For many international students, practical training is one of the most valuable parts of a U.S. education: a chance to apply what you’ve learned, build a professional network and test a career. For F-1 students, the main path is Optional Practical Training (OPT), and for graduates in science, technology, engineering and math, the STEM OPT extension.

What OPT is

OPT is temporary employment authorization for F-1 students, for work directly related to your major field of study. You can receive up to 12 months of OPT at each degree level, so a student who earns a bachelor’s degree and then a master’s degree can qualify for OPT after each.

There are two kinds:

  • Pre-completion OPT, used during your program: part time (up to 20 hours a week) while school is in session, or full time during breaks. Any time you use is subtracted from your 12 months.
  • Post-completion OPT, used after you finish your program. This is what most students use, and it must be full time or at least 20 hours a week.

Who is eligible

  • You must be in valid F-1 status and have been enrolled full time for at least one full academic year.
  • The work must relate directly to your field of study.
  • You can’t have used 12 months or more of full-time Curricular Practical Training (CPT) at the same degree level.

Unlike CPT, you don’t need a job offer to apply for post-completion OPT. Many students apply while still searching.

When and how to apply

  1. Request a recommendation from your DSO. Your school’s Designated School Official reviews your request and enters an OPT recommendation in SEVIS, then issues a new I-20.
  2. File Form I-765 with USCIS within 30 days of the DSO’s recommendation.
  3. Mind the window. For post-completion OPT, USCIS must receive your application no earlier than 90 days before your program end date and no later than 60 days after it.
  4. Wait for your card. You can’t begin working until USCIS approves your application, you have your Employment Authorization Document (EAD) and your requested start date has arrived. Premium processing is available for an additional fee.
Apply early. Filing in the first weeks of the 90-day window gives you the best chance of having your card in hand when your program ends.

Rules while you’re on OPT

  • Unemployment limit: you can be unemployed for no more than 90 days in total during post-completion OPT.
  • Flexible work arrangements: post-completion OPT can include paid jobs, multiple part-time employers, contract work, self-employment in your field and, in some cases, unpaid work that meets legal requirements. Ask your DSO how each counts.
  • Reporting: report your employer, job changes and address changes to your DSO (or through the SEVP Portal) within 10 days.
  • Travel: travel during OPT, especially while an application is pending or before you have a job, carries real risk. Talk to your DSO before you go, and carry your EAD, job documentation, a valid visa and an I-20 with a recent travel signature.

The STEM OPT extension

Graduates with a degree in an eligible STEM field can extend their OPT by 24 months. To qualify:

  • Your degree must appear on the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List, based on its official classification code. In some cases, a previous U.S. STEM degree earned within the past 10 years can qualify you.
  • Your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify and in good standing.
  • You and your employer complete Form I-983, a formal training plan with learning objectives.
  • The job must be paid, at least 20 hours a week, with a real employer-employee relationship and pay comparable to similarly situated U.S. workers. Self-employment doesn’t qualify.

Timeline and rules

  • File before your current OPT expires, up to 90 days in advance, after your DSO recommends the extension in SEVIS.
  • Automatic extension: if you file on time, your work authorization is generally extended for up to 180 days while USCIS decides.
  • Unemployment: the extension adds 60 days, for a total limit of 150 days across OPT and STEM OPT.
  • Reporting: confirm your information with your DSO every six months, and submit self-evaluations on Form I-983 at 12 months and at the end of the extension.
  • Lifetime limit: you can receive a second STEM OPT extension in your lifetime, but only based on a later degree at a higher level.

From OPT to H-1B

Many students use OPT as a bridge to the H-1B, the main U.S. work visa for specialty occupations. Three points are worth knowing:

  • Cap-gap protection: if your employer files a timely H-1B cap petition requesting a change of status, your F-1 status and work authorization can be extended until April 1 of the following year, covering the gap between OPT and an October 1 H-1B start.
  • The $100,000 payment: a 2025 proclamation imposed a $100,000 payment on certain new H-1B petitions. USCIS guidance says it generally doesn’t apply to people changing status from inside the U.S., such as F-1 students on OPT, though it can apply to beneficiaries outside the U.S.
  • Weighted selection: starting with the fiscal 2027 cap season, H-1B registrations are selected with weighting toward higher wage levels, rather than by a purely random lottery.

STEM OPT’s extra two years can also mean more chances at the H-1B cap selection.

What’s changing in 2026

  • Proposed OPT fees. On October 8, 2026, DHS proposed fees that schools would pay when recommending students for practical training: $70,000 for an initial OPT recommendation and $30,000 for later ones, including STEM OPT. It’s a proposal, not a rule, and public comments are due November 9, 2026. Current processes are unchanged.
  • Fixed admission periods, blocked for now. A July 2026 DHS rule would admit F-1 students only until their program end date and, in some cases, require a separate extension-of-stay application alongside an OPT application. A federal court blocked it in September 2026, so it isn’t in effect.
  • Narrower CPT guidance. New guidance from SEVP in August 2026 narrowed which training qualifies as CPT. OPT itself isn’t affected, but students who planned on CPT should check with their DSO.

J-1 students: academic training

J-1 students don’t use OPT. Instead, they can work in their field through academic training, authorized by their program’s Responsible Officer, generally for up to 18 months, or up to 36 months for postdoctoral training. Our F-1 vs. J-1 guide compares the two.

Planning ahead

The best OPT outcomes start years before graduation. Choosing a major with your career in mind, understanding whether it’s STEM-designated, building experience through on-campus work and CPT where available, and starting your job search early all make a difference. Our Career Preparation service helps you plan that path.