OPTs and 90 Days: International Students on the Move

Juan Wulff, studying sports science, is graduating this week and his last semester has been a swirl of emotions.

“When I got here to America, studying was my priority. I’m anxious because I’ll be something new—to work a more professional life. To apply all that I studied for the past five years.”

Wulff is from Venezuela and is thankful to be graduating from Barry University. But like many young people with a fresh diploma, it is all so daunting.

“And I’m anxious also, too, because people say it is hard to find a lot of opportunities in the US, but in reality there are, you just have to look for them—you have to move. Because you’re not only competing against other internationals but also Americans. But yeah, I have anxiety over that: the experience of lots of new things, important things, and things that will determine if I can stay here in the US or go back to my country,” he said.

He hopes to work in Miami for three years, but he has to opt-in for an Optional Practical Training application (OPT), the work authorization in their degree field.

But for Wulff, international students’ biggest obstacles are the restrictions imposed on them beyond language and cultural barriers.

“For example, to opt-in for OPT, you need to study in the US the whole time to only afterward work off-campus. And if you work on-campus then you earn less than if you did off-campus,” he said.

The 90 Day Deadline

“Work experience has always been a challenge. Because students who are on an F-1 or J-1 visa are usually typically restrictions as far as the work options. They’re limited to working on campus, however, anything off-campus does have to be approved,” said Frederique Frage, the program manager for the International and Multicultural Program and Barry’s designated school official for students here on a visa.

Carla Davila, a master’s student about to graduate soon as well in sports and exercise psychology, is from Peru. For those in sports sciences, it is already harder to find a place in the field of sports sciences in the US. Imagine being a student and having another pressing deadline to find one within 90 days during your last semester.

“I feel excited but at the same time it’s scary, Since I’m an international student I have this time frame that I have to find a job. And my major and what I want to do for work is mental performance and it’s not that common and it is hard to find jobs. So, I have this time frame of 90 days from my start date that I put my OPT form for and I need to find this job. So, it is a bit rushed. I have been looking for this job since the end of January, so the beginning of this semester while I was finishing grad school—which is a lot to take in. and doing interviews and visiting the jobs and trying to find the best option and—it is not peaceful to have this time frame. I’m not in peace with myself,” she said.

Having this peace at this point in your life is a luxury for many.

‘I need to find this job and I don’t know if this is the one for me’ or ‘I can find something better’ are Davila's thoughts when she sees a posting, but they get pushed out with the looming deadline.

“At the beginning, I didn’t cope that well. I was stressed and I was doing nothing because I had too many things and I was just not doing anything and I realized that this is not the way that I’m gonna cope with,” she said. “At the beginning, I wasn’t working out as I usually do, so I prioritized my health and also eating well—because that was also something I was lacking because I was stressed and didn’t think I had the time.”

Davila has the time to really search well only after she walks the stage. She has until August to find and accept the perfect job.

“Not being happy at my job. That is my main concern. Also, moving to somewhere new, if I am moving. I would love to stay in Miami,” she said.

Having to work full-time is intimidating for her. But it is only the actual transition into this professional life that will elevate Davila’s fears.

It’s the final stretch for these two. Moving physically and professionally is their life. And the only way to keep a better life.