USA vs UK: Graduate Route vs OPT Compared

How to pick the right post-study work visa for your goals

I’ve spent the better part of a decade in university international-student offices—first as a frazzled master’s student handing out campus maps, later as the advisor who knew where the stapler was and the difference between CPT and OPT. Every May another cohort would stampede in, wide-eyed and a little panicked: “Do I stay in Boston or jump the pond to Manchester? Will Silicon Valley love me more than Shoreditch? What happens if I don’t get a job in 90 days?”

This article is my attempt to bottle those late-afternoon Q&A sessions into a clear, data-driven guide—no jargon, no recruiter hype. We’ll walk through:

• Eligibility timelines
• Weekly work limits (and sneaky exceptions)
• How to pivot into a long-term visa
• Real-world survival tips on housing, payroll and immigration nerves

By the end, you’ll know whether the UK Graduate Route or the US Optional Practical Training (OPT) fits your post-study game plan—and how BorderPilot can map the paperwork with fewer headaches.

1. Eligibility Timelines

How quickly can you apply?

In plain English: The US lets you start early; the UK lets you procrastinate longer.

Processing speed

• UK: Average 8 weeks, fully digital (upload passport, selfie, biometrics app).
• US: 3–5 months for USCIS to mail you an EAD card. Factor it in—or budget for ramen if the job start date slips.

Advisor anecdote: I once had a graphic-design grad whose EAD arrived the day after her internship offer expired. She framed the card as “modern art” and moved to Edinburgh on the Graduate Route instead. Timing matters.

STEM extensions—the wrinkle

Only the US offers a 24-month STEM OPT extension (if your major fits DHS’s STEM list). The UK has no STEM bonus; everyone gets the same two-year Graduate Route (three for PhDs).

Key takeaway:
• If your degree is STEM and you want up to three years total, the US has a slight edge.
• If you’re in humanities or simply risk-averse about processing delays, the UK may feel calmer.

2. Work Hour Limits

During the grace period vs after approval

United Kingdom
• On the Graduate Route there are zero weekly limits. You can switch from bartending to fintech to self-employment in the same week, as long as it’s legal.
• While still on your Tier 4 student visa (waiting for exam results), you’re capped at 20 hours during term-time. Once your university confirms course completion and you submit the Graduate Route application, the cap lifts.

United States
• On post-completion OPT you must work at least 20 hours per week in a field related to your major.
• Unemployment is tracked: 90 days cumulative unemployment allowed during the 12-month OPT (an extra 60 days during STEM extension).
• Multiple employers? Sure, but all jobs must align with your degree. Freelancing counts—if you invoice in the right field and keep evidence.

Quick numbers: According to NAFSA, 14 % of 2022 OPT applicants hit the 90-day unemployment ceiling and had to depart. The UK Home Office doesn’t track unemployment days at all.

Impact on side hustles

UK: You can drive for Uber at night even if you studied biomedical engineering.
US: You can freelance as a biomedical-device prototyper, but Lyft driving doesn’t qualify and can cost you status if audited.

3. Employer Sponsorship Transition

Graduates often treat OPT or Graduate Route as a launchpad into a longer visa—think H-1B or Skilled Worker.

Transition pathways at a glance

Reality check
• Only ~28 % of H-1B registrants were selected in FY 2024.
• UK Skilled Worker refusal rates hover around 3–4 %. The bigger hurdle is salary threshold (£26 200+).

When must your employer act?

• US: They must file H-1B in March (lottery) while you’re on OPT. If you dodge selection, you either hope for STEM extension or polish the CV for Canada.
• UK: An employer can switch you any time. I’ve seen grads promoted after six months and sponsored the next day—no nationwide cap, only HR paperwork.

Insider tip
Let HR know early. During my stint at a London fintech, we discovered the company’s sponsor licence had lapsed—eight weeks before our star data-scientist’s Graduate Route expired. BorderPilot’s licence-renewal checklist saved the day (and the team’s morale).

4. Staying On After Studies

Two-year vs three-year runway

• Bachelor’s or master’s: UK gives 2 years; US gives 1 year (3 for STEM).
• Doctorate: UK grants 3 years; US still 1 year (+2 STEM).

