How to Stay in the Game: A Message for F-1 OPT and STEM OPT Job Seekers

If you’re on an F-1 visa with OPT or a STEM OPT extension, the pressure is real. You earned your degree, built your skills—and yet, the job offers may not have come.

I spoke this week with several graduating students from CSUF who are still in this exact position. One of them—a talented, hard-working individual—broke down crying on the phone. Everything was done right. But one critical detail was missed: the employer wasn’t enrolled in E-Verify. That student had to return to India. This has happened to more than one student.

Let’s make sure that doesn’t happen to you.

⚠️ Disclaimer: This is not legal advice. Always consult a qualified immigration attorney or your school’s Designated School Official (DSO) to confirm how current regulations apply to your case.

First, Get the Facts Straight

✅ OPT and STEM OPT do not require visa sponsorship Employers do not need to file an H-1B or pay for immigration attorneys. OPT and STEM OPT are benefits of your F-1 status. You can work without needing a change of visa.

✅ Employer Requirements

For Regular OPT (first 12 months):

• Paid employment

• Directly related to your degree

• E-Verify is not required

  
  

For STEM OPT Extension (24 additional months):

• Employer must be enrolled in E-Verify

• Form I-983 (training plan) must be completed and signed by both you and the employer

• Job must be:

  • Paid

  • At least 20 hours per week

  • On W-2 payroll (1099 or contractor roles do not qualify)

  • Supervised by the employer directly (no staffing without day-to-day oversight)

🚫 Not eligible under STEM OPT:

• Self-employment

• Independent contracting (1099 roles)

• Employment through staffing agencies unless there is a bona fide employer-employee relationship and you are supervised directly by the company listed on your I-983

This means that direct supervision is not optional—it is required by DHS. You must be working under the oversight of the employer who signs the I-983.

✅ You can change jobsYou’re not locked in. You may change employers on OPT or STEM OPT as long as each new employer meets the qualifications. A new I-983 must be submitted for each STEM job.

✅ You are allowed up to:

• 90 days of unemployment during OPT

• An additional 60 days during STEM OPTExceeding these limits will result in loss of F-1 status and a requirement to leave the U.S.

  
  

✅ STEM OPT takes time to processEven after getting an offer, the process involves:

• The employer completing the I-983

• The university issuing a new I-20

• USCIS processing your applicationYou should plan for 4–6 weeks of lead time before you can legally start under STEM OPT.

  
  

13 Strategic Steps to Keep Your Status and Career on Track

1. Explain your work eligibility clearly Say: “I’m on OPT and authorized to work in the U.S. for up to 3 years through the STEM extension. No sponsorship is required.”

2. Ask about E-Verify early Some employers won’t be enrolled, and others may not be willing to sign the I-983. Ask directly.

3. You can change employers—it’s okay if it’s not perfect Just make sure every job meets the criteria, and submit a new I-983 in advance of the switch.

4. Go where the jobs are Cities with dense tech industries often have more E-Verified employers and prior experience hiring F-1 OPT talent.

5. Adjust expectations as deadlines approach A qualifying job is better than a perfect one that never materializes. You can always change roles later.

6. Pitch yourself to small businesses A junior engineer for 20 hours/week on W-2 payroll isn’t a big expense. Help small businesses understand it’s low-risk if they’re E-Verified.

7. Create a one-page guide for employers Include:

   1. What STEM OPT is

   2. That no visa sponsorship is required

   3. That they must enroll in E-Verify (with a link to enroll)

   4. That employment must be on W-2

   5. That they must complete and sign Form I-983

8. Use “internship” framing if helpful You’re not misleading anyone, but calling it a “paid long-term internship” can reduce hesitation from small or unfamiliar employers.

9. Leverage your university network Some companies are already familiar with CSUF and have hired international students before.

10. Look beyond Big Tech Logistics companies, healthcare systems, public-sector vendors, and staffing or consulting firms (with proper supervision) may be open to hiring. Some are E-Verified—you just need to ask.

11. Explore less traditional roles Think: QA tester at a manufacturing firm, data analyst at a mid-sized retailer. If the role matches your degree and responsibilities align, it qualifies.

12. Have two backup plans Know a small business or trusted contact willing to hire you part-time under W-2? Line it up early. It may save your status if Plan A falls through.

13. Don’t rely on verbal offers Until you have:

    1. A signed job offer

    2. E-Verify confirmation

    3. I-983 submitted and accepted…it’s not official. Keep applying.

You’ve already done the hard part. You earned your degree. But this next step isn’t about academics—it’s about clarity, timing, and persistence.

A few of my students had to leave—not because they weren’t qualified, but because they didn’t fully understand how the process works.

I hope these tips help some of you avoid the same outcome.