Chapter 06 · Topic 06.4 · Study and exchange
Verified fact: USCIS describes Optional Practical Training as temporary employment directly related to an F-1 student's major area of study, with eligibility for up to 12 months of OPT authorization (pre-completion, post-completion, or split between the two), and a 24-month extension available to qualifying STEM degree holders; employment authorization runs on Form I-765. Canadians follow the same F-1 framework, with the practical difference that the F-1 is issued without a consular visa stamp requirement for Canadian citizens entering with the I-20. Source: USCIS, Optional Practical Training (OPT) for F-1 Students, uscis.gov, consulted June 10, 2026.
F-1 (student) visa and OPT for Canadians
F-1 = U.S. student. Canadians visa-exempt but I-20 mandatory. On-campus work, CPT, post-completion OPT 12 months + STEM extension 24 months (36 total). Cap-gap to H-1B. Form I-765, USD 470 fee.
Direct answer · 60-second summary
The 60-second version
The F-1 is the U.S. student status for academic studies (college, university, intensive language school). Process: (1) admission by SEVP-certified school, (2) Form I-20 issued by DSO, (3) SEVIS I-901 fee (USD 350), (4) DS-160 + consular interview at the US consulate for their province (Canadians are often visa-exempt but the I-20 is still required at the port of entry), (5) U.S. entry ≤ 30 days before program start, (6) admission length = "D/S" (Duration of Status) on the I-94. Limited work (on-campus, CPT, OPT). After graduation: OPT (Optional Practical Training) = 12 months, extendable to 36 months total for STEM (additional 24 months). I-765 OPT fee: USD 470 (2024).
Acronyms used in this guide
USCIS: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. SEVIS: Student and Exchange Visitor Information System. DSO: Designated School Official. I-20: Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student (F-1, M-1). I-765: Application for Employment Authorization (EAD). I-94: Arrival/Departure record kept by CBP for nonimmigrants. EAD: Employment Authorization Document. OPT: Optional Practical Training (post-F-1 work authorization). CPT: Curricular Practical Training. STEM: Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics. F-1: Academic Student. F-2: Spouse / children of F-1. H-1B: Specialty Occupation worker. POE: Port of Entry. DS-160: Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application.
Canadian specifics: visa-exempt
A Canadian citizen does not need an F-1 visa stamp in the passport. But must present at the POE:
Form I-20 issued by the school and signed by the DSO. Proof of SEVIS I-901 fee payment (receipt). Proof of financial capacity (liquid assets ≥ annual program cost). Proof of nonimmigrant intent (Canadian bank account, family ties, etc.).
CBP records the status "F-1 D/S" on the I-94, duration of status, no fixed end date.
For other Canadians (Canadian permanent residents, not citizens), an F-1 visa stamp is required via U.S. consulate.
Maintaining F-1 status
Enrolled full-time in the program shown on the I-20. Normal academic progression: no more than one online course per term (max 3 credits) counts toward full-time minimum. Updated address in SEVIS (10 days to notify changes). No unauthorized work. On-campus employment ≤ 20 hrs/wk during sessions, full-time outside session. Travel outside U.S.: travel signature from DSO on page 2 of I-20 (1-year validity). I-20 expiration: don't pass the program end date. Request extension via DSO if delayed.
F-1 work options
| Option | When | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| On-campus employment | All program duration | ≤ 20 hrs/wk in session, full-time outside session. No USCIS petition; DSO authorizes. |
| CPT (Curricular Practical Training) | During program | Internship integral to curriculum. DSO authorizes on I-20. CPT ≥ 12 months full-time = OPT eligibility lost. |
| Pre-completion OPT | Before completion | Up to 12 cumulative months (≤ 20 hrs/wk in session, full-time outside). Counts against total OPT quota. |
| Post-completion OPT | After graduation | 12 months full-time. File I-765 within 90 days before program end up to 60 days after. |
| STEM OPT extension | After initial 12-month OPT | + 24 months = 36 months total. Eligible STEM degree, E-Verify employer, Form I-983 (Training Plan), file I-765 within 90 days before initial OPT end. |
OPT: detailed mechanics
Request OPT: DSO enters recommendation in SEVIS, issues an I-20 with OPT endorsement. File Form I-765 with USCIS within 60 days of DSO endorsement and no earlier than 90 days before program end. Fee: USD 470 (2024 edition: verify latest). Approval time: 2 to 5 months. USCIS issues Form I-766 (EAD card) with validity dates. Work begins on the EAD start date, not before. Working before = unauthorized work. Work must be directly related to the field of study. Document the link in SEVIS. Unemployment period: 90 cumulative days allowed during the initial 12-month OPT. 60 additional during STEM. Beyond = loss of status.
STEM OPT extension: conditions
Degree in a STEM category on the DHS STEM Designated Degree Programs list. Employer enrolled in and using E-Verify. Form I-983 (Training Plan for STEM OPT Students) signed by student, employer, DSO. Describes learning objectives, supervision, evaluation. Form I-765 with STEM edition, USD 470 fee. Mandatory quarterly reporting by student and employer in SEVIS. Evaluations at 12 and 24 months: student and employer must attest progress. Total with initial OPT: 36 months of U.S. work without H-1B.
