Immigration

Your F-1 visa is the foundation of everything else in your American journey. One mistake here—even an innocent one—can end your stay. This section teaches you to protect your status like it's your most valuable possession, because it is.

Optional Practical Training is your bridge from student to professional. It's also the phase where most immigrants make career-ending mistakes. You have 12 months of work authorization—and a 90-day unemployment limit that can end your stay. Master this section or risk losing everything you've built.

If you have a STEM degree, you can extend your work authorization by 24 additional months—giving you 36 total months and three shots at the H-1B lottery instead of one. This is the single biggest advantage STEM graduates have. But the paperwork is complex and the reporting requirements are strict. Get this wrong and you lose the extension.

The H-1B is the most common path from student to long-term worker in America. It's also a lottery—literally. With 85,000 visas and 400,000+ applicants, your odds are around 20-25%. But starting in 2026, the lottery is wage-weighted, meaning higher-paid workers get more entries. This section teaches you how to maximize your chances and what to do if you don't win.

The green card is the endgame—permanent residency means you can live and work in America forever, change jobs freely, and eventually become a citizen. But the path is long, expensive, and for some nationalities, measured in decades. Understanding your options early lets you start building evidence and making strategic career moves years before you file.

The O-1 visa is for individuals with 'extraordinary ability' in their field. Unlike H-1B, there's no lottery and no annual cap—if you qualify and have a sponsor, you can get it any time of year. The evidence requirements are higher, but for ambitious professionals building a track record, O-1 is increasingly the smarter path. It's also excellent preparation for an EB-1A green card later.

H-1B isn't the only way. Depending on your situation—multinational company experience, investment capital, or family connections—you might have faster or more reliable paths available. These alternatives are often overlooked but can be game-changers for the right person.