Global InformationOptional Practical Training information
In the United States, Optional Practical Training (OPT) is a period during which undergraduate and graduate students with F-1 status who have completed or have been pursuing their degrees for one academic year are permitted by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to work for one year on a student visa towards getting practical training to complement their education. Foreign students currently enrolled at a U.S. university can receive full-time or part-time work authorization through Curricular Practical Training. In 2022, there were 171,635 OPT employment authorizations.[1] In 2021, there were 115,651 new non-STEM OPT authorizations, a 105% increase from a decade ago.[2]
During the 2021-2022 school year, the two nations with the highest number of OPT students were India and China. There were 68,188 Indian OPT students and 51,199 Chinese OPT students.[3] According to Pew Research, there were 441,400 OPT approvals from India and 313,500 from China between 2004-2016.[4] The University of Southern California was the largest OPT participant between 2003 and 2017, with 30,720 approvals.[5]
On April 2, 2008, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Michael Chertoff announced a 17-month extension to the OPT for students in qualifying STEM fields.[6][7] To be eligible for the 12-month permit, any degree in any field of studies is valid. For the 17-month OPT extension, a student must have received a science, technology, engineering, or mathematics degree as defined by USCIS.
On March 11, 2016, the Department of Homeland Security published a final rule allowing certain F-1 students who receive STEM degrees and who meet other specified requirements to apply for a 24-month extension of their post-completion OPT, giving STEM graduates a total of 36 months of OPT. The 24-month extension replaces the 17-month STEM OPT extension previously available to STEM students (see 73 FR 18944). Eligible students could apply for a 24-month STEM OPT extension starting on May 10, 2016.[8] In 2019, there were 72,116 new STEM OPT authorizations. Compared to a decade prior, it is an 1108% increase.[9] In the same year, there were 78,000 STEM OPT workers from India and 30,000 workers from China.[10]
There also exists a post-completion Practical Training option for students on M-1 visas, but it is significantly more restrictive than that for F-1 students.[11][12] Unless otherwise specified, Optional Practical Training is understood to refer to Optional Practical Training for F-1 students.
- ^ "Employment Authorization" (PDF).
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
:5was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "IIE Open Doors / Academic Level and Places of Origin". IIE Open Doors / Academic Level and Places of Origin. Retrieved 2023-05-06.
- ^ Ruiz, Neil G. (2018-05-10). "Number of Foreign College Students Staying and Working in U.S. After Graduation Surges". Pew Research Center's Global Attitudes Project. Retrieved 2023-03-14.
- ^ Neufeld, Jeremy L. (2019-03-07). "Optional Practical Training (OPT) and International Students After Graduation". Niskanen Center. Retrieved 2023-04-29.
- ^ "Federal Register, Volume 73, Number 68 (April 8, 2008)". April 2, 2008. Retrieved January 19, 2015.
- ^ "Questions and Answers: Extension of Optional Practical Training Program for Qualified Students". USCIS. 2012-04-25.
- ^ https://www.uscis.gov/working-united-states/students-and-exchange-visitors/students-and-employment/stem-opt
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
:52was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Cite error: The named reference
:0was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Students and Employment". United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. Retrieved March 5, 2016.
- ^ "OPT (Optional Practical Training)". USA Visa Now. Retrieved March 5, 2016.
