US Work Authorization: OPT, STEM OPT, CPT and H-1B

The H-1B Visa Lottery and Cap, Explained for F-1 Students

How the H-1B cap, electronic registration, and beneficiary-centric lottery work for F-1 graduates in the USA — the 65,000 and 20,000 caps, selection odds, and Oct 1 start, from official USCIS sources.

The Cap-Gap Extension for F-1 Students, Explained

How the H-1B cap-gap extension automatically stretches F-1 status and OPT work authorization toward the H-1B start date — eligibility, the 2025 rule change, and your updated I-20, from official USCIS and SEVP sources.

Changing Status from F-1 to H-1B, Explained

The full F-1-to-H-1B journey: Form I-129, change of status vs consular processing, the October 1 start, and how cap-gap bridges the wait — a walkthrough for F-1 students in the USA, with links to the USCIS pages.

Day-1 CPT: Risks and What USCIS Says

What "Day-1 CPT" is, why it is risky for F-1 students, and what official USCIS and SEVP rules require of legitimate Curricular Practical Training — the integral-curriculum test, the one-year rule, and the OPT trap.

H-1B Alternatives for F-1 Graduates: O-1, L-1, Cap-Exempt and More

Not selected in the H-1B lottery? An overview of alternatives for F-1 graduates — cap-exempt H-1B, O-1, L-1, E-3, H-1B1, TN, and continuing on STEM OPT.

The F-1 OPT Unemployment-Days Limit, Explained

How the F-1 OPT unemployment clock works: 90 days on post-completion OPT, 150 total on STEM OPT, how SEVIS counts days without a job, and how timely reporting stops the count.

United States·8 min read

The F-1 60-Day Grace Period After Your Program Ends

What the F-1 60-day grace period is, when it starts (program end, OPT EAD end, or early termination), what you can and cannot do during it, and how it differs from the 15-day withdrawal window.

F-1 SEVIS Transfer Between US Schools, Explained

How the F-1 SEVIS transfer works step by step: the transfer-out release date, transfer-in access, the new I-20, the 15-day reporting rule, the five-month window, and the effect on OPT.

F-1 Reinstatement: What to Do If You Fall Out of Status

If you fall out of F-1 status, here are your two official paths — reinstatement via Form I-539 with a DSO reinstatement I-20, or departing and re-entering as a new initial entry — and how each works.

How to Apply for OPT: The Step-by-Step Process and Timeline

The actionable OPT application walkthrough: the 90-days-before window, your DSO's SEVIS recommendation, the 30-day filing rule, filing Form I-765 online, when your EAD arrives, and when you can start work.

The I-983 Training Plan for STEM OPT, Explained

Form I-983, the training plan behind a STEM OPT extension: learning objectives, employer attestations, the 12-month and final self-evaluations, and material-change reporting.