USA Post-study work - Post-study work visa

Post-completion OPT typically allows up to 90 cumulative days of unemployment during the initial 12 months. With the STEM OPT extension, the total cap is 150 cumulative days, not an extra 90 plus 60. Days need not be consecutive, so track every unemployed day carefully.

There are two types of OPT in the USA. Pre-completion OPT lets you work while enrolled, usually up to 20 hours a week and full-time during holidays. Post-completion OPT is work authorisation after graduation on F-1 status. Using one can reduce what remains for the other.

The H1B is an employment-based non-immigrant visa that lets US employers hire foreign graduates for specialty occupations. You usually need a US bachelor's degree or an equivalent, plus a qualifying job offer. The stay is typically 3 years, with an extension up to 6 years in some cases.

If you are not selected in the H1B lottery, you can seek a STEM OPT extension if your STEM course qualifies, explore other visas such as O-1, E-2 or J-1, or target qualifying cap-exempt employers such as universities and non-profit research institutions. Eligibility rules apply, so check official sources.

Yes. Working full-time on CPT for 12 months makes you ineligible to apply for OPT. To stay eligible, work part-time on CPT, or work full-time for less than 12 months. Speak to your international student office, since rules can change.

To qualify for the STEM OPT extension, you must hold F1 status, have a STEM degree from an accredited US university, be in a valid period of post-completion OPT, and work for an E-Verify employer. You also file Form I-765 90 days before your current OPT expires.

To be eligible for OPT you typically need an F1 visa and full-time enrolment at a SEVP-authorised US institution, and your work must relate to your major. You should not have used OPT for the same degree before, with STEM OPT extension as an exception.

OPT filing typically costs around USD 470 if you file online and around USD 520 on paper. Premium processing guarantees a decision within 30 days and costs an additional USD 1,780 or so. Fees can change, so confirm the current amounts on the official USCIS page before you pay.