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International students: visas and job search

For F-1 students in the US, and students abroad aiming at US, UK, Canada or Germany roles. Use it to pick your work authorization, fill in your visa calendar, check sponsors, and answer the sponsorship questions truthfully.

Disclaimer: This page is general information, not legal advice. Immigration rules changed many times in 2025 and 2026, and several are in active litigation. Confirm your situation with your school's international student office (your DSO), and with a licensed immigration attorney for anything involving H-1B, O-1 or a green card. Facts are as of October 4, 2026.

I was not selected in the H-1B lottery this year, so this is not theory for me (post). Plan for the lottery, and start a plan B from day one.

Status snapshot (as of Oct 4, 2026)

Item Status today Source
F-1 duration of status (D/S) Still in effect. A rule replacing it was published July 17, 2026 but blocked by a nationwide court order on Sept 14, 2026. The government appealed on Sept 30 USCIS I-539 page, litigation tracker
CPT Narrowed in August 2026: only when practical training is required for all students in your program SEVP BCM 2608-02
OPT and STEM OPT Rules unchanged: 12 months, plus 24 for STEM. A proposed "OPT fees" rule cleared White House review but is not published USCIS OPT, Fragomen
H-1B $100,000 payment Not being collected because of court orders. It never applied to an approved F-1 to H-1B change of status inside the US USCIS H-1B page
Proposed $103,265 H-1B fee Proposed only (Aug 25, 2026). Would cover F-1 to H-1B change of status if finalized Federal Register
Wage-weighted H-1B lottery In effect since Feb 27, 2026. Used for the March 2026 lottery Final rule
H-1B 60-day grace period after job loss Still exists. DHS proposed removing it (comments close Nov 10, 2026) Federal Register
Visa interviews Social media must be public. Interview in your country of nationality or residence. Most interview waivers ended State Dept, UW ISS

Your work authorization path

Stage Authorization How long The limit that bites
During school, on campus On-campus job (TA, RA, campus roles) While enrolled 20 hours a week while school is in session. Jugal funded his UIUC master's through a TA-ship (post)
Internship during your degree CPT, or pre-completion OPT Per internship CPT now needs a program where training is required for everyone. Pre-completion OPT uses up post-completion OPT
After graduation Post-completion OPT 12 months per degree level 90 days of unemployment allowed in total
STEM degree STEM OPT extension 24 more months (up to 36 total) Employer must use E-Verify. 150 unemployment days in total
Long term H-1B (lottery), O-1, L-1, cap-exempt H-1B, green card Varies H-1B is a lottery. Up to 3 tries on STEM OPT
Between H-1B selection and Oct 1 Cap-gap Until April 1 or your H-1B start date, whichever is earlier Only if your employer filed a change of status on time

Video walkthrough from Jugal for international candidates: How to land your dream job in USA 2025 (Jugal Bhatt with Yudi J).

From Jugal's U.S. visa guide and Study in the States:

  • Stay enrolled full time every term. If you cannot, talk to your DSO first.
  • Work off campus only with CPT or OPT authorization in hand. Unauthorized work can end your status.
  • Keep your passport valid at all times.
  • Tell your DSO about any change of address, major or program. Address changes are due within 10 days.

D/S rule: what changed and what did not

Date Event
July 17, 2026 DHS publishes a final rule replacing "duration of status" with fixed admission periods, effective Sept 15
Sept 14, 2026 A federal court in Massachusetts blocks it nationwide (Presidents' Alliance v. DHS)
Sept 30, 2026 The government appeals to the First Circuit. The appeal does not put the rule into effect
Oct 9, 2026 (due) Both sides file positions on next steps, as ordered at an Oct 2 status conference

While the order stands, USCIS says it "will proceed under the previous regulatory provisions" (I-539 page).

Jugal's breakdown of the rule and who it hits hardest: Super Big Immigration News: The F-1 Duration of Status Era Is Over. Two updates to that post: the rule is now blocked, and its "$1,780" figure is the OPT premium processing fee, not the base I-765 fee ($470 online).

