Navigating the complex landscape of U.S. visas and training programs is a significant challenge for international students and workers. Our project, Pathway Plotter, aims to provide clear, comprehensive visualizations to support decision-making for those pursuing CPT, OPT/Stem, and H-1B work authorizations.
By integrating data from the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) and the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), we've created a one-stop platform presenting actionable insights and trends around educational and professional pathways.
Our ultimate goal is to facilitate the information-gathering process for international students and workers, enabling them to achieve their academic and professional aspirations more strategically.
Last Updated: May 2024
Follow along below to see how companies, cities, and academic or professional opportunities vary for visa holders seeking work authorization in the United States. For F-1 students currently seeking authorizations, view our CPT & OPT page. For those pursuing employer sponsored authorization, view our section on H-1B.
View the top companies sponsoring international students for CPT, OPT, OPT Stem, and H-1B work authorizations.
View where the top companies sponsoring international students for CPT, OPT, OPT Stem, and H-1B work authorizations are located across the United States. While this does not guarantee employer sponsorship, cities with a greater concentration of employers willing to work with international applicants positively correlate to the number of opportunities available.
The following measure the number of successful CPT & OPT work authorizations by area of study at institutions for higher education and total petitions for H-1B by occupation industry. The latter are not necessarily approved, but simply petitioned for H-1B visas by sponsoring employers.
F-1 (CPT, OPT, OPT Stem) Data
H-1B Immigration & Citizenship Data
Characteristics of H-1B Specialty Occupation Workers - Annual Report to Congress