OPT Unemployment Days Calculator
Count every uncovered calendar day, merge overlapping jobs, and see how much of the 90-day or combined 150-day limit remains. Your dates stay in this browser session.
See the gaps, not just a total
This OPT unemployment days calculator merges overlapping jobs, identifies every uncovered calendar-day gap, and compares the result with the 90-day or combined 150-day limit.
Post-completion OPT
Aggregate unemployment limit
90 days
OPT plus STEM OPT
Combined aggregate limit
150 days
How days are counted
Weekends inside an unemployed gap count too
Calendar days
Important
Take this gap-by-gap result to your DSO to confirm qualifying employment, match the dates with SEVIS, and review any circumstances specific to your case.
Quick answer
The OPT unemployment limit is cumulative
Separate gaps add together. A ten-day gap before one job and a fifteen-day gap before the next job use twenty-five unemployment days. Starting a new role stops the clock for qualifying employment, but it does not erase the days already used.
| Authorization period | Aggregate limit | What to enter here |
|---|---|---|
| Post-completion OPT | 90 days | |
| OPT plus STEM OPT | 150 days |
How the count works
From your EAD start date to the day you check
The OPT unemployment days calculator builds one calendar from the valid-from date on your EAD through the count-through date. It marks the employment periods you enter, merges dates when two jobs overlap, and treats every remaining calendar date as an uncovered day. Weekends and federal holidays are not removed from an unemployment gap.
Job dates are inclusive in the calculation. If a job starts on June 10, June 10 is treated as employed. If the final date on your record is June 30, June 30 is treated as employed and an uncovered gap can begin on July 1. Correct those entries if your actual employment records use different effective dates.
Use simple job labels such as “first role” or “current employer” to keep your timeline easy to read and private. Dates and labels are enough; keep EINs, receipt numbers, SEVIS IDs, and other sensitive identifiers out of the calculator.
Copy dates from the EAD
Use the valid-from date and expiration date printed on the card or official authorization record.
Add every employment period
Include prior and current qualifying roles. The calculator safely merges overlaps.
Inspect every gap
Review the start, end, and length of each uncovered period rather than trusting only the total.
Verify the record with your DSO
Use the result to compare your own documents with the dates recorded in SEVIS and resolve discrepancies.
Take a clear employment history to your DSO
- Confirm how each role relates to your major.
- Review the requirements for any self-employment or contract work.
- Check hours and any applicable employer, E-Verify, or I-983 requirements.
- Match the dates in your calculator result with your SEVIS record.
- Bring any unusual circumstances to your DSO for review.
Worked example
Two gaps count together
Imagine an EAD begins January 1. The first qualifying job begins January 20, so January 1 through January 19 is a 19-day gap. That job ends April 30. A second qualifying job begins May 16, so May 1 through May 15 is another 15-day gap.
The OPT unemployment days total is 34 days. The student does not reset to zero on May 16. Under a 90-day post-completion OPT limit, 56 days remain. If that second role is ongoing on the count-through date, the calculator does not project another limit date because the entered history currently shows employment.
Use dates from qualifying, correctly reported employment to build the same gap-by-gap record for your own timeline. Save that record for your next DSO conversation.
Common questions
OPT unemployment days FAQ
How many unemployment days are allowed on OPT?+
Official SEVP guidance describes an aggregate limit of 90 days during post-completion OPT. A student with a STEM OPT extension has a combined aggregate limit of 150 days across the post-completion OPT and STEM OPT periods.
Do weekends count as OPT unemployment days?+
An unemployment gap is counted in calendar days, so weekends and holidays inside the gap are included. This calculator counts each uncovered date once, even when you have overlapping employment records.
When does the OPT unemployment clock start?+
The calculator starts on the valid-from date printed on the EAD, not the I-765 filing date and not the program end date. Enter the dates from your actual authorization documents and verify them with your DSO.
How do I confirm which employment dates to count?+
Count the dates of qualifying employment and compare them with your SEVIS history. Your DSO can help confirm degree relevance, required hours, and reporting rules. Use the calculator to identify the gaps you want to discuss.
How should I count unemployment after a job ends?+
Enter the last date you were employed as the job end date. The following uncovered calendar day begins the gap in this calculator. If your employer or DSO uses a different effective date, correct the entry before relying on the total.
What if I already passed 90 or 150 days?+
Save your dates and gap list, compare them with your SEVIS employment history, and contact your DSO or qualified immigration counsel promptly to review your situation and next steps.
Verify the rule at the source
Review the current ICE Practical Training guidance and DHS STEM OPT Hub. Guidance can change, and your DSO can compare it with your actual SEVIS record.
Still waiting for the EAD?
Compare your Regular and Premium planning paths first.