Post Study Work Visa in USA for International Students in 2025

Post Study Work Visa in USA 2025: Most international students aspire to gain work experience in the USA upon completing their degrees in a US university. To work, students must have a valid post study US work permit. Students need to apply for the relevant type of work visa in USA according to their visa types. Generally, the most common work permit in USA for international students is the Optional Practical Training (OPT) visa. OPT is a temporary employment authorization for F1 visa holders. It allows international students to work in USA for up to 12 months upon graduation from one of the US universities. For students pursuing a STEM course, the STEM OPT Extension Visa allows them an extra 24 months of work authorization which is a total of 36 months.

This Story also Contains

1. Types of Student Visa for USA Post Study Work Visa 2025
2. Work Permit in USA after Study
3. Post Study Work Visa USA 2025
4. Optional Practical Training (OPT)
5. When to apply for OPT?
6. Requirements for Post Study Work Visa in USA 2025
7. How to Get Work Permit in USA?
8. USA Work Permit after Study STEM Courses 2025
9. Best Public Universities in the United States 2025
10. Jobs After Studying at the Top Public Colleges in USA 2025

USA is the most popular study abroad destination due to its strong economy in major sectors such as aeronautics and Business, world-renowned education, and cutting-edge research facilities that attract thousands of students annually. Students typically study on three types of student visas in USA the F1 Visa, M1 Visa, and J1 Visa. Securing a post study work permit in USA is a crucial step for them to gain practical work experience and build their careers in the country. We have mentioned how to get work permit in USA, requirements, application process and more in the article below. Give it a read to know in detail about work after study in USA.

Types of Student Visa for USA Post Study Work Visa 2025

Majorly, three types of visas can easily be used for PSW in USA. These include the following:

• F1 Visa: The Majority of international students study in USA on an F-1 visa. It allows students to study full-time in a US university. Students aspiring to study bachelor's, master's, language training programs, and other educational training are required to obtain this visa. It also allows international students to stay in the USA while studying and offers Optional Practical Training (OPT) after graduation. Students with a STEM degree can extend their OPT for up to 36 months.

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• M1 Visa: Certain number of students study in USA on M-1 Visa. It allows students to study vocational or non-academic programs that are not full time such as technical courses, flight school, mechanical classes, cooking classes, and more. While this kind of visa doesn't offer the same post-graduation work as the F1 visa, it allows students to stay in the country for their degree.

• J1 Visa: This is a temporary visa that is offered to exchange students who participate in cultural exchange programs of countries for purposes such as lecturing, studying, teaching, , instructing, conducting research, etc. Some of the specialised exchange programs may offer limited post-study work in USA.

Work Permit in USA after Study

The duration of the US work permit for international students carry depending on the type of visa. The US student visa under which students can apply for work after study includes the F-1 visa, M-1 visa and J-visa. International students must have any one of these visas in order to study in USA.

Student Visa and work in USA 2025:

Post Study Work Visa USA 2025

Based on this, the F-1 visa is the most feasible VISA if one wishes to work after study in USA because it allows a longer stay back period. One can take up post study work visa in USA for a year on this visa. The F-1 visa allows you to apply for the post study work visa USA after masters or after a bachelor's through the Optional Practical Training (OPT) visa. Hence, it can be said that the most common pathway of a USA post study work visa is OPT. We have guided the complete path on how to get work permit in USA in the below headings for a clearer understanding of OPT.

Optional Practical Training (OPT)

The OPT established by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) allows international students to stay back in the US after completing the course. There are two types of OPT, a pre-completion OPT and a post-completion OPT. A pre-completion OPT allows you to work before you complete the course while a post-completion OPT allows you to work after you complete the course.

Pre-completion OPT: You can apply for pre-completion OPT after receiving full-time enrollment at a U.S. university that has been certified by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) to enroll F-1 students. The duration of the course must be at least 12 months. With due authorization you can work part-time up to 20 hours per week during the course. It is possible to work full time during the holidays.

Post-completion OPT: Once you have completed your studies, you can apply for an OPT. OPT allows the students to work for 12 months in total after completing the course in the USA. The students can apply for OPT nine months after starting their course.

Types of OPT: Overview

When to apply for OPT?

