United States
Visa Options After Graduating in the US (F-1 Student Guide)
Jun 12, 2026
If you are graduating in the US on an F-1 visa, your first move is OPT — 12 months of work authorisation (36 months if your degree is STEM-designated). From there, the four main long-term paths are H-1B (employer-sponsored, lottery), O-1A (criteria-based, no lottery), EB-2 NIW (self-petitioned green card), and EB-1A (self-petitioned green card at the top end).
Who this applies to
You graduated (or are about to graduate) from a US institution on an F-1 student visa and want to stay and work in the US. This guide covers both short-term work authorisation and long-term paths to a green card. It applies whether your major is STEM or non-STEM, and whether you have a job offer or not.
The actual options
| Path | Type | Sponsor needed? | Typical timeline | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OPT | Work authorisation | No (job optional) | 30-90 days to EAD | Any F-1 grad, year one |
| STEM OPT | 24-month extension | E-Verify employer | 60-90 days | STEM grads with employer |
| H-1B | 3-year work visa | Yes | March lottery, October start | Specialty occupation roles |
| Cap-exempt H-1B | 3-year work visa | Yes (university / non-profit / research org) | 30-180 days | Anyone joining a cap-exempt employer |
| O-1A | 3-year work visa | Yes (employer or agent) | 15 days (premium) to 90 days | Founders, researchers, senior ICs with awards / press / pubs |
| EB-2 NIW | Green card (self-petition) | No | 6-24 months | Advanced-degree holders with national-importance work |
| EB-1A | Green card (self-petition) | No | 6-18 months | Top of field — awards, citations, press, leadership |
| Marriage to a US citizen | Green card | No | 12-18 months | Family-based applicants |
Step-by-step sequencing
1. File OPT before you graduate
Apply for post-completion OPT up to 90 days before your program end date and no later than 60 days after. You can be unemployed for up to 90 days during OPT before you lose status (150 days with STEM OPT).
2. Use OPT to find a sponsor or build your record
OPT is a bridge, not a destination. During this year, you are doing one of three things:
- Lining up an H-1B sponsor for the next March lottery
- Building the evidence (publications, press, awards, salary band) you need for O-1A or EB-2 NIW
- Joining a cap-exempt employer (universities and many non-profit research orgs) so you bypass the H-1B lottery entirely
3. File the H-1B in March
If you have a sponsor, your employer enters you in the H-1B lottery in March. Selection odds have hovered around 25-30% for the regular cap. If you have a US master's degree, you also get a second draw under the master's cap. If selected, the H-1B starts October 1, and cap-gap protection automatically extends your OPT through that date.
4. If H-1B does not select, escalate to non-lottery paths
If your profile is strong enough — published research, major press, leadership role, top-of-field salary — O-1A has no lottery. Premium processing turns it around in 15 calendar days. EB-2 NIW lets you self-petition for the green card without any employer at all.
5. Stack the green card on top
Once you are on H-1B or O-1, start the green card process. The fastest self-petition routes are EB-1A and EB-2 NIW. EB-1B is available if you have a permanent academic offer. Otherwise, employer-sponsored EB-2 (with PERM) is the default.
Common mistakes
Treating OPT like a long-term plan. OPT runs out. The 90-day unemployment clock is real. Start your H-1B / O-1 strategy on day one of OPT, not month eleven.
Assuming H-1B is the only option. The lottery's roughly 1-in-4 odds mean you need a backup. O-1A is realistic for far more people than they think — published authorship, a senior IC role at a recognised company, and one or two press hits can already put you over the line.
Ignoring cap-exempt employers. Universities, university-affiliated non-profits, and qualifying research organisations are exempt from the H-1B cap. You can file any time of year and bypass the lottery entirely. This is a huge unlock for academics and research scientists.
Waiting too long to start the green card. Per-country backlogs for India and China on EB-2 / EB-3 are measured in decades. If you are from a backlogged country, file EB-2 NIW or EB-1A as soon as your record supports it — your priority date is what matters.
Letting STEM OPT expire without a plan. The 24-month STEM extension feels long until it isn't. If you are mid-way through STEM OPT with no H-1B selection and no O-1 / NIW plan, you have a problem.
FAQ
How many H-1B chances do I get on OPT?
If you have 12-month OPT, typically one lottery. If you have STEM OPT, typically three lotteries. Each March cycle is a separate roll.
Can I switch from F-1 to O-1 directly?
Yes. You file an O-1 petition with a US sponsor (employer or agent). If approved, you change status from F-1 to O-1 without leaving the US. You do not need to use OPT first.
Can I self-petition a green card while still on F-1?
Yes, for EB-1A and EB-2 NIW. You do not need any employer or sponsor to file. You do need to maintain valid status (F-1 or OPT) while the petition is pending.
What if I don't get a job offer before OPT ends?
Without status, you must depart. Before that point, you have two options: enrol in another degree program to extend F-1, or file a self-petition (EB-1A or EB-2 NIW) if your record supports it, then apply for adjustment of status if a visa number is available.
Does marriage to a US citizen change my options?
It opens an additional path (IR-1 / CR-1 green card) but does not block any of the above. Many founders and researchers pursue both an employment-based petition and a family-based one in parallel.
Not sure which applies to you? Find every visa you qualify for across the US, UK, Australia, and Canada in 2 minutes — free.
