United States · Work
United States F-1 OPT
First stay: 1 yr
F-1 Optional Practical Training (post-completion OPT)
First checked against official sources on Change log
Key facts
F-1 OPT is a work route for United States. Checked 2026-10-10 against the official source.
- Government fees
- $520
- First stay
- 1 yr
Cost, time and long term
Government fees$520
- $520Form I-765 general filing fee (USD 470 online) per G-1055 Appendix C.
RenewalNot renewable
Post-completion OPT is 12 months per education level, to be used within 14 months after the programme ends; a 24-month STEM extension may follow for eligible degrees.
Code of Federal RegulationsU.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
CitizenshipTime here doesn't count
Naturalisation requires years of lawful permanent resident status (5 years, or 3 if married to a U.S. citizen), so time in this temporary status does not count toward it.
Why this route may not fit
Check this before you apply.
- Can't be renewed
- Time on this route doesn't count toward citizenship
- Needs earlier residence or an existing status in United States
What you'll need
Who can apply2
- The student must have been lawfully enrolled full time at a SEVP-certified school for one full academic year.
- OPT must be directly related to the major area of study.
What you must show and pay1
- A fee of $520 · Form I-765 general filing fee (USD 470 online) per G-1055 Appendix C.
After you arrive3
- Post-completion OPT must be completed within 14 months after study ends.
- No more than 90 days of aggregate unemployment are allowed during post-completion OPT.
- Another 12 months of practical training becomes available on moving to a higher educational level.
When you become tax resident
How United States decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.
- Stay on this route
Up to 1 year in total
- Tax residence
- At least 31 days in the current calendar yearMinimum days of presence in the current year.
- At least 183 days in the current year plus two preceding years (weighted 1, 1/3, 1/6)Weighted days of presence over the three-year period.
- Foreign-source income
U.S. citizens and resident aliens are taxed on worldwide income at the graduated rates that apply to citizens; non-residents are taxed on U.S.-source income under Form 1040-NR rules.
All tax rules for United States Tax records checked
Full official text
Work authorisation of up to 12 months for F-1 students directly related to their major, applied for on Form I-765 while in F-1 status. 1 2 3
What you must show and pay
- A fee of $520 · Form I-765 general filing fee (USD 470 online) per G-1055 Appendix C. 3
Requirements
- The student must have been lawfully enrolled full time at a SEVP-certified school for one full academic year. 1
- OPT must be directly related to the major area of study. 1
- Post-completion OPT must be completed within 14 months after study ends. 1 2
- No more than 90 days of aggregate unemployment are allowed during post-completion OPT. 1 2
- Another 12 months of practical training becomes available on moving to a higher educational level. 1
Stay
- 12 months of practical training per educational level, to be completed within a 14-month window after programme completion.
- First stay: up to 12 months, decided case by case.
- Not renewable according to our source.
Nationality
No nationality restriction.
Work
Employment authorised in the field of study for the authorisation period.
Family
F-2 dependants cannot work.
Official sources
- 8 CFR 214.2 Special requirements for admission, extension, and maintenance of status (F-1 period of stay, practical training) · Code of Federal Regulations (Cornell Legal Information Institute copy) · checked 2026-10-10
- Optional Practical Training Extension for STEM Students (STEM OPT) · U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services · checked 2026-10-10
- Form G-1055, Fee Schedule (edition 10/07/26) · U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services · checked 2026-10-12 · published 2026-10-07
- USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 12, Part D, Chapter 2: Lawful permanent resident admission for naturalization · U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services · checked 2026-10-11
- I am married to a U.S. citizen (naturalization) · U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services · checked 2026-10-11
F-1 OPT and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| F-1 OPT | – | 1 yr | – |
| E-3 Australian specialty | – | 2 yr, renewable | – |
| EB-1B Outstanding researcher | – | – | – |
| EB-1C Multinational manager | – | – | – |
| EB-2 Advanced degree | – | – | – |
Questions people ask
How much money do I need for the F-1 OPT?
A fee of $520. Form I-765 general filing fee (USD 470 online) per G-1055 Appendix C.
How long can I stay on the F-1 OPT?
12 months of practical training per educational level, to be completed within a 14-month window after programme completion.
Can I work on the F-1 OPT?
Employment authorised in the field of study for the authorisation period.
Can I bring my family on the F-1 OPT?
F-2 dependants cannot work.
More in United States
Work visas elsewhere
≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.
Ask the AI about this route AI
An AI assistant answers from the published records on this page and cites them. It can't assess your personal eligibility. Don't include personal details.
How this was checked
Checked on 2026-10-10 against 5 official sources. Status: verified against the official sources.
Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.
- 8 CFR 214.2 Special requirements for admission, extension, and maintenance of status (F-1 period of stay, practical training) · Code of Federal Regulations (Cornell Legal Information Institute copy) · checked 2026-10-10
- Optional Practical Training Extension for STEM Students (STEM OPT) · U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services · checked 2026-10-10
- Form G-1055, Fee Schedule (edition 10/07/26) · U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services · checked 2026-10-12
- USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 12, Part D, Chapter 2: Lawful permanent resident admission for naturalization · U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services · checked 2026-10-11
- I am married to a U.S. citizen (naturalization) · U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services · checked 2026-10-11
Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the changes page, and the methodology page explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email contact@stayglobe.app with a link to the official source.