All About US Visas: For Those Aiming to Immigrate

Whether you want to work in the US while you're in school or after you graduate, you need to clearly understand how your visa status changes and which work authorizations apply at each stage.
I've put together the full process, from studying on a student visa to post-graduation work authorization and finally getting a green card.
Remember to save this for later!

CPT → OPT → H1B → Green Card: The Detailed Process

1. While on F1 status: CPT. If you're currently a full-time student and want to work while in school, you need additional work authorization, called CPT (Curriculum Practical Training). CPT authorizes off-campus work while you're studying at a US school. On-campus jobs don't require it; unpaid internships technically require it too, but it depends on your school's rules.
   
   CPT is authorized by your school and doesn't need approval from USCIS.

2. After graduating on F1 status: OPT. If you're about to graduate and want to stay and work in the US afterwards, you need OPT (Optional Practical Training). Unlike CPT, OPT is for F visa holders after graduation, and you have to apply to USCIS and get approved.
   
   If your OPT is about to expire but you still want to work in the US, you can consider an H1B visa.

3. The H1B is a common next step after OPT. Of course, you can also apply for a green card directly, but that's harder.
   As long as your employer agrees to sponsor your H1B, you can enter that year's H1B lottery.
   The H1B is a work authorization granted by USCIS that allows foreign employees to work for US companies. It's valid for three years and can be extended to a maximum of six years.
   The main reason the H1B is hard to get is the lottery. In 2023, total H1B registrations reached 483,927, with a selection rate of only about 26%. Even if you're selected, your petition can still fail because of an RFE (Request for Evidence).

4. An H1B is not a prerequisite for a green card: even without one, you can apply for a green card as long as your employer is willing to sponsor you. US employment-based immigration currently has 5 main categories: EB1, EB2, EB3, EB4 and EB5. For most students, EB1, EB2 and EB3 are the most common.