Guide · Updated 2026

F1 to OPT to H1B: Your Complete US Career Path

Most Indian students follow the same route: enter on an F1 visa, work after graduation on OPT, extend with STEM OPT, then move to H-1B through the annual lottery, and eventually file for a green card. This guide lays out the entire F1 → OPT → H1B → green card path step by step, with the key deadlines at each stage.

Step 1: F1 student status

You enter the US on an F1 visa to study full-time at a SEVP-certified school. Maintain status by staying enrolled full-time, keeping your I-20 valid, and not working off-campus without authorization.

Step 2: OPT after graduation

OPT gives you 12 months of work authorization in your field. Apply up to 90 days before your program end date. You cannot start working until your EAD card arrives.

  • Request an OPT recommendation from your DSO.
  • File Form I-765 with USCIS.
  • Stay under 90 days of unemployment during standard OPT.

Step 3: STEM OPT extension (24 months)

If your degree is on the STEM list, you can extend OPT by 24 months, giving you up to 3 years of work authorization total. You need an E-Verify employer and an approved I-983 training plan. This extra time gives you more chances at the H-1B lottery.

Step 4: H-1B lottery and status

Your employer registers you for the H-1B cap lottery (typically March). If selected, they file the H-1B petition, and your status changes to H-1B on October 1. Cap-gap protection can bridge the gap between OPT expiry and the H-1B start date.

Step 5: Green card

On H-1B, your employer can sponsor your green card (PERM → I-140 → I-485). For Indian nationals, the EB-2/EB-3 wait can be long due to per-country limits, so start the process as early as your employer allows.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if I am not selected in the H-1B lottery?

If you still have OPT or STEM OPT time left, you keep working and try again next year. Other options include a cap-exempt H-1B (universities, nonprofits), an O-1, an L-1 via an overseas transfer, or further study on F1.

How many times can I enter the H-1B lottery?

There is no limit on how many years you can be entered, as long as you maintain valid status (OPT, STEM OPT, or another visa) each time your employer registers you.

What is cap-gap and how does it help?

Cap-gap automatically extends your F1/OPT status until the H-1B start date (October 1) if your H-1B petition is filed before your OPT expires. It prevents a work and status gap while you wait.