Post-completion practical training is the most common utilization by international graduate students. This type of training must be applied for no later than 60 days after the completion of the program. The end date of the practical training may not be more than 14 months after completion of study. INS regulations refer to the date the program of study is completed, not the date a diploma is received. The Service recognizes that many graduate students in thesis or dissertation programs may complete requirements for a degree any day during the year.
Employment is defined as the provision of services, with or without pay.
Adjudication of the EAD takes between two and twelve weeks. To begin the application process, international students will come to the Foreign Student Adviser with their I-20s in hand any time up to 90 days before and 30 days after the completion of the degree requirements. The student must also present a Form I-765 to the Foreign Student Adviser. The Foreign Student Adviser may also request a letter from the student s Academic Adviser endorsing the student s request for optional practical training. The Foreign Student Adviser processes the required documents, and the INS issues the Employment Authorization Document accordingly.