How the count works
Unemployment days start on the EAD start date. Each day without employer information in your record counts as one unemployment day, and the days add up over the whole OPT period. They do not have to be in a row. The SEVIS Unemployment Counter works this way, and the limits come from 8 CFR 214.2(f)(10)(ii)(E).
| OPT period | Unemployment days allowed |
|---|---|
| Post-completion OPT only | 90 |
| Post-completion OPT and STEM OPT extension | 150 in total, including the days already used on post-completion OPT |
Filling in the tracker
- EAD start date: the first day of work authorization on your EAD.
- STEM OPT start date: only if you have a STEM OPT extension. From that date the limit is 150 days.
- Employment periods: one row for each job, with the first and last day worked. Leave the end date empty for a job that is still going. Rows that overlap are counted once.
- Check date: the day you want the count for. It starts as today.
Compare the result with the counter in your SEVIS record, which your DSO can show you. The day-by-day rules are in how SEVIS counts unemployment days, and the job types that count are in what counts as employment.
Updated: November 4, 2026