What Is OPT? F-1 Work Rules, Limits and Job Search

Updated 2026-10-212 min readNot legal advice in W X

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Optional Practical Training (OPT) is work permission for F-1 students. It lets you work for up to 12 months in a job directly related to your major, before or after you graduate. You do not need a job offer to apply, but you must file Form I-765 with USCIS and wait for your work card before you start.

Find employers that sponsor students on OPT

Every job is from an employer that filed H1Bs in 2025. See which ones fit your resume.

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Who OPT is for

You can usually get OPT if you have been a full-time F-1 student for one academic year at an SEVP-certified school. Students in English language programs cannot get it.

You get up to 12 months of OPT per degree level. Study in the States notes that moving to a higher degree level gives you another 12 months.

Twelve months or more of full-time CPT ends your OPT eligibility. Part-time CPT does not. See CPT vs OPT for how the two fit together.

Pre-completion vs post-completion OPT

Pre-completion OPT happens before your program end date. It is limited to 20 hours a week while school is in session, and can be full-time during breaks.

Post-completion OPT starts after you finish your program. Any pre-completion time is subtracted from it. USCIS says a year of full-time pre-completion OPT leaves no post-completion OPT.

If your degree is on the DHS STEM list, you may later add a 24-month STEM OPT extension with an E-Verify employer.

Top H-1B sponsors, 2025US Department of Labor data

Employer	H-1B filings	Transfers	Median pay
Amazon.Com Services LLC	14,047	2,382	$155k
Cognizant Technology Solutions US CorpGC frozen	10,209	872	$110k
Ernst & Young U.S. LLP	9,808	269	$143k
Google LLC	7,899	844	$186k
Microsoft CorporationGC frozen	7,840	879	$173k
Tata Consultancy Services LimitedGC frozen	7,287	353	$86k

Every sponsor, with their open jobsSee the list ›

The key rules on post-completion OPT

The job must relate directly to your major. Keep a short note from your employer that explains the link.
You must work at least 20 hours a week. Fewer hours count as unemployment.
You may be unemployed for up to 90 days in total. See OPT unemployment days.
You can work for any employer, including startups, and you can change jobs.
Report a new employer, job end, name or address change within 10 days, usually through the SEVP Portal.
All OPT must be completed within 14 months after your program ends. That is the 14-month rule in the regulations.

How to apply, in short

Your DSO recommends OPT in SEVIS and gives you a new Form I-20. You then file Form I-765 with USCIS within 30 days of that recommendation.

For post-completion OPT, you can file from 90 days before your program end date until 60 days after it. Our OPT application guide covers timing, fees and start dates.

Finding a job on OPT

OPT itself does not need sponsorship, so any employer can hire you. The harder question is what happens after OPT, which often means H-1B.

In 2024, ICE counted 194,554 OPT students with a work card and a reported employer. Its top employer list mixes big tech firms, banks, consultancies and universities.

Start with OPT employers and H1B sponsors, then read how to find a job on OPT.

What is changing in 2026

As of October 21, 2026, the core OPT rules above still apply. Three changes are in play.

A DHS rule ending duration of status was due to start September 15, 2026. It would cut the 60-day grace period to 30 days. A federal court blocked it nationwide on September 14, and the government appealed on September 30.

On October 8, 2026, DHS proposed OPT fees of $70,000 for a first OPT and $30,000 for later OPT, paid by schools. It is only a proposal. See proposed OPT fees.

If you plan to move to H-1B, read OPT to H-1B and the cap-gap extension.

This is general information, not legal advice. Confirm your situation with your DSO or an immigration attorney.

Questions

Do I need a job offer to apply for OPT?

No. You can apply for post-completion OPT without a job offer. Once OPT starts, unemployment days begin to count if you have no qualifying job.

Does my OPT job have to match my major?

Yes. OPT work must be directly related to your major area of study. Keep a short employer letter or job description that shows the link.

Can I change jobs on OPT?

Yes. You can change employers on post-completion OPT. Report the new employer within 10 days, and keep any gap within your 90 unemployment days.

What is the 14-month rule for OPT?

You must complete all post-completion OPT within 14 months after your program ends. A late approval can shorten your OPT period for this reason.

Can I work two jobs on OPT?

Yes. Study in the States and university offices say you may work for more than one employer if each job relates to your major. Together they should add up to at least 20 hours a week.

Can I volunteer or work unpaid on OPT?

On regular post-completion OPT, unpaid work can count if it is related to your major, at least 20 hours a week and does not break labor laws. STEM OPT requires paid work.