How to Get a Post-Study Work Permit in the USA?

After graduating from US universities students aim to look for some work experience. For this, international students will have to apply for a post study work visa in USA. Check out the article for more details on post study work visa in USA for both STEM and non-STEM applicants.

PSW in USA is one of the most important aspects for students pursuing higher studies in the USA. F1 Visa, M1 Visa, and J1 Visa are three types of student visas in USA that allow students to stay and study in the US for a limited period after completing their studies. As an F1 student visa holder, international students can complete up to a year of temporary employment directly related to their major field. After completing their studies, F1 visa holders can apply for Optional Practical Training (OPT).

What is a Post Study Work Visa in USA?

As the name suggests, a post-study work visa is a visa for staying back in the US to get some hands-on work experience. Applicants holding any student visa in the USA, like an F1, J1 or M1 visa, are eligible to apply for post-study work visas in the USA, provided they have found an employer and the employer is registered. E-Verify is only mandatory for the 24-month STEM extension. These visas are of two types - CPT or OPT. Let us understand about the two from the sections below. 

Optional Practical Training (OPT) 

OPT is a one-year work and stay-back permit given to international students after completing a degree program in the US. OPT is specifically applicable for F1 student visa holders and for STEM and non-STEM degree holders. There are two types of OPT – one which can be used during one’s studies, i.e. Pre-Completion OPT, and another which starts after completing one’s studies, i.e. Post-Completion OPT.

• Pre-completion OPT: You can apply for pre-completion OPT after receiving your full-time enrollment in an educational institution certified by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) to enrol F-1 students. The duration of the course must be at least 12 months. If authorized, you can work part-time for a maximum of 20 hours per week when your classes are in session. During the holidays you can work full-time.
• Post-completion OPT: You can apply for post-completion OPT after completing your studies.

When to Get OPT in USA?

The job in the USA you get after finishing your course must be directly related to your field of study. You have to find a job within 90 days after graduation. You can begin the process of applying for OPT nine months after getting enrolled. However, the employment cannot begin until you get your Employment Authorization Document (EAD) from USCIS and have been enrolled for at least one year. Also, it must be noted that you do not need a job to apply for an EAD, and your OPT employment can take place anywhere in the US.

• Duration to stay back – You get to stay in the US for one year after completing your course on an F1 visa.
• Extension – Students applying for an OPT extension should hold a degree in STEM courses from a university accredited by the US Department of Education and authorized by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). Check more details about the STEM OPT extension here.

How to Apply for OPT Extension for Non-STEM Degree Courses?

If the F1 visa holders of a non-STEM program wish to extend their OPT after graduation, they can utilize their past degrees from the US school of higher education. This extension is possible only if that past degree was a STEM degree from a US institution and the current job is related to that specific STEM field. To apply for an OPT extension, follow the steps given below:

• Ask your Designated School Official (DSO) to enter an OPT request in SEVIS
• Next, sign your I-20 form as provided by DSO
• Then, complete an application for Employment Authorization Document (EAD) - I-765.
• Submit details of any previous EAD cards you’ve held.
• The filing fee is USD 470 for an online application and USD 520 for a paper-based filing. Always double-check the USCIS fee schedule before paying.
• After this, submit the form, OPT extension fee, and supporting documents
• Answer any request for evidence from USCIS
• Receive your approval, once you get your EAD, you can start your job search. 

Without EAD, applicants cannot start working in USA after they complete their graduation. Once they get this card, they can work and start their work journey in US.

How to Get OPT Permit?

The first thing is to have the Designated School Official (DSO) at your university recommend your case for OPT. A DSO is someone who assists and manages the status of international students. To be put forward, you must complete a certification process at your university. This includes submitting the OPT I-20 request form to the International Services Office. You can download this form from your university’s website.

Your university will then send your request to SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System), and upon successful completion, a new I-20 immigration form will be generated.

After speaking to the DSO, understand the typical OPT requirements such as:

• Your employment must be directly related to your major
• Apply for your OPT before completing all work needed for your degree
• You must maintain lawful F-1 status
• You can work before or after the completion of your degree or both
• You may stay and work in the US for up to 12 months after the completion of your coursework

OPT post-graduation requires the following things:

• OPT work must be full-time, preferably 40 hours a week
• USCIS must receive applications for post-completion OPT before the completion of the degree
• All OPT must be completed within 14 months after completion of your degree

When Should You Apply for OPT?

