F-1 students may not work off-campus during the first academic year, but may accept on-campus employment subject to certain conditions and restrictions. After the first academic year, F-1 students may engage in three types of off-campus employment:

• Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
• Optional Practical Training (OPT) (pre-completion or post-completion)
• Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Optional Practical Training Extension (OPT)

M-1 students may engage in practical training only after they have completed their studies. For both F-1 and M-1 students any off-campus employment must be related to their area of study and must be authorized prior to starting any work by the Designated School Official (the person authorized to maintain the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS)) and USCIS. For more information on the Student and Exchange Visitors Program, see the “Student & Exchange Visitor Program, Immigration & Customs Enforcement” and the Study in the States “Training Opportunities in the United States” pages.

Optional Practical Training (OPT) is temporary employment that is directly related to an F-1 student’s major area of study. Eligible students can apply to receive up to 12 months of OPT employment authorization before completing their academic studies (pre-completion) and/or after completing their academic studies (post-completion). However, all periods of pre-completion OPT will be deducted from the available period of post-completion OPT.

Types of OPT

All OPT must be directly related to the student’s major area of study. Students may participate in OPT in two different ways:

• Pre-completion OPT: F-1 students may apply to participate in pre-completion OPT after they have been enrolled in school for one full academic year. Students authorized to participate in pre-completion OPT must work part-time while school is in session. They may work full time when school is not in session.
• Post-completion OPT: F-1 students may apply to participate in post-completion OPT after completing their studies. Students authorized for post-completion OPT may work part-time (at least 20 hours per week) or full-time.

Please Note: Students may participate in OPT both before and after completing their studies. However, all periods of pre-completion OPT will be deducted from the available period of post-completion OPT.

Optional Practical Training (OPT) is temporary employment that is directly related to an F-1 student’s major area of study. Eligible students can apply to receive up to 12 months of OPT employment authorization before completing their academic studies (pre-completion) and/or after completing their academic studies (post-completion). However, all periods of pre-completion OPT will be deducted from the available period of post-completion OPT.

STEM OPT Extension

Students who have earned degrees in certain science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields may apply for a 24-month extension of their post-completion OPT employment authorization if they:

• Are an F-1 student who received a science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) degree included on theSTEM Designated Degree Program List,
• Are employed by an employer enrolled in E-Verify, and
• Received an initial grant of post-completion OPT employment authorization based on their STEM degree.

If you are interested in applying for a STEM OPT extension, please see our Optional Practical Training Extension for STEM Students (STEM OPT) page for more information.

Applying for OPT

Generally, if you are an F-1 student who wants to apply for OPT, you must:

1. Request that your designated school official (DSO) at your academic institution recommend the OPT. Your DSO will make the recommendation by endorsing your Form I-20 and making the appropriate notation in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS).
2. Properly file Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization with USCIS, accompanied by the required fee and the supporting documentation as described in the form instructions.

When to apply

You may begin your OPT only after USCIS approves your Form I-765 and you receive your Employment Authorization Document (EAD).

Cap-gap Extension for F-1 Students with Approved H-1B Petitions

If you are an F-1 student with a timely filed H-1B petition and change of status request, and your F-1 status and employment authorization will expire before the change of status to H-1B occurs (typically October 1), you may be eligible for a cap-gap extension. Go to our Cap-Gap Extension page for more information.

Optional Practical Training Extension for STEM Students (STEM OPT)

On March 11, 2016, the Department of Homeland Security published a final rule allowing certain F-1 students who receive science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) degrees, and who meet other specified requirements, to apply for a 24-month extension of their post-completion OPT. The 24-month extension will replace the 17-month STEM OPT extension previously available to STEM students (see73 FR 18944). Eligible students may now apply for a 24-month STEM OPT extension.