If the rule is ever revived, it would:

  • Admit F-1 students for the program length on the I-20, capped at 4 years, plus a 30-day departure period.
  • Cut the grace period after your program or OPT ends from 60 days to 30.
  • Require OPT applications within 30 days after your program ends (instead of 60).
  • Require Form I-539 extensions through USCIS, with a fee and possible biometrics.
  • Limit transfers and program changes, especially in the first year.

Watch out: since Sept 15, 2026 the "current" view of the federal regulations (eCFR) shows the blocked rule's text, such as a 30-day OPT deadline. That text is not in force: the rules in force use 60 days. Read the Sept 14, 2026 version of 8 CFR 214.2 or the USCIS pages instead.

Do this week:

  • Email your DSO and ask for your SEVIS program end date in writing.
  • Put three dates in your calendar: program end date, grace period end, and the 4-year mark from Sept 15, 2026 (in case the rule returns).
  • Check the litigation tracker once a month and before any international travel.
  • If you will file for OPT, file on time. Timely filed applications had the strongest protection under the rule as written.

Plain-English summaries: Jackson Lewis: D/S blocked, CPT limits remain, Ogletree on the injunction.

CPT (curricular practical training)

Many F-1 students have used CPT for summer internships. It changed in August 2026.

The rules:

  1. CPT must be "an integral part of an established curriculum" (8 CFR 214.2(f)(10)(i)).
  2. You need one full academic year of full-time enrollment first. The exception is a graduate program that requires CPT immediately.
  3. Your DSO authorizes it for one employer and specific dates. Do not start work before the CPT start date on your I-20 (Study in the States).
  4. Part-time CPT is 20 hours a week or less. Full-time is more than 20.
  5. 12 months of full-time CPT wipes out your OPT at that degree level.

What changed (August 2026):

  • SEVP told DSOs to authorize CPT only "if the work associated with CPT is required for all students pursuing that degree" (BCM 2608-01).
  • CPT tied to an optional elective course no longer qualifies (BCM 2608-02).
  • Schools responded within days: USC stopped elective-based CPT, UW paused new CPT that is not required for all students, and Brown approves only CPT required for everyone in the program. Existing authorizations stand on their I-20 terms.
  • The guidance also limits "Day 1 CPT" programs, per Jackson Lewis.

Your plan for a Summer 2027 internship:

  1. Email your DSO now (template below).
  2. If your program requires an internship for everyone: CPT still works. Get the offer, request CPT, wait for the I-20 update.
  3. If not, plan on pre-completion OPT. File up to 90 days before you complete your first full academic year, with a start date after that year ($470 online).
  4. Budget processing time. Premium processing for OPT is $1,780 extra for a 30-business-day decision (USCIS premium processing).
  5. Check the one-academic-year rule against your start date. Fall starters usually meet it by the next summer. January starters usually do not: target on-campus work or research that first summer, and apply for the next one.
  6. Tell the recruiter early which authorization you will use (scripts below).
Subject: Summer 2027 internship: CPT or pre-completion OPT?

Hi [DSO name],

I am an F-1 student in [program, e.g., M.S. Computer Science], SEVIS ID [N00...], started [month year].
I am interviewing for Summer 2027 software engineering internships (expected dates [May 26 to Aug 15, 2027]).

Given SEVP Broadcast Messages 2608-01 and 2608-02 (August 2026), could you confirm:
1. Does my program have a practical training requirement that applies to all students, so CPT is available?
2. If not, should I plan for full-time pre-completion OPT, and when is the earliest date I can request your recommendation?
3. How much of my 12 months of OPT would a [12]-week full-time summer use?

Thank you,
[Name]
[Student ID]

OPT (optional practical training)

Rule (as of Oct 2026) Detail
Length Up to 12 months per higher education level (for example 12 for a bachelor's and another 12 for a master's)
Pre-completion OPT Up to 20 hours a week in session, full time in breaks. It is deducted from post-completion OPT. Part-time is deducted at 50% (USCIS OPT)
Filing window, post-completion From 90 days before your program end date to 60 days after it, and within 30 days of your DSO's recommendation
Finish line All OPT must be completed within 14 months after your program ends (STEM OPT is separate)
Unemployment No more than 90 days in total. SEVIS counts every day without employer information as unemployed (unemployment counter)
Job requirement At least 20 hours a week, directly related to your degree
Reporting Report your employer and address in the SEVP Portal within 10 days
Fees Form I-765: $470 online, $520 paper. Optional premium processing: $1,780 for a 30-business-day decision (fee schedule G-1055)
Travel Carry your EAD card plus an I-20 with a DSO travel signature from the last 6 months

