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Reminder: OPT I-20 Required; Do not submit your OPT application to USCIS without first obtaining an OPT recommendation I-20 from the DSO.

Applicants who file their Employment Authorization Document (EAD) application (e.g. OPT application) on or after December 12, 2025, should expect to receive a notification to attend a Biometrics Services Appointment (BSA) at an Application Support Center (ASC) as part of the application process. Applicants should follow the instructions provided in the notification to schedule the BSA. The closest ASC to Lewiston is located in South Portland: , 207 Gannett Drive, South Portland, ME 04106 . We recommend EAD applicants continue to follow the posted instructions and submit passport-style photographs with their applications until USCS updates their instructions.

If you receive a USCIS communication regarding a photo or biometric appointment request and have questions, please contact the Center for Global Education. We will continue to monitor developments and will update this announcement as needed.

Disclaimer: The CGE provides general guidance on your OPT/STEM OPT application based on information obtained from reliable sources. We make every attempt to ensure that we provide you with the most up to date information available. Any advice provided to you by our office does not constitute legal advice, however. The OPT/STEM OPT application is a personal application for which you are responsible; the application preparation and USCIS case decision will vary depending on the facts at issue in your particular case. The CGE does its best to provide you with the most current guidance, but please be mindful that USCIS may change its interpretation of these policies, procedures, regulations, and eligibility requirements at any time. The CGE is not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for the results obtained from USCIS.

In advance of submitting your online OPT application, it is recommended that you prepare the following digital files:

-All documents must be in a certain format and no more than 6 MB per file: JPG, JEPG, PDF, TIF, OR TIFF. See the exception for photos
-Name document with simple text (no special characters)
-Biometrics are generally not required for OPT applicants.

• OPT recommendation I-20 (issued no more than 30 days ago for Post-Completion OPT applications, and no more than 60 days ago for STEM applications)
• Your passport bio page
• 2鈥漻2鈥� recent
  • On December 12, 2025, US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued a  announcing that it would no longer accept self-submitted photos required for applications and petitions. Photos must be collected through a USCIS Application Support Center (ASC). In order to submit your OPT application, first self-submit a 2×2 passport-style photograph. After submission of your OPT application, you will receive a notification of your requirement to attend a scheduled appointment at the ASC, 207 Gannett Drive, South Portland, ME 04106. If you wish to reschedule the appointment visit the webpage listed on the ASC appointment notice.
• Your
• Any previous EADs (if applicable)
• Previously issued CPT I-20s (if applicable)
• *Official transcript for the degree upon which your STEM extension application is based (for STEM OPT applications only)
  
  

For Post-Completion OPT, USCIS must receive your OPT application no more than 30 days after your OPT recommendation I-20 was issued. *For STEM OPT, USCIS must receive your OPT application no more than 60 days after the OPT recommendation I-20 was issued.

The following instructions are intended to help answer the most common questions about applying for OPT via USCIS鈥檚 online filing system. These instructions do not specify every single question on the online I-765 application. If you have questions that are not answered here, please contact your DSO.

Filing Your I-765 and OPT Application Online

1. Create or log into your online account.聽 Visit for more instructions. Tip: use your personal, non-乐播传媒 email when you set up your account.

2. Select 鈥淔ile a Form Online鈥� and choose 鈥淎pplication for Employment Authorization (I765)鈥�.

3. Getting Started

• Select the type of OPT that you are applying for (鈥渨hat is your eligibility category?鈥�):
  • c)(3)(B)  Post-Completion OPT
  • *(c)(3)(C) STEM Extension
• Select your reason for applying:
  • Initial OPT: 鈥渋nitial permission for employment鈥� is the right choice.
  • *STEM OPT Extension: “renewal of my permission to accept employment” is the right choice.
• Unless a lawyer or accredited representative is preparing your OPT application for you, no one is assisting you with this application.

鈥� *For STEM OPT Applicants Only:

1.  What is your degree? 鈥淏achelors鈥� and the CIP code found on your I-20
2. What is your employer鈥檚 name as listed on ? Write your employer’s name as listed in the E-verify system (this should also match your ).
3. What is your employer’s E-Verify company identification number or a valid E-Verify client company identification number? Write your employer’s number. This is usually 4 – 7 digits. E-verify number is not the same as EIN. Check with your employer if you do not know your employer’s e-verify number.

