Visa Intelligence

OPT Clock Optimizer

Track your OPT remaining time and see how ghost jobs waste your visa clock.

Visa Tier Feature

Calculate Your OPT Status

The date on your EAD card (Employment Authorization Document)

Total days without employment since OPT started (max 90 for regular, 150 for STEM)

Understanding Your OPT Clock

Regular OPT

  • - 12 months of work authorization
  • - 90 days maximum unemployment allowed
  • - Available to all F-1 students after completing a degree

STEM OPT Extension

  • - 36 months total (12 + 24 extension)
  • - 150 days maximum unemployment allowed
  • - Requires STEM-designated degree and E-Verify employer

Why Ghost Jobs Are Dangerous for OPT Holders

Unlike U.S. citizens or permanent residents, OPT holders operate on a strict countdown. Every day of unemployment ticks against your 90 or 150-day limit. When that limit runs out, your legal status is at risk - regardless of how many days remain on your EAD.

Ghost job postings - listings that companies post with no intention of filling - are especially harmful to OPT holders. Each fake application burns an average of 14 days of active job search time: researching the company, tailoring your resume, writing a cover letter, and waiting for a response that never comes.

By scanning job postings with Hire4Real.fyi before applying, you can focus your limited time on real opportunities and protect your visa clock from being wasted on ghost jobs.