OPT rules: unemployment days, reporting and employment
How the 90-day OPT unemployment limit is counted, what counts as qualifying work, what to report in the SEVP Portal or to your DSO, and how the grace period works after OPT.
Start with the 90-day unemployment rule and the guide to when the clock starts. Then read the reporting guides, since a new name, address or employer generally must be reported within 10 days. Your DSO and the regulations are the official word; these guides explain them in plain language.
15 guides · Written by Vinay Kumar · Not legal advice
Guides in this hub
- 1Choosing Your OPT Start Date: Filing Window, the 14-Month Rule and When the Clock StartsHow to pick the start date on your post-completion OPT I-765: the filing window, the 60-day start date limit, the 14-month rule, what happens if approval comes late, and when unemployment days begin.OPT rules9 min readNovember 2, 2026
- 2How to Change Your Address on OPT: SEVP Portal, USCIS AR-11, and Your Pending CaseMoving on OPT or STEM OPT? Update your address in the SEVP Portal within 10 days, file AR-11 with USCIS, update any pending I-765 case, and protect EAD card delivery.OPT rules7 min readOctober 16, 2026
- 3OPT 14-Month Rule Explained (2026): How USCIS Delays Can Shorten Your EADFiling I-765 on time does not guarantee 12 months of OPT. Late decisions can permanently cut your authorization under the 14-month completion rule — with premium options and STEM caveats.OPT rules10 min readOctober 5, 2026
- 4How to Explain How Your OPT Job Relates to Your Degree (SEVP Examples)What to write in the SEVP 'relation to field of study' field — copy-ready examples for CS, Business, Biology, and a duty-based template.OPT rules12 min readSeptember 1, 2026
- 5OPT Unemployment Days Calculator: How to Check & Track (2026)Count OPT unemployment days correctly: 90 on initial OPT, 150 with STEM. SEVP portal steps, weekend rules, and TrackMyOPT's free calculator.OPT rules7 min readSeptember 1, 2026
- 6When Does the OPT Unemployment Clock Start? (2026)Learn when OPT unemployment days begin, whether EAD delays count, how job gaps are calculated, and how to track your remaining days.OPT rules9 min readJuly 27, 2026
- 7Laid Off on OPT? Reporting Deadlines, Unemployment Days & Next StepsWhat to report after an OPT layoff, how unemployment days are counted, what evidence to save, and how to plan your next qualifying role.OPT rules10 min readJuly 27, 2026
- 8Laid Off on STEM OPT? I-983, Employer Changes & the 150-Day RuleA practical guide to final evaluations, reporting a STEM OPT layoff, completing a new I-983, and protecting your 150-day unemployment buffer.OPT rules10 min readJuly 27, 2026
- 9OPT Employment Evidence Checklist: What to Save for USCIS and Future VisasA complete recordkeeping checklist for OPT job duties, dates, hours, worksite, supervisors, reporting, pay records, and future filings.OPT rules10 min readJuly 27, 2026
- 10Can You Start Working Before Your OPT EAD Arrives?Understand the difference between an OPT offer, approval, EAD delivery, and the date you may lawfully begin work.OPT rules10 min readJuly 27, 2026
- 11What Counts as 20 Hours per Week on OPT? Multiple Jobs, Gaps and Part-Time WorkLearn how the 20-hour threshold interacts with degree-related work, multiple jobs, changing schedules, and STEM OPT requirements.OPT rules10 min readJuly 27, 2026
- 12SEVP Portal Complete Guide: Setup, Unlock & Reporting for OPT & STEM OPT (2026)Learn how to set up your SEVP Portal account, unlock your profile, reset your password, and report address or employment changes for OPT and STEM OPT compliance.OPT rules11 min readMay 20, 2026
- 13OPT & STEM OPT Reporting Requirements: Complete DSO Guide (2026)Learn what F-1 students must report to their DSO and SEVIS during OPT and STEM OPT. Compliance deadlines, residential address changes, and employment updates.OPT rules10 min readApril 21, 2026
- 14The 90-Day OPT Unemployment Rule: Everything You Need to Know in 2026Understand the 90-day unemployment limit for OPT, how days are counted, what counts as employment, and how to avoid violating your F-1 status.OPT rules8 min readJanuary 13, 2026
- 15The 60-Day Grace Period for F-1 Students: A Practical GuideWhat happens when your OPT expires or you run out of unemployment days? Learn the rules of the F-1 60-day grace period and your options to stay in the US.OPT rules6 min readJanuary 11, 2026
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