STEM OPT & H1-B Timeline Predictor

Charts the legal timeline for international graduates to start work authorization.

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Timeline Generator Ready

Select your program end date and degree type on the left to plot your F-1 OPT and H1-B roadmap.

How It Works

Standard & STEM OPT Duration

Post-Completion Optional Practical Training (OPT) allows eligible F-1 students who have completed their degree to receive up to 12 months of employment authorization.

Students who receive a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics) designated degree are eligible to apply for a 24-month extension of their initial post-completion OPT, granting a total of 36 months of work authorization.

• Earliest Filing: 90 days prior to program end date
• Latest Filing: 60 days after program end date
• Requested Start: Must fall within the 60-day grace period

H-1B Cap Seasons & Cap-Gap Extension

The H-1B specialty occupation visa uses a lottery registration window typically held every year in March. If selected, petitions are officially filed starting April 1st, with employment starting October 1st of that calendar year.

Cap-Gap Extension: If a timely H-1B change-of-status petition is filed on your behalf before your active OPT/EAD expires, your work authorization and legal stay are automatically extended until April 1 of the relevant fiscal year, or the H-1B validity start date if earlier, to bridge the gap until the H-1B kicks in.

• March: Annual H-1B Cap Registration opens
• April 1: Earliest petition filing date
• Oct 1: Earliest H-1B activation
• April 1: Cap-Gap expiration (or H-1B start date, if earlier)

Authoritative Regulatory Sources

For official guidance regarding filing dates and extensions, refer directly to primary U.S. government websites:

USCIS: Optional Practical Training (OPT) for F-1 Students ↗ DHS: STEM OPT Hub ↗

Disclaimer: This calculator provides chronological estimations based on user inputs and current USCIS timelines. Always verify final submission deadlines and eligibility requirements with your institution's Designated School Official (DSO).