What is OPT for International Students in USA? How to Apply for OPT Visa?

Do you wish to work in the US after graduating? Learn everything about - OPT meaning, the full form of OPT, its visa types and eligibility criteria. This comprehensive guide shall cover everything you need to know about OPT in 2026.

Landing a US degree is only half the journey; what happens after graduation matters just as much. This is where Optional Practical Training (OPT) comes in. It's a work authorisation that lets international students, along with thousands of Indian students each year, gain hands-on professional experience in their field of study right after completing their degree.

OPT allows F-1 visa holders to work in the US for up to 12 months post-graduation, with an added 24-month extension for STEM graduates, making it one of the most valuable bridges between a US education and long-term career goals, including the H-1B route.

For Indian students specifically, OPT isn't just a formality. It's often the deciding factor between choosing to study in the US over other study destinations. It offers real-world exposure to American work culture, a chance to recover part of the hefty tuition investment, and a genuine shot at employer sponsorship down the line.

This guide breaks down everything you need to know: eligibility, application timelines, STEM extension rules, and common mistakes to avoid.

Full Form of OPT

The full form of OPT is Optional Practical Training, an authorisation offered by USCIS to F1 visa applicants to get a job based on the major they studied at a US university or college. The OPT full form is an abbreviation (initialism) and hence is pronounced using the initials as O-P-T only and not as a spelling otherwise. Apply for OPT in USA after graduating from US university.

What is OPT in USA?

Optional Practical Training, or OPT, in the USA can be understood like this:

‘OPT is an authorisation for F1 student visa holders who can temporarily choose employment relevant to their field of study and stay back to work in the country. This temporary work permit in the USA applies to all applicants holding an F1 visa irrespective of STEM or non-STEM degree programs. Those who find a job within 90 days of graduation from any US university are eligible to stay in the USA for one year or 12 months on an Optional Practical Training visa. However, those graduating with a STEM degree and grabbing a job can request a STEM OPT extension of 24 months on an OPT visa.’

Note: There are two visas in the USA - OPT and Curricular Practical Training (CPT). Both of them vary from one another. Applicants who wish to understand can check CPT vs OPT in USA: Key Differences. 

Types of OPT Visas in USA

After understanding the meaning of OPT, let us understand the types of Optional Practical Training. There are two types of F1 OPT visas in the USA: pre- and post-completion OPT. Each holds significant meaning in terms of Optional Practical Training in the US for international students. Check out what each of them signifies and adds to the meaning:

1. F1 Pre-Completion OPT Visa

As the name suggests, applicants who apply for a temporary job and work for a certain period, irrespective of the student visa - F1, M1 or J1 for one academic year while enrolled in a SEVP-authorised institution can lawfully work under Pre-Completion OPT. Applicants enrolled under this OPT can work up to 20 hours a week and full-time during college holidays. 

2. F1 Post-Completion OPT Visa

A post-completion OPT, as the name suggests, is the work authorisation received to work after graduation while on an F-1 visa status. Those authorised for a post-completion OPT are eligible to work part-time in the USA for 20 hours or less weekly, or full-time when the college is not in session. 

Pre and Post-Completion OPT Impact

Based on different situations, both the pre-completion OPT visa and the post-completion OPT visa can be impacted. Here is how:

• Those who complete one year of Pre-Completion OPT for a year, are eligible for 50% authorisation to work under Post-Completion OPT. Thus, applicants can only avail 6 months of Optional Practical Training.
• In cases where applicants have already worked full-time (40 hours) for a year under pre-completion OPT, the total OPT available will be reduced by one year. In this situation, applicants are not eligible for post-completion OPT. 

Thus, these cases must be taken care of when applying for either pre or post-completion OPT visas after or before graduation finishes. 

What is STEM OPT Extension?

