The Three Stages of Work Authorisation for International Students

Most international students in the United States follow a similar sequence when transitioning from study to full-time employment. It typically begins with Optional Practical Training, potentially extends through the STEM OPT extension, and then transitions to long-term employment via an H-1B visa sponsored by an employer.

Each stage has different rules, different timelines, and different requirements from both the student and the employer. Understanding how they connect is critical to avoiding gaps in work authorisation and making informed decisions about which employers to target.

What Is OPT (Optional Practical Training)?

Optional Practical Training is a period of temporary employment authorisation that allows F-1 students to work in the United States in a role directly related to their field of study. It is authorised by USCIS and administered through the student's university Designated School Official (DSO).

Who is eligible

F-1 students who have been enrolled full-time for at least one academic year are eligible to apply for OPT. It can be used either before graduation (pre-completion OPT) or after (post-completion OPT), though most students use it post-completion.

How long it lasts

Standard OPT provides 12 months of work authorisation. This clock starts from the date listed on the Employment Authorisation Document (EAD), not from the date you start working.

Employer requirements

Employers do not need to sponsor an OPT worker in the way they would for an H-1B. The student holds the work authorisation independently. However, the role must be directly related to the student's area of study.

The unemployment limit

OPT students can accumulate no more than 90 days of unemployment during their OPT period. Exceeding this limit violates the terms of the authorisation and can affect immigration status.

OPT does not require employer sponsorship, but it has a hard expiry. Planning your H-1B timeline from the first day of OPT is not premature. It is essential.

What Is STEM OPT?

STEM OPT is a 24-month extension of standard OPT available to students who graduated with a degree in a qualifying Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics field. It is one of the most important pathways available to international students because it extends the window for securing long-term sponsorship from 12 months to 36 months in total.

Who is eligible

Students with a US degree in a STEM-designated field, as defined by the Department of Homeland Security's STEM Designated Degree Program List. The degree must be from a Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP)-certified institution.

How long it lasts

The STEM OPT extension provides an additional 24 months of work authorisation on top of the standard 12-month OPT period, for a total of 36 months.

Employer requirements

This is where STEM OPT differs significantly from standard OPT. Employers must be enrolled in the

E-Verify programme to hire a STEM OPT student. They must also provide a formal training plan (Form I-983) outlining the practical training the student will receive and how it relates to their degree.

Reporting requirements

STEM OPT students must report their employment status to their DSO every six months. Employers are also required to report material changes to the training plan and to notify the DSO if the student's employment ends early.

Not every employer is enrolled in E-Verify. If STEM OPT eligibility matters to you, confirming E-Verify enrolment should be part of your employer evaluation process before you accept an offer.

What Is the H-1B Visa?

The H-1B is a non-immigrant work visa that allows US employers to hire foreign workers in specialty occupations requiring at least a bachelor's degree or its equivalent. Unlike OPT and STEM OPT, the H-1B is employer-sponsored: the company, not the individual, files the petition with USCIS.

Who is eligible

Candidates must have a US bachelor's degree (or foreign equivalent) in a field directly related to the role, and the role itself must qualify as a specialty occupation requiring that level of education.

How long it lasts

An initial H-1B is granted for three years and can be extended for another three years, for a maximum of six years in most cases. Extensions beyond six years are possible for those with approved employment-based green card petitions.

The annual cap and lottery

There is a statutory cap of 65,000 H-1B visas per fiscal year, with an additional 20,000 available for candidates with a US master's degree or higher. Because demand regularly exceeds supply, USCIS conducts an annual lottery. Registration typically opens in March for employment beginning in October.

Employer requirements

The sponsoring employer must file a Labour Condition Application (LCA) with the Department of Labor, then submit Form I-129 to USCIS. The employer is responsible for legal fees and must pay the employee at or above the prevailing wage for the role.

How OPT, STEM OPT, and H-1B Connect: The Typical Timeline

For most international students, the journey from graduation to long-term work authorisation follows a sequence that requires careful timing to avoid gaps.

