Form I-765

Basis of Eligibility

• Select your eligibility category:
  • Pre-Completion OPT: (c) (3) (A) 
  • Post-Completion OPT: (c) (3) (B) 
  • 24-Month Extension of OPT: (c) (3) (C)
• ​Extra questions to answer for 24-month STEM OPT Extension applicants:
  • What is your degree?
    • Provide the name of your STEM eligible degree – must be a major listed on the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List
  • What is your employer’s name as listed in E-Verify?
    • Ask your employer if you’re not sure about their “official” name
  • What is your employer’s E-Verify company identification number or a valid E-Verify client company identification number?
    • THIS IS NOT THE EIN! The E-Verify number is different and not listed on your I-983. Ask your employer if you don’t know the number.

Reason for Applying

• What is your reason for applying?
  • Pre- and Post-completion OPT applicants - select “Initial permission to accept employment”
  • 24-month STEM OPT Extension applicants – can usually select “Renewal of permission to accept employment”
• Have you previously filed Form I-765?
  • If you ever received a previous EAD card within the U.S., select “Yes”
    • All STEM OPT Extension applicants should select “Yes”
  • Otherwise, select no.

Preparer and interpreter Information

• Is someone assisting you with completing this application?
  • Answer according to your situation

Your Name

• What is your current legal name?
  • This should match the name on your birth certificate. Do NOT use any nicknames.
• Have you used any other names since birth?
  • Answer according to your situation
  • Nicknames, aliases, and maiden names should be added here

Your Contact Information

• This part will ask you for your phone number, email, mailing address, and physical address (if different from mailing address)
• We recommend you provide a mailing address that will be valid for the duration of the application
  • If you’re moving or don’t feel comfortable receiving the EAD card at your physical location, you can provide an “in care of” address in the mailing address (someone else can receive the EAD card for you).

Describe Yourself

• This part will ask you about your gender, marital status, location of birth, and date of birth.

Your Immigration Information

• What is your country of citizenship or nationality?
  • If you have multiple citizenships, you will be able to select more than one
• What is your Form I-94 Arrival-Departure Record Number (if any)?
  • Enter the “Admission (I-94) Record Number” from your most recent I-94
    • You can check your most recent I-94 here: https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94/#/home
      • Click “Get Most Recent I-94”
• When did you last arrive in the United States?
  • It will ask for your date of arrival, place of arrival, and immigration status at last arrival
    • If you don’t remember any of the information, check your most recent I-94
• What is the passport number of your most recent issued passport?
  • If you renewed your passport while in the U.S., put the new passport number here. You can share your old passport number in a later section.
• What is your travel document number (if any)?
  • Use this if you have a separate travel document besides your passport
  • Most students will not need to add a number here
• What is the expiration date of your passport or travel document?
  • Answer as needed.
  • Keep in mind, you should have a passport that’s valid for at least 6 months into the future to maintain status.
    • If your passport is already expired or within 6 months of expiration, we recommend you upload a copy of your passport renewal application receipt in the Evidence section
• What country issued your passport or travel document?
  • If you have multiple citizenships or passports, select the country for the passport you most recently used to enter the U.S.
• What is your current immigration status or category?
  • Select “F1 – Student, Academic Or Language Program”
• What is your Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) Number (if any)?
  • Enter the N00- number found in the top left corner of your I-20

​Other Information

• What is you’re A-Number?
  • If you ever had a previous EAD card, enter the USCIS# on the card here
    • All STEM Extension applicants will need to do this
  • If you don’t know if you had or have an A-Number, select “I do not have or know my A-Number”
• What is your USCIS Online Account Number?
  • Your account number should autofill in the box
  • If the account number doesn't autofill and you don't know what it is, select "I do not have or know my USCIS online account number"
• Has the Social Security Administration (SSA) ever officially issued a Social Security card to you?
  • Answer according to your situation
• Do you want the SSA to issue you a Social Security card?
  • If you have never received a Social Security card or Social Security Number, you should click “Yes”
    • A Social Security Number is required to work in the U.S.
  • If you already have a Social Security card, then you don’t need to select “Yes” unless you want a replacement

2x2 Photo of You

• Upload your color passport-style photo here
• More details about photo requirements here: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/photos.html

Form I-94

• Upload a copy of your I-94
• You may also upload a copy of your passport here

Employment Authorization Document or Government ID

• Upload a copy of any previous EAD cards
  • STEM OPT Extension applicants should add their current OPT EAD here
• You may also upload a copy of your passport here

Previously Authorized CPT or OPT 

• Not included on application for STEM OPT Extension applicants
• Upload copies of your previous CPT and/or OPT I-20s
  • If you can’t find your previous CPT and/or OPT I20s, you can do the following:
    • Contact your previous school to see if they have copies of the I-20 (if applicable).
    • Check your previous CPT/OPT request in Terra Dotta to see if there’s a scanned copy available.
    • Submit a Document Replacement request to ISS. We will see if we have a copy in our records, but it’s not guaranteed.
    • If the other options don’t work out, you can write out the details of the previous CPT and/or OPT in the Additional Information section.
  • If you have never done CPT or OPT before, then you will leave this section blank.

Form I-20

• Upload a copy of your signed OPT or STEM OPT I-20 here. YOU MUST HAVE YOUR OPT/STEM OPT RECOMMENDATION I-20 FROM ISS TO GET APPROVAL!
• Pre- and Post-completion OPT applicants – You must submit your OPT I-20 within 30 days of the day your OPT was recommended in SEVIS (this date is in your completion email).
• 24 month STEM OPT Extension applicants – You must submit your STEM OPT I-20 within 60 days of the day your STEM OPT was recommended in SEVIS (this date is in your completion email).

