How long can I work in the USA after graduating with a STEM degree on an F-1 visa, including both Standard OPT and the STEM OPT Extension?

The 36-month figure is a maximum, not an automatic entitlement, and each piece of it comes with its own eligibility conditions that determine whether you actually get the full period.

The Two Stages

• Standard post-completion OPT: Up to 12 months of work authorization tied to your field of study, available to any F-1 graduate who applies within the required window.
• STEM OPT Extension: An additional 24 months on top of standard OPT, for a combined 36 months, available only if your degree qualifies as STEM under the government's designated degree list.

What the STEM Extension Actually Requires

Beyond having an eligible STEM degree, you need a qualifying employer registered in E-Verify, and your employment generally needs to be at least 20 hours a week to maintain valid status during the extension period. These conditions matter because losing your qualifying job without timely reporting can put your work authorization at risk.

What a Real Timeline Looks Like

A student graduating in May 2027 with an eligible STEM degree and a qualifying employer could potentially hold F-1 work authorization through roughly May 2030, covering the 12-month standard OPT period followed immediately by the 24-month STEM extension, assuming both applications are approved without gaps.

What This Is Not

OPT and the STEM extension are F-1 student status work authorizations, not a standalone 3-year work visa. You remain on your student status throughout this period, and moving into longer-term US employment after it ends typically requires a separate visa category such as H-1B, which involves its own eligibility and selection process.

My Advice

Confirm your specific degree program is on the official STEM Designated Degree Program List before you count on the 24-month extension, since not every engineering-adjacent or technical-sounding program qualifies. Start your STEM OPT extension application well before your standard OPT expires, since processing delays are common and a gap in authorization can jeopardize your ability to keep working legally.