Example for a May 15, 2027 program end date:

Date What happens
Early February 2027 Ask your DSO for the OPT recommendation (1 to 2 weeks before you plan to file)
Feb 14, 2027 Earliest day to file Form I-765 (90 days before)
Within 30 days of the DSO recommendation File online at USCIS I-765. Post-completion category (c)(3)(B)
July 14, 2027 Last day to file, and the latest OPT start date you can request (60 days after)
EAD start date The 90-day unemployment clock starts. Report your employer as soon as you start

December 18, 2026 graduates: your window runs Sept 19, 2026 to Feb 16, 2027.

STEM OPT extension

  1. Check your degree. Find the CIP code on your I-20 and confirm it is on the STEM Designated Degree Program List. Computer Science (11.0101) is on it.
  2. Check your employer. Search the E-Verify employer list before you accept an offer. No E-Verify enrollment means no STEM OPT at that job.
  3. About 120 days before your OPT card expires, fill out Form I-983 (training plan) with your manager.
  4. From 90 days before expiry, get your DSO's STEM recommendation and file the I-765 within 60 days of it, before your OPT card expires (USCIS STEM OPT).
  5. If it is still pending when OPT ends, a timely filed application gives you 180 days of automatic work authorization.
  6. While on STEM OPT: report changes within 10 days, submit a validation report every 6 months, and complete the I-983 self-evaluations. You get 150 unemployment days in total across OPT and STEM OPT.
  7. Use the 3 years well. That is up to 3 H-1B lottery attempts.

Official hub: STEM OPT Hub.

H-1B: lottery, weighted selection, and fees

How the lottery works

  • Cap: 65,000 regular H-1Bs plus 20,000 for people with a US master's or higher (USCIS cap season).
  • Registration: your employer registers you online in March for $215 (FY2027 fee). Only selected registrations can file a petition.
  • FY2027 season: registration ran March 4 to 19, 2026, selections went out by March 31, and petitions were filed from April 1 for an Oct 1, 2026 start. FY2028 dates (March 2027) are not announced yet.
  • Your employer files, not you. Universities and some research nonprofits are cap-exempt and skip the lottery.
Fiscal year Eligible registrations Selected
FY2024 758,994 188,400
FY2025 470,342 135,137
FY2026 343,981 120,141 (about 35%)
FY2027 Not yet published by USCIS Cap reached, including the master's cap

Source: USCIS registration page.

Weighted selection (in effect since Feb 27, 2026)

Each person is entered by the highest wage level their offered salary meets for the job's occupation code and work location: level IV gets 4 entries, III gets 3, II gets 2, I gets 1. Each person still counts once.

Wage level Entries DHS projected chance of selection
I 1 15.29%
II 2 30.58%
III 3 45.87%
IV 4 61.16%
(old random lottery, for comparison) 29.59%

These are DHS projections from the final rule, not measured results. In the first weighted lottery (FY2027), level I was about 17.8% of selections and levels III and IV about 46.3%. Registrations for people with at least a US master's rose from 45.1% to 66.1% (Proclamation 11069).

Find your own wage level:

  1. Open the FLAG wage search.
  2. Search the occupation code your employer will use. Software developers are usually SOC 15-1252.
  3. Enter the work location (county or metro area).
  4. Compare your base salary to levels I to IV.
  5. Ask HR which level and location your registration will use. If a role lists several work locations, the lowest level applies, so a "remote, any US location" role can register lower than a San Francisco role.

Tip: do not guess from national numbers. DHS's FY2024 medians for computer and math H-1B workers were $89,253 (level I) to $163,257 (level IV), but levels are set per occupation and county.

