US Visa Survival Guides
Clear, practical guides for South Asian immigrants on F1, OPT, H1B, and H4 visas — timelines, documents, and pitfalls.
Key Terms Explained
- F1 Visa
- A non-immigrant student visa for full-time international students enrolled at a SEVP-approved US university or college.
- OPT (Optional Practical Training)
- Temporary work authorization for F1 students to gain up to 12 months of practical experience in their field of study, with a 24-month STEM extension available.
- H1B Visa
- A non-immigrant work visa that lets US employers hire foreign professionals in specialty occupations, typically valid for three years and extendable to six.
- H4 Visa
- A dependent visa for the spouse and unmarried children under 21 of an H1B visa holder; certain H4 spouses qualify for work authorization (H4 EAD).
- EAD (Employment Authorization Document)
- A USCIS-issued card that proves a non-citizen is legally allowed to work in the United States for a specific period.
- C2C (Corp-to-Corp)
- A contracting arrangement where a consultant works through their own company (or a vendor) that invoices the client company, common in US tech staffing.
- SEVIS
- The Student and Exchange Visitor Information System, the US government database that tracks F1 and J1 students and their status.
- Cosigner / Guarantor
- A person who agrees to pay rent if the tenant cannot, often required when renting without US credit history.
- US Credit Score
- A number (typically 300–850) lenders and landlords use to judge creditworthiness; new immigrants usually start with no score and must build one.
- Green Card
- A Permanent Resident Card that grants the right to live and work permanently in the United States.