📘 The OPT Playbook: Turning Student Work Authorization into Permanent Residenc

This Week’s Immigration News Highlights

• ICE Arrests Reaches 100k as Trump Enforces Aggressive Quotas

• Reports that ICE Detention Centers are Overcrowded and Without Water

• Immigration Courts Dismiss Cases of Venezuelen Migrants Sent to El Salvador

Your Immigration Roadmap Series Begins

This month, we're launching a special four-part series designed for young professionals navigating the U.S. immigration system and the immigration attorneys who guide them. Each week, we'll break down complex processes into clear, actionable steps. From transitioning off OPT to preparing waiver arguments, this series will empower you with knowledge and strategy, no matter where you are on your journey.

In Week 1, we're starting with a question many international students ask: "What happens after OPT?"

From OPT to Green Card: Mapping the Journey

For thousands of international students in the U.S., Optional Practical Training (OPT) is a critical stepping stone to professional life. But what happens when OPT ends, and you're ready to make your stay permanent? Transitioning from OPT to a green card is possible, but it requires planning, timing, and the right legal strategy. Here’s a roadmap to help young professionals understand their options and make informed decisions.

1. 1️⃣ Start With OPT and STEM OPT Extension

After graduating from a U.S. college or university, most F-1 visa holders are eligible for one year of OPT. If you have a degree in a STEM field, you may be eligible for a 24-month extension. Together, that gives you up to three years of work authorization while remaining in F-1 status.

🧠 Key Tip: Make sure your employer is enrolled in E-Verify if you're applying for a STEM OPT extension.

2️⃣ H-1B Lottery and Cap-Gap Extension

If your employer wants to sponsor you, the next common step is filing for an H-1B visa. Filing early is crucial, especially because of the lottery system and filing caps. If selected, the Cap-Gap rule can bridge the time between the expiration of your OPT and the start of your H-1B on October 1.

⚠️ Note: If your petition is not selected, you may need to explore alternatives quickly.

3️⃣ Explore Alternatives to H-1B

H-1B is not the only path. Depending on your field and nationality, you might qualify for:

• O-1 visa (extraordinary ability)

• L-1 visa (intracompany transfer)

• TN visa (for Canadians and Mexicans)

• E-2 or E-1 visa (treaty investors/traders)

Each visa has unique requirements, so plan carefully.

4️⃣ Employment-Based Green Card Options

If your employer is supportive, you can pursue an employment-based green card through EB-2 or EB-3 categories. This often involves:

• PERM Labor Certification

• I-140 Immigrant Petition

• Adjustment of Status (Form I-485), if a visa number is available

📅 Priority Date Alert: Stay on top of the Visa Bulletin to know when your category becomes current. 

5️⃣ Timing Is Everything

Start conversations with your employer early, ideally during your first year of OPT. Many green card processes take several years, and timing your transition from nonimmigrant to immigrant status is essential to avoid falling out of status.

This journey takes grit, planning, and good counsel. But yes, you can go from OPT to green card. So stay sharp, keep an eye on deadlines, and don’t navigate this alone. 

Stay steady. You belong here.

That’s It For This Week!

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Also, if you’d love my expertise as an immigration attorney, feel free to book a call with me.

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Finally, visit our Custom GPT Immigration Law Expert Shelly: an AI chatbot designed by The Notice to All Team. AI Shelly has all the answers to your immigration questions (not a replacement for professional consulting, though. AI isn’t that good)!

Navigating the transition from OPT to green card is a journey filled with deadlines, paperwork, and pivotal choices but with the right strategy, it’s entirely possible. Whether you're just starting your OPT or already eyeing a green card, understanding your options early makes all the difference. Join us next week for Part 2!

Until next time, enjoy (or survive) this June heat! ☀️