Find on this page:

• Eligibility for the STEM OPT Extension
• Applying for a STEM OPT Extension
• After Receiving a STEM OPT Extension
• STEM OPT Employer Responsibilities
• OPT Students Who Currently Have (or Have an Application Pending on May 10, 2016 for) a 17-Month Extension

Eligibility for the STEM OPT Extension

To qualify for the 24-month extension, you must:

• Have been granted OPT and currently be in a valid period of OPT;
• Have earned a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree from a school that is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education-recognized accrediting agency and is certified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) when you submit your STEM OPT extension application.
• Previously obtained STEM degrees: If you are an F-1 student participating in a 12-month period of post-completion OPT based on a non-STEM degree, you may be eligible to use a prior STEM degree earned from a U.S. institution of higher education to apply for a STEM OPT extension. You must have received both degrees from currently accredited and SEVP-certified institutions, and cannot have already received a STEM OPT extension based on this prior degree. The practical training opportunity also must be directly related to the previously obtained STEM degree.
• For example: If you are currently participating in OPT based on a master’s degree in business administration but you previously received a bachelor’s degree in mathematics, you may be able to apply for a STEM OPT extension based on your bachelor’s degree as long as it is from an accredited U.S. college or university and the OPT employment opportunity is directly related to your bachelor’s degree in mathematics
• STEM degrees you obtain in the future: If you enroll in a new academic program in the future and earn another qualifying STEM degree at a higher educational level, you may be eligible for one additional 24-month STEM OPT extension.
• For example: If you receive a 24-month STEM OPT extension based on your bachelor’s degree in engineering and you later earn a master’s degree in engineering, you may apply for an additional 24-month STEM OPT extension based on your master’s degree.
• Work for an employer who meets all the requirements listed below in the STEM OPT Employer Responsibilities section.
• Submit the Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization up to 90 days before your current OPT employment authorization expires, and within 60 days of the date your designated school official (DSO) enters the recommendation for OPT into your Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) record.

Applying for a STEM OPT Extension

To apply for an extension, you must properly file:

• Form I-765 with the application fee on or after May 10, 2016,
• Form I-20, Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status, endorsed by your DSO on or after May 10, 2016, and
• A copy of your STEM degree.

If you file your extension application on time and your OPT period expires while your extension application is pending, USCIS will extend your employment authorization for 180 days.

Note: If you are currently participating in STEM OPT based on a 17-month extension or you have a pending application for a 17-month STEM OPT extension, please see the OPT Students Who Currently Have (or Have an Pending Application for) a 17-Month Extension section below for more information.

After Receiving a STEM OPT Extension

Reporting responsibilities

If you receive a STEM OPT extension, you must:

• Report changes to your DSO within 10 days of the change. You must report changes to:
• Your legal name
• Your residential or mailing address
• Your email address
• Your employer’s name
• Your employer’s address
• Report to your DSO every 6 months to confirm the information listed above, even if none of your information has changed.

For more information, please refer to the DHS STEM OPT Hub.

Unemployment during the OPT period

The law allows you to be unemployed during your OPT period for a limited number of days.

*If you are granted an additional 7-month extension in addition to your 17-month STEM-OPT (for a total of 24-month STEM OPT extension) then you may be unemployed for a total of 150-days during the OPT period.

STEM OPT Employer Responsibilities

If you are an employer who wants to provide a practical training opportunity to a STEM OPT student during his or her extension, you must:

• Be enrolled in E-Verify and remain in good standing.
• Report material changes to the STEM OPT student’s employment to the DSO within 5 business days.
• Implement a formal training program to augment the student’s academic learning through practical experience.
• Provide an OPT opportunity that is commensurate with those of similarly situated U.S. workers in duties, hours, and compensation.
• Complete the Form I-983, Training Plan for STEM OPT Students. In this form, you must attest that:
• You have enough resources and trained personnel available to appropriately train the student.
• The student will not replace a full- or part-time, temporary or permanent U.S. worker; and
• Working for you will help the student attain his or her training objectives.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement may visit your worksite(s) to verify whether you are meeting the STEM OPT program requirements, including whether you are maintaining the ability and resources to provide structured and guided work-based learning experiences for the STEM OPT student.

For more information, please refer to the DHS STEM OPT Hub.

