Immigration Guides
Practical guides on OPT, CPT, H-1B, and work authorization for international students and workers.
Practical guides on OPT, CPT, H-1B, and work authorization for international students and workers.
A comprehensive overview of Optional Practical Training for F-1 students, including eligibility, types, time limits, and the EAD requirement.
Compare pre-completion and post-completion OPT: work-hour limits, application windows, and how pre-completion time reduces your post-completion allowance.
Step-by-step OPT application walkthrough, from requesting your I-20 to receiving your EAD card, including required documents, fees, and filing windows.
Complete guide to applying for your Employment Authorization Document (EAD) with current USCIS processing times by service center.
How the 90-day unemployment limit works on OPT, which days count, what happens when you hit the limit, and whether OPT students can claim unemployment benefits.
General overview of US tax obligations for F-1 OPT students, including FICA exemption, federal income tax filing requirements, tax treaties, and state taxes. For educational purposes only.
Everything you need to know about the 24-month STEM OPT extension, including CIP code requirements, E-Verify employers, Form I-983, and application timing.
How to complete the Form I-983 training plan for STEM OPT, including who fills out each section, the DSO submission process, and annual evaluation requirements.
What US employers must have to hire a STEM OPT student: E-Verify enrollment, Form I-983, annual evaluations, and termination reporting.
How the 150-day unemployment limit works during STEM OPT, how days from initial OPT count toward the total, and what happens if you reach the limit.
How to request 15-business-day processing for a STEM OPT I-765, what Form I-907 requires, and how premium processing differs from an expedite request.
How Curricular Practical Training works for F-1 students: who can use it, how the DSO authorizes it, and why 12 months of full-time CPT eliminates OPT.
Understand the H-1B cap season, the lottery process, cap-gap extensions, and how OPT serves as a bridge to H-1B sponsorship for F-1 students.