The full sequence, in order
Almost every Bangladeshi student who stays and works in the US follows the same chain: F-1 study → CPT (optional, during study) → 12-month Optional Practical Training (OPT) → 24-month STEM OPT extension (if eligible) → H-1B lottery → PERM labour certification → employment-based green card. Each link has its own eligibility rules, deadlines and paperwork, and missing one link can end your status even if you did nothing else wrong.
This guide reflects rules known as of August 2026, including the DHS final rule published 17 July 2026 that takes effect 15 September 2026. Immigration rules change; always confirm current requirements at studyinthestates.dhs.gov, uscis.gov, travel.state.gov and bd.usembassy.gov before filing anything.
CPT — work during your studies
Curricular Practical Training lets you do paid internships tied directly to your curriculum (co-op, required internship course) before you graduate, authorised by your Designated School Official (DSO) rather than USCIS.
- 1
Confirm the internship is curriculum-linked
CPT must be an integral or required part of an established curriculum, usually registered as a specific course credit.
- 2
Get DSO authorisation before you start
Working before your CPT is authorised and reflected on your I-20 counts as unauthorised employment — a serious status violation.
- 3
Watch the 12-month full-time CPT trap
12+ months of full-time CPT eliminates your eligibility for OPT afterwards. Part-time CPT (20 hrs/week or less) does not have this effect.
OPT and the 24-month STEM extension
Optional Practical Training gives every F-1 graduate 12 months of work authorisation in their field. Graduates of a degree with a STEM-designated CIP code can extend that by 24 more months — 36 months total — if their employer is enrolled in E-Verify.
| Stage | Length | Key requirement | Filed with |
|---|---|---|---|
| Post-completion OPT | 12 months | Job must be directly related to your degree field | Form I-765 to USCIS |
| 24-month STEM OPT extension | 24 months (36 total) | STEM-designated CIP code degree + E-Verify employer + Form I-983 training plan | Form I-765 (and now also Form I-539, see below) |
| H-1B cap-gap | Bridges OPT to H-1B start | Only if your H-1B petition was filed before your OPT/STEM OPT expires | Automatic extension while petition is pending |
Form I-983 (the STEM OPT training plan) must be signed by your employer and submitted before you apply for the extension, and both you and your employer must complete self-evaluations during the extension period. Employers who are not enrolled in E-Verify cannot sponsor a STEM OPT extension at all — confirm this before accepting an offer.
The July 2026 rule change you must plan around
The H-1B lottery
H-1B is the main employer-sponsored work visa most graduates need after OPT/STEM OPT runs out. It is capped and allocated by lottery, not first-come-first-served.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Registration window | Typically early-to-mid March, before the fiscal-year cap season |
| Regular cap | 65,000 visas per fiscal year |
| Master's cap (advanced degree exemption) | Additional 20,000 visas for US master's degree holders — enter this pool for better odds |
| Cap-exempt employers | Universities, non-profit research organisations and government research bodies can sponsor H-1B without entering the lottery at all |
| Petition filing | Only after your registration is selected does your employer file the full Form I-129 petition |
A US master's degree gives you two lottery entries (regular cap + master's cap) instead of one, which meaningfully improves your odds — this is one of the strongest practical arguments for pursuing a master's rather than stopping at a bachelor's if your budget allows. Cap-exempt roles (university research positions, some hospital and non-profit research roles) are a realistic backup path that avoids the lottery entirely.
The US$100,000 H-1B proclamation — file from inside the US
PERM and the employment-based green card
H-1B is temporary; PERM labour certification is the first formal step most employer-sponsored students take toward permanent residence.
- 1
Employer runs PERM labour certification
Your employer tests the US labour market for the role at prevailing wage before the Department of Labor certifies the position for you specifically.
- 2
File Form I-140 immigrant petition
Typically filed as EB-2 (advanced degree/exceptional ability) or EB-3 (skilled worker/bachelor's degree), each with different visa-category wait times.
- 3
Wait for a visa number, then file I-485 (adjustment of status)
Wait times for Bangladeshi-born applicants are generally far shorter than for India or China, but still vary by category and by USCIS/State Department visa bulletin movement each month.
Never state immigrant intent as an F-1 student
Verify at the official source
OPT, STEM OPT, H-1B lottery numbers, PERM and green card category wait times, and the fixed-admission-period rule described above can all change with new regulations, litigation, or policy memos. Always check current requirements directly on studyinthestates.dhs.gov, uscis.gov, travel.state.gov and bd.usembassy.gov before filing any form or accepting a job offer that depends on a specific visa timeline.
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