OPTNation
                     How To Hire The Right Opt Candidate In The Us: 
A Guide  
Introduction  
Hiring the right OPT candidate in the US involves certain strategic measures that need to be 
taken by the employer. When a pool of fresh talent comes in, it becomes a challenge to select 
the one that suits the role you're hiring for. OPT is an excellent way for international students on 
F1 visas studying in the US to gain industry experience.  
Although hiring might seem tough, the main challenge for employers is to understand the 
regulations surrounding visa and compliance requirements. Through this guide let us 
understand the essential hiring steps that employers should focus on, what are the right 
measures to be taken while hiring and how to maximize the output through employing OPT 
students in the US.  
Understanding the Role Played by OPT in US Market  
As discussed in the beginning of this blog, OPT provides temporary work authorization to 
international students residing in the US on F1 visa. OPT allows students to practice the 
knowledge gained by them from universities in the real world and gain experience. After 
completing their courses students can work in the US for a period of 12 months through 
OPT.  
For students in the field of Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics, also known as 
STEM, a special extension is available that allows students to work for 24 months. This is called 
the STEM OPT extension. In the high demand for employment, companies that hire OPT 
candidates are bridging the gap and contributing to the field of healthcare, technology, etc.  
Most employers are in favor of OPT candidates as it costs them much less and they do not have 
to invest in a work visa immediately. Several sectors benefit from OPT candidates in the US 
especially finance, research, pharmaceuticals, IT, etc. 
Legal And Compliance Requirements For Employer  
There are certain rules and regulations to be kept in mind while hiring OPT candidates. Here are 
the list of things to consider while hiring OPT candidates.  
1. Employer eligibility  
The employer is required to provide a job to the OPT candidate that aligns with their 
field of study. The role should solve the purpose of providing practical training and 
experience to the student. The goal of this role is to ensure that the student gains the 
understanding of the industry and gets to apply their theoretical knowledge.  
2. E-Verify for STEM OPT Candidates  
To confirm the legal work status of an OPT candidate, the employers must be e-
verified. They must also ensure that a Form I-983 is submitted ensuring the candidate's 
responsibilities while on the job, objectives while training, a properly managed plan and 
a career development path. This is a compulsory requirement when it comes to the 
growth of the OPT students.  
3. Work and Visa authorization  
Candidates applying for OPT jobs in the US are eligible to work for 12 months and 24 
months depending on their field of study. Students in STEM have an advantage of 24 
months extension to their OPT making it a total of 36 months. One major rule of OPT is 
that they cannot stay unemployed for more than a period of 90 days while being enrolled 
in OPT. For OPT students enrolled in STEM, a total of 150 unemployed days are 
allowed. On the instance of a student staying unemployed for more than the stipulated 
period, the student risks losing the OPT candidate status and must leave the US or 
change their visa status.  
How and Where to Find the Right OPT Candidate?  
Finding the right OPT candidate includes implementing a strategic approach. The best websites 
to find the right OPT candidates include, career pages of universities, OPT resume database 
websites, etc. There are several other platforms that provide the resumes of OPT students in 
the US including Indeed, Glassdoor, Linkedin and much more. There are also several agencies 
that specialize in placing OPT students in the market, this would be an effortless choice while 
directly getting in touch with OPT students. 
Step To Find the Right OPT Candidate  
Here are some steps to implement in your process of hiring the right candidate to ensure 
efficient hiring:  
1. Crafting the Job Description  
The initial step of finding the right OPT candidate includes writing an efficient job 
description. The main objective of writing a job description should be clearly outlining the 
skills required, the qualifications, the responsibilities and move forward accordingly.  
The important factor to consider here is to make sure that the details mentioned in the 
description align with OPT compliance and with the educational qualification of the 
candidates for a better career choice. Employers are also required to clearly specify if 
the employment program is suitable for STEM students and clearly mention the work 
authorization that is required for the role.  
2. Sorting Resumes Efficiently  
While screening through resumes make sure to check the details of the students 
applying including the courses they were enrolled into, the internships they have done, 
the relevance of the projects completed.  
The main purpose of this detailed screening is to ensure that the job role matches their 
field of study and is relevant to their current experience. Another point to be considered 
is to check if the student qualifies for STEM OPT extension that allows a longer period of 
employment  
3. Conducting Interviews  
Conducting a well-structured interview is an essential part of hiring an OPT candidate 
with OPT f1 visa as it will determine whether the candidate is worth the investment. 
Assessing soft skills and their presence of mind through interactive questions is a crucial 
role of an interview.  
Conclusion  
Hiring an individual that perfectly fits a job role might not happen every time. It is essential to 
consider that hiring an efficient OPT candidate must be the goal and train them for the role. With 
the help of the right platform and the right strategies, landing an efficient candidate is easy while 
adhering to all compliances. Careful screening and interviewing will shortlist the best OPT 
candidate and make the process of hiring much smoother and efficient.