Welcome to O1DMatch — Student Setup
Let's get you set up. This onboarding walks you through everything you need to know — from navigating your dashboard to receiving your first OPT or CPT training letter. Four quick steps, and you'll be ready to connect with employers.
What Makes O1DMatch
Different for Athletes
Dashboard Overview
Your student dashboard is your home base on O1DMatch. Here's what you'll find:
Training Opportunities — Browse and filter opportunities matched to your field of study.
My Letters — View all training letters you've received from employers, with status indicators (pending, accepted, expired).
My Profile— Edit your student profile, update your skills, and manage visibility settings.
Documents— Upload and manage your transcripts, enrollment verification, I-20, and other supporting documents.
Notifications — Real-time alerts when employers view your profile or send training letters.
Take a moment to explore each section. When you're ready, move on to Step 2.
Training Opportunities
Keep your supporting documents organized and ready. The Documents section lets you upload and manage the files that employers and your DSO may need. Recommended uploads:
Transcripts — Official or unofficial transcripts showing your coursework and field of study
Enrollment Verification — Letter from your university confirming your current enrollment status and expected graduation date.
I-20 — Your Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status (Form I-20). This is especially important if you're applying for CPT, as it shows your program dates and any previous CPT/OPT authorizations.
Resume/CV — Your current resume highlighting academic work, research, internships, and relevant skills.
Additional Documents — Any other supporting materials (recommendation letters, portfolio items, certifications).
All documents are stored securely and are only shared with employers after you accept a training letter and choose to connect.
Evidence & Documents
Keep your supporting documents organized and ready. The Documents section lets you upload and manage the files that employers and your DSO may need. Recommended uploads:
Transcripts — Official or unofficial transcripts showing your coursework and field of study.
Enrollment Verification — Letter from your university confirming your current enrollment status and expected graduation date.
I-20 — Your Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status (Form I-20). This is especially important if you're applying for CPT, as it shows your program dates and any previous CPT/OPT authorizations.
Resume/CV — Your current resume highlighting academic work, research, internships, and relevant skills.
Additional Documents — Any other supporting materials (recommendation letters, portfolio items, certifications).
All documents are stored securely and are only shared with employers after you accept a training letter and choose to connect.
OPT/CPT Letters
This is the core of O1DMatch. When an employer wants to offer you a training opportunity, they generate a USCIS-compliant training letter through the platform. Here's how the process works:
Employer sends a training letter — You'll receive a notification that a new letter is available in your My Letters section.
Review the letter — Each letter includes the employer's name, supervisor information, job duties, how the training relates to your field of study, training dates, and compensation details (if applicable).
Accept or decline — If the opportunity is right for you, accept the letter. Your identity will be revealed to the employer, and they will provide all supporting documentation needed for your DSO to authorize your OPT or CPT.
Connect with the employer — Once accepted, you and the employer can communicate directly to finalize the training arrangement.
If you decline a letter, no information is shared. You can receive letters from multiple employers and compare before making a decision.
Complete Your
Student Profile
Before you start receiving training letters, complete your student profile. This information helps employers find you and determines which opportunities appear in your feed.
Field of Study
Select your primary field of study from the dropdown. If your field isn't listed, type it in manually. This is the most important matching criterion — employers search for students by field of study first.
UI Element: Dropdown selector / searchable input
Options: Pre-populated list of common fields (Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Business Administration, Data Science, Mechanical Engineering, Biology, Economics, etc.) with free-text input fallback.
University Name
Enter the name of your U.S. university or institution. Start typing and select from the autocomplete list. If your school isn't listed, enter it manually.
UI Element: Autocomplete text input
Data source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) school list or equivalent
Expected Graduation Date
Select your expected graduation month and year. This helps employers understand your timeline and whether you're looking for OPT (post-graduation) or CPT (during enrollment).
UI Element: Month/Year date picker
Current Visa Status
Select your current visa and authorization status. This determines which letter types you can receive.
UI Element: Radio button group or dropdown
Options: - F-1 Pre-OPT (currently enrolled, not yet applied for OPT) - F-1 OPT (approved or pending OPT authorization) - F-1 CPT (approved or seeking CPT authorization) - F-1 STEM OPT Extension (approved or pending STEM OPT extension) - Other (please specify)
Ready to Compete in the U.S.?
Create your athlete profile today.
Organizers and sponsors are already looking for athletes like you.