From F-1 OPT to H-1B (cap-gap)
Many F-1 OPTs want to switch to H-1B (work visa). Typical process:
Employer files H-1B in March-April (cap lottery; work begins October 1). If OPT expires between filing and October 1, cap-gap auto-extends F-1 and OPT to September 30, contingent on H-1B approval. If H-1B denied, status reverts to expired F-1 on October 1 = leave or change status. STEM OPT gives 3 years for 3 H-1B lottery chances (selection rate ~20-30% each year depending on volume).
End of status and grace period
Program end without OPT: 60-day grace period to leave, transfer school, or change status. End of OPT: 60-day grace period. End of STEM OPT: 60-day grace period. Withdrawal: no grace period: departure required immediately. Travel with OPT pending: discouraged, return uncertain. Once OPT approved, travel OK with EAD + DSO-endorsed I-20.
Official forms (always use the latest edition)
Reader responsibility
Always download the latest edition of the form from the official site cited below. An expired edition can be rejected by USCIS, DOS or IRS. CanadaFlorida is not a substitute for a licensed attorney.
Form I-20: issued by DSO (school). Form I-765: Application for Employment Authorization. Form I-983: STEM OPT Training Plan. SEVIS I-901 fee. DHS STEM Designated Degree Programs List. DS-160: Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application.
A worked example: a Sherbrooke graduate's Florida path, 2026-2028
Émilie, 23, of Sherbrooke, starts a master's at a Tampa university in August 2026 on F-1 status, entering with her I-20 at the Montreal preclearance, no visa stamp needed as a Canadian. She works on-campus within the F-1 limits during study, applies for post-completion OPT on Form I-765 in her final semester, and graduates in May 2028 into 12 months of OPT with a Tampa employer. Her degree qualifies as STEM, so a 24-month extension is available if her employer is E-Verify enrolled, giving up to three years of U.S. work experience before any H-1B or TN conversation. Typical range: the I-765 filing fee sits in the low-to-mid hundreds of USD on the current fee schedule and OPT processing has commonly run two to four months in recent practice, June 2026 observation; file in the application window early. Her tax life changes too: F-1 students are exempt individuals for SPT day-counting purposes for five calendar years, then ordinary counting resumes.
Opinion: for a Canadian student the F-1 plus OPT path is less a visa strategy than a career bridge: the realistic plan names the employer categories (E-Verify for STEM), the post-OPT exit (TN, H-1B, or home), and the tax residency arc before the program starts, not at graduation.
Who runs what
| Step | Federal US | Federal CA |
|---|---|---|
| Admission as F-1 | SEVP school issues the I-20; CBP admits at the port (no visa stamp for Canadian citizens); SEVIS fee paid | No role southbound |
| Work during and after study | On-campus rules, CPT through the school, OPT and STEM extension through USCIS (I-765) | Not applicable |
| Taxes | Exempt-individual years for SPT, then day counting; wages taxed per status | CRA residency depends on ties kept in Canada; many students remain factual residents |
Common mistakes
Missing the OPT filing window. The I-765 has defined windows around program end; late means lost months. Assuming STEM extension is automatic. It needs a qualifying degree, an E-Verify employer, and the training plan; verify before counting on year two and three. Working outside the authorization. Hours and employer rules are status conditions; violations follow the immigration record for years. Ignoring the unemployment-day caps on OPT. Accrued unemployment days are limited; track them like border days. Forgetting the Canadian tax file. Keeping Canadian residential ties usually keeps CRA filing obligations alongside the U.S. ones.
The student's checklist
- Get the I-20, pay the SEVIS fee, and carry both at every entry.
- Plan financing in CAD terms (tuition, the exchange rate, and work limits).
- Calendar the OPT window at the start of the final year; file the I-765 early in it.
- For STEM hopes: confirm the degree's CIP code and target E-Verify employers.
- Keep the tax arc in view: exempt years, then SPT; CRA ties decided deliberately.
Frequently asked questions
Do Canadians need an F-1 visa stamp?
No consular stamp: Canadian citizens present the I-20 and supporting documents at the border. The status and its rules are otherwise identical.
How long can I work after graduating?
Up to 12 months of post-completion OPT, plus a 24-month STEM extension for qualifying degrees with an E-Verify employer: up to 36 months in the right configuration.
Can I do OPT anywhere in the U.S., like Florida?
Yes: OPT is employer-tied by training relationship, not by state. The job must relate directly to your major.
What happens after OPT ends?
The standard moves are TN (for qualifying professions), H-1B through the lottery, further study, or home with U.S. experience. Plan the exit a year ahead.
Am I a U.S. tax resident as a student?
F-1 time is exempt from SPT day-counting for five calendar years; income still gets taxed per the rules, and the CRA side runs on your Canadian ties.
Every figure, rate, threshold, and deadline in this guide is drawn from a verifiable primary source listed at the bottom of the page. The article is updated whenever the underlying rules change, with a fresh review date stamped at the top.
Sources and references
Public sources verified as of the last review date.
Disclaimer
This guide is for educational purpose only. Figures, rates, thresholds, timelines and rules are drawn from public sources at the date shown and may change.
For any concrete decision, consult a licensed US immigration attorney and a cross-border tax attorney.