The $100,000 payment

Date Event Status
Sept 19 to 21, 2025 Proclamation 10973 requires $100,000 for certain new H-1B petitions Applied to petitions for people outside the US without a valid H-1B visa, and to consular or port-of-entry notification requests
Dec 23, 2025 A D.C. court upheld the proclamation (Chamber of Commerce v. DHS) On appeal
June 8, 2026 A Massachusetts court vacated the agency guidance (State of California v. Mullin) In force. The First Circuit refused a stay on July 24, 2026
Sept 18, 2026 Proclamation 11069 extends the restriction to Sept 21, 2027 Signed
Sept 30, 2026 A California court order (Global Nurse Force v. Trump) blocks enforcement under both proclamations In force

What this means for you as of Oct 4, 2026:

  • The payment is not being collected (Yale OISS, Ogletree).
  • Even when it applied, it did not cover a change of status granted inside the US, such as F-1 OPT to H-1B (USCIS).
  • The catch: if the change of status is denied, for example because you left the US before it was decided, the payment applies. Do not travel while your change of status is pending.
  • DHS says it "still plans to collect the payment" if the court order is lifted. Check the USCIS H-1B page before any H-1B decision.

Other H-1B proposals to watch

Proposal What it would do Status (Oct 4, 2026)
$103,265 fee (NPRM) A fee on every cap-subject H-1B petition, including F-1 to H-1B change of status. Cap-exempt employers excluded Proposed. Comments closed Sept 24, 2026. If final before March 2027, employers may register fewer new grads
End the 60-day grace period (NPRM) Removes the up-to-60-day window H-1B holders get after a job ends Proposed. Comments close Nov 10, 2026
Layoff review (EO 14431) Agencies weigh whether the employer had layoffs in the past year or plans them Signed Sept 18, 2026
Higher prevailing wages (DOL NPRM) Raises the wage levels Proposed March 2026, not final

Cap-gap

If you are selected and your employer files a change of status on time, your F-1 status and OPT work authorization extend until April 1 of the fiscal year the H-1B is for, or your H-1B start date, whichever is earlier. Ask your DSO for an updated I-20 showing cap-gap (USCIS cap-gap).

What an H-1B costs your employer (as of Oct 2026)

Useful when a recruiter asks if sponsoring you is a big deal. Not a complete list.

Item Amount
Lottery registration $215
Form I-129 petition $730 online, $780 paper ($460 for small employers and nonprofits)
Asylum Program Fee $600 ($300 small employers, $0 nonprofits)
Fraud Prevention and Detection Fee $500 for initial petitions
Premium processing (optional) $2,965
$100,000 payment Not collected, and never for an approved in-country change of status

Source: USCIS fee schedule G-1055. Fees change, so check it the week you need it.

Check if a company sponsors

Jugal once spent 3 hours tailoring an application and got a referral. Two weeks later the recruiter wrote: "Unfortunately, we do not sponsor visas at this time." His rule since then: always check sponsorship first (How to Check if a Company Sponsors H-1B Visas).

Do this before you tailor anything (5 minutes):

  1. Open the USCIS H-1B Employer Data Hub.
  2. Pick the latest full fiscal year (FY2025), then FY2026 to date.
  3. Type the employer name. Try variants, because one company can have several legal entities and rows (for example "Amazon.com Services" and "Amazon Web Services").
  4. Read "New Employment Approval". It counts new H-1B workers, including F-1 and OPT students starting their first H-1B, while "Change of Employer Approval" counts transfers (column guide).
  5. Read the count. Dozens of new-employment approvals a year means they sponsor routinely. Zero across 3 years means assume no and ask the recruiter (new or small companies may have no history at all).
  6. Check that they sponsor your kind of role. Search the company on MyVisaJobs or h1bdata.info for "Software Engineer" filings, since senior-only filings are a weaker signal for new grads.
  7. STEM students: confirm the company is in E-Verify.
  8. Ctrl+F the job post for "sponsor", "export control", "US person", "citizen", "ITAR", "clearance". Jugal's line: "Thirty seconds of Ctrl+F saves you three weeks" (post).
  9. Note recent layoffs as a risk factor (EO 14431), not a deal breaker.
  10. Log the result in your tracker.

Checking 40 companies at once? Download a year from the Data Hub bulk files (archive covers FY2009 to FY2023), open it in a spreadsheet, and filter for your target list in one pass. Use the live hub above for FY2025 and FY2026.

