The OPT to H-1B path is not complicated so much as crowded with dates. Miss one and the others stop mattering. Here is the whole sequence in order.
Post-completion OPT
After graduating you get 12 months of post-completion OPT. Two numbers matter: you must apply within 60 days of your program end date, and you may not exceed 90 days of unemployment across the whole period.
The STEM extension
If your degree is on the STEM list and your employer is enrolled in E-Verify, you can add 24 months, taking you to 36 total. File before your current OPT expires, and expect to keep up formal training-plan reporting throughout.
- Unemployment allowance rises to 150 days across the full period
- Your employer must be E-Verify enrolled at the time of filing
- Reporting obligations are real, and missed reports do cause problems
The lottery
Registration typically opens in early March, with selections announced later that month. Selected petitions are filed for an October 1 start. That gap between March and October is where cap-gap becomes relevant.
Cap-gap extends your F-1 status and, in many cases, work authorisation through September 30 when a timely H-1B petition requesting an October 1 start is filed on your behalf while you are in a valid period.
Where people actually come unstuck
- 1Counting unemployment days loosely, then discovering the total is over
- 2Assuming a STEM extension is automatic when the employer is not E-Verify enrolled
- 3Not registering for the lottery because an offer felt likely and then did not close
- 4Treating cap-gap as covering a period it does not actually reach
Frequently asked questions
How many lottery attempts do I get?
One per eligible year while you hold status. Three years of OPT plus STEM usually means up to three chances.
Can I be registered by more than one employer?
Yes, provided each offer is genuine. Duplicate registrations by the same employer for the same person are not permitted.
What if I am not selected in my final year?
Common alternatives include cap-exempt employers, an O-1, a change to F-1 for further study, or moving to a role abroad with a later L-1 transfer.
Final thoughts
Put every one of these dates in a calendar the week you graduate. The people who navigate this well are not better informed, they are just working from a timeline instead of from memory.
This article is general information, not legal advice. Immigration rules change and individual cases differ. Speak to a qualified attorney about your own situation.
