For many international students, the path from a U.S. degree to a U.S. career runs through four stages: F-1 student status, Optional Practical Training (OPT), the STEM OPT extension and the H-1B. Each stage has its own rules and deadlines, and several important changes are in motion.
Stage 1: F-1 student status
Maintain full-time enrollment and valid status. Curricular Practical Training (CPT) may let you work during your program when the work is an integral part of your curriculum.
Stage 2: OPT (up to 12 months)
- You can generally receive up to 12 months of OPT per degree level, in a job directly related to your field of study.
- You apply with your school's recommendation and Form I-765, within the filing window around your program end date.
- During post-completion OPT, unemployment is limited to 90 days.
Stage 3: STEM OPT extension (24 more months)
- Graduates with a degree on the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List may extend OPT by 24 months.
- The employer must use E-Verify, and you and the employer complete a training plan (Form I-983).
- The unemployment limit rises to 150 days in total across OPT and STEM OPT.
Stage 4: H-1B
Most private employers are subject to the annual H-1B cap of 65,000 visas, plus 20,000 for holders of U.S. master's degrees or higher. Employers register candidates in March, and selected employers file petitions starting April 1.
New for 2026: wage-weighted selection. Beginning with the fiscal year 2027 cap season, USCIS replaced the purely random lottery with a selection weighted by the wage level of the job offer. A Level IV wage gets four entries, Level III three, Level II two and Level I one. Entry-level offers still have a chance, but higher offered wages improve the odds.
Cap-gap protection. If your employer files a timely H-1B change-of-status petition for you while you are on OPT, your status and work authorization can generally continue until the H-1B start date, through April 1 of the following year if needed.
Changes in motion
- The $100,000 H-1B fee. A 2025 presidential proclamation imposed a $100,000 payment on certain new H-1B petitions, and it was extended in 2026. USCIS guidance exempted people inside the U.S. who are changing status, such as F-1 students, and federal courts have since struck the policy down. Separately, DHS proposed a fee rule in 2026 that is not final. This area is changing quickly.
- Proposed OPT fees. In October 2026, DHS proposed significant new fees connected to OPT and STEM OPT. The proposal is not final, and OPT rules remain as described above unless and until a final rule takes effect.
If you are not selected for the H-1B
- Cap-exempt employers, such as universities, their affiliated nonprofits and nonprofit or government research organizations, can file H-1B petitions at any time.
- O-1 visas for individuals with extraordinary ability have no annual cap.
- EB-2 NIW or EB-1A Green Card petitions don't require an employer sponsor.
- Some students pursue further study, which can create a new OPT period at a higher degree level.
This article is general information as of November 2026, not legal advice. Immigration rules, fees and processing change often, and the right strategy depends on your facts. For advice on your situation, book a consultation.