The largest sponsors of new H-1B workers in FY2025 (initial employment approvals, selected tech and finance rows from the NFAP analysis of USCIS data):

Company Approvals Company Approvals
Amazon 4,644 Nvidia 563
Meta 1,555 JPMorgan Chase 553
Microsoft 1,394 IBM 501
Google 1,050 Oracle 482
Apple 823 Walmart 478
Goldman Sachs 746 ByteDance / TikTok 449 / 412
Intel 635 Tesla 319

FY2025 totals: 114,806 initial employment approvals across 28,277 employers, 61% of which had a single approval. The initial-employment denial rate was 2.8%. Once you hold an H-1B, a new job is a transfer, not a new lottery entry: 68,167 change-of-employer petitions were approved in FY2025.

Roles that usually do not work on F-1:

  • Defense and aerospace roles under export control. Jugal names SpaceX, Anduril, RTX, Northrop Grumman and most Palantir defense roles. SpaceX's posting, for example, requires a US citizen, green card holder, refugee or asylee, or someone eligible for export authorization from the State Department (posting).
  • Programs that state no sponsorship, such as the Anthropic Fellows Program and Claude Corps. Claude Corps also rules out F-1 CPT, OPT and STEM OPT. Jugal's June 2026 post said OPT might qualify, but Anthropic's eligibility page now says it does not.

Watch out: the "no sponsorship" symbols on the Simplify job lists are rare. A missing symbol does not mean the role sponsors. Some job posts state it in plain words, for example: no "H-1B, TN, O-1, green card, or F-1-related status such as EAD, OPT, CPT".

Add these columns to your tracker:

Sponsors H-1B (New Employment approvals, last FY) | E-Verify (Y/N) | Citizenship or ITAR only (Y/N) | Authorization I will use (CPT / OPT / STEM OPT) | Asked recruiter (date, answer)

How to answer the sponsorship question

Most forms ask two questions. Answer both truthfully. A false "No" to get past a filter is a misrepresentation that can cost you the offer later.

  1. "Are you legally authorized to work in the United States?" Pick an option like "Yes, with OPT/CPT" if the form offers one. If it is a plain Yes/No and you will hold valid CPT or OPT for the job dates, follow your school's guidance and explain in the comment box. Never claim citizenship or permanent residency.
  2. "Will you now or in the future require sponsorship (e.g., H-1B)?" On F-1, OPT or STEM OPT the truthful answer is almost always "Yes", because you will need H-1B or similar after OPT ends.
  3. Use the comment box or the recruiter call for detail: dates, OPT length, STEM eligibility, and that there is no filing needed to start.
  4. Expect auto-rejections from employers that do not sponsor. That is why the sponsorship check comes first.

Form answers:

Q: Are you legally authorized to work in the United States?
A: Choose the option that mentions OPT or CPT if offered. If only Yes/No, follow your school's guidance and add:
"I am an F-1 student and will be authorized to work through [CPT / OPT] for this role. With the STEM OPT extension, my work authorization can run up to 3 years after graduation."

Q: Will you now or in the future require sponsorship for employment visa status (e.g., H-1B)?
A: Yes.
Comment: "I will not need sponsorship to start. I am eligible for [12 months OPT + 24 months STEM OPT]. I would need H-1B sponsorship to continue after that."

On the first recruiter call, say it once, early, so there are no surprises:

"Quick note on work authorization so there are no surprises. I'm on an F-1 visa. For this [internship / full-time role] I'll work on [CPT / OPT], so there's no filing for you to start. My degree is STEM-designated, so with the STEM OPT extension I can work up to 3 years after graduation, which gives up to three H-1B lottery attempts. For STEM OPT you'd need to be in E-Verify. Long term I would need H-1B sponsorship. Does the team sponsor for this role?"

Internship version (adapted from Interstride):

"I'm authorized to work for this internship full-time over the summer [via CPT / pre-completion OPT], and part-time, under 20 hours a week, during the semester if needed."

