(Replying to PARENT post)

How can startups more effectively use the OPT program? (I work at a university) I see a lot of graduating international students who would love to stay in the US post graduation and work at startups but navigating that seems difficult for startups.

👤brianbreslin🕑2y🔼0🗨️0

(Replying to PARENT post)

Isn't OPT quite simple for the employer compared to H1-B, etc.?

For the basic OPT, you don't really do any paperwork--the school and student do some paperwork and obtain an EAD that you use for the I-9 form.

For the STEM OPT extension, you have to be participating in E-Verify (required in many states anyway), and fill out a training plan for the two years: https://www.ice.gov/doclib/sevis/pdf/i983.pdf

I think the bigger issue is continuity--employers that plan to convert these to other visa types for continue employment will need to be planning for that from the beginning to avoid interruptions.

👤morpheuskafka🕑2y🔼0🗨️0