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8 CFR § 214.2(f) / OPT Unemployment Rules / 90 & 150 Day Limits

OPT Unemployment Days Tracker

Track cumulative OPT unemployment days and create an educational volunteer-agreement template for qualifying initial OPT arrangements.

Track Unemployment

Awaiting Tracking Input

Select your authorization type and input your unemployed periods to map your status balance.

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How the OPT Unemployment Limits Work

Current USCIS guidance states that an F-1 student may not accrue more than 90 aggregate days of unemployment during post-completion OPT. A student approved for the 24-month STEM OPT extension may not accrue more than 150 aggregate days during the total post-completion OPT and STEM OPT periods.

The 150-day figure is therefore a cumulative total, not a new 150-day allowance that begins when STEM OPT starts. The STEM period adds 60 days to the initial 90-day allowance.

What Qualifies as Employment During Initial OPT?

Current USCIS guidance recognizes multiple forms of qualifying post-completion OPT employment. The work must be directly related to the student's major area of study and, for post-completion OPT, generally be at least 20 hours per week.

  • Paid employment can qualify.
  • Certain work-for-hire or contract arrangements can qualify.
  • Self-employment can qualify when the student is actively engaged in a degree-related business and satisfies the applicable requirements.
  • Qualifying volunteer or unpaid internship work can qualify during initial post-completion OPT when it does not violate applicable labor laws.
  • The student should maintain evidence showing dates, duties, hours and the relationship to the degree.

Why the Volunteer Agreement Is Only Supporting Evidence

There is no official SEVP volunteer-contract form that automatically makes an arrangement qualifying OPT employment. A written agreement can help document the relationship, but immigration compliance depends on the actual work performed, hours, degree relationship, dates and other applicable requirements.

The organization should be able to verify the student's actual participation. Students should also confirm that an unpaid arrangement is lawful under applicable federal and state labor rules.

STEM OPT Is More Restrictive

STEM OPT requires a qualifying employer enrolled in E-Verify, a Form I-983 training plan, at least 20 hours per week, and a bona-fide employer-employee relationship. The training opportunity must be directly related to the qualifying STEM degree.

USCIS also requires the opportunity to be commensurate with those of similarly situated U.S. workers in duties, hours and compensation. The employer must implement the formal training plan and satisfy its reporting responsibilities.

How to Use This Tracker Correctly

  1. Enter only periods that you have determined were actual unemployment periods.
  2. Do not enter the same unemployment days twice.
  3. Check that every end date is on or after its start date.
  4. Keep employment records showing when each qualifying job began and ended.
  5. Verify the final total against your SEVIS record and DSO records.
  6. If you are approaching the limit, contact your DSO before the limit is exceeded.

Important Limitation of This Calculator

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Qualifying unemployment is cumulative during the authorized post-completion OPT period. When a student is genuinely unemployed, the unemployment period is measured in calendar days, so weekends and other calendar days within that unemployment period count. The same day should not be counted twice when separate unemployment records overlap. For STEM OPT, the aggregate limit is 150 days across the total post-completion OPT and STEM OPT periods.

There is no official SEVP volunteer-contract form that students must use. A written agreement can be useful supporting evidence, but the actual arrangement must satisfy the OPT requirements. Useful records can identify the organization, duties, dates, expected hours, supervision and relationship to the student's degree, while the organization should be able to verify the work actually performed. The student should also ensure that the unpaid arrangement complies with applicable labor laws.

Unpaid volunteer work cannot be used as a substitute for the qualifying STEM OPT training relationship. STEM OPT requires qualifying employment with an E-Verify employer, a Form I-983 training plan, at least 20 hours per week, and a bona-fide employer-employee relationship. The STEM opportunity must also be commensurate with similarly situated U.S. workers in duties, hours and compensation.

OPT students must report specified changes to their DSO within the applicable reporting period. For STEM OPT, the regulations specifically require reporting changes such as legal name, residential or mailing address, employer name/address and loss of employment within 10 days, along with required six-month validation reports. The SEVP Portal can handle certain updates, while other matters require the DSO.

For post-completion OPT, qualifying employment generally must be at least 20 hours per week and directly related to the student's major area of study. SEVP recognizes several forms of qualifying employment, including paid employment, certain work-for-hire arrangements, self-employment and qualifying unpaid employment or internships. The evidence should support the actual work, hours and degree relationship.

If you are approaching the unemployment limit, first verify your SEVIS employment record and speak with your DSO. During initial OPT, qualifying employment can include certain unpaid employment or internships when the OPT requirements and labor laws are satisfied. Other immigration options, such as transferring to another SEVP-certified school or changing to another nonimmigrant status, have separate eligibility and timing requirements and can terminate OPT. Do not assume that filing for another status automatically preserves employment authorization. If you cannot maintain F-1 status, obtain individualized immigration advice promptly.

Have questions about OPT multi-period gaps, volunteer agreements, or SEVP reporting?

⬆️ Refer to FAQ Section Above
Official Government Portals

• ICE SEVP Portal Login: sevp.ice.dhs.gov
• USCIS OPT Unemployment Rules: uscis.gov/opt

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At-A-Glance
SEVP Reporting10 Days Window
Min Weekly Work20 Hours / Week
STEM VolunteerProhibited
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👉 OPT Unemployment Rules Guide →👉 90-Day Unemployment Clock Calculator →👉 F-1 OPT & STEM Master Guide →