International Students: Know Your “O”
International Students: Do you know if your selected university courses are leading to a major that qualifies for Optional Practical Training (OPT)-STEM or simply the OPT qualification? And do you know why it matters?
A degree that qualifies for Optional Practical Training (OPT) allows the international student to stay on the F1 student visa to work for one year in the United States following graduation.
A degree that qualifies for Optional Practical Training-STEM allows for an additional two years of work in the United States, for a total of three years still under the F1 student visa through your university.
Why is understanding the difference between OPT-STEM and OPT qualifications important?
First, you may have interests in several fields and - simply by understanding this critical difference - you may select the degree that qualifies you to stay for three years instead of just one. Even within specific fields of study, there may be different related degrees in which one qualifies as STEM and the other does not, such as Econometrics vs Economics. You need to ask this question when you are enrolling in your coursework.
This is also important because potential future internship or full-time employers may use your status to determine whether to hire you after graduation. While some employers will hire an employee who can only work for one year in the United States, many will not consider that option. There are more employers willing to consider hiring an international graduate who can work for three years in the United States than for one year. Plus, if you hold a STEM job for several years there is a better chance that your employer may consider applying for a visa that would allow you to stay even beyond the three years.
How do I choose between OPT-STEM and OPT options?
What do you do to make this happen?
Check with your experts: your academic advisor, international student office and/or university Designated School Official (DSO) about your courses and majors to understand the OPT or OPT-STEM implications. These guides have gone through this before and can provide invaluable assistance.
Review the companies coming for fall job fairs to interview and see what positions and majors they are seeking.
Talk to a senior international student with the major you are considering to see the impact the choice has had on work opportunities.
For a deeper dive on topics such as Curricular Practical Training (CPT), please get our new book as we explore this more deeply. Unfortunately, we see many international students who learn the difference in these programs too late in their studies and then have limited ability to get work experience in the U.S.A. Be the student that understands this early and makes it work to your advantage in your courses, internships and full-time jobs!