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You came to study. Now build a future here.

From F-1 and OPT to your first work visa, the move from student to professional is full of deadlines and unknowns. See your path and prepare with confidence, starting with a free 8-minute check.

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The hardest part isn't graduating. It's what comes next.

Your OPT clock is ticking, the H-1B lottery is looming, and one missed deadline or shaky interview can undo years of work. You're not sure how the OPT-to-H-1B pipeline really works, or who to trust for interview prep. The move from student to professional shouldn't feel like it could fall apart at any moment.

Clarity at every step.

See your path from study to work.
A free 8-minute check maps your OPT, STEM OPT, and H-1B options in plain language, so you know what's next and when.
Get introduced to attorneys early.
Get introduced to attorneys who handle student-to-work transitions, with their credentials in front of you, before deadlines become emergencies.
Keep every deadline and document in one place.
Track your OPT windows, your I-20, and your filings in one place you can check anytime. Nothing slips.
Walk into the interview ready.
Go in prepared, with your documents organized and your case understood, instead of guessing.

Which path applies to your situation.

Every route leads to a deeper explainer built for your situation. Not sure? The free check shows which paths may apply.

We've made this exact move, and we'll help you make it.

Leaving school in a new country, on a clock, is genuinely scary. You shouldn't have to piece together OPT and H-1B rules from a forum thread at 2am. We built Immigration Pathways to give students a clear, trustworthy path forward.

Why people trust Immigration Pathways.

Attorneys experienced in student transitions.
Attorneys you're introduced to handle OPT and H-1B moves every day, with their credentials and the cases they handle in view.
Guidance built for your timeline.
Built specifically for immigration, our technology turns OPT windows and H-1B steps into clear, accurate next steps.
Nothing hidden.
Track your status, documents, and deadlines anytime. No more paying and waiting in silence.
The honest truth.
Your information stays protected, and we tell you the truth about your options, even when it isn't what you hoped to hear.

Three steps to clarity.

A clear path from your first question to an attorney experienced in your situation, with everything in one place.

  1. 01

    Step one.

    Check your eligibility.

    Answer a few questions and get a free read on your OPT, STEM OPT, and H-1B options.

    Check my eligibility
  2. 02

    Step two.

    Build your profile.

    Organize your I-20, your documents, and your deadlines once, in one place.

    Get guidance
  3. 03

    Step three.

    Get introduced to a vetted attorney.

    Work with an attorney experienced in student transitions, in one shared space, before deadlines get tight.

    Start building my case

Turn your degree into a career here.

You'll know your path from OPT to a work visa, you'll have an attorney experienced in this move, and you'll never be caught out by a deadline. The visa stops being the thing that could undo your years of work.

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FAQ

How does the OPT-to-H-1B pipeline actually work?

You finish your degree and apply for up to twelve months of post-completion OPT, filing Form I-765 any time from ninety days before your program end date until sixty days after it. If your degree is on the STEM list and your employer is enrolled in E-Verify and in good standing, you can add a twenty-four month extension. Your employer registers you for the H-1B cap in March; if you're selected, the petition is filed for an October 1 start, and the cap-gap provision extends your status and work authorization to bridge the difference. The parts people underestimate: you need a willing sponsor in place by the autumn, and selection is not guaranteed.

What if I don't get picked in the H-1B lottery?

More options than most people expect. If you still have OPT or STEM OPT time, you can be entered again next season. Cap-exempt employers, universities, their affiliated non-profits, and non-profit or government research organizations, can file at any point in the year, and many hire in exactly the technical and research roles graduates are looking for. Further study returns you to F-1 status. O-1A is open if your record supports it, and EB-2 NIW is a self-petition that doesn't depend on an employer at all. Country-specific routes cover E-3, TN, H-1B1 and E-2. L-1 is possible if you spend a continuous year with a genuinely related entity abroad, though the US role then has to be managerial, executive or specialized-knowledge.

Should I start before or after I graduate?

Before, in almost every case, because the dates are fixed and they arrive sooner than people expect. OPT can be filed from ninety days before your program end date and no later than sixty days after it. The H-1B registration window falls in March, so a sponsorship conversation in the autumn is not early. Evidence-based cases like O-1 or a national interest waiver take months to put together, because the evidence has to be gathered rather than described. Starting early costs nothing and widens what's available to you, the eligibility check is free and takes about [10] minutes.

Can you help me prepare for my visa interview?

Yes. Your attorney runs the preparation itself: what to bring, how the questions relate to the case filed for you, and what the officer is assessing, which for F-1 applicants includes your funding, your ties and your intentions. What the platform does is to make sure your documents, filing history and case details sit in one place you and your attorney can both see, rather than scattered across old email in the week before you travel.

What documents do I need to keep ready?

Your passport; every I-20 you've been issued, signed, not only the current one; your I-94 records; all visa stamps, including expired ones; any EAD cards; SEVIS fee receipts; transcripts and degree certificates; offer letters and employment verification; pay records for any period you've worked; and your I-983 training plan if you're on STEM OPT. Keep copies of everything ever filed for you, including anything denied or that drew an RFE. Prior filings and prior refusals shape what's possible now, and they're the single most common thing people forget to mention.

How do the attorney introductions work?

Once you've completed the eligibility check and created your profile to organize your information, we introduce you to licensed immigration attorneys whose practice covers your visa category and jurisdiction. Each attorney has been verified: bar admission, experience, and practice focus.


You review the introductions, choose who you'd like to speak with, and have your consultation. You are never obligated to hire anyone we introduce you to, and the attorney is never obligated to take your case. Immigration Pathways is not a law firm and not a lawyer referral service. We don't select an attorney for you or steer you toward one; we introduce you to attorneys whose stated practice covers your situation, and the choice is yours.

How much does the whole process cost?

There are two parts. The eligibility check and organizing your information on Immigration Pathways are free. Legal fees are set by the attorney you choose, agreed directly between you and them, and shown to you before you commit. Government filing fees are separate and set by USCIS and the State Department.


Attorneys on the platform quote fixed-scope fees wherever the case allows, so you know the cost of each stage up front rather than paying by the hour. We don't add a percentage to your attorney's fee, and we never charge you for an introduction.

Is this legal advice?

No. Immigration Pathways is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. The eligibility check, the pathway information on this site, and anything our team tells you are general information to help you understand your options and organize your case. They are not a legal opinion about your situation, and using the platform does not create an attorney-client relationship with us.


Legal advice comes from the licensed immigration attorney you choose to work with. Your attorney–client relationship is with them, your communications with them are protected in the ordinary way, and they are responsible for your legal strategy and filings.