University of Illinois at Chicago

Post study Work Permit for United States of America
The United States of America (USA) is one of the famous study abroad destinations among international students and one of the main reason is because of the Post – study work visa. There are majorly three types of visas an international student can apply for, namely F1 Visa, M1 Visa, and J1 Visa which allows students to stay in the US for a limited time period after completing their studies.

As an F1 student visa holder, international students are entitled upto 1 year of post completion practical training / temporary employment directly related to their major field of study. Find out about your practical training options when you start to study so you can adequately prepare for the future. F1 visa holders after finishing their Undergraduate or postgraduate degree can then apply for Optional Practical Training (OPT) after completing their studies.

Optional Practical Training (OPT) is a one-year work and stay-back permit given to international students on completion of a degree program in the US.

There are two types of OPT – one which can be used during one’s studies i.e. Pre-Completion OPT, and another which starts after completing one’s studies i.e. Post-Completion OPT.

Many international students wonder how can they apply for OPT before graduation? Unlike Curricular Practical Training (CPT), which must be completed while you are still enrolled at your college or university, OPT can be completed before or after graduation. Just keep in mind you are only eligible for 12 months of practical training total. So, if you used all of your OPT or CPT while you were still enrolled, you will not be eligible for this type of F-1 visa extension. However, you become eligible again if you enroll in graduate school.

Pre-completion OPT :
You can apply for pre-completion OPT after you have received your full-time enrollment in an educational institution that has been certified by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) to enroll F-1 students. The duration of the course must be at least 12 months. If authorized, you can work part-time for a maximum of 20 hours per week when your classes are in session. During the holidays you can work full-time. Remember to apply early, as USCIS can take up to 90 days to process your application. Speak with your Designated School Official, or DSO, to learn more about your options for applying for OPT, how long can an international student stay in the US after graduation, and how you can gather the information you need for your application. The most important document is form I-765 for employment authorization, which must be submitted along with your OPT application. Before you apply for OPT, speak to your DSO to understand the typical OPT requirements

Post-completion OPT: You can apply for post-completion OPT after completing your studies.

The job you get after finishing your course must be directly related to your field of study. You have to find the job within 90 days after graduation.
One can apply for OPT nine months after enrolling in their course. However, one can start working only after obtaining Employment Authorization Document (EAD) from USCIS. EAD is issued to those who enrolled for at least a year. One can apply for EAD without the job offer and one can work under OPT employment anywhere in the USA.

Please note : Extension – For students studying STEM courses (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) a new rule allows a 24-month extension. This means you can continue to stay in the US for three years after finishing your course of study. STEM OPT extension allows graduates to stay and work for two more years in an approved STEM field/area.
With your OPT, you can then apply for a H-1B visa, also called the Person in Specialty Occupation Visa, if you have been accepted to a specific job position by having an advanced education degree (four-year BA degree or MA or PhD), Correlation between your degree and work experience and your job duties and Approval of a labor condition attestation (LCA) from the Department of Labor before filing the H-1B petition with Immigration and Naturalization Services.

The H-1B status is granted for an initial period of three years. This is a great option for a post-graduate work visa USA because it can be extended for an additional three years.

If you wish to apply for green card for USA, There are various ways in which an F1 student visa holders can get a green card. Some of them get sponsored by the employer, receive sponsorship from a child or parent and many more.