OPT
Optional Practical Training rules for F-1 graduates — 12-month OPT, 24-month STEM extension, application timelines, employer requirements, unemployment limits, and cap-gap provisions.
Visa Violations Risk Rises Without Proper Work Authorization for International Students
CPT and OPT allow international students in the U.S. to gain professional experience but require strict compliance with eligibility, application, and reporting rules. Violating these can cause the loss of…
F-1 Students: How to Work Legally This Summer with OPT or CPT
F-1 Students must get CPT or OPT approval for summer off-campus jobs—paid or unpaid. CPT is school-approved; OPT…
EB2 green card process can begin while on OPT, experts say
OPT holders may start the EB2 green card process with employer support. Approved I-140 doesn’t skip the H-1B…
F-1 Students: Summer Work Rules for OPT and CPT Explained
F-1 students seeking summer off-campus work must use CPT or OPT and get proper approval first. Each program…
F-1 OPT job market hurdles lead Indian students to consider returning home
Indian students on F-1 OPT often return to India due to tight U.S. job markets, scarce H-1B visas,…
F-1 Student Work Authorization: CPT vs OPT and SEVIS Rules
A comprehensive guide for F-1 students on navigating CPT and OPT work authorizations, reporting requirements, and maintaining legal…
Off-Campus Employment Rules: Why International Students Need OPT and CPT
Off-campus employment in the U.S. for F-1 international students requires CPT or OPT authorization. Working without permission risks…
OPT workers face layoffs that may threaten H-1B visa hopes
Rising layoffs in 2025 severely challenge OPT workers, whose legal stay in the U.S. depends on rapid re-employment…
Missing STEM OPT Validation Reports can risk your F-1 status
Missing a 6- or 12-month STEM OPT Validation Report can terminate your F-1 status and work rights. SEVIS…
International students in the US regain legal status after court wins
A surge in SEVIS terminations has stripped over 1,100 U.S. international students of legal status since March 2025.…