After you accept a full-time offer:

Subject: [Your name] offer: H-1B registration question

Hi [Recruiter],

Thank you again for the offer. I'm on F-1 and will start on OPT [with STEM OPT eligibility through Month Year].
Two questions so I can plan:
1. Will [Company] register me in the March [year] H-1B lottery?
2. Which wage level and work location will the registration use? Under the weighted selection rule, that sets how many entries I get.

Happy to fill out any immigration intake forms early.

Best,
[Name]

Watch out: some guides suggest telling employers there is "no need for sponsorship" on STEM OPT. That is only true for the OPT period. Say "no sponsorship needed to start".

Resume and LinkedIn for international students

  1. Use the US format for US roles: one page, no photo, no age, no personal details (Jugal's country guide, Resume templates).
  2. Leave visa status off the resume by default, because the application form asks. Add one line only when applying from abroad or to a company you know screens hard (template below).
  3. Put your current US city in the header if you are in the US.
  4. Write the exact degree and graduation month, which recruiters use to work out your OPT timing. If your degree is STEM-designated, "M.S. Computer Science (STEM)" makes the 3-year runway visible.
  5. Never write "US Citizen", "Green Card" or "No sponsorship required" unless it is true.
  6. On LinkedIn, an optional About line works: "F-1 STEM OPT eligible, authorized to work through [Month Year]".
Default header (in the US):
[Full Name] | [City, ST] | [email] | [phone] | linkedin.com/in/[handle] | github.com/[handle]

Optional, only from abroad or for strict screeners:
Work authorization: F-1 OPT from [Month Year]; STEM OPT eligible through [Month Year]

Education line:
M.S. Computer Science (STEM-designated), [University], Expected May 2027

Warm introductions matter more for you than for anyone else. Jugal: "Your job search clock is shorter than everyone else's, and a warm intro is the fastest way to buy back time" (post). Start with Outreach.

Visa stamping and travel (2026 rules)

  • Set every social media profile to public. Required for F, M and J applicants since June 18, 2025, and for H-1B and H-4 since Dec 15, 2025. List every handle from the last 5 years on the DS-160.
  • Book your interview in your country of nationality or residence. Third-country stamping is no longer encouraged (since Sept 6, 2025, UW ISS).
  • Plan for an in-person interview even for a renewal. Most interview waivers ended Sept 2, 2025 (UW ISS).
  • Check the travel ban list. Proclamation 10998 (from Jan 1, 2026) fully or partly suspends visas, including F, M and J, for some countries, among them Nigeria (India is not on the list). If you are affected, talk to your DSO before any travel (Federal Register).
  • Carry: passport, I-20 with a recent DSO travel signature (within 6 months on OPT), EAD if on OPT, an employment letter, transcripts.
  • Do not leave the US while an H-1B change of status is pending.
  • New F-1 students: pay the SEVIS I-901 fee ($350) before the visa interview (ICE).

Jugal's full walkthrough for Indian students: Step-by-Step Guide: Applying for a U.S. Visa.

SSN and taxes on CPT and OPT pay

  • You need a Social Security Number to get paid. F-1 students qualify once they have a job: on-campus work, a TA or RA role, CPT or OPT. Apply in person at a Social Security office with your passport, I-20, job offer or EAD, and a DSO letter (Jugal's steps: How I Got My First US Credit Card).
  • F-1 students who are nonresident aliens (generally fewer than 5 calendar years in the US) are exempt from Social Security and Medicare tax on on-campus, CPT and OPT wages (IRS). Check your first paystub. If those taxes were withheld, ask payroll to fix it.
  • Students from India can claim the standard deduction under the US-India tax treaty, which other nonresident aliens cannot (IRS Publication 519).
  • This is not tax advice. Use your school's tax resources.

