If you want to work in the U.S. temporarily as a nonimmigrant, under U.S. immigration law, you need a specific visa, based on the type of work you will be doing. Most temporary worker categories require that the applicant’s prospective employer or agent to file a petition which must be approved by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) before you can apply for a visa.
Please visit https://www.ustraveldocs.com/in/in-niv-typework.asp for more details.
Optional practical training, allows F1 visa holders to work full time in their field of study for 12 months post graduation this option helps students in gaining practical experience and training to complement their education. Students graduating with a STEM degree, can apply for an extension of 24 months, making it a total of 36 months stay back after graduation.
You can begin the process for applying for OPT nine months after being enrolled, however, your employment cannot begin until you receive your Employment Authorization Document (EAD) specifically from USCIS and have been enrolled for at least a year. The good news is you do not need a job offer to apply for an EAD and your OPT employment can occur anywhere in the US.
OPT post-graduation requires that:
- OPT work must be full time (40 hours a week)
- All OPT must be completed within 14 months after completion of your degree
- Applications for post-completion OPT must be received by USCIS before the completion of your degree
Some companies may sponsor students for a H1-B Temporary Worker Visa, allowing them to continue living in the USA as long as they work for that company.
H-1B Visa (Non-immigrant Visa)
You may be eligible for a H-1B visa, also called the Person in Specialty Occupation Visa, if you have been accepted to a specific job position that meets these requirements:
- Possession of an advanced education degree
- Correlation between your degree and work experience and your job duties
- Approval of a labor condition attestation (LCA) from the Department of Labor before filing the H-1B petition with Immigration and Naturalization Services. (This document ensures that you will not be exploited by US employers and are paid the same salary and obtain the same benefits as your American counterparts.)
The H-1B status is granted for an initial period of three years. This is a great option for a post-graduate work visa USA because it can be extended for an additional three years. (Note that it cannot be extended beyond six years.)