OPT
Optional Practical Training (OPT) is a period during which undergraduate and graduate students with F-1 status who have completed or have been pursuing their degrees for more than nine months are permitted by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to work. It's mentioned as an existing pathway for high-skilled graduates to work in the US.
First Mentioned
9/27/2025, 5:10:03 AM
Last Updated
9/27/2025, 5:11:29 AM
Research Retrieved
9/27/2025, 5:11:29 AM
Summary
Optional Practical Training (OPT) is a U.S. immigration benefit that allows international students holding an F-1 visa to gain temporary employment directly related to their major area of study, either before or after completing their academic programs. This program was highlighted by Chamath Palihapitiya on the All-In Podcast as an existing pathway for high-skilled graduates to work in the United States. The discussion on the podcast, involving hosts Jason Calacanis, Chamath Palihapitiya, David Sacks, and David Friedberg, contrasted OPT with the H-1B visa program, which they criticized for being exploited by IT consulting firms. Friedberg suggested an alternative talent recruitment strategy, while Palihapitiya emphasized OPT's role in retaining skilled graduates.
Referenced in 1 Document
Research Data
Extracted Attributes
Types
Pre-completion OPT (before studies complete), Post-completion OPT (after studies complete)
Purpose
Temporary employment for F-1 students directly related to their major area of study
Duration
Up to 12 months per higher level of study (e.g., bachelor's, master's)
Full Name
Optional Practical Training
Eligibility
International students in F-1 immigration status enrolled in or completing a degree program in the United States
Work Requirements
Minimum 20 hours per week (for post-completion), paid or unpaid (for pre-completion), must be directly related to major
Authorization Type
Employment authorization
Administering Agency
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
Recommendation Process
Designated School Official (DSO) recommends by endorsing Form I-20 and noting in SEVIS
Timeline
- OPT was discussed on the All-In Podcast by hosts Jason Calacanis, Chamath Palihapitiya, David Sacks, and David Friedberg, where it was highlighted as a pathway for high-skilled graduates and contrasted with the H-1B visa program. (Source: related_documents)
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Web Search Results
- About Optional Practical Training (OPT) | Office of Visa and ...
### Share # About Optional Practical Training (OPT) ## Overview OPT (Optional Practical Training) is a benefit available to international students in F-1 immigration status who are enrolled in, or completing, a degree program in the United States. This employment can be used: Before completion of studies during an annual vacation or leave term After completion of studies. [...] Skip to main content [...] OPT may be used in "increments" during an annual vacation term before completion of studies, but after completion of studies it may only be used as a single block of time. Once you apply for OPT and complete your program of study, the OPT work eligibility is either used or it is not. There is no recapture of unused OPT time. OPT employment must be a minimum of 20 hours per week, paid or unpaid.
- OPT - Wikipedia
Jump to content # OPT Deutsch Esperanto Français 한국어 Italiano 日本語 Русский Svenska Edit links From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Look up opt, opt out, or opt-out in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. OPT or Opt may refer for: ## Computing [edit] /opt, a directory in the Filesystem Hierarchy Standard Option key, a modifier key on Apple keyboards OPT, the theoretically optimal page replacement algorithm, a page replacement algorithm for swapping out pages from memory [...] Occupied Palestinian Territories, an alternative name for the State of Palestine Ocean Power Technologies, a US owned renewable energy company Office des postes et télécommunications"), especially in French Polynesia (Office des postes et télécommunications de Polynésie française&action=edit&redlink=1 "OPT (New Polynesia) (page does not exist)")) and in New Caledonia Operation Prime Time, a consortium of TV Stations to provide alternative prime time programming [...] Outdoor Payment Terminal, a name sometimes used for the self-service user interface hardware at fuel stations Oral pressure therapy, a treatment for obstructive sleep apnea Overseas Passenger Terminal, Sydney Obshchestvennoye Rossiyskoye Televideniye (Russian: Общественное Российское Телевидение, ОРТ in Cyrillic script), the former name of Channel One Russia, a public broadcaster in Russia Oxford Placement Test
- Optional Practical Training (OPT) for F-1 Students | USCIS
Optional practical training (OPT) is temporary employment that is directly related to an F-1 student’s major area of study. Eligible students can apply to receive up to 12 months of OPT employment authorization before completing their academic studies (pre-completion) and/or after completing their academic studies (post-completion). However, all periods of pre-completion OPT will be deducted from the available period of post-completion OPT. Types of OPT [...] 1. Request that your designated school official (DSO) at your academic institution recommend the OPT. Your DSO will make the recommendation by endorsing your Form I‑20, Certification of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status, and making the appropriate notation in theStudent and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). [...] All OPT must be directly related to your major area of study. If you are an F-1 student, you may be eligible to participate in OPT in two different ways:
- F-1 Optional Practical Training (OPT) | Study in the States
| OPT | For students engaged in post-secondary schools or at conservatories. Twelve months of Regular OPT is available for each higher level of study. (For example a student may have 12 months for a bachelor’s degree and another 12 months for a master’s degree.) Pre-Completion OPT: Any portion of OPT used _before_ the student’s Program End Date. It may be part-time or full-time. Post-Completion OPT:Any portion of OPT used _after_ the student’s Program End Date. It must be at least 20 hours [...] | Type | Description | --- | [...] There are three general types of OPT:
- OPT Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster
Synonyms of opt intransitive verb : to make a choice especially : to decide in favor of something opted for a tax increase —Tom Wicker After perusing the menu he opted for the prime rib. opt 2 of 2 ## abbreviation 1 optical; optician; optics 2 option; optional ## Synonyms Verb choose decide figure See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus ## Examples of opt in a Sentence Verb after that near catastrophe, they opted to reinstate the telephone service [...] The 18-year-old opted for a sheer black dress, posing with her arm around her sister, who wore a brown satin dress. —Hannah Sacks, People.com, 8 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for opt ## Word History Etymology Verb French opter, from Latin optare First Known Use Verb 1853, in the meaning defined above Time Traveler The first known use of opt was in 1853 See more words from the same year ## Phrases Containing opt co-opt opt in opt out ## Rhymes for opt [...] chopped cropped dropped dropt flopped hopped lopped mopped plopped popped propped shopped See All Rhymes for opt ## Browse Nearby Words -opsy opt optable See all Nearby Words ## Cite this Entry “Opt.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, Accessed 13 Sep. 2025. Copy Citation ## Share ## Kids Definition opt verb ˈäpt : to make a choice ## Medical Definition opt abbreviation optician ## More from Merriam-Webster on opt
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Opt, 145, White Hart Lane, East Sheen, London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, London, Greater London, England, SW13 0JP, United Kingdom
Coordinates: 51.4665813, -0.2528779
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