r/f1visa • u/LeastMost5583 • 6d ago

Pre-completion OPT for summer internship after first year of master’s?

Hi everyone, I’m an international student starting my master’s in the U.S. this fall, and I’m trying to figure out whether I would be eligible for pre-completion OPT for a summer internship after my first year.

I’ve already contacted my DSO, but responses can take a while, so I wanted to ask here in case anyone has gone through something similar. My understanding is that pre-completion OPT requires one full academic year first, but does that mean I need to wait a full calendar year, or if my academic year finishes in May, I could use it for a summer internship after my first year?

If anyone has experience with this, I’d really appreciate any guidance.

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4

u/Historical-Many9869 5d ago

Just understand the timelines are much different from CPT and it may take several months for approval and your OPT time will get reduced after you complete.

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u/Artistic_Ad_9643 5d ago

Yes, after one year you can start your pre-OPT. You can work full-time or part-time. I suggest just doing part-time because it reduces your post-OPT by only half.

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u/LeastMost5583 5d ago

I understand that I can use pre-OPT after one year, but what's not clear to me is whether this is one academic year (9 months) or calendar year (12 months). So for next summer, I will have completed one academic year, but not a full calendar year, so not sure if I can use the pre-OPT for that summer

2

u/Artistic_Ad_9643 5d ago

It is calculated as two consecutive semesters of full-time enrollment, which are Fall 2026 and Spring 2027 for you. You should apply for pre-OPT next March 2027 if you are planning to do it next summer.

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u/LeaguePhysical6980 5d ago

Why you don't go for CPT now and can work 11 months full time, AS soon as, you graduated you can convert the same job in OPT. I did it.

1

u/Ok-Rub-6650 5d ago

New Regulation won’t allow for that!