Visa Library
F-1 Optional Practical Training and STEM Extension
Up to 36 months of post-degree work authorization for F-1 students — 12 months of OPT plus a 24-month STEM extension for qualifying degrees.
You graduated from a US institution within the OPT eligibility window, or you are about to. F-1 OPT is the most-used bridge between US education and longer-term work visa pathways.
Editorial summary
Up to 36 months of post-degree work authorization for F-1 students — 12 months OPT plus 24-month STEM extension.
Who it's for
- Recent US graduates seeking work authorization without immediate sponsorship
- STEM graduates extending work authorization for an additional 24 months
- Students bridging between an F-1 program and an H-1B, O-1, or other longer-term visa
Eligibility
- Valid F-1 status with completion of one academic year at a US institution.
- Initial OPT must be requested within a specific window relative to program completion.
- STEM extension requires a degree on the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List and an E-Verify employer.
Process
Step 1
Request DSO recommendation
International student office issues an updated I-20 endorsing OPT.
Step 2
File Form I-765 with USCIS
Application for Employment Authorization Document (EAD).
Step 3
Receive EAD
Standard processing 3-5 months; can request reconsideration if denied.
Step 4
STEM extension
Filed before initial OPT expires, with E-Verify employer and Form I-983 training plan.
Timeline
- I-765 standard processing: 3-5 months
- STEM extension processing: 3-5 months
- Cap-gap automatic extension: through October 1 of the H-1B fiscal year if selected in lottery
Cost
- I-765 fee: $520 (online filing) / $470 (paper)
- Attorney fees: typically $0-$2,000 (often handled by school DSO)
Where it works
- No employer sponsorship required for OPT itself
- STEM extension provides up to 36 months total
- Cap-gap protection if H-1B is selected in the lottery
- Bridges to multiple long-term visa categories (H-1B, O-1, EB-2)
Where it breaks
- Time-limited; planning the next visa step is essential
- STEM extension requires specific degree codes and an E-Verify employer
- OPT is technically tied to F-1 status; loss of F-1 ends OPT
- Unemployment limits apply (90 days during initial OPT, additional 60 during STEM)
Frequently asked
Do I need an employer to start OPT?
No — you can apply for OPT before having a job. But you will accrue unemployment days against the limits once OPT begins.
What is cap-gap?
If you are on F-1 OPT and selected in the H-1B lottery, cap-gap automatically extends your F-1 status and OPT through September 30 so the H-1B can begin October 1.
Can I work multiple jobs on OPT?
Yes — OPT allows multiple employers as long as the work relates to your degree.
Related visas
See all 12 in the Library →O-1
No lottery, no annual cap, no $100K filing fee — for those with sustained recognition in their field.
Read the breakdown →L-1A
Transfer executives or managers from a foreign office to a related US entity.
Read the breakdown →L-1B
Transfer employees with specialized knowledge to a US office of the same company.
Read the breakdown →After OPT: A Decision Framework for F-1 Graduates
STEM graduates have up to 36 months of OPT. We model the realistic visa transitions when those months run out — by field, country, and employer profile.
Read the brief →Sources cited on this page
Where to go next
The Library curates the best of external research and the four sister properties used to act on the evidence above.
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