OPT (Optional Practical Training)

Optional Practical Training (OPT) is a period during which F-1 visa students are permitted to work in the United States in a position directly related to their major area of study. Standard OPT provides up to 12 months of work authorization, which can be used before (pre-completion) or after (post-completion) graduating from a U.S. educational institution.

Students who graduate with a degree in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics) field may apply for a 24-month STEM OPT extension, bringing the total possible OPT period to 36 months. During STEM OPT, employers must be enrolled in E-Verify, and a formal training plan (Form I-983) must be maintained.

OPT is administered by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), and students must apply through their school's Designated School Official (DSO). It is important to apply early, as processing can take several months. OPT often serves as a bridge to longer-term work visas such as the H-1B. Students who do not find employment within 90 days of their OPT start date (or 150 days for STEM OPT) risk falling out of status.