International students look forward to working in American companies after completing their studies in US colleges or universities. A work experience in American firms is allowed under the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program.

Optional practical training (OPT) is temporary employment that is directly related to an F-1 student’s major area of study. Eligible students can apply to receive up to 12 months of OPT employment authorization before completing their academic studies (pre-completion) and/or after completing their academic studies (post-completion). However, all periods of pre-completion OPT will be deducted from the available period of post-completion OPT.

All OPT must be directly related to your major area of study. If you are an F-1 student, you may be eligible to participate in OPT in two different ways:

You may apply to participate in pre-completion OPT after you have been lawfully enrolled on a full-time basis for one full academic year at a college or university that has been certified by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) to enroll F-1 students.

You do not need to have had F-1 status for the one full academic year; you can satisfy the “one full academic year” requirement even if you had another nonimmigrant status during that time.

If you are authorized to participate in pre-completion OPT, you may work (20 hours or less per week) while school is in session. You may work full-time when school is not in session.

You may apply to participate in post-completion OPT after completing your studies. If you are authorized for post-completion OPT, you must work part-time (at least 20 hours per week) or full-time.

If you have already received 1 year of part-time (20 hours per week) pre-completion OPT, the total time of full-time OPT still available would be reduced by 6 months, 50% of the previously authorized year at the same education level. In this scenario, you would only be entitled to a remaining period of 6 months of full-time post-completion OPT employment authorization.

If you have already received 1 year of full-time (40 hours per week) pre-completion OPT, the total time of full-time optional practical training still available would be reduced by 1 year, 100% of the previously authorized year at the same education level. In this scenario, you would not be entitled to any period of post-completion OPT employment authorization.

If you have earned a degree in certain Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields, you may apply for a 24-month extension of your post-completion OPT employment authorization if you:

Are an F-1 student who received a STEM degree included on the STEM Designated Degree Program List;
Are employed by an employer who is enrolled in and is using E-Verify; and
Received an initial grant of post-completion OPT employment authorization based on your STEM degree.

The STEM Designated Degree Program list is a complete list of fields of study that DHS considers to be science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) fields of study for purposes of the 24-month STEM optional practical training extension.

International students can apply for OPT through their designated school official (DSO), who will make the recommendation by endorsing your Form I‑20, Certification of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status, and making the appropriate notation in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). One needs to then file Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization with USCIS, accompanied by the required fee.

Students cannot begin their pre- or post-completion OPT until after USCIS approves their Form I-765 and they receive their Employment Authorization Document (EAD).

On December 13, 2024, the Department of Homeland Security published a final rule that permanently increases the automatic extension period for employment authorization and Employment Authorization Documents (EAD) available to certain EAD renewal applicants from up to 180 days to up to 540 days.

The final rule will continue to help prevent eligible renewal EAD applicants from experiencing a lapse in employment authorization and/or the validity of their EAD due to lengthy processing times. The final rule became effective on January 13, 2025, and applies to certain timely filed renewal EAD applications pending on, or filed on or after May 4, 2022.