OPT Students Who Currently Have (or Have a Pending Application for) a 17-Month Extension

If you currently have a 17-month STEM OPT extension, you may apply to add 7 months to your STEM OPT period on or after May 10, 2016, as long as you have at least 150 days of valid employment authorization remaining on the date you properly file your new Form I-765. Please note that you must properly file your Form I-765, with fee, on or before August 8, 2016. USCIS will deny applications with less than 150 days of validity remaining and applications filed after August 8, 2016.

We granted a 17-month extension to any STEM OPT extension application approved before May 10, 2016. This included applications in which the student mistakenly requested a 24-month extension before being eligible to do so.

If your application for a 17-month STEM OPT extension was pending on May 10, 2016, USCIS will send you a request for evidence (RFE) to allow you to demonstrate that you are eligible for a 24-month STEM OPT extension.

The chart below outlines your options.

MMIGRANT VISAS (PERMANENT RESIDENCE OR "GREEN CARD")

Immigrant visas grant permanent resident status (or a "Green Card"), which allows foreign nationals to permanently reside and work in the United States, as well as to travel in and out of the U.S. Generally, when an foreign national obtains a green card, his or her accompanying spouse (wife or husband) and unmarried children under age 21 also obtain green cards. Depending on the way in which permanent residence was obtained, after three to five years, a person with permanent resident status may apply for citizenship.

EMPLOYMENT-BASED VISAS

"Extraordinary" or "Exceptional" Ability Foreign nationals of exceptional or extraordinary ability in their particular field of work, outstanding professors or researchers, and members of professions holding an advanced degree may be eligible for an expedited green card process. This allows scientists, artists, physicians, university professors, researchers, musicians, etc., to obtain a green card with or without a sponsor. (See also, "O" Visa)

Alien (Employment) Labor Certification Based on unavailability of U.S. workers in the workforce, a U.S.employer may enable an alien to obtain a green card through an offer of employment. Upon approval by the Department of Labor, an immigrant petition may be filed demonstrating that the sponsor/petitioner has the ability to pay a certain prevailing wage.

Once these steps are completed, an applicant may proceed with the filing of a green card application as soon as his or her priority date becomes current.

Investor's Visa

Qualified investors and their families may be eligible to enter the United States on this type of visa if they invest $500,000 to $1,000,000 in an existing or new business in the United States. On the basis of the business, investors may at a later time proceed with an application for permanent residence. (See also, "E" Visas)

Religious Worker

Religious ministers, priests and ordained religious persons may qualify for the green card through sponsorship by a congregation (e.g., Mosque, Church, Synagogue, etc.). (See also, "R" Visa)

Family-Based Sponsorship

United States citizens may sponsor spouses, parents, adult children and siblings (brothers or sisters) for permanent residence. Green Card holders can sponsor only spouses or unmarried children.

Diversity Visa Program

Through an annual "lottery" process, the United States randomly distributes 55,000 green cards to nationals of designated countries. Participants must have either 12 years (or more) of education or 2 years experience as a skilled worker. Winners' spouses and children under 21 years of age also receive green cards.

NON-IMMIGRANT (TEMPORARY) VISAS

H-1B Visas

Under current laws, this work visa is valid for a maximum of six years and is generally very flexible. It allows changes of employer as well as simultaneous work for two (or more) employers, provided that each employer petitions for a separate H-1B visa. To qualify for an H-1B visa, a foreign national must have a U.S. bachelor's degree or its equivalent, or substantial professional work experience. This visa category also requires an employer sponsor. Processing time varies from region to region, but is usually relatively quick (approximately four to six weeks). Recognized occupational groups for this visa category might include, for example: computer industry; mathematics & physical science; architectural engineering & surveying; medicine & health; life science; law & jurisprudence; commercial arts; education, museum, library & archival sciences; entertainment & recreation; administrative specialization's; managers & officials; fashion models; etc.

TN Visas

This visa is very similar to the H-1B visa and is available only to Canadian and Mexican nationals. It is valid for one year and renewable indefinitely.

L-1 - Intra-Company Transferee Visas

Managers, executives or individuals with "highly-specialized knowledge" who are working for a company abroad may be transferred to that company's U.S. branch or affiliate for a period of up to seven years. Non-immigrant status can be converted to a green card.

