The Ultimate
OPT Tracker & H-1B Finder

OPT (Optional Practical Training) is 12 months of work authorization for F-1 international students after completing their academic program in the United States.

OPT allows F-1 students to work in positions directly related to their major field of study. Students apply using Form I-765 to USCIS. STEM degree holders can extend OPT by an additional 24 months, for a total of 36 months of work authorization.

F-1 students on post-completion OPT are allowed a maximum of 90 days of unemployment.

The 90-day limit applies to your initial OPT period. For STEM OPT, you get a separate 60-day allowance. Unused days from initial OPT do not carry forward to the STEM period.

The 90-day rule limits F-1 students on OPT to a maximum of 90 cumulative days without employment.

During your 12-month OPT period, you cannot be unemployed for more than 90 days total. Each day without qualifying employment counts toward this limit. Employment must be at least 20 hours per week and directly related to your major. Self-employment, unpaid internships, and volunteer work can count if they meet these requirements.

STEM OPT is a 24-month extension that allows F-1 students with STEM degrees to work in the US for up to 36 months total.

STEM OPT extends your work authorization beyond the initial 12-month OPT. To qualify, your degree must be on the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List, and your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify. You must complete Form I-983 (Training Plan) with your employer and file Form I-765 before your initial OPT expires.

Apply for STEM OPT by completing Form I-983 with your employer and filing Form I-765 with USCIS up to 90 days before your current OPT expires.

Steps to apply: 1) Verify your degree is STEM-designated using the CIP code on your I-20, 2) Confirm your employer is E-Verify enrolled, 3) Complete Form I-983 Training Plan with your employer, 4) Request a new I-20 from your DSO with STEM OPT recommendation, 5) File Form I-765 with USCIS using category (c)(3)(C).

STEM OPT provides a separate 60-day unemployment allowance.

This 60-day allowance is specific to the STEM extension period. Unused days from your initial 90-day OPT allowance do not carry forward or combine with these days.

Track your USCIS case using your 13-character receipt number (e.g., IOE1234567890) on USCIS.gov or TrackMyOPT.

Your receipt number is on the I-797C Notice of Action you received after filing. Enter this number on the USCIS Case Status Online page or use TrackMyOPT for automatic tracking with email notifications. Common receipt prefixes include IOE (online filing), MSC (California), LIN (Nebraska), SRC (Texas), and EAC (Vermont).

Over 25,000 US companies sponsor H-1B visas, including tech giants (Google, Microsoft, Amazon), consulting firms (Deloitte, Accenture), and financial institutions (JPMorgan, Goldman Sachs).

TrackMyOPT's H-1B Sponsor Database includes 25,000+ verified sponsors from Department of Labor LCA filings. Top sponsors by volume include Cognizant, Infosys, TCS, Amazon, Google, Microsoft, Meta, Apple, and Deloitte. You can search by industry, location, approval rate, and petition count to find companies actively hiring and sponsoring.

Cap-gap automatically extends F-1 status and OPT work authorization until October 1 if you have a pending or approved H-1B petition.

Cap-gap bridges the gap between your OPT expiration and October 1 (when H-1B status begins). It applies only to H-1B petitions subject to the annual cap, not cap-exempt employers. Your employer must file the H-1B petition while you have valid F-1 status. If your H-1B is approved, cap-gap extends your EAD until September 30.

Yes, F-1 students must file taxes. With income, file Form 1040-NR (non-resident) or 1040. With no income, file Form 8843.

All F-1 students must file taxes, even with zero US income. Non-residents (most F-1 students in first 5 years) file Form 1040-NR for income and Form 8843 (Statement for Exempt Individuals) in all cases. The Substantial Presence Test determines residency status. F-1 students are typically exempt from FICA taxes (Social Security and Medicare) for the first 5 calendar years.