Working in the USA After a Degree: OPT, STEM OPT and H-1B Summarised

In brief

This page summarises what official US government sources published, as read on 20 October 2026, about working in the United States after a degree: the Department of Homeland Security's Study in the States, the Federal Register and the White House. It is general information, not advice on any person's case. US rules on the H-1B changed several times in 2025 and 2026, and USCIS is the final word.

OPT

Study in the States (page last updated 19 May 2025) says:

• OPT is work permission for eligible F-1 students in a job related to their field of study.
• Students can get up to 12 months of OPT for each higher level of study.
• The school's Designated School Official (DSO) first recommends OPT in SEVIS. The student then files Form I-765 with USCIS within 30 days of that recommendation. Work can start only from the start date on the Employment Authorization Document (EAD).
• Post-completion OPT must start no later than 60 days after the programme end date, and the work must be at least 20 hours a week.
• Students on post-completion OPT may be unemployed for a total of 90 days.

STEM OPT extension

Study in the States says:

• The extension is 24 months.
• The degree must be in a field on the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List, from a SEVP-certified, accredited school.
• The employer must be enrolled in E-Verify and provide a training plan on Form I-983. The work must be at least 20 hours a week.
• The total unemployment allowed across OPT and the extension is 150 days.

H-1B

From official documents:

• Annual numbers. The Federal Register states the yearly limit as 65,000, plus 20,000 for people with a US master's degree or higher. Some petitions are exempt from this limit.
• Weighted selection. A DHS final rule published on 29 December 2025, effective 27 February 2026 and in time for the FY 2027 registration season, weights selection by the offered wage level. A registration at wage level IV is entered four times, level III three times, level II twice and level I once.
• $100,000 payment. A presidential proclamation of 18 September 2026 extended a September 2025 proclamation by 12 months. It restricts entry of H-1B workers unless the petition is accompanied by a $100,000 payment, and allows national interest exceptions. USCIS pages explain who it applies to.
• Proposed fee. On 25 August 2026, DHS published a proposed rule for a $103,265 fee on H-1B cap-subject petitions. On 20 October 2026 it was a proposal, not a final rule.

Official sources

• Study in the States, F-1 OPT: https://studyinthestates.dhs.gov/sevis-help-hub/student-records/fm-student-employment/f-1-optional-practical-training-opt
• Study in the States, STEM OPT extension overview: https://studyinthestates.dhs.gov/stem-opt-hub/additional-resources/stem-opt-extension-overview
• USCIS, STEM OPT: https://www.uscis.gov/working-in-the-united-states/students-and-exchange-visitors/optional-practical-training-extension-for-stem-students-stem-opt
• USCIS, H-1B specialty occupations: https://www.uscis.gov/working-in-the-united-states/h-1b-specialty-occupations
• Federal Register, weighted selection final rule (29 December 2025): https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/12/29/2025-23853/weighted-selection-process-for-registrants-and-petitioners-seeking-to-file-cap-subject-h-1b
• White House, proclamation of 18 September 2026: https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/09/restriction-on-entry-of-certain-nonimmigrant-workers-faad/
• Federal Register, proposed H-1B fee (25 August 2026): https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/08/25/2026-17324/fee-for-certain-h-1b-petitions

Related pages on 47 Fellows

• Study in the USA
• US scholarships for Pakistani students
• How to spot scams

Summary last compared with the official pages on 20 October 2026.