E-1/E-2 - Treaty Trader/Treaty Investor Visas

Traders and investors, their families, and qualified employees may be eligible for entry under the E category. Requirements include: national of a country that has a particular commercial treaty with the United States; "substantial" investment in a company in the U.S., or regular trading with the U.S.; principal investor or "key employee" status in this company. Visas in this category can be extended indefinitely, as long as the trading or investment activity in the U.S. continues.

J-1 - Exchange Visitor Visa

In general, this category is open to foreign students, au pairs, scholars, doctors, medical students, business and industrial trainees and others participating in U.S. government-approved programs for gaining experience, studying or performing research. Changing status to other non-immigrant categories may be permissible, depending upon visa restrictions.

F-1 - Student Visa

Foreign nationals who have been accepted by U.S. colleges or universities and who satisfy certain other requirements may be eligible for this type of visa, which is valid for the duration of an applicant's course of study.

O & P Visa

The O visa is for foreign nationals who can exhibit "extraordinary ability" in the arts, sciences, education, business or athletics and those accompanying or assisting them. The P visa may be a viable alternative for entertainers and athletes who do not meet eligibility criteria of the O visa.

B-1 - Business Visitors

In general, this type of visa is for individuals who can demonstrate a business-related reason for visiting the United States. Length of stay is for up to 1 year.

B-2 - Tourist Visas

This visa enables foreign nationals to travel and vacation temporarily in the U.S. Such trips cannot involve employment, and the length of stay may be up to one year. Note that nationals of countries participating in the Visa Waiver Pilot Program may enter the U.S. without a visa and stay for a period of up to 90 days. However, if one enters under the Visa Waiver program, a change of status to other non-immigrant or immigrant categories is not permitted.

OTHER NON-IMMIGRANT VISAS

K-1 - Fiancee Visas

This visa is available to those planning to marry a U.S. citizen, but are currently outside of the United States. Persons granted the K-1 visa have 90 days from the date of entry to marry; no extensions are allowed. After the marriage, a K-1 visa holder must convert the K-1 to a Green Card.

H-2B Non-Agricultural Visas

Used for nonagricultural workers coming to the U.S. to perform employment of a temporary nature. To qualify for this visa, a foreign national must be sponsored by a U. S. employer and possess requisite skills or background for the position offered. Petitioners for the H-2B must show documentation that no qualified Americans are available to fill the position. This group includes skilled workers.

H-3 Training Visas

Available to foreign nationals (generally, those who do not hold a university degree) who wish to participate in a training program not available in their country of nationality. The overall length of stay is up to 2 years. Requires a U.S. sponsor.

I - Information Media Visas

This visa for representatives of information media is generally issued for one year and renewable indefinitely.

R - Religious Worker Visas

Professionals working in a religious capacity in a "bona fide" religious organization may qualify for this visa type. To qualify, one must demonstrate that s/he has worked in a religious capacity for at least for the two years immediately prior to application.

List of U.S. nonimmigrant and temporary visas

K-1 - Fiancee Visas

A foreign national who enters into the United States to invest, work, train, or reside in the United States shall have a visa. Citizenship and Immigration Legal Services, Inc. will help you to define the most suitable visa for you according to the purpose of your trip as well as your academic and professional backgrounds.

There is a visa for each letter of the alphabet as described in the chart below. Please click on the visa that interests you to review a full description of the requirements and procedure.

A-1 Visa:

Foreign Government Officials: Ambassador, Public Minister, Career Diplomat or Consular Officer, or Immediate Family.

A-2 Visa:

Foreign Government Officials: Other Foreign Government Official or Employee, or Immediate Family.

A-3 Visa:

Foreign Government Officials: Attendant, Servant, or Personal Employee of A-1 or A-2, or Immediate Family.

B-1 Visa:

Temporary Visa for Business Travelers and domestic servant

B-2 Visa:

Visitors ("tourists"): Temporary Visitor for Pleasure or Medical Treatment.

C-1 Visa:

Alien in Transit.

C-1/D Visa:

Combined Transit and Crewman Visa.

