F-1 students may apply for authorization to engage in temporary employment for Optional Practical Training (OPT) that is directly related to their field of study upon graduation. Some students may also be eligible for the STEM-OPT extension, which is two more years besides the one-year OPT benefit. Many of these students may have long-term employment plans and wonder how they can extend their careers and how this impacts their immigration status, especially when their OPT and STEM-OPT ends. We hope that the resources below will help students plan their future career.
Please note that the ISSC does not provide any specific H-1B or other employment status advice, as the H-1B and other options may require sponsorship from an employer. The frequently asked questions are provided below for your reference only.