On post-completion OPT (Optional Practical Training), the limit is 90 days of unemployment. On the 24-month STEM OPT extension, the limit is 150 days in total, and that total includes any days already used on post-completion OPT. The government's SEVIS system counts each day without employer information, so the employer information recorded for you affects the count.
The two limits
| Type of OPT | Unemployment limit |
|---|---|
| Post-completion OPT | 90 days |
| STEM OPT extension | 150 days, which includes any days accrued on post-completion OPT |
These are the figures on the Study in the States unemployment counter page, in the USCIS Policy Manual and in the regulation, 8 CFR 214.2(f)(10)(ii)(E), which says students "may not accrue an aggregate of more than 90 days of unemployment" during post-completion OPT and, with a 24-month extension, more than 150 days "during a total OPT period." They are not separate allowances. If you used 60 days before your STEM extension began, those 60 days are already inside the 150.
How the days are counted
Study in the States explains that SEVIS looks back to the Actual OPT Start Date for the OPT period and counts "each day without employer information." The same page says the counter shows days allowed, days accrued and days remaining. The page explains how the counter is viewed in SEVIS, which is a school-facing system, so your designated school official (DSO) is the right person to ask for your current number.
The SEVIS guide for schools also says "A student whose record lacks employer information is considered unemployed." When you are hired, you report the employer information to your DSO. See our guide to OPT reporting requirements for the reporting side.
Keeping the record accurate
Because the count depends on employer information, the record needs to match reality. The SEVIS guide says students can enter employment information using the SEVP Portal or have their DSO update SEVIS. It also says students "must report to the DSO within 10 days" of a change in name, address or employment. If an employer is missing, ended early or listed with the wrong dates, the counter can show days you did not intend. If something on your record looks wrong, tell your DSO promptly and keep your own copies of offer letters and pay records.
What counts as employment
The USCIS Policy Manual says practical training "is employment that is directly related to a student's major area of study." For post-completion OPT it also says "The student must work at least 20 hours per week."
- Unpaid work. The Policy Manual says "A student may work as a volunteer or unpaid intern, as long as this practice does not violate any labor laws."
- STEM OPT. On STEM OPT, the Policy Manual says the F-1 student may not "work for the employer on a volunteer basis."
- Self-employment and several jobs. The SEVIS guide for schools has a "Self Employed" box for a self-employed student, with the note that "Students on the STEM extension cannot be self-employed."
Whether one specific job counts is a question for your DSO, not something a general article can settle.
What happens if you go over
The regulation says that during post-completion OPT, "F-1 status is dependent upon employment," but the paragraph on unemployment days does not spell out a penalty, and neither does the Policy Manual page we read. The SEVIS guide for schools lists, among the reasons a student record is terminated, when the student "Exceeds 90 days of unemployment during post-completion OPT" or "Exceeds 150 days of unemployment during post-completion and STEM periods," and says "Exceeding the unemployment day limit could cause auto-termination."
ICE's travel page adds one more point: if you exceed the limits while abroad, you "will not be eligible to re-enter the United States in F-1 status." A DSO or an immigration attorney can tell you what applies to your situation.
Where to go from here
Our OPT hub and our OPT EAD timeline guide cover the application side. This article only covers the unemployment limit that comes after the card is approved.
Common questions
Does the 90 days reset when I start the STEM extension?
No. Study in the States lists the STEM OPT limit as "150 days, which includes any days accrued while on post-completion OPT."
Can volunteering stop the count?
The Policy Manual says a student may work as a volunteer or unpaid intern as long as this does not violate any labor laws, and that on STEM OPT the student may not "work for the employer on a volunteer basis." The pages we read do not say how SEVIS counts a particular unpaid role, so ask your DSO.
How do I find out how many days I have used?
SEVIS shows days allowed, accrued and remaining. Ask your DSO to check your record, since the official page describes how the counter is viewed in SEVIS.
Does a day without a recorded employer count even if I was job hunting?
The counter, as Study in the States describes it, counts "each day without employer information." Employer information in SEVIS is what the count depends on.
Official sources
- Study in the States: SEVIS Unemployment Counter
- USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 2, Part F, Chapter 5: Practical Training
- Study in the States: Add, Edit, Delete OPT Employer
- eCFR: 8 CFR 214.2
- Study in the States: F-1 Optional Practical Training (SEVIS Help Hub)
- ICE SEVP: Travel
GreenLight is not affiliated with USCIS or the U.S. government. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.