International Student FAQs: OPT, CPT & H-1B VISA

F-1 students must follow federal regulations when working or interning in the United States. The information below provides a general overview of common employment options, but individual circumstances vary.

Before accepting or beginning any off-campus employment—including an unpaid internship—consult Amherst College’s Office of Immigration Services (OIS). Receiving funding from Amherst does not, by itself, determine whether work authorization is required.

Optional Practical Training (OPT)

What is OPT?

Optional Practical Training (OPT) is temporary employment authorization for eligible F-1 students. The work must be directly related to the student’s major field of study.

Students may receive up to 12 months of OPT at a particular educational level:

  • Pre-completion OPT takes place before completing a degree.
  • Post-completion OPT begins after completing a degree.

Students who later complete a degree at a higher educational level may become eligible for another 12 months of OPT at that level. OPT must be recommended by a Designated School Official (DSO) and authorized by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

Do I need OPT to complete an internship?

Possibly—but OPT is not the only form of employment authorization that may apply.

Depending on the position and its connection to your curriculum, you may be eligible for Curricular Practical Training (CPT). In other circumstances, pre-completion OPT may be appropriate.

Do not assume that an internship is exempt from authorization because it is:

  • unpaid;
  • supported by Amherst funding;
  • completed remotely;
  • located at another Five College institution; or
  • described as volunteering.

Immigration and labor regulations distinguish legitimate volunteering from unpaid employment. Consult OIS before accepting the opportunity or performing any work.

How does pre-completion OPT affect the OPT available after graduation?

Any pre-completion OPT authorized at your current educational level reduces the amount of post-completion OPT available at that level.

  • Full-time pre-completion OPT is deducted at the full rate.
  • Part-time pre-completion OPT is generally deducted at half the rate.

For example, 12 months of authorized part-time pre-completion OPT would ordinarily reduce the remaining post-completion OPT by six months. The calculation is based on the period authorized—not simply the number of days you actually work.

Before using pre-completion OPT, consider:

  • Do I hope to work in the United States after graduation?
  • Could this internship lead to a full-time position?
  • Is the experience particularly important for entering my intended field?
  • Is CPT or another authorized option available?
  • Could I gain comparable experience through eligible on-campus employment, research or an opportunity outside the United States?

Discuss the long-term implications with OIS before applying.

Can I use OPT to work after graduation?

Yes. Post-completion OPT allows eligible graduates to work in positions directly related to their major.

If you previously used pre-completion OPT at the same educational level, that time will be deducted from the 12 months normally available. Students who complete 12 months or more of full-time CPT at the same educational level are generally ineligible for post-completion OPT.

Students on post-completion OPT are also subject to unemployment limits. Standard post-completion OPT permits no more than 90 aggregate days of unemployment. Contact OIS promptly if your employment changes.

How do I apply for OPT?

Begin by contacting OIS. A DSO must recommend OPT in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) and issue an updated Form I-20 before you file Form I-765 with USCIS.

Post-completion OPT applications may generally be filed:

  • up to 90 days before the program end date; and
  • no later than 60 days after the program end date.

Additional filing deadlines apply after the DSO enters the recommendation in SEVIS. Filing too early, too late or with an outdated recommendation can result in denial.

USCIS processing times vary, so begin planning early and follow the timeline provided by OIS. Consult the USCIS processing-times tool rather than relying on a fixed estimate.

Must I have a job offer before applying for OPT?

A job offer is not required to apply for standard pre-completion or post-completion OPT. However, selecting an OPT start date has important consequences.

Once post-completion OPT begins, unemployment time begins to accrue. It may also be difficult to withdraw or change an application after filing. Review your timeline carefully with OIS.

A qualifying employer and completed Form I-983 are required when applying for the 24-month STEM OPT extension.

Can I accept a job before my OPT is approved?

You may accept an offer while your application is pending, but you cannot begin working until:

  • USCIS has approved your OPT;
  • you have received your Employment Authorization Document (EAD);
  • the start date printed on the EAD has arrived; and
  • the position meets OPT requirements.

You may not work during the gap between accepting an offer and receiving authorization.

What does an employer need to do for standard OPT?

Standard OPT does not require the employer to petition for or “sponsor” a visa. The employer must still complete the normal hiring and employment-verification process, including Form I-9.

You are responsible for:

  • confirming that the position is directly related to your major;
  • reporting required employment information;
  • keeping your information current in SEVIS; and
  • following all OPT reporting and unemployment requirements.

STEM OPT involves additional employer responsibilities.

What is the STEM OPT extension?

Eligible students who earned a qualifying U.S. STEM degree may apply for a 24-month extension of post-completion OPT.

Eligibility is based on the Classification of Instructional Programs—or CIP code—associated with the degree and listed on the student’s Form I-20. Because degree classifications may change, students should not rely on an older list of Amherst majors.

