Does the new D/S rule mean I need to find a job in 30 days while on OPT?
FAQ.
Answered by Jennifer Glass, Immigration Coordinator of the International Student Resource Center
Last updated: August, 2026
Does the new D/S rule mean I need to find a job in 30 days while on OPT?
No. The new D/S rule is making a change to the F-1 departure or “grace” period after program completion, not to the allowable unemployment days during OPT.
In the OPT context, the grace period is the period of time after graduation that F-1 students have to select their preferred OPT start date from. That period is what will be shortening from 60 days to 30 days. But from your selected start date, you’ll still continue to have 90 days of unemployment allowed during post-completion OPT, plus an additional 60 during the STEM OPT Extension, if applicable.
Other OPT notes
Transition provisions within the new D/S rule allow F-1 students who are inside the U.S. when the rule goes into effect, who don’t travel, and who are eligible and apply for OPT or the STEM OPT Extension on or before March 18, 2027 to only file their I-765 employment authorization application (essentially, they can skip the extension of stay (EOS) application)
Note that even though the transition provisions allow F-1 students to retain your 60-day grace period, there is some uncertainty about requesting the post-completion OPT start date more than 30 days after graduation. Please consult with your DSO to discuss the related risks and concerns.
Related Resources
ISRC’s D/S rule FAQ
ISRC’s Summary of D/S rule
