26 years ago, I came from France to the U.S. on an F-1 visa to study Computer Science and Cognitive Science at the University of Virginia. Little did I know that, from here, my immigration pathway would involve a second F-1 visa as I continued on for a Masters in Systems Engineering, followed by a year of OPT, two H-1Bs under three different employers, a stint abroad for an MBA and McKinsey work across Europe and Africa, an L-1A visa back into the U.S., a Green Card, all of it eventually culminating in U.S. citizenship in 2022.
One might argue that this alphabet soup of U.S. visas is even more challenging to navigate today. In some respects, that’s true. The recent Presidential Proclamation on H-1Bs, which involves a $100,000 fee to the employers of skilled workers coming to the U.S. from abroad (but not international graduates of American universities) is an example of how complicated and nuanced the U.S. immigration system can be.
This article aims to demystify the various pathways available to international graduate students, particularly in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM) fields, looking to work in the U.S. post-graduation. The insights below primarily draw from MPOWER Financing’s work with over 30,000 international students over the past 11 years, as well as the work authorization journeys from our own employees—a lot of them ex-international students also—and finally from legal research in partnership with our DC-based immigration law firm.
While in school: On-campus work & CPT internships
While this article focuses on work authorization after your degree, the following reminders might be helpful:
- F-1 students can work up to 20 hours/week on campus. For grad students, that often means a Teaching or Research Assistantship, but it could also be library work, lab support, or even refereeing a university soccer game.
- For internships, most students use Curricular Practical Training (CPT), which allows part-time work during semesters and full-time work during summer, as long as it’s approved by your school’s International Office and tied to your field of study.
Immediately after graduation: OPT
Optional Practical Training (OPT) lets you work full-time in the U.S. in a job related to your degree.
- Standard OPT is 12 months. If your degree is STEM-designated, you can extend by 24 months, for a total of 36 months.
- Increasingly, fields like Business Analytics, Finance, Accounting, and Architecture are STEM-eligible, giving graduates far more flexibility than in the past.
Recommendation: Whenever possible, pursue a STEM-designated degree—it gives you up to 3 years of work authorization and multiple shots at securing a longer-term visa.
Beyond OPT: Main work visas and green card pathways
- H-1B (Specialty Occupations)
The most common next step requires a U.S. employer sponsor and is capped at 65,000 new visas/year, though U.S. graduate degree holders have an additional dedicated advanced pool of 20,000 spots.
Lottery success rates average ~22-26% per attempt based on recent FY 2025 data, but because STEM grads have three years of OPT (six lottery tries), the odds of winning at least once are 70–90%. So while the H-1B is not the only way for an international graduate to stay and work in the U.S., it is certainly the primary pathway.
- Uncapped H-1B
Some employers are not subject to the annual H-1B cap. These include:
- Universities and colleges
- Non-profit research institutions (medical centers, think tanks, policy institutes, NGOs) ● Hospitals affiliated with universities
- Government research organizations
- Contactors placed at government research organizations
For students in medicine, nursing, dentistry, or public policy/economics, this is huge: a position at a teaching hospital, university-affiliated clinic, or nonprofit think tank could mean immediate H-1B sponsorship without lottery risk. Many international doctors, nurses, and dentists use this route to start their U.S. careers. In addition, many individuals in IT fields working for government contractors could obtain an H-1B visa if they are placed to work at a governmental research organization
- H-4 (Dependent Spouses)
For spouses of H-1B holders. If the H-1B spouse is far enough along in the green card process (I-140 approved), the H-4 spouse can also get work authorization (EAD).
This is particularly relevant for couples, where one spouse secures an H-1B and the other benefits from H-4 work authorization.
- H-1B1 (Chile and Singapore) & E-3 (Australia)
H-1B1 is a special visa class for nationals of Chile and Singapore. Around 6,800 visas are reserved annually (1,400 for Chile, 5,400 for Singapore), and are rarely filled. E-3 offers a similar benefit for Australian citizens, with a 10,500 primary worker cap (which is never filled in practice).
For students from these countries, the H-1B lottery stress is largely avoided.
- TN Visa (Canada and Mexico)
Part of NAFTA/USMCA. Available to Canadian and Mexican citizens (and dual citizens) in certain professional occupations (engineers, scientists, accountants, professors, etc.).
The TN Visa is renewable indefinitely in 3-year increments, and does not require participation in a lottery. This pathway is extremely valuable for graduates holding citizenship from Canada and Mexico.
- J-1 (Research Visa)
The J-1 is usually meant for cultural exchange or internships, but it can also be used by international students who have completed a master’s degree or PhD program and who are being sponsored by a university, national lab, or affiliated research institution.
This is an increasingly common visa for those in biomedical research, artificial intelligence, engineering, and climate science. Eligible students don’t have to contend with a visa cap or lottery, and enjoy relatively fast approval times.
