Follow the steps below for guidance on how to apply for Optional Practical Training (OPT). Reminder: Do not submit your OPT application to USCIS until you have received your Form I-20 with your OPT ...

For years, the Department of Homeland Security operated a program allowing tens of thousands of foreign students who recently graduated from a college or university to obtain valuable tech-related ...

F-1 students with STEM degrees in fields listed on the ICE STEM Designated Degree Program List may be eligible for the OPT STEM Extension. F-1 students with STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, ...

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is preparing a proposed rule that is expected to significantly change the Optional Practical Training program. The OPT program allows international students to ...

Like many international students, Andrew Fang (MSJ ’24) came to Northwestern hoping his degree would open doors in the American job market. This proved true for the Taiwan native, who is now a ...

WASHINGTON, DC – Indian students form a vital part of the U.S. higher education system, with nearly 269,000 enrolled in 2024, marking a 35% increase over the previous year. They are second only to ...

Many different types of employment are allowed while on the OPT STEM extension but there may be some types of employment that do not meet the USCIS guidelines. Unpaid or volunteer work is not allowed ...

A Reddit post from a distressed international student has once again brought attention to a growing concern among F-1 visa holders in the US: what happens when a STEM OPT extension is denied, even ...

The Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) requires schools to maintain certain information in SEVIS for all students currently on approved OPT (Optional Practical Training). As an F-1 student on ...

The number of foreign students entering the US in August decreased by 19% from the same period previous year, as per the recently disclosed official data from the Department of Commerce. The federal ...