OPT (Optional Practical Training)

Temporary work authorization allowing F-1 international students to work in the US in a job directly related to their field of study.

Optional Practical Training (OPT) is a period of temporary employment authorization available to F-1 international students in the United States, allowing them to work in a position directly related to their major area of study. Standard OPT provides 12 months of work authorization after graduation. Students who graduate with a STEM degree (science, technology, engineering, or mathematics) and work for an E-Verify employer may apply for a 24-month STEM OPT extension, bringing total OPT to 36 months.

OPT authorization comes from USCIS and is represented by an Employment Authorization Document (EAD card). Students apply through their Designated School Official (DSO) before graduation; USCIS processing takes 3–5 months, so timing is critical. During OPT, the student must maintain their F-1 status — which includes reporting employment to their school's international office, limiting unemployment (no more than 90 days total, 60 days after STEM extension approval), and ensuring the work is directly related to their degree.

For employers, hiring someone on OPT doesn't require any immigration filing, sponsorship, or fees — the student has already obtained their own work authorization. This makes OPT hires administratively simple: the employer just verifies the EAD on the I-9 and confirms E-Verify enrollment if the employee will later apply for a STEM extension. The key planning consideration is that OPT is temporary — most employers who hire OPT students will eventually need to file an H-1B if they want to retain the employee long-term.

OPT Timeline and Types

  • Pre-completion OPT: available before graduation, part-time during school, full-time during breaks — counts against the 12-month total.
  • Post-completion OPT: the most common form — 12 months of full-time work authorization after graduation.
  • STEM OPT extension: additional 24 months for STEM graduates at E-Verify employers — must be applied for before initial OPT expires.
  • Total maximum: 36 months (12 months standard + 24 months STEM extension), reset once per degree level.
  • Application lead time: apply 90 days before desired start date — USCIS takes 3–5 months, so plan accordingly.

The OPT-to-H-1B Transition

  • H-1B cap: to stay in the US long-term, most OPT workers need an employer to file an H-1B cap-subject petition.
  • April lottery: H-1B petitions are filed in April for an October 1 start; employers typically commit in December–February to be ready.
  • Cap-gap: if your OPT expires between April 1 and September 30 and your employer filed an H-1B by April 1, your OPT and F-1 status are automatically extended until October 1 or the H-1B decision, whichever comes first.
  • Lottery risk: the H-1B cap is severely oversubscribed — in recent years, only 20–25% of petitions are selected. Multiple lottery losses may force OPT workers to leave the US or pursue alternatives.
  • Alternatives if H-1B lottery fails: TN visa (for Canadians/Mexicans), O-1 visa (extraordinary ability), returning to school for another degree (resets OPT clock), or relocating to another country where the company has offices.

STEM OPT Employer Requirements

  • Employer must be enrolled in E-Verify — this is a strict requirement.
  • Employer and student must complete a 'Training Plan' (Form I-983) documenting learning objectives and how the role relates to the STEM degree.
  • Employer must report student's employment status changes (termination, reduction in hours below 20/week) to the DSO within 5 business days.
  • Must pay the student at least the same wage paid to US workers in similar roles and conditions.

Example

A computer science graduate applies for post-completion OPT in January, 90 days before her May graduation. Her EAD arrives before her start date. She joins a tech company, and in December her employer files her in the H-1B lottery. She's selected and transitions from OPT to H-1B status on October 1 of the following year.