Among other requirements:

  • the degree’s CIP code must appear on the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List;
  • the position must be directly related to the qualifying degree;
  • the employer must participate in E-Verify;
  • the employer and student must complete and follow Form I-983, Training Plan for STEM OPT Students; and
  • there must be a bona fide employer-employee relationship that satisfies STEM OPT requirements.

Students may accrue no more than 150 aggregate days of unemployment across standard post-completion OPT and the STEM OPT extension.

Consult OIS to confirm whether your degree and proposed employment qualify. See the USCIS STEM OPT guidance for current federal requirements.

Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

What is CPT?

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is employment authorization for practical training that is an integral part of an established curriculum. The opportunity must be directly related to the student’s major and must meet Amherst’s curricular and immigration requirements.

CPT is:

  • authorized by a DSO—not USCIS;
  • approved for a specific employer, position, location and period;
  • available only before the program end date; and
  • required before any work begins.

A job or internship is not automatically eligible for CPT simply because it relates to your major or offers academic credit. OIS determines whether the opportunity and curricular connection satisfy CPT requirements.

Do I need a job offer before applying for CPT?

Yes. Because CPT authorization is employer- and position-specific, you must have a qualifying offer before requesting authorization.

You may not begin working until your DSO has approved the CPT and you have received an updated Form I-20 showing the correct employer and authorized dates.

Does CPT reduce the amount of OPT available?

Part-time CPT and fewer than 12 months of full-time CPT do not normally reduce your OPT allotment. However, completing 12 months or more of full-time CPT at the same educational level generally makes you ineligible for post-completion OPT.

H-1B Status

What is H-1B status?

H-1B is an employer-sponsored, temporary work status for eligible positions in specialty occupations. A qualifying position generally requires at least a bachelor’s degree—or its equivalent—in a directly related specific specialty.

Unlike OPT and CPT, an H-1B petition is filed by the employer. Approval is tied to the sponsoring employer and the employment described in the petition.

H-1B status is generally approved for up to three years and may often be extended for another three years. Extensions beyond six years may be possible in certain circumstances.

Is every H-1B petition subject to the annual cap?

No. Many new H-1B petitions are subject to an annual numerical limit. The regular cap is generally 65,000, with an additional 20,000 places for eligible beneficiaries who earned an advanced degree from a qualifying U.S. institution.

When registrations exceed the available numbers, USCIS uses an electronic registration and selection process. Selection does not guarantee approval of the subsequent petition.

Certain employers and positions may be cap-exempt, including qualifying:

  • institutions of higher education;
  • nonprofit organizations affiliated with institutions of higher education;
  • nonprofit research organizations; and
  • governmental research organizations.

Cap-exempt petitions may generally be filed throughout the year.

When should I discuss H-1B sponsorship with an employer?

Begin researching an employer’s sponsorship practices early, especially if you hope to continue working beyond OPT or STEM OPT.

You might ask:

Does your organization consider candidates who may require employment-based visa sponsorship in the future?

An employer’s past sponsorship history can be helpful, but it does not guarantee that it will sponsor a particular candidate or position.

What is the H-1B cap-gap extension?

Certain F-1 students with timely filed cap-subject H-1B petitions and requests to change status may qualify for a cap-gap extension of F-1 status and, in some cases, employment authorization.

Eligibility depends on the petition, filing date, requested start date and the student’s status at the time of filing. Contact OIS immediately if an employer files an H-1B petition on your behalf.

H-1B filing procedures, selection methods, fees and entry requirements can change. Students and employers should verify current requirements through USCIS H-1B guidance and qualified immigration counsel.

Resources at Amherst

Office of Immigration Services

Contact Hanna Bliss, Director of Immigration and Visa Services, or email ois@amherst.edu for questions about F-1 status, CPT, OPT, STEM OPT and other immigration-related requirements.

Center for International Student Engagement

Contact CISE at cise@amherst.edu for community support, programs and resources for international students.

Loeb Center for Career Exploration and Planning

Contact careers@amherst.edu for help with:

  • identifying international-student-friendly employers;
  • searching for internships and jobs;
  • discussing work authorization professionally;
  • preparing application materials; and
  • developing a long-term career strategy.

Immigration Counsel

Students with complicated immigration questions should consult a qualified immigration attorney. Amherst students may also be referred to the College’s immigration counsel when appropriate.

Interstride

Use Interstride to explore international-student-friendly employers, job-search resources, visa pathways and country-specific career information.

GoinGlobal

Use GoinGlobal to research employers, international opportunities and country-specific job-search guidance. Employer-sponsorship information reflects past activity and does not guarantee future sponsorship.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

Visit USCIS for current forms, filing instructions, fees, processing times and federal guidance.

This page provides general educational information and does not constitute legal advice. Immigration rules and procedures can change. Consult Amherst College’s Office of Immigration Services before accepting or beginning employment.