Glossary · Concepts & rules
OPT (Optional Practical Training)
12 months of post-completion work authorization on F-1, granted by USCIS via I-765.
Standard 12-month post-completion OPT. STEM degree holders qualify for an additional 24-month STEM OPT extension. Authorized via Form I-765 (filed with the school's DSO endorsement). Most laid-off H-1B workers have already used their OPT before transitioning to H-1B, so OPT isn't usually a Plan B option for them.
Related terms
F-1
Academic-student visa. Allows study + limited work via OPT and CPT.
STEM OPT
24-month extension of OPT for F-1 graduates of designated STEM programs employed by E-Verify employers.
I-765 (Application for Employment Authorization)
Files for an EAD card. Used for H-4 spouses, Compelling Circumstances EAD, and AOS-pending workers.
Need the personalized version?
The grace-period calculator and severance optimizer apply these rules to your specific facts. Free.