C-2 Visa:

Alien in Transit to United Nations Headquarters District Under Sec. 11.(3), (4), or (5) of the Headquarters Agreement.

C-3 Visa:

Foreign Government Official, Immediate Family, Attendant, Servant or Personal Employee, in Transit.

C-4 Visa:

Transit without Visa, see ATP

D-1 Visa:

Crewmember departing on same vessel of arrival.

D-2 Visa:

Crewmember departing by means other than vessel of arrival.

E-1 Visa:

Treaty Trader, Spouses and Children under the age of twenty-one (21).

E2 Visa:

Treaty Investor, Spouses and Children under the age of twenty-one (21).

E-2 Visa:

Employee Treaty Trader, Spouses and Children under the age of twenty-one (21).

E-3 Visa:

Special category for Australian nationals who will work in a Specialty Occupation (Profession), Spouses and Children under the age of twenty-one (21). It is called an "Australian H-1B".

EB-5 Visa:

Green Card for investors of $1 million or $500,000 in a "Pilot Program".

F-1 Visa:

Academic Student.

F-2 Visa:

Spouses and Children under the age of twenty-one (21).

G-1 Visa:

Principal Resident Representative of Recognized Foreign Government to International Organization, Staff, or Immediate Family.

G-2 Visa:

Other Representative of Recognized Foreign Member Government to International Organization, or Immediate Family.

G-3 Visa:

Representative of Nonrecognized Nonmember Foreign Government to International Organization, or Immediate Family.

G-4 Visa:

International Organization Officer or Employee, or Immediate Family.

G-5 Visa:

Attendant, Servant, or Personal Employee of G-1 through G-4 or Immediate Family.

H-1B1 Visa:

Professionals who come temporarily to the U.S. to perform a specialty occupation.

H-1B2 Visa:

Aliens who come temporarily to the U.S. to perform cooperative research and development projects.

H-1B3 Visa:

Aliens who come temporarily to the U.S. as a fashion model.

H-1C Visa:

Nurse coming to areas of health professional shortage.

H-2A Visa:

Aliens who come to the U.S. to perform agricultural labor or services of temporary or seasonal nature.

H-2B Visa:

Aliens who come to the U.S. not to perform agricultural labor or services but to perform work in temporary nature.

H-2R Visa:

Special type of H-2B visa which was temporarily provided as a way to bypass the quotas for the H-2B for individuals who had been previously issued H-2B status (enacted in the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense, the Global War on Terror, and Tsunami Relief, 2005, P.L. 109-13, 119 Stat. 231, signed into law by the President on May 11, 2005).

H-3 Visa:

Aliens who come to the U.S. to participate in a training program.

H-4 Visa:

Spouses and children under the age of twenty-one (21).

I Visa:

Representative of Foreign Information Media, Spouses and Child.

J-1 Visa:

Exchange Visitor.

J-2 Visa:

Exchange Visitor.

K-1 Visa:

Fiance(e) of United States Citizen.

K-2 Visa:

Minor Child of Fiance(e) of U.S. Citizen.

K-3 Visa:

Spouses of a U.S. Citizen under LIFE Act.

K-4 Visa:

Children of K-3 under LIFE Act.

L-1A Visa:

Intracompany Transferee (Executive, Managerial) Continuing Employment with International Firm or Corporation.

L-1B Visa:

Intracompany Transferee (Specialized Knowledge Personnel) Continuing Employment with International Firm or Corporation.

L-2 Visa:

Spouses and Children under the age of twenty-one (21).

M-1 Visa:

Vocational Student or Other Nonacademic Student.

M-2 Visa:

Spouses and Children under the age of twenty-one (21).

N-8 Visa:

Parent of an Alien Classified SK-3 Special Immigrant.

N-9 Visa:

Children under the age of twenty-one (21) of N-8 or of an SK-1, SK-2, or SK-4 Special Immigrant.

NATO-1 Visa:

Principal Permanent Representative of Member State to NATO (including any of its Subsidiary Bodies) Resident in the U.S. and Resident Members of Official Staff; Secretary General, Assistant Secretary General, and Executive Secretary of NATO; Other Permanent NATO Officials of Similar Rank, or Immediate Family.

