Student or Trainee Transitioning to Professional Career 

Our firm advises F-1 students and J-1 exchange visitors on maintaining lawful status, employment authorization, changes of status, and transitioning to employment-based visa options. For F-1 students, this may include planning around CPT, OPT, STEM OPT, the F-1 grace period, and the transition to H-1B or another nonimmigrant status.

F-1 students generally receive a 60-day grace period following completion of their program and authorized post-completion practical training, although different rules apply to early withdrawal or a failure to maintain status. The government has published a regulation that was to take effect on September 15, 2026 to reduce the 60 day grace period to 30 days, but that regulation is currently being challenged in court. Please contact our office for up to date information on F-1 regulations and your status. 

Students selected for a cap-subject H-1B may also qualify for cap-gap protection, which can help bridge the period between the expiration of F-1 status or OPT and the start of H-1B status. Other transitions—including cap-exempt H-1Bs and changes to different visa classifications—require careful planning because cap-gap protection may not be available.

J-1 exchange visitors face their own set of rules. Depending on the program and individual circumstances, issues involving employment authorization, program completion, changes of status, and the two-year home residence requirement can significantly affect future immigration options.

Attorney Jessica White helps students, researchers, professionals, and exchange visitors look beyond their current visa and develop a strategy for what comes next.Your education brought you to the United States. Let us help you plan your next step. Schedule a consultation with Attorney White to discuss your immigration and employment options.