If you are not selected, or OPT is running out

Option How it works Fits you if
Stay on STEM OPT and re-register Up to 3 lottery attempts across 36 months You have a STEM degree and an E-Verify employer
Cap-exempt employer Universities, affiliated nonprofits, and nonprofit or government research organizations file H-1Bs any month, with no lottery. Moving to a regular employer later needs a lottery win unless you were counted before (8 CFR 214.2(h)(8)(iii)(F)) You like research or university engineering
O-1A Meet at least 3 of 8 criteria, such as judging others' work, original contributions, press, high salary. A US employer or agent must file it. No annual cap (USCIS O-1) You can build public evidence over 1 to 3 years
EB-1A green card Self-petition. At least 3 of 10 criteria, no job offer needed (USCIS EB-1) Long-term plan. Jugal lists all 10 criteria with free resources (post)
L-1 transfer Work 1 continuous year at the company's office abroad, then transfer. L-1B (specialized knowledge) lasts up to 5 years (USCIS L-1B) Your employer has offices in India, Canada or the UK
Higher degree A new program at a higher level brings a new 12 months of OPT. A US master's also makes you eligible for the separate 20,000 advanced-degree cap Only if you actually want the degree
Another country UK, Canada or Germany (below) You are open to moving

Start collecting O-1 evidence as a student: Jugal judged and organized hackathons before he learned that judging others' work is one of the criteria (post). His H-1B lottery post has a cold email for offering to judge a hackathon. Only EB-1A is a self-petition: an O-1A needs a US employer or agent to file.

UK, Canada and Germany options

Country Route Key facts (as of Oct 2026)
UK Graduate visa 2 years if you apply on or before Dec 31, 2026. 18 months if you apply from Jan 1, 2027. 3 years for PhDs. Fee GBP 937 plus a health surcharge of usually GBP 1,035 a year
UK High Potential Individual Degree from an eligible university in the last 5 years. 2 years (3 for PhD). No job offer needed. Yearly cap
UK Skilled Worker Usually at least GBP 41,700 or the going rate. New entrants can be paid 70% of the going rate if the salary is at least GBP 33,400 (rules)
Canada Post-graduation work permit Master's grads can get 3 years even for programs under 2 years (if at least 8 months). One per lifetime. Language test required for most
Canada Express Entry Points-based permanent residence, including Canadian Experience Class
Germany EU Blue Card Salary at least EUR 50,700. EUR 45,934.20 for shortage jobs or if your degree is under 3 years old. Thresholds reset yearly

Where to find these jobs: UK and Europe boards.

Students outside the US (for example in India)

  1. Apply to big tech offices in your country first. Use the India early-career filter on Google Careers and the India boards on Where to find jobs.
  2. For a US internship while enrolled abroad, you need a J-1 intern sponsor through BridgeUSA. It covers students enrolled at a degree-granting school outside the US, or graduated within 12 months. Ask the company which sponsor it uses.
  3. Plan the L-1 route. One continuous year at a US company's office abroad can lead to a transfer.
  4. Funding a US master's: Jugal studied at UIUC without paying tuition through a TA-ship (The $0 Masters in the US). Indian students looking for Fulbright should use USIEF, not the US Fulbright student site.
    • How I Paid $0 for a U.S. Degree: his TA method and professor email template. How to use it: meet professors in office hours, apply for TA roles outside your department too, and follow up politely if there is no reply after 7 days. Not every TA role comes with a tuition waiver.
    • I Studied in the USA for FREE: the same story, updated June 2026 ("I actually got paid $3000 every month for studying"). It also links his paid TA community on Skool.
    • How To Find $10K in Scholarships: where to look and a tracker. How to use it: start 6 to 12 months before your program and never pay to apply.
    • How I Saved $6,000 as an International Student: rent, travel and shopping savings. How to use it: check with your international office before you sell unused items for cash.
  5. Paid student programs: confirm with your international office that you can accept a stipend before you commit (Jugal on campus programs).

Key dates to calendar

Program end date on I-20: [ ]
OPT filing window opens (program end minus 90 days): [ ]
OPT filing deadline (program end plus 60 days, current rules): [ ]
OPT card (EAD) start / end: [ ] / [ ]
Unemployment days used (max 90, or 150 with STEM): [ ]
STEM OPT filing window opens (EAD end minus 90 days): [ ]
I-983 drafted with manager (EAD end minus 120 days): [ ]
H-1B registration window (March): [ ]
Passport expiry: [ ]
Last DSO travel signature (valid 6 months on OPT): [ ]
UK Graduate visa 2-year cutoff (if relevant): Dec 31, 2026

Official sources to bookmark

Disclaimer: General information only, not legal advice. Rules and court orders change. Confirm with your DSO and a licensed immigration attorney before you act.

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