F-1 student visa, OPT and STEM OPT guide

Wang Law Firm, LLC · David Wang, Managing Attorney

The F-1 is the student visa for full-time study at an accredited U.S. school, including universities, graduate schools, language schools and some secondary schools. After graduating, F-1 students can work in the U.S. through Optional Practical Training (OPT), and STEM graduates can apply for a 24-month extension. Many people use this to bridge to H-1B or another work status.

The F-1's core limits: it is a nonimmigrant visa, so at the interview you must show you intend to leave the U.S. after your studies; work during your stay is strictly limited; and maintaining status depends on the records your school's international student office (DSO) keeps in SEVIS.

Who it suits

• Students admitted to a SEVP-certified U.S. school who plan to study full-time;
• People in the U.S. in another status (such as B-2 or H-4) who want to change to student status (you can apply for a change of status inside the U.S., but watch the timing and your intent at entry);
• F-1 students about to graduate who plan to work in the U.S. on OPT / STEM OPT.

Requirements and process

1. Get your I-20: once the school admits you and confirms you have enough funds for tuition and living expenses, it issues an I-20. Check your name, program, program start and end dates, and the funding amounts.
2. Pay the SEVIS I-901 fee: pay on the official SEVP fee website before your interview; the amount is as currently published there.
3. Complete the DS-160 and schedule the interview: the visa application fee is as currently published by the U.S. Department of State.
4. Interview: the consular officer mainly looks at three things: that you are a genuine student (a reasonable study plan consistent with your background); that you have sufficient funds; and that you intend to leave the U.S. after your studies.
5. Entry: new students can enter no earlier than 30 days before the program start date on the I-20.

The interview and 214(b) nonimmigrant intent

Section 214(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act presumes that every nonimmigrant visa applicant has immigrant intent, and the applicant must prove otherwise. 214(b) is the most common reason for F-1 refusals. The officer looks at whether your study plan makes sense, your ties to your family and home country, and whether the source of your funds is clear. For how to respond and advice on reapplying, see What to do after a 214(b) refusal.

Applicants in some science and engineering fields may be placed in administrative processing (221(g)). Legally, 221(g) is a temporary refusal, but unlike 214(b), the visa may still be issued once processing is complete, and the wait is unpredictable. Screening of student visas (including social media review) has changed a great deal in recent years; check the latest requirements before your interview.

Maintaining status

• Full-time enrollment: each term you must carry the full-time course load your school requires (except during normal vacations such as summer). A reduced course load for academic difficulty, illness or similar reasons must be approved by the DSO in advance;
• Online course limits: there is a cap on fully online credits that count toward full-time enrollment;
• Completing your program on time: if you need more time, ask the DSO for an extension before your I-20 expires;
• Timely reporting: report a change of address to the DSO within 10 days, and follow the procedures for transferring schools, changing majors or changing degree levels;
• Travel documents: to return to the U.S., you need a valid passport, a valid visa (it can't be renewed inside the U.S.; if it has expired, you generally must reapply at a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad, with a few exceptions under current rules) and an I-20 with a recent DSO travel signature.

Working while in school: on-campus jobs and CPT

On-campus employment: doesn't require USCIS approval; up to 20 hours a week while school is in session, and full-time during normal vacations. You can start in your first academic year, but the job must be on campus or with a qualifying campus-related employer.

Curricular Practical Training (CPT): work that is an integral part of the degree program (such as a required internship or cooperative education), approved by the DSO in SEVIS without USCIS approval. You usually must complete one academic year before applying (except graduate programs that require practical training in the first term). Since August 2026, SEVP has issued guidance to schools requiring stricter review of whether CPT is a necessary part of the curriculum, and many schools have stopped approving CPT for non-required, elective-credit internships (this guidance is separate from the D/S rule above and isn't affected by the court's ruling). Check your school's current practice with the DSO before applying. Twelve months or more of full-time CPT in total makes you ineligible for OPT; part-time CPT doesn't affect OPT.

