Job Search on OPT in 2026: The 90-Day Clock, STEM OPT and the New H-1B Lottery

If you are an international student in the US, your job search runs on a clock. This guide covers the rules that shape it in 2026 and a search plan that respects them. It is general information, not legal advice: your school's DSO and an immigration attorney have the final word on your case.

The OPT unemployment clock

On post-completion OPT you can be unemployed for up to 90 days in total during the 12-month OPT period. The count starts on the start date printed on your EAD card, not on your graduation day, so a job offer you can't start until later still leaves the clock running. If you get the 24-month STEM OPT extension, you get 60 more days, for 150 days in total across OPT and STEM OPT.

What counts as employment on regular OPT is broad: paid or unpaid work of at least 20 hours a week that is directly related to your degree. Report every job, and every gap, to your DSO or in the SEVP Portal within the deadlines your school gives you.

STEM OPT needs an E-Verify employer

The STEM OPT extension is only available if your job is with an employer enrolled in E-Verify, the job is paid, it is at least 20 hours a week, and you and your employer complete the Form I-983 training plan. Before you accept an offer you plan to extend into STEM OPT, ask HR one direct question: "Is the company enrolled in E-Verify?" Official details are on Study in the States.

What changed for H-1B in 2026

Two changes matter to new grads:

• The lottery is no longer purely random. A DHS final rule published in December 2025 replaced it with a wage-weighted selection: each registration gets one to four entries depending on the wage level of the offered salary for that job and location. It applied from the FY 2027 registration in March 2026. Many first jobs are paid at wage level I, which gets one entry, so salary now affects your odds. The rule is in the Federal Register.
• The $100,000 fee. A September 2025 proclamation added a $100,000 payment for certain new H-1B petitions. USCIS guidance says it does not apply to petitions that change the status of someone already in the US, such as an F-1 student on OPT moving to H-1B. Rules here have changed several times and are being challenged in court, so check USCIS for the current position before you rely on it.

The practical takeaway: STEM OPT's three years give you up to three lottery attempts, and employers that already sponsor are more likely to register you.

Which employers hire students on OPT

There is no official list. Clues that an employer is used to hiring international graduates:

• The posting says sponsorship is available, or names OPT, CPT or STEM OPT as welcome
• The company is a large tech firm, consultancy, bank or research university with an established immigration team
• It filed H-1B petitions for similar roles before (public Labor Condition Application data shows this)

Be careful with the reverse too. Many posts state that the employer will not sponsor now or in the future. Read the last paragraphs of every job description before you apply: that is where this line usually sits.

A search plan for a 90-day clock

1. Start before the clock does. You can file for OPT up to 90 days before your program ends. Apply to jobs during your last semester, not after.
2. Front-load volume, then narrow. Spend the first weeks on roles that match your degree closely, at employers likely to support STEM OPT.
3. Apply in the first 48 hours. Entry-level posts collect most applicants in the first days. FirstHire collects new entry-level jobs from LinkedIn and company career sites within minutes, including new grad software engineer jobs and entry-level data analyst jobs.
4. Use bridging work wisely. A part-time research role or a degree-related internship can count as OPT employment and stop the unemployment clock. Confirm with your DSO first.
5. Keep records. Offer letters, start dates and job descriptions are what you'll need for STEM OPT and H-1B later.

FAQ

How many unemployment days do I get on OPT?

Up to 90 days in total during the 12-month post-completion OPT period. The STEM OPT extension adds 60 days, for a total of 150 days across OPT and STEM OPT.

Does the $100,000 H-1B fee apply to F-1 students on OPT?

USCIS guidance says the fee applies to certain new petitions for people outside the US and does not apply to a change of status for someone already in the US, such as F-1 to H-1B. Because the rules have changed and face legal challenges, check USCIS's current guidance or ask an immigration attorney.

Can I work for any employer on STEM OPT?

No. The employer must be enrolled in E-Verify, the job must be paid, at least 20 hours a week and related to your STEM degree, and you and your employer must complete Form I-983.