NATO-2 Visa:

Other Representative of member state to NATO (including any of Subsidiary Bodies) including Representatives, its Advisers and Technical Experts of Delegations, Members of Immediate Art. 3, 4 UST 1796 Family; Dependents of Member of a Force Entering in Accordance with the Provisions Status-of-Forces Agreement or in Accordance with the provisions of the Protocol on the Status of International Military Headquarters; Members of Such a Force if Issued Visas.

NATO-3 Visa:

Official Clerical Staff Accompanying Representative of Member State to NATO (including any of its Subsidiary Bodies) or Immediate Family.

NATO-4 Visa:

Official of NATO (Other Than Those Classifiable as NATO- 1) or Immediate Family.

NATO-5 Visa:

Expert, Other Than NATO Officials Classifiable Under the NATO-4, Employed in Missions on Behalf of NATO, and their Dependents.

NATO-6 Visa:

Member of a Civilian Component Accompanying a Force Entering in Accordance with the Provisions of the NATO Status-of- Forces Agreement; Member of a Civilian Component Attached to or Employed by an Allied Headquarters Under the Protocol on the Status of International Military Headquarters Set Up Pursuant to the North Atlantic Treaty; and their Dependents.

NATO-7 Visa:

Attendant, Servant, or Personal Employee of NATO-1, NATO-2, NATO-3, NATO-4, NATO-5, and NATO-6 Classes, or Immediate Family.

O-1A Visa:

Aliens possessing extraordinary abilities in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics.

O-1B Visa:

Aliens of extraordinary ability in the arts or extraordinary achievement in the motion picture or television industry.

O-2 Visa:

Accompanying Alien.

O-3 Visa:

Spouses or Children under the age of twenty-one (21).

P-1 Visa:

Athletes, Entertainement Groups and Support Personnel.

P-2 Visa:

Artistic Exchange (reciprocical exchange program).

P-3 Visa:

Artistic Exchange (culturally unique program).

P-4 Visa:

Spouses and Children under the age of twenty-one (21).

Q-1 Visa:

Participant in an International Cultural Exchange Program.

Q-2 Visa:

Irish Peace Process Cultural and Training Program (Walsh Visas).

Q-3 Visa:

Spouses and children under the age of twenty-one (21).

R-1 Visa:

Aliens in a religious occupation.

R-2 Visa:

Spouses or Children under the age of twenty-one (21).

S-5 Visa:

Certain Aliens Supplying Critical Information Relating to a Criminal Organization or Enterprise.

S-6 Visa:

Certain Aliens Supplying Critical Information Relating to Terrorism.

S-7 Visa:

Qualified Family Member of S-5 or S-6.

T-1 Visa:

Victim of a severe form of trafficking in persons.

T-2 Visa:

Spouse of a victim of a severe form of trafficking in persons.

T-3 Visa:

Child of victim of a severe form of trafficking in persons.

T-4 Visa:

Parent of victim of a severe form of trafficking in persons (if T-1 victim if under twenty-one (21) years of age).

TN Visa:

Professional Workers under NAFTA.

TD Visa:

Spouses and children under the age of twenty-one (21).

TWOV Visa:

Transit Without Visa Program (Passenger and Crew) SUSPENDED: this program was SUSPENDED at 11:00 a.m., Saturday August 2, 2003 (EST).

U-1 Visa:

Victim of Certain Criminal Activity.

U-2 Visa:

Spouse of U-1.

U-3 Visa:

Child of U-1.

U-4 Visa:

Parent of U-1, if U-1 is under the age of twenty-one (21).

V-1 Visa:

Spouse of an LPR who is the principal beneficiary of a family-based petition (Form I-130) which was filed prior to December 21, 2000, and has been pending for at least three years.

V-2 Visa:

Child of an LPR who is the principal beneficiary of a family-based visa petition (Form I-130) that was filed prior to December 21, 2000, and has been pending for at least three years.

V-3 Visa:

The derivative children of a V-1 or V-2.

TPS Visa:

Temporary Protected Status.