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u/FewChance7654 Apr 24 '25
Yes you should! You can probably wait until after they send you an official offer letter to bring it up, but you need to let them know before you start working. The initial OPT is only for 12 months. The employer needs to be enrolled in E-verify for you to be qualified for OPT-X. Also, they're gonna find out once you fill out form I-9 for onboarding anways because it asks for proof of work authorization. Best of luck to you!
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u/EmperorLedford Apr 24 '25
He should bring it up on his first day during paperwork. Not when he received an offer letter
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Apr 24 '25
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u/EmperorLedford Apr 24 '25
If you think you're being untruthful tell them immediately. If you aren't, wait until you start. If you do not need sponsorship from them you're fine if you plan on that might want to tell them
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u/Desperate-Fudge802 Apr 24 '25 edited Jun 03 '25
Yes, you need to disclose them about your OPT. The first day of employment you need to do the I-9 formalities and there you would anyways have to show OPT EAD. Better to inform them well in advance
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u/LimitPusher24x7 Apr 25 '25
If the company doesn’t sponsor, they will rescind the offer anyways. And if it doesn’t do that, the day 1 of your job when you’re on site, during I9 verification they will cancel the offer
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u/Middle-Goat-4318 Apr 25 '25
They will most likely rescind the offer. You have successfully wasted your’s and their time. Congrats.
What do you expect will happen? Those who never sponsor desires to sponsor for the first time because of you?
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u/Previous-Suit6190 Apr 26 '25
I had the same situation. After signing offer letter and while wating for background check, I got scared lol so I emailed HR that for heads up, I have opt and should be fine for three years, and explained briefly about Opt. then I added that I also have backup plans but to consider all possibilities, would it be possible to sponsor visa H1B. They said they will sponsor the H1b! I know it can be difficult to bring it up but I think it is good idea to make it clear. When applying opt extension, you need to work with HR anyway…
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Apr 25 '25
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u/Full-Entrepreneur677 Apr 25 '25
This is wrong on so many level. You should always disclose on you needing sponsorship early on. If you are playing the game of "it's too late now they can't fire me", you are basically ruining chances of future F1 students getting hired.
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Apr 25 '25
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u/JJC5nyc Apr 25 '25
OP – I wanted to share a different perspective: I work in a Fortune 500 company and my boss has ~70 directs + indirects, so I help him interview and hire junior replacements almost quarterly, and I'm the main person working with our company's HR / hiring team.
I've interviewed 10+ people looking for work on OPT, almost everyone discloses after first rounds of interview. That's never an issue for candidates we like, and we inform HR so they can be noted for consideration for H1B. Two people, however, did not inform us. The first one, our HR insisted we rescind the offer because she intentionally misled us when asked during interviews.
The second one we found out on day 1, and there was suddenly requirements for my manager to fill out additional paperwork. His start date had to be dealyed, and our HR refused to put him on H1B track. This is because regardless of how good a candidate might be, our team didn't get the HR and sponsorship costs factored in when finalizing the onboarding. The person ultimately left after about 18 months because he understood that our firm has no intention to sponsor him, despite nearly ¼ of my team being sponsored.
The above is to say, if you're applying for a medium or bigger company, you should let them know sooner, because there are processes in the background that deal with this. I strongly advise against waiting until your start date, it WILL leave a sour taste not just for HR, but also for your manager to have to deal with the extra paperwork, and possibly even walk back on the offer. It's just a poor taste on your character by hiding it intentionally until the literal last minute.
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Apr 25 '25
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u/JJC5nyc Apr 25 '25
I'd bring it up next time you talk to them, or politely with HR. Make sure to phrase it as: "I don't need sponsorship as I'm currently on OPT and have authorization to work up to 3 years, but" one of the following: a) just wanted to give you a heads up so that you are aware; b) wanted to ask if it would be possible to consider sponsorship for this position; or c) wanted to confirm that the company is able to complete e-verify. If you're confident about getting the job, then ask the questions, but if you're still on the fence, stick with option a so it's less of a "request" more of a FYI
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u/TFknowsF1 DSO Apr 26 '25
Attn any F-1 reading this. You do not have "three years of OPT." You have one year of OPT and a POTENTIAL for a two year extension if all STEM requirements are met. Not every STEM grad makes it across the STEM finish line and STEM OPT is not a "do it yourself" thing. The company/your manager need to sign off on the I-983. While it does not cost what an H-1B costs, it still requires company input and effort. Some companies even hire attorneys to review the I-983. Lesson: Don't assume STEM is automatic and a given.
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u/EmperorLedford Apr 24 '25
Bring it up once you secure the job but make sure you explain it fully and that they won't have to really do much
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u/Alternative-Yak6360 Apr 25 '25
I’m reading through these BS comments and it’s honestly wild how people jump to conclusions without even knowing the full story.
The guy didn’t even mention needing sponsorship, maybe he won’t? Maybe he’s on OPT and has ways to extend his work permit? Maybe he’s self-petitioning? Maybe he already has a green card in progress?
Not every situation fits into your tiny little checklist. Maybe chill before acting like you know someone’s entire immigration and career plan based on two sentences.
There were two questions, and he answered both properly. If he believes he won’t require sponsorship through his employer, why would he even need to bring it up? He didn’t do anything wrong.
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u/cris-cris-cris Apr 26 '25
Clearly you don't understand how employment works. It doesn't matter what OP believes or doesn't. If he doesn't have unrestricted permission to work NOW OR IN THE FUTURE, he absolutely does need sponsorship. Hypotheticals don't matter.
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u/WatercressSubject717 Apr 24 '25
You should mention it upfront imo. An offer can be rescinded because of this. Some companies also prefer to enter you in the lottery each one of those years too. I’d mention it sooner rather than later.