- EB-2 & EB-2 NIW (Green Cards)
EB-2 is an employment-based green card for advanced degree holders, usually employer-sponsored through a labor certification (PERM).
EB-2 NIW (National Interest Waiver) allows graduates to self-sponsor if their work is deemed in the national interest. Recent DHS guidance made it easier for graduates in STEM, AI, climate, energy, and health to qualify. EB-2 NIW filings have grown rapidly—nearly 40,000 petitions filed in FY 2023, almost double FY 2022—and are particularly attractive to students from countries that don’t face country backlogs (i.e. all countries except India and China).
- O-1 (Extraordinary Ability)
Sometimes nicknamed the “Einstein visa.” Grants status to individuals who demonstrate extraordinary achievement in science, technology, business, or the arts.
USCIS has issued guidance regarding enhanced amenability for approval of O-1 visas sought by graduates in STEM fields and AI with publications, patents, or notable recognition.
- L-1 (Intra-company Transfer)
Available if you work for a multinational company abroad (e.g., Canada, India) and transfer to the
U.S. office in a managerial or specialized role. Often used by grads who spend time at a firm’s overseas branch anywhere in the world and then return to the U.S., for instance a grad joins Amazon in Canada and later transfers to Amazon U.S.
- Returning for Another Degree (Resetting OPT)
OPT is granted once per degree level in the U.S. Completing a second U.S. degree at another degree level—such as a bachelor’s degree holder pursuing a master’s degree—can unlock a new 12-month OPT period, plus a STEM extension if applicable.
This is a strategic fallback if you’ve exhausted your first OPT but want another chance at U.S. work authorization and the H-1B lottery.
Example: An international student finishes a BS, uses OPT + STEM extension, but doesn’t win the H-1B lottery. By enrolling in a 1-year MBA, they re-enter on an F-1 visa and gain access to a new OPT cycle.
- Other specialized routes
Cap-exempt research fellowships: Many U.S. government labs (NIH, DOE, NASA-affiliated labs) offer post-doc or fellowship slots with visa sponsorship.
Entrepreneur visas: While the U.S. lacks a true startup visa, F-1 grads can use OPT + STEM OPT to launch companies, sometimes bridging into O-1 or EB-2 NIW.
E-2 essential skill visa – if you are from a country that has an E-2 visa treaty with the United States – you can work for a company in the United States that is owned by nationals of the same country so long as your degree gives you essential skills that the company needs. You can also start your own company and seek to obtain an E-2 visa that way.
- Canada: A “no-regret” backup plan
Many MPOWER Financing students choose to study in the U.S. but apply for Canadian Permanent Residency soon after graduation.
Canada’s Express Entry system rewards:
- Advanced degrees
- English/French proficiency
- Young age (20s–30s)
- The biggest way to earn points is through a Provincial Nomination, meaning that a specific Canadian province recognizes your in-demand skills, such as for tech operations or in nursing.
Many international grad STEM students with U.S. degrees score high enough for permanent residency, often within 6–12 months.
This creates a parallel track: work in the U.S. via OPT/H-1B while securing Canadian PR as a safety net.
Final thoughts
The U.S. immigration maze has many twists, but international STEM graduates have more options than they realize. Between OPT, capped and uncapped H-1Bs, J-1s, EB-2 NIW, O-1, TN, H-1B1/E-3, L-1, E-2, and H-4 spousal work authorization, there are multiple pathways to stay. Add to that the Canadian safety net, and the odds of building a long-term career in North America are better than ever.
Here are some no-regret moves:
- Favor STEM-designated degrees: choose these over non-STEM equivalent degrees if you’re even remotely contemplating working in the U.S. post-graduation. You may find yourself several years from now with an enticing U.S. job opportunity in front of you and you’ll at least want the flexibility to be able to say yes to it
- Start working early: on-campus jobs and (off-campus) summer internships are the most straightforward way to land a full-time job post-graduation with the accompanying employer-backed visa sponsorship
- Don’t forget the EB-2 NIW path: If you’re a grad student or researcher in STEM, AI, Health, Climate, or another leading edge field, definitely keep your research, publications, patents, and leadership roles documented; they may support your Green Card application later on
- Make every year of OPT count: don’t wait until your last year of OPT to think through and apply for a work visa
- Consider applying for Canadian permanent residency: you can parallel track this even while you’re working on OPT and exploring an H1-B, EB-2, or O1 in the U.S.
- Start publishing in your field – this can help position you later for either an O-1 visa or an EB-2 NIW green card
Note: This article reflects immigration policies as of November 2025. Immigration laws are complex and subject to change. Consult with a qualified immigration attorney for advice specific to your situation.
About the author. – Manu Smadja, CEO and Co-founder of MPOWER Financing, which offers scholarships and no-cosigner loans to students from around the world to pursue their study abroad journey. To learn more about MPOWER Financing, please visit www.mpowerfinancing.com.
