Post Study Work Visa in USA

Every year, numerous Indian students aspire to study and work in USA. Students planning to work in USA after completion of their course need a post study work visa. Students with a F-1 visa status can work on-campus from the first year of study with certain conditions. Students can start working off-campus in USA only after 1 year of study. Check Out: Part Time Jobs in USA

USA has recorded 12.36 lakhs of international student intake in 2021. A majority of these students pursue education in USA to obtain a post-study work visa in USA. Students with F-1 visa status can avail OPT, a temporary work permit for one year. The OPT allows students to work part-time while studying or after course completion. Students can work full-time while on vacation and after course completion. Know More: High Paying Jobs in USA

What is OPT?

OPT stands for Optional Practical Training. It is a 1-year temporary work permit for students planning to stay back in USA and work part-time while studying or after completing their degree. There are 2 types of OPT in USA, namely,

Pre-completion OPT: Used during the candidate's study period
Post-completion OPT: Used after completing one's course.

Explore: OPT vs CPT

Pre-Completion OPT

The Pre-completion OPT is a post study work visa in USA given to students who have a full-time offer letter from an educational institution in USA. The student has to be certified by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) to enroll as an F-1 student.

The course duration has to be at least 12 months. The students availing of a pre-completion OPT can work for a maximum of 20 hours a week when the classes are in session. Students can work full time during their holidays.

Post-Completion OPT

The Post-completion permit is offered to students who have completed their course and want to stay back in USA. You can stay back for a minimum of 12 months with a post completion OPT.

Once the permit is accepted, students can work part-time (at least 20 hours a week) or full-time. You need to secure a job within 90 days after graduation. The job you are applying with the Post Study Work Permit must be related to your area of study.

Check: Reasons for Student Visa Rejection in USA

Who Can Apply?

Students who want to apply for the OPT must have themselves recommended for it by the Designated School Official (DSO) of the university. It is a person who will help and manage the international students in the university.

The DSO will recommend you by submitting your Form I20, the Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant students and mentioning the proper notion to the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). Form I-20 has to be submitted to the USCIS with an application fee along with all the required documents as mentioned in the form.

When to Apply for an OPT?

Students must apply for the OPT according to the following timeline:

STEM degree students applying for a Post Completion OPT must apply after the DSO provides the recommendation of an OPT for the SEVIS degree. You can apply 90 days before the completion of a full time academic year. You can start working after the completion of one year of studies. One can also apply for a STEM OPT extension 90 days before the current authorisation expires.
Also Explore: STEM Courses in USA

STEM degree students applying for a Pre-completion OPT should apply after the DSO enters the student records into the SEVIS degree. You can apply 90 days before the completion of one academic year. You can start your OPT employment only after the completion of 1 full-time academic year.

Non-STEM students applying for a Post-completion OPT must wait for their DSO to recommend their OPT into the SEVIS system. Students must apply within 30 days of their DSO entering the recommendation for OPT. You can apply 90 days before the completion of the degree but not later than 60 days after completion.

Non-STEM students applying for Pre-completion OPT need to apply after their DSO enters the recommendation of OPT in the SEVIS record. Students can apply 90 days before the completion of their 1 full academic year.

Note: You can apply for a 24 months extension of the post-completion OPT authorization as an F1 student with a degree in the STEM Degree Program list. Students must be employed by an employer enrolled in and using an E-verify.

Tips for Post Study Work Visa in USA

It is best to practice good conduct in order to avail and maintain your US student visa status. Following are some tips for post-study work visa in USA:

Have a valid passport: The students traveling to USA must have a valid passport. The minimum period for that valid passport must be 6 months.
Have a proper address: The address provided in the forms must be valid and legitimate. In case of any change in the address, one must notify the university.
Respect the code of conduct: Students should abide by the law and rules of the US government. If the student is found in any misconduct, his/her visa might get canceled.
Handy documents: Prospective students must keep all the documents required for traveling to USA handy. Students are advised to keep copies of the immigration documents like Form I-20, passport, acceptance letter, etc.

The USA has some prestigious universities which offer world-class facilities in terms of both faculty and exposure. One must have an exceptional academic record in order to be considered for a post study work visa in USA and subsequently a green card. So it is advised for students to maintain a good CGPA along with some extracurricular activities.

FAQs

Ques. How can I convert my F-1 Visa to a green card?

Ans: Students with a F1 visa can convert it into a green card through various processes. The person can write a self-petition about their extraordinary skills and studies. These are for professors or researchers who have extraordinary abilities in arts, business, or science. It also applies to executive managers who have worked at a foreign branch of a US company for more than 3 years. The other options are - marrying a US citizen, or becoming an investor in USA.

Ques. Can I get a green card after studying in USA?

Ans: The direct answer will be no. After completing studies in USA, students must apply for a pre or post-completion OPT. An OPT will help them to get a post-study work permit which is valid for 12 months. They can either opt for a pre-completion OPT which is working while studying at a recognized university or a post-completion OPT which is working after completion of the degree. Check: OPT vs CPT

Ques. How do I settle in USA after my master's?

Ans: You can settle in USA after completion of the master's degree by opting for a Post-completion OPT. A Post completion OPT will help students to get a work visa to work in their field of study. You must have completed at least 1 year of academic studies in USA and should find a job within 60 days of getting an OPT. Students can apply for a 24-month extension of OPT if they have completed a degree in the STEM courses in USA.

Ques. Can I Get PR in USA?

Ans: In order to get a PR in USA, one needs to apply for a green card. There are many ways in which a candidate can get a green card - through self-petition, marrying a US citizen, through green card lottery, or getting sponsored by the employer.

Ques. Do international students get post-study work permits in USA?

Ans: International students wanting to do Full-time or Part time jobs in USA can get temporary work visas. It is known as OPT, short for Optional Practical Training. Students can work 20 hours per week when the classes are in session and 40 hours per week during the holidays. Students who want to work after completing the degree can apply for this visa too. In that case they need to find a job within 60 days of getting approved.

Ques. Can I work in USA after masters?

Ans: Yes, one can work in USA after completing their masters with the Post-completion OPT. It is a 12 months temporary work permit that they can apply for after completing a minimum 1-year full-time academic year at any recognized University.

Ques. How can a student become a US citizen?

Ans: It is not so easy to become a US citizen. In order to come to the country the student has to apply for a student visa and additionally apply for a work permit to work during or after the course. Once the 12 months permit gets over, you can apply for either extension or return back to your home country. In order to stay back in USA and obtain a green card, the candidate must be qualified with extraordinary skills preferably in the STEM field or have married a US citizen or be sponsored by the employer.

Ques. Can I get a work permit after studying in USA?

Ans: Yes, one can apply for a work permit during their studies or after they have finished their course. The permit is of generally 12 months and is applicable only after the student has completed a full-time academic term at a recognized university.

Ques. Can I stay back in USA after my studies?

Ans: You can stay back in the USA after your studies with a demonstration of the required visa and permit. Students who want to stay back after their completion of the course must have applied for a post-completion OPT, a 12-month working permit in the USA.

Ques. How long is work permit in USA after study?

Ans: Students who have applied for a post-completion opt can work for up to 12 months. They need to find a job within 60 days of completion of the course in the field of their studies. For a further extension of 24 months, the students must have completed their studies in STEM subjects and must have found a job in the related field.

Ques. Can I settle in the USA after study?

Ans: if one wants to settle in the USA one must have a proper job in the field of studies. They must also have residency of either 3 years or 5 years and then can file for a green card or permanent residency.