4. About You

• Provide your current legal name as it appears on your I-20 and in your passport
• Provide a current U.S. mailing address that will be valid for 3-6 months (as long as your OPT application is pending.
  • This is the address where USCIS will send your approval documents, including your EAD, and any other mailings.
  • OPT applicants should provide the Center for Global Education mailing address. The CGE will receive your mail from USCIS, open it, scan and arrange to have the original shipped to you. Center for Global Education mailing address:
    • In care of name: Center for Global Education
    • Address Line 1: 9 Andrews Rd.
    • Address Line 124 Roger Williams hall
    • City: Lewiston
    • State: Maine
    • ZIP code: 04240

*For STEM OPT Applicants Only:

If you expect that your personal U.S. address will not be valid in 3-6 months, you should provide the U.S. mailing address of a trusted friend or family member that will be valid in 3-6 months.

5. Evidence

• Upload a 2X2 photo (a 2鈥漻2鈥� recent ).
  • On December 12, 2025, US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued a  announcing that it would no longer accept self-submitted photos required for applications and petitions. Photos must be collected through a USCIS Application Support Center (ASC). In order to submit your OPT application, first self-submit a 2×2 passport-style photograph. After submission of your OPT application, you will receive a notification of your requirement to attend a scheduled appointment at the at . If you wish to reschedule the appointment visit the webpage listed on the ASC appointment notice.
• Upload your most recent Form (not your I-94 travel history).
• Upload any previous EADs (if you have previously been approved for OPT), and a copy of your passport bio page in the Employment Authorization Document or Government ID section.
• Upload any and all previously issued CPT I-20s and/or OPT I-20s in the Previously Authorized for CPT or OPT section.
  *STEM OPT Applicants DO NOT need to upload CPT and/or OPT I-20s. Only the STEM OPT I-20 is required.
• Upload your newly issued OPT recommendation Form I-20. This OPT recommendation I-20 must be no more than 30 days old if applying for Post-Completion OPT, and must be no more than 60 days old if applying for STEM OPT. Email the DSO if you are concerned that you are too close or are beyond this window.

鈥� *For STEM OPT Applicants Only:

• 飩� College degree: Upload a copy of your official transcript here, showing completion of the degree that is the basis for your STEM OPT extension application.
  • Order your official 乐播传媒 transcript through the Registrar’s office here.
• Institutional accreditation: Generally, this section can be skipped for 乐播传媒 College students. This section is only for STEM OPT applicants who are applying on the basis of a previously earned STEM degree. Unless you completed a STEM degree before your studies at 乐播传媒 College, and are applying for the STEM OPT extension in connection with that previous degree, this section is not applicable to you.

6. Additional Information

*Add a response only if you:

• Previously had a different SEVIS ID number while in F-1 status (for example, you studied in F-1 status, left for a leave of absence, then returned to school with a new I-20).
  • Section: About You; Page: Your immigration information; Question: What is your SEVIS number (if any)?; Additional Information: indicate your previous SEVIS ID and the start and end date of your previous I-20(s).
• Have previously been authorized for CPT or OPT:
  • Section: Evidence; Page: Previously authorized CPT or OPT; Question: Previously authorized CPT or OPT; Additional Information: Whether CPT or OPT, start and end dates of CPT/OPT, whether it was full-time or part-time, pre- or post-completion, and academic level (Bachelor’s, Master’s, Doctorate) at which it was authorized.
• Hold citizenship in three or more countries:
  • Section: About You; Page: Your immigration information; Question: What is your country of citizenship or nationality? Additional Information: indicate your additional citizenship and upload copies of each passport under the Employment Authorization Document or Government ID section of Evidence.

 7. Review your application

• Select View Draft Snapshot to retrieve a copy of your draft I-765 for your OPT review meeting with the DSO.
• After your OPT review meeting:
  • Check that you are submitting your OPT application to USCIS no more than 30 days after the date your OPT recommendation I-20 was issued for Post-Completion OPT, or *60 days for STEM OPT. Do not submit your application if it is outside this timeframe. Contact the DSO with questions.
  • Verify that all information is correct. Digitally sign and submit your application.

8. Pay the application fee

• Pay the required application fee of *$470 via credit or debit card.
• Once you pay the fee, your OPT application is submitted and no further changes can be made.
  *Biometrics are NOT required for OPT applications.

*Optional Form I-907 Premium Processing

You can add to your I-765 application in the portal if you want premium processing. The Premium Processing Fee is considerable ($1,780) and in addition to the regular OPT application fee.
can be added to your OPT application at the time of submission to USCIS or after submission.
Premium Processing guarantees a review of your OPT application within 30 business days. It does not guarantee you will be approved within 30 business days. EAD processing and mailing is NOT part of the 30-business day period. There is an additional wait time to receive the EAD card.

OPT Resources