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.
2026 OPT and STEM OPT: Timely Filing, Signatures, and Compliance
OPT plus STEM OPT is the main post‑graduation pathway for 2026 graduates. File Form I‑765 online within the authorized window, ensure a recent DSO‑signed I‑20, maintain consistent records, and verify…
Spring 2026 Orientation: Immigration, SEVIS, and Social Vetting
Spring 2026 Orientation begins your F-1 student status in the U.S. Bring key documents, clean social media, finish…
Post-Study Work Pathways 2025–26: U.S., Canada, UK, Australia Compared
Major study-to-work routes are stricter in 2025–26: no automatic PR. U.S. STEM OPT offers up to 36 months…
Holiday Layoffs and U.S. Work Visas: Rights and Pathways
Layoffs during holidays create urgent immigration risks: H‑1B holders typically get a 60‑day window; OPT/STEM have strict unemployment…
Switching Jobs on OPT: Essential Rules for F-1 Students in 2025
You can change employers during OPT or STEM OPT, but must report changes to your DSO within 10…
Maintaining F-1 Status Over Winter Break: Do’s and Don’ts
During Winter break, F-1 students must keep SEVIS active, confirm I-20 and travel signatures, and carry essential documents.…
PAUSE Act Advances: Freeze on H-1B, OPT and All U.S. Immigration
H.R. 6225, the PAUSE Act, would impose an open‑ended freeze on most immigration, terminate H‑1B, cancel OPT, and…
F-1 OPT Corrected Notices Spark Anxiety Among Post-2025 Filers
USCIS issued corrected receipt notices saying the 180-day automatic employment extension does not apply to OPT filings after…
Are F-1 Visas from 19 Ban Countries Still Being Processed?
The June 9, 2025 proclamation suspended visa issuance for 19 countries, halting most new F-1 visas. Twelve countries…
Can Afghan, Iranian, and Venezuelan Students Renew Visas Now?
A June 9, 2025 State Department order halted new visas for Afghans and Iranians abroad without valid visas…