OPT and STEM OPT: length, hours and who qualifies
Optional Practical Training (OPT) is work permission linked to your degree. After a degree, OPT runs for 12 months. A STEM degree can add an extension of 24 months. OPT is a short working window, not a plan, so line up the STEM extension and your next work visa before the first one runs out.
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What does the official page say?
The table shows the length, the STEM extension and the weekly hours, each with its source and date.
Who qualifies for OPT and STEM OPT?
OPT needs the study shown in the table. The STEM extension also needs a degree on the official STEM list, an employer that uses E-Verify, and a first period of OPT based on that same degree.
| Item | Official figure or rule | Source and date |
|---|---|---|
| Study needed before OPT | At least one full academic year of full-time enrolment at a SEVP-certified school. F-1 status for that whole year is not required. | uscis.govChecked on |
What changes the answer?
Time on OPT before you finish your degree is deducted from the time you have after it. Changing school or education level ends OPT permission. Each STEM filing has its own window, so ask your designated school official early.
What happens after OPT?
The usual next step is a work visa that the US government awards by selection, not by right. The table shows the current selection method. Confirm the rules and any fees on the official page, and do not build a plan that depends on winning it.
| Item | Official figure or rule | Source and date |
|---|---|---|
| H-1B selection | Weighted selection, final rule (2026) | uscis.govChecked on |
Confirm it on the official page
Read the current rule there before you apply.
Check the official page (uscis.gov)
More post-study work visa guides
Where do these facts come from?
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