OPT Intern Jobs

Intern roles are one of the most OPT-accessible job types in the U.S. Most internships align naturally with a degree field, satisfying the direct relationship requirement USCIS expects. Your OPT work must be at least 20 hours per week, paid or unpaid, with a start date that matches your authorized period.

Find OPT Intern Jobs

Overview

Open Jobs785+
Work Type94% On-site
Top LocationSan Jose, CA
Most JobsWalgreens

Showing 5 of 785+ Intern jobs

ENGIE
Engineering Intern
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ENGIE
Added 4d ago
Engineering Intern
ENGIE
Columbus, Ohio
Specialized Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Engineering (Non-Software)
$24 - $33/hr
On-Site
Bachelor's
10,000+

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CVS Health
Graduate Pharmacy Intern
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CVS Health
Added 1w ago
Graduate Pharmacy Intern
CVS Health
Mogadore, Ohio
Allied Health
Healthcare Administration
Pharmacy
Patient Services & Wellbeing
$23 - $42/hr
On-Site
Doctorate
10,000+

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New York City Department of Education
Agency Attorney Intern
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New York City Department of Education
Added 2w ago
Agency Attorney Intern
New York City Department of Education
Brooklyn, New York
Compliance & Legal
Legal Counsel
$78k - $83k/yr
On-Site
Doctorate
10,000+

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Newsbreak
Growth Engineer Intern
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Newsbreak
Added 3w ago
Growth Engineer Intern
Newsbreak
Mountain View, California
Marketing
Product Management
Data Science & Analytics
Software Engineering
Growth Marketing
Data Science
$40 - $60/hr
On-Site
Bachelor's

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Aramark
Human Resources Intern
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Aramark
Added 1mo ago
Human Resources Intern
Aramark
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Human Resources
Recruiting & Talent Acquisition
Administrative & Office Support
Human Resources (HR) — Generalist
On-Site
Bachelor's
10,000+

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Tips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as an Intern

Confirm the role qualifies for OPT before applying

Your internship must be directly related to your degree field. A computer science student working a marketing intern role may not meet USCIS's qualifying employment standard. Check the job description carefully before submitting your application.

Clarify OPT authorization early in the process

Many hiring managers confuse OPT with H-1B visa sponsorship. In your first communication, explain that OPT is your existing work authorization and requires nothing from the employer except a job offer and basic employment verification.

Verify the 20-hour minimum before accepting an offer

USCIS requires OPT employment to be at least 20 hours per week. Part-time internships under that threshold count as unemployment and erode your 90-day unemployment limit. Confirm weekly hours in writing before signing any offer.

Track your employment for your SEVIS record

You must report your internship employer to your DSO within 10 days of starting. Keep the company name, address, supervisor contact, and start date ready. Gaps or late reporting can jeopardize your OPT status and future visa eligibility.

Apply well before your OPT start date

Internship cycles move quickly, especially for summer roles. Start applying two to three months before your OPT authorization begins so you have an offer lined up when your EAD arrives. Late applications risk missing entire hiring windows.

Target employers with a history of hiring international students

Companies that have previously hired OPT students are far less likely to hesitate over authorization questions. Migrate Mate surfaces intern roles from employers already familiar with OPT, reducing friction at the offer stage.

Intern OPT: Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work as an unpaid intern on OPT?

Yes, unpaid internships are allowed under OPT as long as the role is directly related to your degree field and meets at least 20 hours per week. However, unpaid roles still count toward your 90-day unemployment limit if they fall below 20 hours, so confirm the schedule before accepting.

Does my internship have to be in a specific industry to qualify for OPT?

The internship must be directly related to your degree field, but there is no restriction on industry. A mechanical engineering student can intern at a startup, a hospital, or a manufacturing firm, as long as the work itself uses the knowledge from their program. The field relationship matters, not the employer's sector.

What happens if my internship ends before my OPT period expires?

You have a 90-day unemployment limit across your entire OPT authorization period. If your internship ends early, that clock resumes immediately. You can accept another qualifying internship or full-time role to pause it. Use Migrate Mate to search for OPT-eligible intern roles if you need to find something quickly after a position ends.

Can I do multiple part-time internships at the same time on OPT?

Yes. You can work multiple part-time intern roles simultaneously, and the hours across all positions count together toward the 20-hour weekly minimum. Each employer must be reported to your DSO separately. Make sure each role is related to your degree field, since USCIS evaluates qualifying employment on a position-by-position basis.

Do internship employers need to file any paperwork for my OPT?

No. Unlike H-1B, OPT requires no petition, no filing fee, and no government paperwork from your employer. Your EAD card is your work authorization. The employer simply needs to verify your eligibility using Form I-9, accept your EAD as a valid work document, and confirm the start date aligns with your authorized period.