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8 CFR § 214.2(f)(10)(ii)(E) / SEVP Portal 10-Day Rule

OPT 90-Day Unemployment Calculator

Track your cumulative unemployment days under SEVP regulations, ensure compliance before SEVIS termination, and calculate remaining days.

Unemployment Days Calculator

OPT Employment Rules Summary

OPT PhaseMax Unemployment DaysQualifying Employment Types
Initial 12-Month OPT90 Days CumulativePaid employment, qualifying self-employment, qualifying contract/work-for-hire, or qualifying unpaid employment/volunteer work of at least 20 hours per week.
24-Month STEM OPT150 Days Cumulative (90 + 60)Qualifying STEM employment of at least 20 hours/week with an E-Verify employer and an approved Form I-983 training plan.
SEVP 10-Day RuleMandatory ReportingRequired personal and employment changes must be reported through the appropriate SEVP Portal/DSO process within the applicable 10-day period.

How the 90-Day and 150-Day OPT Calculation Works

Initial post-completion OPT generally allows up to 90 cumulative calendar days of unemployment. A student who receives the 24-month STEM OPT extension receives an additional 60 days, creating a cumulative maximum of 150 days across the initial OPT and STEM OPT periods.

This calculator uses the cumulative number of unemployment days you enter. It does not independently determine whether a particular period qualifies as unemployment, so the accuracy of the result depends on the employment dates and SEVIS information entered.

What Counts as a Day of Unemployment?

Under SEVP guidance, a day during the authorized OPT period when the student does not have qualifying employment can count as unemployment. Once a qualifying employment relationship exists, ordinary non-working days such as weekends do not automatically become unemployment simply because the employee is not scheduled to work that day.

Travel outside the United States can also interact with the unemployment calculation. SEVP guidance provides exceptions for authorized employer leave and travel connected to employment. Students should therefore distinguish ordinary travel from travel that occurs while maintaining qualifying employment.

Qualifying Initial OPT Employment

Initial post-completion OPT employment must be directly related to the student's degree. SEVP guidance recognizes several forms of qualifying work, including paid employment, work-for-hire/contract work, multiple employers, qualifying self-employment and qualifying unpaid employment or internships.

  • Post-completion OPT employment generally must average at least 20 hours per week.
  • Self-employed students must be actively engaged in a degree-related business and be able to document the activity.
  • 1099/work-for-hire arrangements can qualify when the required evidence is maintained.
  • Unpaid employment or internships must comply with applicable labor laws and the OPT requirements.

STEM OPT Has Additional Employer Requirements

STEM OPT is more restrictive than initial OPT. The student must have qualifying training with an E-Verify employer, work at least 20 hours per week, and maintain the required Form I-983 training plan.

The STEM employer must have a bona-fide employer-employee relationship with the student. Students should not treat an ordinary personal LLC, volunteer arrangement or informal consulting relationship as automatically qualifying STEM employment.

How to Use This Calculator

  1. Select whether you are using the initial OPT 90-day limit or the cumulative 150-day OPT + STEM limit.
  2. Enter the number of unemployment days already recorded for your OPT period.
  3. The calculator subtracts that number from the applicable cumulative maximum.
  4. Use your SEVIS/DSO records to verify the unemployment figure before relying on the result.
  5. If you are close to the limit, contact your DSO promptly rather than waiting until the limit expires.

Important Limitation

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Under 8 CFR § 214.2(f)(10)(ii)(E), F-1 students on initial 12-month post-completion OPT receive a maximum allowance of 90 cumulative days of unemployment. Students granted a 24-month STEM OPT extension receive an additional 60 days, raising their cumulative limit to 150 days.

Exceeding the permitted unemployment limit is a serious F-1 status violation and can lead to termination of the SEVIS record and loss of status. It should not be described as an automatic same-day SEVIS termination in every case; the student's actual SEVIS record and circumstances should be confirmed with the DSO.

Yes, qualifying unpaid employment or volunteer/intern work can count during initial post-completion OPT when it is directly related to the student's degree, is at least 20 hours per week, and complies with applicable labor laws. Self-employment can also qualify when the student is actively engaged in a degree-related business and satisfies the applicable requirements. Merely forming an LLC does not stop the unemployment clock.

Unpaid volunteer work cannot substitute for the qualifying STEM OPT employer relationship. STEM OPT requires a qualifying employer enrolled in E-Verify, a completed Form I-983, at least 20 hours of training per week, and a bona-fide employer-employee relationship. The STEM training terms, including compensation, must satisfy the applicable STEM OPT requirements.

OPT students have specific reporting obligations for changes such as address and employment information. Certain updates can be made through the SEVP Portal, while others require the DSO. Students should make required reports within the applicable 10-day period and contact the DSO if the Portal does not support the particular change.

The permitted unemployment is cumulative across the initial post-completion OPT and the STEM OPT extension. For example, if a student used 40 days during initial OPT, the student's cumulative allowance is 150 days, leaving 110 days of permitted unemployment after accounting for those 40 days. The additional STEM allowance is 60 days, not a new 150-day period.

Have questions about initial 90-day OPT limits, STEM 150-day limits, or Form I-983?

⬆️ Refer to FAQ Section Above
Official U.S. Government References

• ICE SEVP OPT Policy Guidance: ice.gov/sevis/employment
• USCIS Optional Practical Training Rules: uscis.gov/opt

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