US Universities Announce OPT Window for Global Students

• US universities opens Optional Practical Training application window for graduating international students.
• F-1 students can apply ninety days before graduation through designated school officials.
• STEM graduates may receive twenty-four month extension under approved employer E-Verify programme.

Several U.S. universities have announced that international students planning to graduate in May 2026 can now begin applying for Optional Practical Training (OPT), a popular post-study work authorisation programme that allows F-1 visa holders to gain professional experience in the United States.

The announcement means that graduates can prepare and submit their applications through their university's international student office before filing with U.S.Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).OPT permits eligible international students to work at American businesses in positions that match their academic field of study.

International students with F-1 visas gain their main advantage from OPT because the program allows them to work for 12 months after completing their academic studies which helps them transition into professional employment.

Students who complete their studies in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields become eligible for a 24-month extension of their work period which starts after their 12 months because they will work for an E-Verify registered employer.

The OPT program proves especially beneficial for individuals who want to gain work experience in essential fields such as technology and engineering.

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Students must carefully time their OPT applications because they can submit paperwork between 90 days before their programme completion date and 60 days after that date but USCIS needs to receive their application within that window for them to qualify.

Applicants must present an updated I-20 form which includes an OPT recommendation from their school's Designated School Official (DSO) before they send Form I-765 to USCIS.

The employment authorization period will decrease if students fail to get their university recommendation within the designated time or if they wait too long after finishing their studies.

The U.S. program has gained popularity among people but some lawmakers from the country express doubts about OPT because they believe it harms American job opportunities. The program operates through OPT which international graduates use to gain work experience in the United States.