Students often wonder when is the ideal time to get USA post study work permit. The correct timing for starting OPT application process depends on whether applying for pre-completion OPT or post-completion OPT. However, the students cannot start working till they receive Employment Authorization Document (EAD) from USCIS. The students can start working only after completing one year of studies. It is not compulsory that the students need a job offer while applying for OPT EAD. The OPT allows the students to work anywhere in the USA.

Pre-Completion OPT: The students must start the application process for OPT EAD early (as soon as completing the first nine months in the US university). The OPT takes 90 days to process the application. The students have to work closely with the International Student’s Office during the processing of the OPT EAD to avoid delays and problems.

Post-Completion OPT: Students must apply up to 90 days before the program end date. Preparation for the application such as gathering documents must be started prior to it.

Requirements for Post Study Work Visa in USA 2025

• The candidate must have a lawful F-1 visa (student visa) to undertake studies in a US university

• The candidate’s employment must be related to his course of study

• The candidate must apply for OPT before the completion of all work (research papers etc.) towards the course he/she is studying

• You must find a job within 90 days of completing your graduation

• The working hours after receiving OPT is 40 hours per week after completing the course

• The student must complete the OPT within 14 months after completing the course

• If the student is leaving the country after completing the course and before receiving the EAD and getting a job, he/she is not permitted in the country

• If the student leaves the country after completing the course, receiving the EAD and getting a job, he/she can re-enter the country by carrying a valid passport, F-1 visa and valid EAD card

How to Get Work Permit in USA?

Students must be aware of the USA PSW application process prior to starting the application. We have given detailed information on the application process of OPT in USA. Here it is:

OPT Application Process

To work after study in the USA, the candidate can proceed with the OPT application process.

• First step for the USA post study work visa, is to have your university's Designated School Officer (DSO) recommend your case for OPT.
• To be nominated, you must pass the accreditation process at your university.
• For that, submit an OPT I-20 application form to the Office of International Services. This form can be downloaded from the university website.

Note: DSO is the person who supports and manages the status of international students.

USA Work Permit after Study STEM Courses 2025

The PSW in USA is same for applicants with non-STEM degrees and STEM degrees. However, the duration of the visa differs. Students with STEM courses of study can apply for OPT extension. We have mentioned the details about that in the headings below:

What is OPT Extension?

OPT extension is for students pursuing a STEM course in USA. Students can apply for an OPT extension if they have a degree in STEM courses from a university accredited by the U.S. Department of Education and accredited by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP).

Students with an F-1 visa who belong to a non-STEM program and want to extend their OPT after graduation can use their past degrees from the US school of higher education to apply for an extension.

Work opportunities in other countries:

OPT Extension Eligibility

Students must be working under or employed by an employer enrolled in E-Verify. This serves as an evidence.

Students must have a valid Post-Completion OPT employment authorization document based on your STEM degree

When to apply for OPT Extension?

Candidates can even extend their time duration of work after study in USA through OPT extension. For STEM degrees, OPT may be requested after the DSO has entered the OPT recommendations into his SEVIS record. Applications can be submitted up to 3 months (90 days) before the end of the academic year.

After the DSO has entered the OPT recommendations into his SEVIS record, the post-completion OPT can be requested for the STEM degree. You must also apply within 30 days of entering your information. Applications can be made no later than 90 days before completing your studies and no later than 60 days after completing your studies.

How to apply for OPT Extension?

• Submit form I-765 with the required application fee with relevant information
• Submit Form I-20 (This certificate must be endorsed by DSO within the last 60 days
• Submit a copy of your STEM degree earned by a US university.

Best Public Universities in the United States 2025

We have compiled some of the top publicly owned universities in USA for the academic year 2025. Students can refer to these universities to make an informed decision. These are some of the top 10 public universities in USA.

US Public University List

• University of California, Los Angeles
• University of Michigan
• University of Washington
• University of Virginia
• University of Florida
• University of California, Santa Barbara
• University of California, San Diego
• University of Texas at Austin
• Georgia Institute of Technology
• University of North Carolina at Chapel

Jobs After Studying at the Top Public Colleges in USA 2025

Students often explore career options after completing their graduation in USA public universities. Students can refer to the below-mentioned table for some of the most popular and sought-after professions along with the expected average salaries.

Jobs after Graduating from US Top Public Universities 2025:

The University of Texas at Austin