Unemployment on OPT

How much time is allowed for unemployment?

Students on post-completion OPT may not accumulate more than 90 days of unemployment or you will be out of valid F-1 status.
Students who receive a 17-month extension are given an additional 30 days of unemployment for a total of 120 days of unemployment over their entire post-completion OPT period.
Students who have OPT extended due to the H-1B cap gap provisions continue to accrue unemployment time and are subject to the 90-day limitation on unemployment.

What counts as time unemployed?

Each day during the period when OPT authorization begins and ends that the student does not have qualifying employment counts as a day of unemployment.
Periods of up to 10 days between the end of one job and the beginning of the next job will not be included in the calculation for time spent unemployed.
Unemployment time accumulated prior to April 8, 2008 does not count towards the 90 days allowed.

How does travel outside the U.S. impact the period of unemployment?

If the student whose approved period of OPT has started travels outside of the United States while unemployed, the time spent outside the United States will count as unemployment against the 90/120-day limits.
If a student travels while employed either during a period of leave authorized by an employer or as part of their employment, the time spent outside the United States will not count as unemployment.

What is the effect on a student’s status if the student exceeds the period of unemployment?
A student who has exceeded the period of unemployment while on post-completion OPT has violated his or her status unless he or she has taken one of the following actions:

Requested a change of level or transfer from Berkeley International Office (prior to the 90-day limit)
Departed the U.S. and has noted the exit date on the OPT employer reporting web site
Taken action to otherwise maintain legal status (such as apply for a change of status)


	OPT Unemployment Allowances	A-Z Index
Home Students Prospective Students New Students Current Students Exchange Students Practical Training Students Summer Students Returning Students Professors & Researchers Prospective J-1 H-1B TN O-1 Permanent Residents B-1/B-2 Visa Waiver Family UCB Departments Students J-1 Researchers & Faculty H-1B Staff TN Staff O-1 Staff B-1/B-2 Visitors Visa Waiver Visitors Permanent Residents Living at Berkeley Transportation Housing Money Health & Safety Legal Resources Cultural Adjustment Travel & Visas Programs & Workshops Calendar Resource Links About Berkeley International Office Staff Contact US	How much time is allowed for unemployment? Students on post-completion OPT may not accumulate more than 90 days of unemployment or you will be out of valid F-1 status. Students who receive a 17-month extension are given an additional 30 days of unemployment for a total of 120 days of unemployment over their entire post-completion OPT period. Students who have OPT extended due to the H-1B cap gap provisions continue to accrue unemployment time and are subject to the 90-day limitation on unemployment. What counts as time unemployed? Each day during the period when OPT authorization begins and ends that the student does not have qualifying employment counts as a day of unemployment. Periods of up to 10 days between the end of one job and the beginning of the next job will not be included in the calculation for time spent unemployed. Unemployment time accumulated prior to April 8, 2008 does not count towards the 90 days allowed. How does travel outside the U.S. impact the period of unemployment? If the student whose approved period of OPT has started travels outside of the United States while unemployed, the time spent outside the United States will count as unemployment against the 90/120-day limits. If a student travels while employed either during a period of leave authorized by an employer or as part of their employment, the time spent outside the United States will not count as unemployment. What is the effect on a student’s status if the student exceeds the period of unemployment? A student who has exceeded the period of unemployment while on post-completion OPT has violated his or her status unless he or she has taken one of the following actions: Requested a change of level or transfer from Berkeley International Office (prior to the 90-day limit) Departed the U.S. and has noted the exit date on the OPT employer reporting web site Taken action to otherwise maintain legal status (such as apply for a change of status)