Can I work after my OPT expires?

Once your OPT has expired, you have 60 days to leave the US, and may not work during that time — unless you have another status which allows you to work. In general, having a pending permanent resident card application through an employer is not a status that allows you to remain in the US, or to work.

What happens if you keep working after OPT expires?

Life After OPT. If you plan to continue working in the U.S. after your OPT period, there are a variety of employer-sponsored work visas that may be available to you depending on your employer, the kind of work you engage in, your qualifications, and your citizenship.

Can I apply for OPT extension after OPT expires?

You may apply for your OPT extension up to 90 days before your current OPT ends. You cannot apply once your 12-month OPT expires or during the 60-day grace period. Your complete OPT extension application must be received by USCIS before the expiration of your initial 12 months of OPT.

What if I get a job after 90 days of OPT?

Exceeding the OPT 90 days unemployment would mean you are not in compliance with the 90 days OPT unemployment rule. This may have serious immigration consequences.

What happens if my OPT expires before April 1st?

OPT Expiring Before April 1

The cap-gap does not serve to reinstate or retroactively grant employment authorization. Your legal status to remain in the U.S. in F-1 status is extended, but you must stop working until your H-1B goes into effect on October 1.

For all International Students: Stay in the U.S. after your OPT expires

How long can I stay after my OPT ends?

The Grace Period: After completing your OPT, you are eligible for a 60-day grace period. During this time, you may travel within the U.S., transfer your SEVIS record to a new school, request a change of level if you are starting a new program at the UW, or apply to change status to another visa category.

Can I stay after my OPT ends?

There is a 60-day grace period following the end of the OPT period. The grace period is only applicable for those who have not exceeded the 90 days of unemployment during the OPT period or the 150 days of unemployment during OPT and the STEM OPT extension.

How long can I stay unemployed on OPT?

Students with a 12-month Post-Completion OPT authorization cannot be unemployed for more than 90 days. This is aggregate, meaning that if you have 40 days of unemployment, you would only be allowed to be unemployed for a remaining 50 days before you risk violating your immigration status.

What is the 14 month rule for OPT?

14-month OPT Period

To allow F-1 students to complete the full 12-month period of OPT, (the 14-month requirement will begin from the date of approval of the Form I-765 for applications for post-completion OPT, instead of from the student's program end date.

How many years can OPT work?

Twelve months of Regular OPT is available for each higher level of study. (For example a student may have 12 months for a bachelor's degree and another 12 months for a master's degree.) Pre-Completion OPT: Any portion of OPT used before the student's Program End Date. It may be part-time or full-time.

What if my visa is expired on OPT?

If you are approved for OPT/STEM while outside the United States, you will need to arrange for your EAD card to be sent to you in order to re-enter the United States. If your F-1 visa is expired, you will need to reapply for an F-1 visa with your EAD card and proof of employment.

What should I do if my OPT expires and I want to extend it?

Submit your I-765 application to USCIS

You are automatically granted a 6-month extension as soon as you receive a receipt for your STEM OPT Extension application from UCSIS, meaning that you can continue working as soon as USCIS has received your STEM OPT extension application.

How many times can OPT be renewed?

DHS grants STEM OPT extensions to eligible F-1 students who are currently in a period of post-completion OPT once per degree level (i.e., bachelor's, master's or doctorate). A student may participate twice in the STEM OPT extension over the course of their academic career.

What happens if OPT expires while waiting for green card?

If you file your STEM OPT extension application on time and your OPT period expires while your extension application is pending, we will automatically extend your employment authorization for 180 days. This automatic 180-day extension ceases once USCIS adjudicates your STEM OPT extension application.

Can you apply for green card on OPT?

If you want to apply for a green card while you are in F-1 OPT visa status, you will need to apply early. Depending on your home country, there might be a lengthy wait. While the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act in July 2019, the Senate has not acted on this bill.

What happens after 3 year OPT?

Introduction: Work Authorization Post-OPT

During that short time, you must either leave the U.S. or obtain an alternative form of work authorization. There are several visa and green card options available to international workers looking to stay in the U.S. after their OPT expires.

Can I continue to work when my 12-month initial OPT is expiring but I have applied for my stem OPT extension?

Your work authorization and F-1 status is automatically extended for up to 180 days while the STEM OPT Extension application is pending. The 180 days counts from the end date of your initial 12-month OPT.

Can I work without OPT?

In cases where a student does not obtain CPT or OPT, there are limited circumstances under which an F-1 student may still receive permission from USCIS to engage in off-campus employment on a case-by-case basis, based on (1) severe economic hardship or (2) emergent circumstances.

Can I do 2 jobs on OPT?

You may work for multiple employers (including short-term gigs, self-employment, contract work, or work for hire). In order for your OPT employment to be considered active, you must be working 20 hours per week or more between all OPT jobs combined.

Can I work unpaid on OPT?

Requirements. Employment must be within the student's field for which OPT was authorized (listed on the I-20). At least 20 hours/week (for standard post-completion OPT). Employment may be paid or unpaid as long as the unpaid work does not violate labor laws.

Am I still a student if I am on OPT?

OPT is part of F-1 status. Though you may no longer be a student, you are still in F-1 status. A 24-month extension of OPT is only possible for students who are completing a bachelor's, master's or doctoral degree in DHS-designated STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields.

What is the 5 month rule for OPT?

The five month rule refers to the termination of a student's record in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) based on the student being away from classes or not in status for five months.

What is the new rule for OPT?

The STEM extension of OPT will be 24 months in duration. Qualifying F-1 students will thus be eligible for a total of 36 months of OPT employment authorization, including the initial 12-month OPT period.

Can nurses extend OPT?

If you use your OPT and return to school to complete a new degree at a higher level of study than your previous one, you're entitled to another year of OPT.

Is OPT permanent?

An OPT is a temporary working arrangement for foreign students that is valid for 12 months. A green card is an identification document as a permanent resident of the United States that has lifetime validity.