F-1 → OPT → H-1B → Green Card → Citizenship.

Here’s the detailed timeline:

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1. F-1 Student Visa

• Duration: Length of degree (Bachelor’s, Master’s, PhD).

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2. OPT / STEM OPT

• After graduation → 12 months OPT.

• If in STEM → 24-month STEM OPT extension.

• So total work authorization on F-1 = 1–3 years before H-1B.

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3. H-1B Visa (Work Visa)

• Valid for 3 years, extendable to 6 years.

• During this period, the employer typically starts the PERM labor certification and green card process.

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4. Green Card (Employment Based EB-2/EB-3)

• PERM + I-140 approval: ~1–2 years.

• Priority Date Wait Time: The biggest delay.

  • For India: Extremely backlogged. Right now, EB-2/EB-3 wait can be 10–20+ years.

  • For most other countries: 1–3 years.

So:

• Indian F-1 → H-1B → EB-2/3 green card: 15–25 years total wait.

• Non-Indian/Chinese students: 6–8 years is more typical.

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5. Citizenship (Naturalization)

• After green card, you must wait:

  • 5 years (normal path).

  • 3 years if married to a U.S. citizen.

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✅ Total Timeline Example (Indian Student)

• F-1 + OPT + H-1B: 6–8 years before green card queue even starts.

• EB-2/3 backlog: ~10–20 years.

• Citizenship: +5 years.

👉 So an Indian student on the F-1 → H-1B path may take 20–30 years from arrival to become a U.S. citizen.

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✅ Total Timeline Example (Other Countries)

• F-1 + OPT + H-1B + green card: ~6–8 years.

• Citizenship: +5 years.

• 11–13 years total from arrival to U.S. citizenship.