Employment Information - OPT

A student who has completed all course requirements for their degree except for a thesis, dissertation, or equivalen remaining may either apply for pre-completion OPT or post-completion OPT while completing the thesis/dissertation."

SEVP's comparison of OPT types for thesis/dissertation students

Pre-completion OPT	Post-completion OPT
May work full time. Is not subject to the unemployment provisions, and may receive a program extension. May not apply for the STEM extension from a period of pre-completion OPT. Would not be eligible for the cap-gap extension of OPT.	May work full time. Would be eligible for the cap-gap extension. May apply for the STEM extension if otherwise eligible. Would be subject to the unemployment provisions. Would be unable to receive an extension of his or her program.

If a thesis/dissertation student who selected the post-completion OPT option does not finish his or her degree by the end of the post-completion OPT, he or she will not be eligible for a program extension. SEVP's OPT Policy Guidance states that, "If a student does not complete his or her thesis/dissertation during the 12 months of post-completion OPT... The student should prepare to change status, change education level and/or transfer, or depart the country prior to the end of the 60-day grace period."