Can I apply for an H1B visa or find a company to sponsor me after my studies in USA for a Master's/Bachelor's?
Yes, you can get an H-1B visa after your degree, but only through employer sponsorship, since you cannot apply for it yourself. Most students first use 12 months of OPT, plus a 24-month STEM extension if eligible, giving up to three chances at the annual lottery.
Yes, you can end up on an H-1B visa after your Bachelor's or Master's in the US, but you cannot file for it yourself, an employer has to sponsor you through the annual lottery. Because of that, almost every international student uses their OPT work authorisation first to land a job and get multiple shots at the draw.
Your Path From Graduation to H-1B
| Step | What It Gives You |
|---|---|
| Optional Practical Training (OPT) | 12 months of legal work authorisation in your field right after graduation |
| STEM OPT Extension | An extra 24 months if your degree is STEM-designated, for up to 3 years total |
| H-1B Lottery | 85,000 new visas a year: 65,000 general slots plus 20,000 reserved for US Master's or PhD graduates |
| Master's advantage | If not picked in the 20,000 Master's pool, you are automatically re-entered into the 65,000 general pool |
How to Find a Sponsoring Employer
- Search historical sponsor data on sites like myVisaJobs and H1B Grader before you apply, so you avoid companies that never sponsor visas.
- Target cap-exempt employers like universities, colleges and non-profit research organisations, which can sponsor you any time of year, not just during the March lottery.
- On LinkedIn, search your role alongside terms like H1B sponsorship or eligible for OPT/STEM.
- Large tech and consulting firms with in-house immigration teams, such as Amazon, Microsoft and Google, sponsor the highest volume of student visas historically.
My Advice
Start job hunting for OPT-friendly roles at least six months before graduation, and lean toward larger companies or cap-exempt institutions if visa sponsorship is your top priority, since they have the legal infrastructure to handle it. If you are choosing between a Bachelor's and Master's route, remember the Master's degree gives you two shots at the lottery instead of one, which meaningfully improves your odds.
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