F-1 Student Visa to Green Card in Irvine: Pathways for Arab Students

F-1 to Green Card Pathways Overview

OPT and STEM OPT as Stepping Stones

1. 1
   Apply for Pre-Completion or Post-Completion OPT

   File Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, with USCIS up to 90 days before your program end date and no later than 60 days after. The filing fee is $410. Your school's Designated School Official (DSO) must recommend OPT in SEVIS before you file. Processing takes 3-5 months, so apply early

2. 2
   Receive Your Employment Authorization Document (EAD)

   USCIS issues a card (Form I-766) authorizing you to work. Your 12-month OPT period begins on the start date you requested or the day after your program end date, whichever is later. You must find employment related to your major within 90 days or risk losing OPT status

3. 3
   Begin Working in Your Field

   Work for any employer in a position related to your degree field. Report your employer information to your DSO within 10 days of starting work. You can work for multiple employers, start a business, or do freelance work as long as it relates to your field

4. 4
   Apply for STEM OPT Extension (If Eligible)

   If your degree is in a STEM-designated field (CIP codes on the STEM Designated Degree Program List), you can apply for a 24-month extension. Your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify. File Form I-765 with a new I-20 endorsed by your DSO up to 90 days before your current OPT expires. The filing fee is $410

5. 5
   Use STEM OPT Period to Secure H-1B Sponsorship

   The 36 total months of OPT/STEM OPT give you up to 3 chances to be selected in the H-1B lottery (held each March/April for October start dates). Work with your employer to prepare the H-1B petition well before the registration period. The H-1B cap is 85,000 per year with a selection rate of approximately 25-30%

6. 6
   Maintain Status During Transitions

   During the cap-gap period (from OPT expiration to H-1B start date on October 1), your work authorization and F-1 status are automatically extended if you have a pending or approved H-1B petition. Keep all employment records and pay stubs as evidence of continuous work authorization

H-1B Sponsorship Path

• •H-1B basics: The H-1B is a temporary work visa for specialty occupations requiring at least a bachelor's degree. It is valid for 3 years, renewable once for a total of 6 years. The annual cap is 65,000 visas plus 20,000 for U.S. master's degree or higher holders
• •Employer sponsorship required: Your employer files Form I-129, Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker, on your behalf. The employer pays the base filing fee of $460 plus additional fees totaling $1,500-$4,000 depending on company size. The total employer cost is typically $5,000-$10,000 including legal fees
• •H-1B lottery: Because demand far exceeds the 85,000 cap, USCIS conducts a random selection (lottery). The registration period opens in early March each year. Registration fee is $215 per beneficiary. In recent years, the selection rate has been approximately 25-30%
• •Cap-exempt employers: Universities, nonprofit research organizations, and government research institutions are exempt from the H-1B cap. If you work for UCI or another qualifying institution, your employer can file an H-1B at any time without lottery selection
• •Prevailing wage requirement: The employer must pay you at least the prevailing wage for your occupation in the Irvine area as determined by the Department of Labor. For most professional positions in Irvine, this ranges from $75,000 to $150,000+ depending on the role and experience level
• •H-1B to green card: Once on H-1B, your employer can begin the green card process through PERM labor certification. If your PERM is filed before your 6th year on H-1B, your H-1B can be extended beyond 6 years in 1-year or 3-year increments
• •Arab students from certain countries may face additional administrative processing (Section 221(g)) during H-1B visa stamping. Allow extra processing time if you need to travel and re-enter on an H-1B visa

EB-2/EB-3 Employment-Based Green Card

1. 1
   PERM Labor Certification (6-18 months)

   Your employer files a PERM application (Form ETA-9089) with the Department of Labor to prove that no qualified U.S. worker is available for the position. The employer must conduct a recruitment process including job postings, newspaper ads, and other methods specified by DOL. Processing time is currently 6-18 months. The employer bears all costs

2. 2
   I-140 Immigrant Petition (4-12 months or 15 days premium)

