Table 12
Work-authorized participants in the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program (F-1 visa), 2008–2014
| Year | Total OPT approvals | STEM OPT extension approvals (subset of total OPT approvals) |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 28,497 | 1,143 |
| 2009 | 90,896 | 5,237 |
| 2010 | 96,916 | 9,984 |
| 2011 | 105,357 | 12,961 |
| 2012 | 115,303 | 15,827 |
| 2013 | 123,328 | 19,034 |
| 2014 | unavailable | 21,513 |
| Total | 560,297 | 85,699 |
Notes: Numbers represent approvals of employment authorization applications for OPT. STEM OPT extensions are available to F-1 visa holders with degrees in qualifying “STEM” fields (science, technology, engineering, or math). STEM OPT extension approvals are a subset of total OPT approvals. All references to a particular year should be understood to mean the U.S. government’s fiscal year (October 1–September 30).
Sources: U.S. GAO 2014; STEM OPT extension data acquired from DHS through a FOIA request
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