If you are an international student in the USA and near to graduation, you may be wondering what can come next. The country has an excellent higher education system and is a great place to live, but its immigration laws can be hard to understand.
So, we are here to help you. In this article, we explore post-study visas in the USA, with a focus on how to apply for Optional Practical Training.
What is Optional Practical Training?
For most international graduates in the USA, Optional Practical Training (OPT) is the simplest route to staying and working in the country. While it is not technically a post-study visa programme – instead being an optional component of a student visa – it offers a very similar benefit. Put simply, it allows graduates to enter temporary employment related to their field of study.
Pre-completion and post-completion OPT
OPT is not only for graduates. The opportunity it provides to work in the USA can be taken during or after your studies (or across a combination of both). These two main options are referred to as pre-completion and post-completion OPT, and have slightly different rules.
In this article, we will focus on post-completion OPT as a way of staying in the USA after you graduate.
Who can apply?
You can apply for initial post-completion OPT if you:
- hold an F-1 student visa
- have studied a course of at least 12 months in length (which was not an English language course)
- have completed your studies in the past 60 days (or will have in the next 90 days).
When you apply, you must also be nominated by your education provider’s Designated School Official (DSO). This will confirm your eligibility for OPT.
STEM OPT extension
If your degree was in an eligible science, technology, engineering or maths (STEM) field, you may be able to apply for an extension to your OPT. This is providing that:
- your degree is included on the STEM Designated Degree Program List
- your employer uses E-Verify.
You can make your application for the extension up to 90 days before your initial OPT period ends.
It is also worth noting that if your current OPT period was granted after you completed a non-STEM degree, but you have completed a STEM degree previously, you may still be eligible for the STEM OPT extension. This is providing that you have not previously used that degree to obtain an extension.
How long can I stay?
Initial post-completion OPT allows you to live in the US while you work for up to 12 months. However, any time you have spent on pre-completion OPT will be deducted from this amount.
The STEM OPT extension allows you to stay in the USA for an additional 24 months.
What rules are there?
While on a post-completion OPT placement, you can:
- work in a position directly related to your major area of study
- work full-time, or for at least 20 hours per week.
You must also report any changes to the following within 10 days:
- your personal information
- your employment
- your employer's information.
If you receive a STEM OPT extension, you must report to your DSO every six months to re-confirm these details, even if there has been no change.
While on a post-completion OPT placement, you are not allowed to:
- transfer to another school
- begin studies at another educational level
- be unemployed for:
- more than 90 days during initial post-completion OPT
- more than 150 days in total, throughout initial post-completion OPT and a STEM OPT extension.
Although there is no legal requirement to obtain health insurance for the length of your OPT, healthcare in the USA is extremely expensive. It is advisable to obtain insurance for the length of your stay in the country.
Be aware that every visa is unique, and given on a case-by-case basis. Yours may have other conditions, depending on your circumstances.
When to apply
The following table will help you understand when to apply for your OPT.
|
OPT category |
You should apply… |
|
Initial post-completion OPT |
|
|
STEM OPT extension |
|
If your initial OPT period ends while your STEM OPT extension application is processed, your authorisation to work will be extended for up to 180 days. This additional period will end once a decision is made on your application.
How much does it cost?
An OPT application costs USD 470 when made online. If it is made on paper, it will cost USD 520.
For applicants seeking a quick response, there is also an option known as premium processing. This gives your application increased priority, and is charged at USD 1,685 for both online and paper submissions. If your application is not processed within 30 days, you will be refunded.
Depending on the documents you need to provide, you may also have to pay additional fees. Furthermore, you will need to be able to support yourself financially while in the USA. Although you do not have to prove your ability to do so when applying, it is always important to consider costs like rent, bills and travel.
You may find our article about the cost of living in the USA helpful when budgeting.
What documents do you need?
When you apply for OPT, you will need:
- your passport
- your Form I-94
- two copies of a passport-style photo
- a copy of your latest Employment Authorization Document (EAD), or a copy of another government-issued identity document (if you have never had an EAD)
- details of any previously authorised OPT or Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
- a copy of your Form I-20 endorsed by your DSO and signed by you.
If you are applying for a STEM OPT extension, you will also need to provide evidence that you have completed a degree found on the STEM Designated Degree Program List.
Completing your application
Your first step in applying for OPT is to make sure that your DSO has recommended you on SEVIS. The specifics of this process vary depending on where you study, but it usually involves submitting an OPT I-20 request form to a designated place at your education provider. They will give instructions for this online.
When you have submitted your request to your provider, your DSO will register it on SEVIS. If it is approved, a new Form I-20 will be generated for you. When you have received this, you will need to apply for a Form I-765. This may be done online or on paper, and is the point at which you will need to supply your documentation.
What happens after you apply?
Most OPT applications receive a response within 90 days, but the precise timescale can vary. If you pay for premium processing, you are guaranteed to receive a response inside 30 days.
Other USA work permits
OPT is not your only route to staying in the USA for work after graduation. There are a number of other work visas available which may be worth exploring.
H-1B visa
If your occupation is considered highly specialised, the H-1B Specialty Occupations visa may provide a great way of securing temporary worker status in the USA. Generally, an H-1B visa allows you to stay in the USA for three years, and can be extended up to a length of six years in total.
The H-1B visa is not something you can apply for yourself. You will need a job offer from an employer who is willing to sponsor you and complete the application on your behalf. Find out more about the H-1B visa and whether it is right for you.
You can find some of the roles that can help you get a H-1B visa in our list of the most in-demand jobs in the USA.
Final considerations
Check the conditions and dates of any authorisations you receive carefully. It is important to be clear on what you can and cannot do when you are in the USA, and for how long.
Now that you have more information about OPT and applying for a post-study work visa in the USA, why not look further into what the country can do for your career? Start with our guide to finding a graduate career in the USA. Then, dive deeper with our list of top employers in the USA and the best cities for jobs in the USA.
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