How long is OPT valid?

Optional Practical Training (OPT) is 12-month work authorization available to F-1 international students who have been full-time students for at least two consecutive semesters and plan to seek employment in the United States in their fields of study. Looking for information about the 24-month STEM OPT Extension?

What happens when stem OPT expires?

When you have completed your STEM OPT, you are permitted to remain in the United States for up to sixty calendar days from the end date of your STEM OPT period in order to prepare for departure. You are not permitted to continue employment during this period (unless authorized under the H-1 cap-gap benefit; see below).

What is the lifetime limit for OPT?

Students in F-1 status, enrolled as a full-time student for at least one full academic year (Fall + Spring term) in their degree program, are eligible for up to 12 months of Optional Practical Training (OPT) authorization per degree level at a progressively highly degree level in a student's lifetime.

What is the validity of OPT?

CPT can be done for up to 12 months whereas the typical duration of OPT is 12 months which can be extended up to 24 months. Another important point to note is that you won't be eligible for OPT if you work in CPT for 12 months full time.

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.

How Long Can You Be Unemployed on OPT (OPTIONAL PRACTICAL TRAINING)

Can I extend my OPT in USA?

You can request your STEM OPT Extension I-20 from ISS as early as 90 days before your current 12-month OPT Employment Authorization Document (EAD) Card expiration date. USCIS must receive your STEM OPT extension application before your current 12-month OPT EAD Card expiration date.

How do I stay after my OPT expires?

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.

Can I work after OPT expires?

Introduction: Work Authorization Post-OPT

After OPT or STEM OPT expires, international students only have a grace period of 60 days. During that short time, you must either leave the U.S. or obtain an alternative form of work authorization.

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.

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.

Can I work 80 hours on OPT?

There is no maximum number of hours that can be worked while on STEM OPT, but because there is a minimum, it may be difficult to work for more than 2 employers. For example, if you work for two qualifying STEM OPT employers, at a minimum, you would need to be working 40 hours per week.

How do I get a 3 year OPT in USA?

Furthermore, the government will only grant STEM OPT to those who are in “Post-Completion” OPT. In other words, the program is for graduates, not current students. Combining Post-Completion OPT with the STEM extension allows you to stay in the US for three years after graduation on your F-1 student visa.

What happens after 3 years of OPT?

Options After OPT/Ending OPT

You are allowed a 60-day grace period following your OPT expiration date to leave the United States, change your visa status, or transfer your F-1 record to a new school or program. In some cases, you may want to pursue these options before the end of your OPT.

What to do after 3 years of OPT?

Option #1: Apply for an H-1B Visa

Individuals who have a Bachelor's Degree or advanced certification, as well as an employer to sponsor their petition (note: this is a complex process that must be started months before OPT expires), may be eligible to apply for an H-1B visa.

How do I keep F-1 status after OPT?

Can I apply for H-1B with expired OPT?

If your OPT expires, but you are in a valid 60-day grace period on April 1^st, your employer can still file an H-1B petition on your behalf and you can legally stay in the U.S. (extension of duration of status) until you receive official notification about the status of your case from USCIS, but you are not eligible to ...

Can you apply for H-1B while on OPT?

F-1 students can pursue H-1B visas after they graduate or while they are working in the OPT program. The students are not able to apply for the H-1B visas themselves. Instead, they must find H-1B employers who are willing to sponsor them, and the employers petition for the H-1B visas on their behalf.

What if I lose my job during 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.

How long can F-1 students be out of status?

US Immigration law states that individuals in the US for more than 180 days without a valid status are banned from returning to the US for at least 3 years. Individuals in the US for more than 1 year without a valid status are banned from returning to the US for at least 10 years.

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.

What is difference between OPT and stem OPT?

While in both cases your OPT activity must be related to your area of study, STEM OPT actually has additional requirements for employment and reporting that are not required for Post-Completion OPT.

Can you go straight from OPT to green card?

Yes, individuals on OPT who can demonstrate extraordinary ability, such as outstanding researchers, professors, or individuals with exceptional skills or achievements, may self-petition for a Green Card in the EB-1A (Extraordinary Ability) or EB-2 NIW (National Interest Waiver) categories.

Do you need sponsorship after OPT?

OPT is an employment-based program, and it requires a job offer and employer sponsorship in order to be extended. To be eligible for the 24-month STEM extension of OPT, you must have a job offer from a U.S. employer that is enrolled in E-Verify and has received an approved Form I-983 from USCIS.

What happens if my F-1 visa expires while 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.