International students are allowed to work in the US after they finish their degree. This is called post-completion OPT which stands for post-completion Optional Practical Training. If you want to work in the US after your graduation, you have to apply for OPT with USCIS, which is the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. You can apply for your OPT up to 90 days before your graduation. So, let’s say if you are graduating on 15th May, you can roughly apply anywhere between 15th February and 15th May. Applying early is always beneficial. 

To apply for OPT, you have to submit a few documents like: 

• I-765 form which is the OPT application form
• A copy of your passport 
• A copy of your I-20 
• Two passport size photographs
• A cheque for application processing fee etc. 

It typically takes 3 months to process your application after you’ve applied. So, for example, if you applied on 1st March, you should receive your EAD card which is an Employment Authorization Document card around 1st June. You can begin your job once you receive your EAD card. Remember that you get 60 days after graduation to start your job. So, if you are graduating on May 15th, you should start your OPT latest by July 15th. Also, remember that you can only work a job that is directly related to your major. 

You get to work for one year once you start your post-completion OPT. If your master’s degree is STEM-related, that is Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics, then you are eligible to apply for an OPT extension until 90 days before your current OPT expires. You would need to submit the OPT application again with a copy of your STEM degree to apply for this extension. Once USCIS approves your OPT extension, you get to work an additional 2 years in the United States. 

If you did not do a STEM degree but want to continue working in the US, you would have to request your employer to file an H1B work visa for you. All H1B related procedures are done by the employers so you would closely have to work with them on it. Our recommendation would be that before getting a job, you ask your employer if they usually sponsor work visas for international employees. This may help in deciding which workplace to go for.  H1B visas once approved by the USCIS grant you to work for additional 3 years in the United States. 

At UniRely, our mentors and counselors will guide you every step of the way, right from the university selection to application submission. To get more information about how to apply to universities abroad for your master’s degree, please visit our website – www.unirely.com.