USA · CHAPTER 16
Working in the USAafter graduation.
After graduating you can apply for 12 months of Optional Practical Training (OPT). STEM-designated graduates can add a 24-month STEM OPT extension. Longer-term work usually needs an H-1B visa, allocated by lottery. A proclamation fee of $100,000 applies to some new H-1B petitions; USCIS guidance exempts most F-1 students changing status inside the US.
Published by Althéa Consulting · Adviser: Harshita Kohli
Source review: · How to use our guides
- OPT
- 12 months
- STEM OPT
- +24 months
- OPT application (I-765)
- $470 online
- Apply OPT
- Up to 90 days before graduation
Timeline
- 01
Get the DSO recommendation
Your international office updates your I-20.
- 02
File I-765
Up to 90 days before and 60 days after your programme end date.
- 03
Receive your EAD
Start work after the card's start date.
- 04
STEM OPT
Apply before your OPT ends with an E-Verify employer and training plan.
What is still changing
DHS proposed new school-paid OPT fees on 8 October 2026; they are not in force unless a final rule is published. The H-1B $100,000 proclamation fee has been in litigation. Your international office and employer will advise on the current position.
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OPT rules that matter
- Apply up to 90 days before and 60 days after the programme end date
- No more than 90 days of unemployment during standard OPT
- STEM OPT needs an E-Verify employer and a training plan (Form I-983)
- Report employment changes to your school within 10 days
- Travelling during OPT needs care — carry your EAD and a job letter
Paths after OPT
| Route | Notes |
|---|---|
| H-1B | Employer-sponsored, lottery-based for most employers |
| Cap-exempt H-1B | Universities and some research organisations are not subject to the lottery |
| O-1 | For extraordinary ability with strong evidence |
| Further study | PhD or another degree continues F-1 status |
Permanent residence (green card)
Most graduates reach a green card through an employer: the employer usually completes labour certification (PERM), then files an I-140 petition in the EB-2 or EB-3 category. Each country has an annual cap, and Indian-born applicants face some of the longest waits; the State Department's monthly Visa Bulletin shows where each category stands. Plan to stay on H-1B or another work visa for years while your priority date becomes current.
QUICK ANSWERS
Your questions, answered.
Yes, but report the change to your school within 10 days, and for STEM OPT submit a new training plan with an E-Verify employer.
WHERE TO GO NEXT
Keep going: the pages that help next.
Each card says what you will find there. Looking for something else? See every page on the site.
USA GUIDE
Jobs & careers in the USA
Sectors hiring international graduates in the USA, starting salaries, OPT-friendly employers, career fairs and where to search.
JOBS
Jobs & careers
Thousands of real, open jobs, internships and alternance, with the French words for each job.
FROM INDIA
Coming back to India
Returning to India with a foreign degree: UGC equivalence (formerly AIU), professional council rules, documents to bring home and using your work experience.
CAREERS
Career support in France
How we help with CVs, interviews, internships and your first job in France.
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Compare countries
Compare countries on fees, living costs, visa rules and post-study work, in one table.
FRANCE
Study in France
The full France guide: degrees, fees, Campus France, visa, housing and work, chapter by chapter.
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