OPT and STEM OPT job search guide for international students
Not legal advice. This guide covers general rules for F-1 students. Your Designated School Official (DSO) and an immigration attorney are the right people to confirm your own situation, and the official sources below are always current.
For many Korean students in the U.S., Optional Practical Training (OPT) is the bridge between graduation and a full-time job. It is also a clock. Here is how to use it well.
CPT, OPT and STEM OPT in one minute
- CPT (Curricular Practical Training) — work that is part of your program (an internship or co-op), authorized by your DSO before you graduate. Your school decides; there is no EAD card.
- Post-completion OPT — up to 12 months of work authorization after you finish a degree, in a job directly related to your field of study. You apply to USCIS with Form I-765 and receive an EAD card.
- STEM OPT extension — 24 more months for graduates with a degree on the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List, with an employer that meets extra requirements.
Timeline: apply early
- Ask your DSO to recommend OPT in SEVIS. You will get an updated I-20.
- File Form I-765 with USCIS — up to 90 days before your program end date and no later than 60 days after it (and within 30 days of the DSO recommendation).
- Wait for the EAD. You cannot work on post-completion OPT until the card is approved and the start date has arrived.
- Report your job to your school (through the SEVP Portal or your DSO) within 10 days of starting, and report changes.
Start your job search a semester before graduation. Many large companies — including the Korean manufacturers and tech companies listed on JOBnaru™ — hire new graduates months before start dates.
The unemployment clock
- Post-completion OPT allows up to 90 days of unemployment.
- With the STEM extension, you get 60 more days, so 150 days in total across both periods.
- Generally, working at least 20 hours a week in a job related to your degree counts as employment. Unpaid work can count on regular OPT if it follows labor law and relates to your field, but STEM OPT jobs must be paid.
Track your days carefully. Exceeding the limit can end your status.
STEM OPT: what the employer must do
STEM OPT is not available with every employer. The employer must:
- be enrolled in E-Verify and in good standing,
- offer a paid job of at least 20 hours a week, directly related to your STEM degree,
- give you training comparable to similar U.S. workers, and
- complete Form I-983 (the training plan) with you, plus evaluations during the extension.
File the STEM OPT application up to 90 days before your OPT EAD expires. If you file on time, your work authorization can continue for up to 180 days while it is pending.
Staffing agencies and self-employment generally do not work for STEM OPT, because the employer must be the one providing the training.
Cap-gap: from OPT to H-1B
If an employer registers you for the H-1B lottery, you are selected, and the petition is filed on time while your OPT is valid, the cap-gap extension can keep your status and work authorization going until the H-1B start date. Read H-1B basics for job seekers.
How to search on JOBnaru™
- Use the OPT / CPT welcome filter for postings that say they accept OPT or CPT students, and the sponsorship filter for postings that mention visa sponsorship.
- Remember "Visa: not stated" is the most common value. Many employers hire OPT students without saying so; ask.
- If you plan to use STEM OPT, ask early: "Are you enrolled in E-Verify?" Most large employers are.
- Combine filters such as semiconductor jobs in Texas or engineering jobs in Georgia, and set a daily job alert.
- Unfamiliar terms — EAD, SEVIS, DSO, I-983 — are in our glossary.
Common mistakes
- Waiting until after graduation to apply for OPT, then losing months to processing time.
- Taking a job not related to your field and assuming it counts.
- Forgetting to report your employer or address within 10 days.
- Paying someone who promises a "guaranteed OPT job" or asks you to pay for training to be hired. See job scam warning signs.
JOBnaru™ shows what each posting says about visas; it cannot promise a job, OPT approval or an H-1B.
Last checked: October 19, 2026.
Cite this article as: JOBnaru™ — https://jobnaru.com/news/opt-stem-opt-job-search-guide
Questions
When can I apply for post-completion OPT?
You can file Form I-765 up to 90 days before your program end date and up to 60 days after it, once your DSO has recommended OPT in SEVIS. You cannot start working until your EAD card is approved and its start date arrives.
How many days can I be unemployed on OPT?
Up to 90 days during post-completion OPT. If you get the STEM OPT extension, you get 60 more, for 150 days in total across both periods.
Can any employer hire me on STEM OPT?
No. The employer must be enrolled in E-Verify, offer a paid job related to your STEM degree for at least 20 hours a week, and complete Form I-983 (training plan) with you.
What is the cap-gap extension?
If your employer files a cap H-1B petition for you on time while you are on OPT, your status and work authorization can be extended past your OPT end date until the H-1B starts, as long as the petition is pending or approved.
Sources
- Optional Practical Training (OPT) for F-1 Students — U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
- STEM OPT Hub — U.S. Department of Homeland Security (Study in the States)
- E-Verify — U.S. Department of Homeland Security
- Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization — U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
General information as of Oct 19, 2026, not legal or immigration advice. Confirm with the employer, an immigration attorney or official sources before you act.
