I'm an international student in the US, planning to graduate next year. I'd like to stay and work here afterward. Can someone explain which work visa I should be considering?
You will want to consider applying for the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program once you graduate. OPT provides international students who have completed an academic degree (bachelors, masters, or Ph.D.) with an opportunity to gain up to 12 months of employment experience related to their field of study.
Specifically, you can apply for an OPT extension if your degree is in a STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) field. This extension allows for an additional 24 months of work authorization, which means STEM students can have up to 36 months of work experience under OPT.
After OPT, your next step could be an H-1B visa, which allows U.S. employers to temporarily employ foreign workers in a specialty occupation. It's a bit more complex since it relies heavily on employer sponsorship and involves a lottery selection process due to the high demand and limited number (85,000 per year) of these visas.
Keep consulting with your school's international student services department; they can guide you on the necessary steps and help you stay in compliance with your visa status.
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