After studying in the U.S., the most important question that bothers most students is the education or work plan after graduation. To acquire work experience, graduates apply for a post-study work visa. A post-study work visa is also known as Optional Practical Training (OPT). This visa lets you work in a field that is linked to your degree. A visa opportunity like this is a ticket to explore the professional world of the U.S. job market. It also gives you hands-on experience of the degree you have pursued. In the following sections you will learn about …

• STEM and Non STEM Courses
• Pre-completion OPT
• Post-completion OPT
• Requirements to get Optional Practical Training

STEM vs Non STEM Courses

OPT is a one-year authorization program which is designed for F-1 Visa holders. There are two options to consider within the OPT visa – Pre-completion OPT and Post-completion OPT.

Pre-Completion OPT

A Pre-completion OPT allows you to work for an authorized job while still being enrolled in a verified university. To be eligible for the Pre-completion OPT you must be actively enrolled in a full-time program at a SEVP*-certified institution authorized to accept F-1 students. The program duration must be at least one academic year (typically 12 months). Pre-completion OPT allows part-time employment (up to 20 hours per week) while classes are in session if approved. Full-time work authorization may be granted during official school breaks (e.g., summer vacation).

Post-Completion OPT

Post-completion OPT is available after you have completed higher education in the U.S. It authorizes you to work full-time for up to a year in a position directly connected to your field of study.

Requirements to get Optional Practical Training

1. To get an OPT, the position you secure should be directly related to your field of study that ensures practical application. After your graduation, you get a 90-day window to apply and secure a suitable OPT job. You can apply for OPT EAD (Employment Authorization Document) which can be submitted nine months after your enrollment into your preferred degree program. However, employment can only begin after you receive your EAD and complete at least one year of full-time study. OPT employment authorization doesn’t limit choices geographically, it is valid throughout the U.S.A.
2. If you are applying for an OPT extension, you should hold a degree in STEM courses from a university that is accredited by the U.S. Department of Education and authorized by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP)*.
3. For Pre-Completion OPT for Non-STEM degree holders, your Designated School Official (DSO) needs to first recommend OPT in your SEVIS record. Once that’s done, you can apply. You can apply up to 3 months (90 days) before you finish your first full academic year.
4. For Post-Completion OPT for Non-STEM degree holders, You have a 30-day window to apply after your DSO recommends OPT in your SEVIS* record. Be very careful with this window. Apply up to 90 days before you graduate, but remember, the latest you can apply is 60 days after graduation.

For international students, the post-graduation work authorization option functions as a strategic foundation for launching a professional career in the United States. This visa serves a dual purpose: it enables graduates to leverage their recently acquired knowledge and skills within the American workforce, while also fostering the development of professional networks within their chosen field. Notably, this authorization serves as a potential stepping stone towards securing alternative visa classifications, such as the H-1B visa, which is issued to the highly skilled foreign workers seeking long-term employment in the US.

*In the U.S., the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) runs the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) that administers a web-based program, Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). SEVP collects the essential data related to nonimmigrant students and exchange visitors for the government agencies helping them to preserve national security.