Additional sections for 24-month STEM OPT Extension applicants

• College Degree
  • You’ll need to upload evidence that the degree you’re using for STEM OPT is currently on the STEM Designated Degree Program List
  • Typically, you can upload a copy of your diploma or official transcript as evidence
• Institution Accreditation
  • Only needed if applying based on a previous STEM degree – meaning it’s a different degree than the one you used for your post-completion OPT.
  • You’ll need to upload evidence that the school that granted your STEM degree is currently accredited by the U.S. Department of Education and certified by the Student Exchange and Visitor Program (SEVP)
    • If the previous degree was from Texas A&M, accreditation can be found here
    • If the degree is from a different university, check their website or contact them for proof of accreditation.

• More A-numbers you’ve had (ex - USCIS# on other EAD cards)
• Any previous SEVIS IDs
• If you need to add additional information about any biographical information (ex – your name)
• If you were asked to submit your previous CPT and/or OPT I-20s and you don’t have them, add the information here:
  • We suggest including degree level, SEVIS ID, start and end dates, school/institution, and part-time or full-time

• Your fee - USCIS will let you know the fee amount you need to pay (you’ll have to pay before you submit)
• Alerts and Warnings – This will let you know if you did not provide an answer to a question USCIS has marked as required.
  • This list is NOT exhaustive! Meaning, you could still be missing important information even if there isn’t an alert or warning given.
• Your application summary
  • Review the previous sections of your application thoroughly to make sure you’ve done everything you need to.
  • Make sure you are satisfied with all your answers and that they’re ACCURATE before submitting. It’s very difficult to edit and withdraw applications after it’s submitted to USCIS.
  • It is ultimately your responsibility to make sure your I-765 application is correct.
• Your statement/Your signature
  • Read through the statements and agree and sign as necessary 

Required Documents for I-765 Application

• When filling out the I-765, either type or print legibly in black ink.
• If a question does not apply to you:
  • Alphabetical answer: "N/A"
  • Numberical answer: "None"
• If you make a mistake, start over with a new form.
  • DO NOT use highlighters, correction fluid, or tape.
• Sign the I-765 on page 5 by hand in black ink! DO NOT TYPE OR STAMP IT, AND NO DIGITAL SIGNATURES!
• Keep copies of everything you send to USCIS!
• Submit all pages of Form I-765. Even is some sections are blank.
• If applicable, Apply for Your Social Security Number While Applying for Your Work Permit.
• Submit COPIES unless they request original documents. They will not return original documents!
• USCIS prefers single-sided copies.
• Do not send any of your dependents' documents to USCIS.
• Do not use staples! Use paper clips or binder clips instead if you need to.
• Always download the most recent form version directly from the USCIS website
• If you plan to use sticky notes to help organize your packet, place them at the bottom of documents, not the sides.

• Pre- or Post-Completion OPT: Mark box 1.a. "Initial permission to accept employment"
• 24-Month STEM OPT Extension: Mark box 1.c. "Renewal of my permission to accept employment"

• Fill out your name as shown on your birth certificate 
• If your name is different on other legal documents, provide them in the "Other Names Used" section. Otherwise, use N/A. 

• This is the address your EAD card will be sent to. Put whichever address you would like the EAD sent to, keeping in mind the USCIS processing time and where you may be at the time of issuance. The address should be one that is valid at least 3 months into the future. 
• If you want the EAD to be sent to someone other than yourself (for instance, a friend you will be staying with), put their name in the "In Care of Name" section. 

•  If you want the SSA to assign you a Social Security number and issue you a Social Security card, or issue you a new or replacement Social Security card, then answer “Yes” to both Item Number 14 and Item Number 15.  
• You must also provide your father’s and mother’s family and given names at birth in Item Numbers 16.a. - 17.b.  
  • Social Security Administration will use Item Numbers 16.a. - 17.b. in issuing you a Social Security card. 

• Pre-Completion OPT: (c) (3) (A)  
• Post-Completion OPT: (c) (3) (B)  
• 24-Month Extension of OPT: (c) (3) (C) – You will have to complete questions #28a, 28b, and 28c on Form I-765 as well. 
  • USCIS will deny your I-765 application if your employer’s E-Verify information is incorrect.  

• An Alien Registration Number is a unique identification number given by USCIS to certain immigrants. Most F-1 students applying for their first OPT authorization do not have an alien registration number. Possible exceptions are: 
  • You have been in another status besides F-1 while in the U.S. 
  • You have submitted another application to USCIS in the past. 
• If you are on STEM, use the “USCIS #” (XXXXXXXXX) from your Post-Completion EAD card; NO DASHES. Provide copies of the EAD with your application. 
• If you can’t remember or don’t have a number, leave blank 

• If anyone helped you fill out this application, then you need to fill out Part 4 and Part 5 as needed. “Anyone” can include: 
  • Interpreter/Translator
  • Immigration Attorney or Accredited Representative
• If you did not receive assistance, you do not need to fill out these sections. However, you must still include these pages in your application. 

• Examples of additional info include but are not limited to:
  • Any additional names that don’t fit on page 1 
  • Additional A-numbers (For example, USCIS# on other EAD cards) 
  • If you are a citizen or national of more than two countries 
  • Any previous SEVIS IDs 
  • Any previous CPT/OPT Authorization 
    • Include degree level, SEVIS ID, start and end dates, school.institution, and part-time or full-time

• Make sure you indicate the EMPLOYER's E-Verify number.
• Requests with invalid employer E-Verify information will be denied.  

• It is recommended to send a copy of the Form I-983 along with your USCIS STEM application, even though it is not required by USCIS at this time. 

• Yes, you should include a front and back copy of your Post-Completion EAD card.