Fall 2026 OPT Application Timeline
This is intended for international students that are completing their degree on December 18, 2026 only (Fall 2026 semester).
If you are completing your degree this Fall 2026 semester, have submitted your application for graduation, and you are interested in applying for Post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT), the 90-day application window will open on September 19, 2026.
Date |
Category |
Description |
| Oct. 1, 2026 |
Deadline to apply for December 2026 graduation |
Contact registrar@lewisu.edu if you missed the deadline for more information. |
Sept. 19, 2026
-to-
Jan. 17, 2027 |
OPT application window |
Starts 90 days before your degree conferral date and ends 30 days after. |
| Dec. 18, 2026 |
Program I-20 end date |
Your program I-20 end date will be updated to 12/18/26 after you submit your OPT application to ISGSS@lewisu.edu for final review. |
Dec. 19, 2026
-to-
Jan. 17, 2027 |
Allowed OPT start dates |
You can choose your OPT start date ranging from the day after your program I-20 end date up to 30 days after. |
Summer 2026 OPT Application Timeline
This is intended for international students that are completing their degree on August 28, 2026 only (Summer 2026 semester).
If you are completing your degree this Summer 2026 semester, have submitted your application for graduation, and you are interested in applying for Post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT), the 90-day application window will open on May 30, 2026.
Date |
Category |
Description |
| July 1, 2026 |
Deadline to apply for Summer 2026 graduation |
Contact registrar@lewisu.edu if you missed the deadline for more information. |
May 30, 2026
-to-
Oct. 27, 2026 |
OPT application window |
Starts 90 days before your degree conferral date and ends 60 days after. |
| Aug. 28, 2026 |
Program I-20 end date |
Your program I-20 end date will be updated to 08/28/26 after you submit your OPT application to ISGSS@lewisu.edu for final review. |
Aug. 29, 2026
-to-
Oct. 27, 2026 |
Allowed OPT start dates |
You can choose your OPT start date ranging from the day after your program I-20 end date up to 60 days after. |
IMPORTANT!
- A minimum overall GPA of 3.25 for graduate students and 2.25 for undergraduate students is required to receive a recommendation for OPT. Students who do not meet this requirement should email ISGSS@lewisu.edu immediately to discuss next steps.
- Students who apply for post-completion OPT and then fail to graduate on the date indicated in their application risk violating their visa status, could forfeit their OPT opportunity, and will not get a refund of the USCIS filing fee.
- DO NOT SUBMIT a request for post-completion OPT until you are certain that you can complete your degree on time.
OPT Application Process and Requirements
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