Certain rules apply around when international applicants or non-immigrants on student visa in US can apply for OPT. These rules are as follows for both STEM and non-STEM related courses pursued at any SEVP approved US universities:

• For a STEM degree, pre-completion OPT can be applied for after your DSO enters the recommendation for OPT in your SEVIS record. In addition, you can apply up to 3 months (90 days) before you complete a full academic year.
• For a STEM degree, post-completion OPT can be applied for after your DSO enters the recommendation for OPT in your SEVIS record. In addition, you have to apply within 30 days after the information has been entered. You can apply up to 90 days before you complete your degree but not later than 60 days after completion.
• For STEM OPT extension, you must apply after your DSO enters the recommendation for OPT in your SEVIS record. At the same time, you must apply within 60 days of entering information. In addition, you can apply up to 90 days before your current OPT employment authorization expires.
• For non-STEM degrees, pre-completion OPT can be applied after your DSO enters the recommendation for OPT in your SEVIS record. In addition, you can apply up to 3 months (90 days) before you complete a full academic year.
• For a non-STEM degree, post-completion OPT can be applied for after your DSO enters the recommendation for OPT in your SEVIS record. You have to apply within 30 days after the information has been entered. You can apply up to 90 days before you complete your degree but not later than 60 days after completion.

Note: Applicants cannot exceed 90 days of unemployment during the initial 12-month OPT, or 150 days total including the 24-month extension. Excessive use of Curricular Practical Training (12+ months full-time) can make applicants ineligible for OPT. So applicants should be alert and cautious while they are applying for post study work visa in USA.

Check out: How to Get USA PR After Studying on F1 Visa?

What is CPT in USA?

CPT (Curricular Practical Training) enables international students in the US on an F-1 visa to gain work experience through off-campus paid internships that are an integral part of their academic curriculum. Curricular Practical Training (CPT) allows international students in the US on an F-1 visa to engage in off-campus work or internships that are an essential part of their academic program. Provides the opportunity to earn money to help cover tuition and fees. Offers valuable work experience in the student's field of study, enhancing employability after graduation. Get more details below:

Eligibility Criteria for CPT in USA:

• Students must be enrolled full-time in a valid one-year course on an F-1 visa.
• The job must align with the student’s academic field and be integral to their degree program.
• Prior CPT authorization must be obtained from the International Student Office.

Employment Details for CPT Applicants:

• Students can work part-time (20 hours/week or less) or full-time (more than 20 hours/week) depending on the approval.
• The employment should be directly related to the student’s course of study.

How to Apply for CPT in USA?

For those studying in US universities and have not utilised their CPT benefit can apply for the same. Here is the process to apply for CPT in USA before it expires upon student visa expiration and course completion for international students:

• Start the process early, as it may take up to 2 weeks to get approval.
• Complete the CPT Online Certification Course.
• Obtain a detailed training description from the employer.
• The International Student Advisor reviews the application before issuing the CPT I-20 authorization.
• No work can begin until the CPT I-20 is approved.

Note: If students work full-time on CPT for 12 months or more, they become ineligible for OPT (Optional Practical Training). Thus, working part-time or for less than 12 months is recommended to remain eligible for OPT.

Useful Links:

• Study in the US: Difference between CPT and OPT
• Student Guide to Undergraduate Studies in the US

H-1B Visa in USA (Non-Immigrant Skilled Migrant Visa) 

The H-1B visa in the USA is for those applicants who come for skilled work in a speciality occupation (like the tech industry, finance, engineering, and so on). To be eligible for an H-1B visa in the USA, applicants must possess a bachelor's degree or higher in a specialised field. This visa is:

• Valid for 3 years, with the option to be extended for a maximum of 6 years.
• There is an annual H-1B Cap Gap of 85,000 (65,000 regular + 20,000 for US Master’s degree holders). 
• This visa is solely sponsored by a designated or registered US employer, who must file the form on your behalf.

Note: Cap-Gap Extension, which allows students to stay and work if their OPT expires before their H-1B visa starts on October 1st.

F-1 to H-1B: Transition Path

A graduate on an F-1 visa can obtain an OPT to work in the US for up to 12 months (and STEM 36 months). F1 to H1B Lottery has now been scrapped. In place of this, applicants will be ranked on the basis of their wage hierarchy. The registration for the same will begin from February 27, 2026. Before that, applicants should find an employer to sponsor them for an H-1B visa. Once they find one, the employer must file the petition for H-1B by April before UCIS releases H-1B visas in September - October of that year. It is during this time that applicants can also apply for the Cap Gap Extension. Those who do not meet Cap Gap's criteria have to go from the US. Once the H-1B visa is approved, they can come back.

Apart from the H-1B visa in USA, applicants can also look for alternatives to H-1B visa in USA to gain employment and legally stay in USA after graduation.