Year 0: Graduation and OPT application

Apply for OPT through your DSO before or shortly after graduation. Allow up to 90 days for USCIS to process the EAD. Most students aim to have their EAD in hand before their start date.

Years 1 to 3: OPT and STEM OPT window

Standard OPT runs for 12 months. If eligible, apply for the STEM OPT extension before your OPT expires to extend your authorisation to 36 months total. This window is the critical period for securing H-1B sponsorship.

March of Year 1 or 2: H-1B lottery registration

The H-1B lottery registration window typically opens in March each year. Your employer must register you during this window for employment beginning in October. If selected in the lottery, the full petition is then filed. If not selected, you must wait and try again the following year.

October: H-1B employment begins

If your petition is approved, your H-1B status begins on October 1 of the relevant fiscal year. Your OPT or STEM OPT remains valid until that date, provided you have maintained continuous employment.

The H-1B lottery is not guaranteed. Many students go through two or even three lottery cycles before being selected. STEM OPT's 24-month extension exists partly to give students a larger window to navigate this uncertainty.

Key Differences at a Glance

The three pathways differ across several important dimensions that directly affect your job search strategy:

Employer sponsorship required: OPT: No | STEM OPT: No (but E-Verify required) | H-1B: Yes

Duration: OPT: 12 months | STEM OPT: 24 months (extension) | H-1B: 3 years, renewable

Subject to lottery: OPT: No | STEM OPT: No | H-1B: Yes (cap-subject roles)

Degree field requirement: OPT: Must relate to study | STEM OPT: Must be STEM field | H-1B: Specialty occupation

Who holds the authorisation: OPT: The student | STEM OPT: The student | H-1B: The employer

What This Means for Your Job Search

Understanding this sequence has direct implications for how you approach employer research and applications:

Target employers with H-1B history early

Even during OPT, it is worth prioritising employers with a strong track record of H-1B sponsorship. An employer who is unwilling to sponsor an H-1B will create a hard deadline at the end of your OPT or STEM OPT period regardless of your performance.

Confirm E-Verify status for STEM OPT roles

If you intend to use the STEM OPT extension, your employer must be E-Verify enrolled. This is worth confirming before accepting an offer, not after.

Plan around the H-1B lottery calendar

The lottery runs once a year. Missing the March registration window means waiting another 12 months. Make sure your employer is aware of the timeline and prepared to register you in time.

Use LCA and H-1B filing data to assess employers

Employers who have filed LCAs and H-1B petitions consistently over recent years are meaningfully more reliable sponsors than those who have not. VisaViz aggregates this data so you can evaluate sponsorship history before you apply.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I work for any employer on OPT?

You can work for any employer whose role is directly related to your field of study, as long as the position qualifies under OPT guidelines. For STEM OPT, the additional requirement is that the employer must be enrolled in E-Verify.

Q: What happens if I am not selected in the H-1B lottery?

If you are not selected, you remain on OPT or STEM OPT until your current authorisation expires. If you have STEM OPT remaining, your employer can register you in the following year's lottery. If your OPT and STEM OPT periods are both exhausted, you would need to explore alternative visa pathways or leave the US.

Q: Do all H-1B petitions go through the lottery?

No. Certain employers are exempt from the H-1B cap and lottery, including universities, non-profit research organisations, and government research entities. Roles at cap-exempt employers can begin at any time of year without lottery selection.

Q: Can I change employers while on OPT?

Yes. OPT is tied to your authorisation, not to a specific employer. You can change employers as long as the new role is related to your field of study and you do not exceed the 90-day unemployment limit.

Q: How do I know if an employer is likely to sponsor my H-1B?

The most reliable indicator is historical sponsorship data. Employers who have filed LCAs and H-1B petitions for similar roles in recent years are demonstrably more likely to sponsor than those who have not. VisaViz provides access to this data so you can evaluate employers before applying.