When understanding OPT meaning, the STEM OPT extension can’t be missed out. Numerous F1 visa holders enrol for STEM courses in the USA. The applicants who choose to go for STEM education look for jobs in STEM fields specifically. Thus, STEM OPT meaning in layman's terms suggests that applicants who pursue a course in Science, Technology, Engineering or Medical fields can work for up to 24 months in the USA as part of F1 STEM OPT Extension. For this, applicants should:

• Hold an F1 visa status.
• Have graduated with a STEM degree (bachelor's or master’s) from an accredited US university when submitting a STEM OPT extension application. 
• Be enrolled in a STEM-designated course as recognised in the USA.
• Have been authorised for an OPT visa and should be in a valid period of post-completion OPT as well.
• Should be employed by an employer who uses E-Verify and is enrolled on it as well.
• Submit Form I-765 90 days before the current OPT visa expires with a recommendation from your university DSO.  

Also, applicants who graduate with a STEM bachelor’s are eligible for a 24-month STEM OPT Extension; however, if they qualify for a STEM master’s, they are eligible for another STEM OPT extension in the USA. Thus, these rules apply to all applicants enrolled in a STEM course and looking at a STEM OPT extension after graduation. More details on the application rules can be found at STEM OPT Extension in USA.  

OPT Visa Eligibility Criteria

In order to be eligible for an OPT visa in USA (pre-completion OPT, post-completion OPT or STEM OPT extension), applicants should fulfil these basic criteria:

• Applicants should be holding an F1 visa.
• Applicants must be enrolled in a full-time course at a SEVP-authorised US institution.
• To get an Optional Practical Training visa, applicants must work in an area related to the major of their study.
• Also, OPT must not have been utilised for any degree previously; exceptions for STEM OPT Extension are made.
• Applicants can apply for OPT while in the final semester of their study unless applying for the Pre-Completion OPT.
• Applicants can apply for Pre-Completion OPT before completing their graduation.
• On the other hand, applicants can apply for Post-Completion OPT only after completing their graduation.

These are the basic eligibility requirements that must be fulfilled by applicants when they apply for an OPT visa to work in USA based on their major of study. In case applicants are working under OPT and they get a SEVIS termination, then what should they do? Here is the solution - How to Fight Back & Study in USA After SEVIS Termination

OPT Unemployment Rules: 90-Day and 150-Day Limits

F-1 students on OPT must also track how long they stay unemployed, since USCIS caps this strictly:

Key points to note:

• Unemployment is counted every calendar day, including weekends.
• Time spent unemployed while abroad also counts toward the limit, except for employer-authorised leave.
• Days of unemployment during the STEM education cap-gap automatic extension also count toward the 90/150-day cap.
• Exceeding the limit can lead to SEVIS record termination and loss of F-1 status.

(Source: USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 2, Part F, Chapter 5)

What is the Application Process for OPT in USA?

Applicants applying for an F1 OPT visa or STEM Extension OPT have to apply using a common form called the I-765 Form or Employment Authorisation Document (EAD). The application can be filed online or offline; both have different fees. 

• Applicants should access I-765 Form and either submit it online or download it for offline submission. (Applicants can download - I-765 Offline PDF for submission)
• Submit essential documents (upload online, attach copies for offline application).
• Duly sign the form, or else it will not be accepted.
• Pay the fee and submit EAD. 

Ideally, applicants should apply online and avoid offline EAD applications. 

Documents Required for OPT Visa in USA

The following documents will be required from F1 visa holders applying for different OPT visa applications:

• A copy of Form I-94, Arrival/Departure Record (front and back), 
• Printouts of: 
• Electronic Form I-94
• Passport or other travel documents
• A copy of the last EAD (if applicable)
• 02 same passport photographs;
• Copy of government-issued identity document if not previously issued an OPT visa.

OPT Form I-765 Fees 2026

The fee for I-765 has been revised earlier this year. Since applications can be submitted in either of the two modes, the application fee for the I-765 Form also varies. The revised I-765 Form fee is as follows:

• The I-765 Form’s Online fee is USD 470 and, 
• The I-765 Form’s Paper fee is USD 520.

This fee is effective from April 1, 2026, for EAD in the USA for different F1 OPT visa applications. There is also an optional USD 1,780 for premium processing of applications. 

When to File I-765 Form for OPT Visa?

There are 02 degree types - STEM and non-STEM degrees. They are further divided into pre- and post-OPT completion. The table suggests when to file the I-765 Form or EAD based on degree type and F1 OPT visa type:

Based on the mentioned timeline for I-764 applications above, applicants should plan on submitting their EAD forms. 

OPT Visa in USA FAQs