OPT

Hello everyone, I’d like to share you about my volunteering experience during my first year of OPT. As all F-1 students are aware of, we have 90 days grace period to find a job before we run out of time and are forced to go back home.
I experienced the same situation, I was running out of time and got anxious of my situation and finally I decided to volunteer for a nonprofit organization. The volunteer program was great, I committed 21 hours per week and most importantly, the program gave me enough time to apply for jobs, send out resumes, and improve my skills. Eventually, I landed a job offer and left the program.
Most students who are on their first year of OPT never knew that they can volunteer for a nonprofit organization and stay in status, so I encourage everyone to apply for volunteering positions as well. If you want to know more, feel free to reach out to me, I’d be happy to answer your questions.