How You Can Stay In The U.S. After Your F-1 OPT Expires

For international students in the U.S., the F1 OPT (Optional Practical Training) program provides an easy route for you to extend your stay in the U.S. and grow professionally. Though your OPT period lasts up to 12 months, and up to an additional 24 months if you apply for STEM OPT, extending your time in the U.S. after this gets a lot trickier.

There are several routes to stay in the U.S. after your OPT/STEM OPT ends, but all require a bit more forward planning and preparation than applying for OPT after graduation. In this article, we’ll provide an overview of these options to give you options as you map out your journey in the U.S.

1. Grace Period After OPT Ends

To begin, let’s establish how long you have to determine your next steps once your OPT expires. After the end date on your updated I-20, you are granted a 60-day grace period to remain in the U.S.

This period gives you time to prepare for your next steps, whether that’s transitioning to another visa status or returning to your home country – though it’s strongly recommended to have a gameplan well in advance. During these 60 days, you are not authorized to work or generate income but can travel throughout the U.S.

2. STEM OPT Extension

As mentioned earlier, the most straightforward option for staying in the U.S. after your initial OPT ends is to apply for the STEM OPT extension. The STEM OPT extension allows eligible students to extend their OPT period for an additional 24 months, giving them up to 36 months of total work authorization in the U.S.

To apply for the STEM OPT extension, there are several key steps you need to follow:

1. Eligibility: Check to see if your field of work/study is on the STEM Designated list.
2. Employer Requirements: Verify your job is related to your field of study and is a part of the E-verify list.
3. Application: Apply at least 90 days before your OPT end date. You will need to get an updated I-20 from your DSO and submit a I-765 form to USCIS. This will automatically provide you a 6-month work authorization while your application processes.
4. Reporting: After approval, you’ll be required to report any changes in your employment, address, or name to your Designated School Official (DSO) and USCIS during the extension period.

Once approved, you have an additional two years, which may give you enough time to transition to a different visa or employment opportunity.

3. H-1B Visa

For a majority of those on OPT, the most logical next step would be to apply for an H-1B visa. This visa allows non-citizens to work in the U.S. as long they work in a position which requires special knowledge and education level. H-1B is the best option for you if you plan to stay and work in the U.S. long-term.

The main drawback for H-1B is that it is capped and highly competitive, so you need to be fully aware of deadlines and requirements such as:

• Employer Sponsorship: Unlike OPT, your employer must file a petition on your behalf and demonstrate that the position is specialized and requires at least a bachelor’s to qualify for H-1B. You can stay with the same employer if they meet this requirement.
• Application Process: The H-1B application process is unique as a lottery is conducted to determine which applicants will be included in the cap. In 2024, 85,000 H-1Bs visas were issued from 780,000+ applicants. Applications are due by April and lottery is typically conducted in June.
• Cap-Gap Extension: If your OPT ends before your H-1B application is approved, you may be eligible for the “cap-gap” extension, which allows you to remain in the U.S. and continue working under your OPT status until your H-1B visa becomes active (usually in October after the lottery).

Once approved, the H-1B visa allows you to stay in the U.S. for up to three years, with the possibility of extending it for a total of six years. If you plan on staying in the U.S. long-term, it’s recommended to apply for H1B each year you are on OPT so you increase your odds of getting approved through the lottery.

4. Green Card

While you can apply for a green card as an international student, it may not always be the best route while on OPT. The green card process can last years, with applicants from high populous countries such as India and China facing significant backlogs due to annual caps on the number of green cards issued to applicants from each country.

For individuals in these countries, it may be more practical to wait until you transition to an H-1B visa before applying for a green card. H-1B holders can apply for a green card through their employer, and the six-year period of stay on an H-1B can give you ample time to go through the green card process. Green card applicants on H1B are usually able to extend past the 6 year cap.

If you’re from a country with a smaller number of applicants, the green card process may be more straightforward, and you may also be eligible for the Diversity Visa (DV) lottery, commonly known as the green card lottery. This lottery gives you the chance to apply for permanent residency, though the odds of winning can be low.

Click here for more on the green card application.

5. Other Visa Options

If none of the above options work for you, there are several other visa types to consider as alternatives to staying in the U.S. after your OPT ends. These visas may offer different pathways for work, study, or even investment:

• F-1 Visa (Return to School): If you’re interested in continuing your education, you can apply for a new F-1 visa to enroll in a different academic program, such as a master’s or PhD program.
• J-1 Visa (Research Scholar): If you wish to pursue research or academic training in the U.S., the J-1 visa is an option. This visa allows you to stay in the U.S. for up to five years, depending on your program.
• O-1A Visa (Extraordinary Ability): If you have exceptional skills in your field, such as science, arts, business, or athletics, you may qualify for an O-1A visa, which is for individuals who can demonstrate extraordinary ability in their area of expertise.
• E-2 Visa (Treaty Investor): If you come from a country that has a treaty with the U.S., you may be eligible for an E-2 visa, which allows you to stay in the U.S. to manage or develop a business in which you have made a significant investment.

The process of staying in the U.S. after OPT can be tricky but we hope this article shows that there are options for those who wish to stay in the country long-term. Throughout any stage of your international student journey, it’s crucial that you stay protected from excessive medical expenses.

ISO offers insurance plans for all U.S. visa holders so no matter what journey you take, we are here with options as low as $31/month. Look into our plans today!