OPT Timeline Calculator (2026): Filing Window, Unemployment & Cap-Gap

Last updated2026-10-06Reviewed byEditorial review

In 60 seconds

Not legal advice. Your DSO is the authority for OPT recommendations and SEVIS.
Initial post-completion I-765 window: program end − 90 days through program end + 60 days, and generally within 30 days of the DSO recommendation.
Unemployment: 90 days on initial OPT; 150 cumulative days if you later hold STEM OPT.
Cap-gap planning uses an April 1 end (not Oct 1) when the H-1B path applies — confirm with DSO / counsel.
Next step: assemble the packet with the free OPT document checklist.

This page is part of the OPT and STEM OPT — complete guide cluster. Use the calculator for planning dates only. For packet exhibits and denial traps, open the checklist. For common filing errors, see Form I-765 OPT application: the eight common mistakes that get it denied.

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OPT / STEM OPT timeline calculator

Not legal advice. Your DSO controls I-20 recommendations and SEVIS. These dates are arithmetic planning aids only — confirm live USCIS instructions before you file. Filing one day late can mean denial.

Disclaimers & official sources (rules reviewed 2026-10-06)

Informational only — not legal advice.
DSO is the authority for I-20 recommendations, SEVIS, and school-specific quirks.
Arithmetic dates do not account for RFEs, biometrics delays, prior OPT/CPT quirks, or dependents.
Filing one day late can mean denial — confirm current USCIS instructions before filing.
Cap-gap / H-1B paths are petition-dependent; this tool shows planning windows only.
YouSafe Consultancy provides document preparation / education; not a law firm unless a licensed attorney is separately engaged via the marketplace.

How to use this calculator

Enter the I-20 program end date (not the graduation ceremony date).
Say whether your CIP code is on the DHS STEM list and whether you are already on post-completion OPT.
If you are on OPT, enter the EAD end date so STEM filing and unemployment totals can appear.
Optional: preferred start date, prior full-time CPT days at the same level, and the cap-gap planning toggle.
After you calculate, open the OPT document checklist and meet your DSO before requesting an OPT recommendation.

What this does not do

It does not file Form I-765 or talk to USCIS/SEVIS for you.
It does not replace your DSO's recommendation timing or school policy.
It does not store your dates on our servers — computation stays in your browser.
It does not score H-1B lottery odds or generate CPT authorizations.

Is this calculator legal advice?

No. It is an educational planning tool. Immigration outcomes depend on your facts, school policy, and current USCIS/SEVP rules. Confirm every date with your DSO and the live Form I-765 instructions before filing.

Why do you show April 1 for cap-gap instead of October 1?

DHS updated F-1 cap-gap extension timing so eligible students can remain covered through April 1 of the relevant fiscal year when the H-1B petition path applies. Cap-gap is petition-dependent — confirm with your DSO or counsel and read the Study in the States / USCIS cap-gap pages linked in the sources.

Do you save the dates I enter?

No. The calculator runs entirely in your browser for this session. We do not ask for your name, email, SEVIS ID, or passport number on this page.

This guide is general information, not legal advice for your specific situation. A licensed attorney or regulated adviser should review your documents before you rely on a strategy or deadline.