   After PERM approval, your employer files Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker, with USCIS. This establishes your priority date. EB-2 requires a master's degree or bachelor's plus 5 years progressive experience. EB-3 requires a bachelor's degree or 2 years experience for skilled worker. Filing fee is $700. Premium processing ($2,805) guarantees a decision within 15 business days

3. 3
   Wait for Priority Date to Become Current

   Your priority date (the date PERM was filed) must be current according to the Visa Bulletin. For EB-2 applicants from most Arab countries, wait times are relatively short (often current or within 1-2 years). For EB-3, waits may be slightly longer. India and China face significantly longer backlogs

4. 4
   File I-485 Adjustment of Status or Consular Processing

   When your priority date is current, file Form I-485 to adjust to permanent resident status while in the U.S. Filing fee is $1,440 for applicants 14-78 years old (includes biometrics). You can also file I-765 for EAD and I-131 for Advance Parole concurrently. If outside the U.S., process through consular processing at a U.S. embassy

5. 5
   Receive Green Card

   After I-485 approval, you receive your permanent resident card (green card). Current I-485 processing times are 8-24 months depending on the USCIS field office. You are now a lawful permanent resident with the right to live and work permanently in the United States

Alternative Pathways Including Marriage and Family

• •Marriage to a U.S. citizen: If you marry a U.S. citizen while on F-1 status, you can file Form I-485 to adjust status to permanent resident. This is an immediate relative category with no visa number limitations or wait times. You can file I-130 and I-485 concurrently. Processing takes 12-24 months. You will receive a conditional 2-year green card if married less than 2 years at the time of approval, which must be removed by filing Form I-751 before it expires
• •Marriage to a lawful permanent resident (LPR): If your spouse is an LPR (green card holder), you fall under the F2A preference category. Current wait times for F2A are approximately 2-3 years. Your spouse files I-130 and you wait for your priority date to become current before filing I-485
• •Parent is a U.S. citizen: If you have a parent who is a U.S. citizen, they can file I-130 for you as an immediate relative (if you are under 21 and unmarried) or under the F1 or F3 preference category. Immediate relative petitions have no wait time
• •EB-2 National Interest Waiver (NIW): If you have an advanced degree and can demonstrate that your work is in the national interest of the United States, you can self-petition without an employer sponsor. This is popular among researchers, scientists, and professionals with published work or patents. Filing fee for I-140 is $700
• •Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery: Nationals of countries with low immigration rates to the U.S. may enter the annual DV lottery. Several Arab countries are eligible, including Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Yemen, and Morocco. The lottery opens each October for the following fiscal year. Winners receive immigrant visas. There is no fee to enter
• •Investor visa (EB-5): If you or your family can invest $800,000 (TEA area) or $1,050,000 in a U.S. business that creates at least 10 full-time jobs, you may qualify for an EB-5 immigrant investor green card. This pathway does not require employer sponsorship or a job offer

How SoCal Immigration Services Helps Irvine Students

• •Comprehensive pathway evaluation: We assess your degree field, employment prospects, family connections, and personal circumstances to identify the fastest and most reliable path to a green card
• •OPT and STEM OPT application assistance: Help preparing and filing Form I-765, coordinating with your DSO, and ensuring timely submission to avoid gaps in work authorization
• •H-1B petition preparation: Working with your employer to prepare a strong H-1B petition, including specialty occupation documentation and prevailing wage determination
• •PERM labor certification coordination: Guiding employers through the complex PERM recruitment and filing process to ensure Department of Labor approval
• •I-140 and I-485 filing: Preparing complete immigrant petition and adjustment of status packages with all required documentation
• •EB-2 NIW self-petitions: Helping researchers and professionals build compelling national interest waiver cases without employer sponsorship
• •Marriage-based green card applications: Filing I-130/I-485 concurrent packages for students who marry U.S. citizens or LPRs
• •Arabic-to-English translation of academic credentials, degree certificates, transcripts, and civil documents from Arab countries
• •Status maintenance advice: Ensuring you never fall out of status during the transition from F-1 to H-1B to green card
• •Free initial consultation in Arabic and English at (714) 421-8872