Unauthorized employment is one of the most serious status violations and can affect later OPT, H-1B and green card applications. Ask first whether off-campus side jobs, remote work for a company abroad, or "just helping out" count as work.

OPT: 12 months after graduation

• You can get up to 12 months of OPT per degree level (moving up to a higher degree level makes you eligible again);
• The work must be directly related to your field of study, and only work of at least 20 hours a week counts as employment;
• When to apply: for post-completion OPT, file the I-765 with USCIS between 90 days before and 60 days after your program end date, and within 30 days of the DSO's recommendation (entered in SEVIS);
• You can start working only after the work permit (EAD) is approved and the start date on the card has arrived;
• Unemployment days: no more than 90 days of unemployment in total during the 12 months of OPT.

STEM OPT: the 24-month extension

• Field of study: your degree must be on the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List (rely on the current official list);
• Employer: must be enrolled in E-Verify and offer a paid position directly related to your field of study, for at least 20 hours a week;
• Training plan: the student and employer complete the I-983 training plan together and submit it to the DSO, and complete the annual self-evaluation and final evaluation as required; a change of employer or position requires an updated I-983;
• When to apply: file the I-765 within 90 days before your current OPT expires. If you file on time, you can keep working on the pending application for up to 180 days after your old EAD expires;
• Unemployment days: no more than 150 days in total across the 12 months of OPT and the 24-month STEM extension;
• Reporting: confirm your information with the DSO every 6 months, and report changes of employer or address within 10 days.

For detailed official information, see the Study in the States STEM OPT Hub.

Cap-gap: bridging OPT and H-1B

If an F-1 student's H-1B petition is selected and filed on time, requesting a change of status starting October 1, their F-1 status and work authorization can, if the conditions are met, be automatically extended even if their OPT expires before then. This is called the cap-gap extension. Its length and conditions have changed in recent years; check current USCIS rules. If the H-1B is denied, withdrawn or not selected, the extension ends. H-1B selection and fee rules have changed a lot in recent years; see H-1B visa and verify the latest rules before filing.

The grace period after completion, and next steps

Under the rules currently in effect, F-1 students have a 60-day grace period after completing their program or OPT, during which they can leave the U.S., transfer to a new program, or file for a change of status. You can't work during the grace period. If your SEVIS record is terminated for a status violation, there is generally no grace period.

Common next steps after graduation:

• H-1B: requires an employer petition, and most must go through the lottery;
• O-1: for people with outstanding achievements in their field; see O-1 visa;
• TN: only for Canadian and Mexican citizens; see TN visa;
• Further study: move to a higher degree program and get a new I-20;
• Green card: such as NIW, EB-1A or employer sponsorship; see NIW and PERM. Filing an immigrant petition while on F-1 affects later F-1 visa renewals and entries in F-1 status, so the order in which you plan things matters.

Family members

F-1 students' spouses and unmarried children under 21 can apply for F-2. F-2 spouses can't work and can't study full-time toward a degree (they can take avocational or recreational classes); F-2 children can attend K-12 schools. An F-2 spouse who wants to pursue a degree must change to F-1.

Common mistakes

• Thinking an expired visa means you're "out of status": inside the U.S., your status depends on your I-20 and I-94; the visa is only for entry;
• Working in a job unrelated to your field during OPT, or exceeding the unemployment limit;
• Not updating the I-983 promptly when changing employers on STEM OPT, or a new employer that isn't enrolled in E-Verify;
• Starting full-time work before graduation without CPT authorization;
• Leaving the U.S. while the OPT application is pending and returning without the necessary documents.

Common questions

Related reading

• H-1B visa
• What to do after a 214(b) refusal
• Immigration glossary

This article is general information and is not legal advice. Laws and policies can change; rely on the latest official information and on an attorney's advice for your specific situation.