I am an applicant,petitioner, or requestor.”

Begin your Application
Click on “File a form online.”
Then select “Application for Employment
Authorization (I-765).” Then, click “Start Form.”Things to Keep in Mind

By filing online, you may berequested to appear in-person for
an interview or provide yourfingerprints, photo, and/orsignature. OPT applications do not
generally require biometrics.
If you receive a notice from USCIS
to appear for an interview orbiometric services appointment,
please contact your OISS advisor.

Things to Keep in Mind – Fee payment

By filing online, you may berequested to appear in-person for
an interview or provide yourfingerprints, photo, and/orsignature. OPT applications do not
generally require biometrics.
If you receive a notice from USCIS
to appear for an interview orbiometric services appointment,
please contact your OISS advisor.

Getting Started: Basis of Eligibility

For Pre-Completion OPT,
select (c) (3) (A) from thedropdown menu.

Getting Started: Reason for Applying
Selectsince this is your first time applying postcompletion OPT at this degree level
Selectif your OPT was authorized, but
your EAD card was lost, stolen, damaged, or needs
to be corrected and the correction is NOT due toUSCIS error.
Selectwill not be used for OPT

If this is your first time applying for OPT, answer.
If you have applied for OPT or EAD card in the past,answer.

Getting Started: Preparer & Interpreter
Information

Answer: No.

About You: Your Name
Type your name exactly as it appears. (Note: USCIS has character limits
that may impact longer names on the EAD)

Type any othernames that havebeen used on any
official records ordocuments (maidennames, nicknames,etc.).
If you do not haveadditional namesthat have been used
on official
documents, clickAbout You: Your Contact Information
Enter your contact information.

This address is where your I-797
receipt notice, approval
notice, and EAD card will besent. Typically, we recommendthat you put OISS’s address:
In care of: OISS – Lehigh Univ
32 Sayre DrBethlehem, PA 18015
If you don’t use OISS’s address,
to avoid documents being
sent to incorrect or oldaddresses. You must be listed
as physically residing there with
USPS or have indicated theperson living at the residence
in the “In care of name”
section.

About You: Your Contact Information,

If you use OISS’s address as your mailing address,
you must enter your physical/residential address
here even if you plan to move soon.
If your mailing address and physical address aredifferent, provide your current physical address.

About You: Describe YourselfSelect your Gender and Marital Status.

About You: When & Where Were You Born
Your city, town, or village, as well asstate or province of birth should betyped as indicated on your birthcertificate.
When completing this section, use thedropdown menu to select yourcountry of birth. If the country’s namehas changed or no longer exists,
select the name of the country as it
was named when you were born. If
that name is not listed, select thename of the country as it is named
today if the name has changed.

Remember to use U.S. dateformatting: month/day/year.

About You: Your Immigration Information
Fill in the blanks with theinformation directly fromyour passport.

List ALL of the countries thatyou are a citizen or national.
List the entire I-94
Number found on
your I-94 (from mostrecent entry into theUnited States). You
can access yourcurrent I-94 athttps://i94.cbp.dhs.g
ov/I94
Save your I-94 as aPDF. You will need toupload it later in theapplication.

Use the dropdown menu
and select F-1 Student
here. *If you are notcurrently an F-1 Student,
please see an OISS
advisor.
Type your current SEVISID number, which canbe found on the top left
corner of your I-20 (itstarts with an N)

About You: Other Information
You will only have an ANumber if you werepreviously in immigration
status such as H1B, H4, etc.,
or if you’ve had OPT
authorized in the past. If
you have a prior EAD card,
please enter the USCIS
number on the EAD card. If
you do not have an ANumber, leave this blank.
If you do not have a USCIS
Online Account Number(most F-1 students do not),click “I do not have or know
my USCIS Online AccountNumber.”If have a Social Security Card/Number,and enter the number. Clickclick
if you do not.
If you do not have a Social Security Cardor if you have an SSN but need a.
replacement card, clickAbout You: Other Information

If you do not have a Social Security Card andclicked “Yes” for a new Social Security Card,
complete this Section by:• Checking “Yes” to the “Consent forDisclosure.”• Type your father’s first and last names at birth.
• Type your mother’s first and last names at birth.

Evidence: Passport Photo
Follow the prompts and upload a recent passport photo.
It must be taken withindays of your application.

It must meet U.S. standards (2 inches x 2 inches)*Failure to submit a correct photo will trigger a biometrics
appointment.

Evidence: Form I-94
You can access your current I-94 athttps://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94
Upload the PDF of your most recent I-94 here, andkeep the PDF for your records.

Evidence: EAD or Government ID

This section is for evidence for yourgovernment-issued photo ID.
Since you likely do not have an unexpired EADcard, upload a copy of a government issued
identification that shows your picture, name,and date of birth, such as the biographic pageof your foreign passport.

Evidence: Previous I-20s

Upload ALL I-20s with previous CPTauthorizations or previous OPT authorization
at the current degree level. If you are notsure or think you are missing an old I-20,
contact your OISS advisor.
If you did not have CPT or OPT authorizationin the past, you can skip this step.

Evidence: I-20
Your I-20 with OPT recommendation will be issued toyou have submitted your OPT request inyou
iHome and met with your OISS Advisor.
the I-20 and thenYou
upload it to the online application.
For post-completion OPT, you must submit your online
application withindays of an OISS advisor issuing
your I-20.

Additional Information
This section can be used to clarify
anything in your application that may beconfusing, such as:• Previous OPT or CPT at a different
academic level• A different SEVIS I-20 number that you
used in the past, include:• Previous SEVIS ID• School name• Program start/end dates on I-20
• Program level• Previous immigration status that wasused to meet the full-year academic
requirement (ex: H-4 changed to F-1)

Review Your Application

If you see any alerts orwarnings, address them,
you must address them.
If there are no errors,
you will see the green
check mark to indicate
your application iscomplete.

Review Application Summary

You must save the PDF for your records. You mustalso upload a copy to the OPT request in iHome.

STOP – Read these directions!!
STOP:- Do NOT add your signature- Do NOT make a payment- Do NOT submit your application
Please go to iHome to complete the OPT
Request e-form. Then wait until yourinternational advisor tells you what to donext.

Communicate With Your OISS Advisor
1. Now you must submit your Pre-Completion OPT Request in iHome and upload
the following documents:
 Your completed, unsigned Form I-765
 I-94 record If you were issued an EAD in the past, a copy (front and back); if you were never issued an EAD, acopy of your valid passport or most recent visa stamp Copies of all previous I-20s with CPT and/or OPT authorizations
 Your 2 x 2 passport photo If you have an I-20 with a different SEVIS number, your previous I-20

2. You will receive an e-mail to schedule an appointment with an OISS advisor.
3. After you have met with your advisor, your new I-20 with OPT recommendation
on P. 2 will be e-mailed to you.
***DO NOT SUBMIT YOUR ONLINE APPLICATION WITHOUT AN I-20 FROM OISS***Ready to submit application!

Now that you have your I-20 with OPT recommendation, you are ready tosubmit your OPT application!
• Log back in to your USCIS online account and go to the Review andSubmit section.
• Remember, you must submit your OPT application withinreceiving your new I-20 with OPT recommendationofStatement & Signature
Check the statement attesting that you can understanding
English, and that you have read and understand every
question and instructions on the application, as well as theanswers to every question.

Check the statement attesting thatyou have read and agree to theapplicant’s statement.

Type your full name.

Then, prepare yourpayment.

Payment & Submission

Choose your method of payment. You canpay by electronic check, debit, or certain
credit cards.
Click on the blue
“Pay and submit”
button.

Finalize Payment

If you are using your checking or savings
account, enter your banking information(routing and account, which are at thebottom of your check).

If you are using your credit or debit card, enter
your personal and account information.

After Submission
 You will get a receipt number in your USCIS account right away. You can check occasionallyto see other status updates.
 Your approval notice and EAD card from USCIS will come to the mailing address listed in yourapplication. If your mailing address changes while the process is pending, submit a Change ofAddress with USCIS online or by calling 800-375-5283.
 If you used OISS’s address as your mailing address, please note there may be a delay as mail may
take an extra few days to come to our office from the mail room. We will notify you be e-mail as soon
as mail arrives for you.

 Notify an OISS advisor immediately if you receive a Request for Evidence (RFE) or Request for
Information (RFI). Email a copy of the RFE to your OISS advisor for assistance. Failure to respondto a RFE or RFI will lead to a denial of your OPT request.
 Check your EAD for accuracy (name misspelled, wrong dates, etc). If there are errors, email ascanned copy of the card with a description of the error to OISS.
 If you want to withdraw your OPT application after submission to USCIS and before it has been
approved, contact OISS.