If you love the city but not the visa roulette, that extra year in the UK is golden.

Permanent residence prospects

United Kingdom
1. Skilled Worker → 5 years → Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR).
2. Global Talent fast tracks to 3 years.
3. Points-Based System awards extra points for UK study, age under 26, and salary.

United States
1. H-1B → PERM labour certification → EB-2/EB-3 green card (often 10+ years for India, China).
2. Direct EB-1 for researchers/extraordinary ability—but you’ll need publications thicker than your dissertation.

Cost comparison over five years

Rough figures for a single applicant (no dependants, 2023 fees):

The UK looks cheaper on paper—until London rent enters the chat. Still, visa fees won’t drain you as much as USCIS filing spikes.

5. Case Studies

Priya: MSc Artificial Intelligence

• Indian citizen, MSc at University of Bristol, wants deep-tech role.
• UK path: Applies for Graduate Route, lands £38 000 job at a robotics start-up in Leeds. After 10 months, company sponsors Skilled Worker. Five years later she qualifies for ILR.
• US hypothetical: Would need STEM OPT + win H-1B lottery; if unlucky, forced exit after 36 months.

Result: UK wins for predictability.

Lucas: BFA Animation

• Brazilian citizen, BFA at Savannah College of Art & Design.
• US path: OPT lets him intern at Pixar for a year, portfolio explodes, employer files O-1 (no quota).
• UK path: Could move on Graduate Route but may struggle to hit Skilled Worker salary threshold in creative arts.

Result: US wins due to O-1 flexibility and Hollywood proximity.

Aisha: PhD Molecular Biology

• Nigerian citizen finishing PhD at Cambridge but attracted by Boston’s biotech scene.
• UK: 3-year Graduate Route, strong chance at Global Talent visa.
• US: 1-year OPT fits lab jobs, then employer sponsors EB-1B green card (common in biotech).
• Deciding factor: Access to NIH grants. She ultimately picks US.

6. Student-Life Factors Beyond the Visa

Because a visa is only useful if you’re happy outside the lab.

I tell students: love tea? UK. Love bottomless drip coffee? US. Decide accordingly.

7. Common Myths Debunked

1. “Graduate Route is automatic.”
   Nope—you must apply and pay £822 + IHS.

2. “OPT lets me work any job.”
   Only if it’s directly related to your major; USCIS has denied extensions for vague job descriptions.

3. “If I marry a citizen, everything becomes easy.”
   Relationships aren’t checklists. Don’t pick partners like you pick electives.

4. “Start-ups can’t sponsor.”
   Both countries allow it; they just need cash flow (US) or a sponsor licence (UK).

8. Quick-Fire FAQ

Q: Can I bring dependants?
A: UK Graduate Route—yes, if they already held Tier 4 dependant status. US OPT—yes, spouse gets F-2 but cannot work.

Q: Remote job for a foreign company?
UK permits global remote work. US OPT requires a US-based employer EIN.

Q: What if my thesis overruns?
File Grad Route after submission—UK fine. In US, missing the I-20 end date may void OPT eligibility; coordinate with your DSO.

9. How BorderPilot Can Help

Every student’s risk tolerance and timeline differ. BorderPilot crunches:

• Your passport power (visa-free days, reciprocity fees)
• Degree STEM codes vs DHS lists
• Employer licence availability across regions
• Cost of living deltas from Boston to Birmingham

You get a personalised relocation plan that tells you, “File Graduate Route on 12 Sep; budget £2 300; target these Tier 2-licensed employers.” Think of it as the advisor’s brain without the appointment backlog.

If you’re weighing other countries too, our UK vs Germany post-study work options deep dive and the evergreen USA vs UK for undergraduate studies and stay are excellent primers.

10. Decision Matrix (Printable)

Pull-quote:
“The best visa is the one that buys you enough time to prove your value—everything else is detail.”

Final Thoughts

The Graduate Route and OPT are more alike than different: both give you a post-study breathing space. The difference lies in certainty. In the UK you trade one application for two years of open work. In the US you gamble on a slower card mailout but potentially longer stay if you’re STEM and lucky in the H-1B lottery.

Run your scenario through BorderPilot, tweak the variables, and let the data tell you where opportunity—and a decent flat—await. Your future self (and your bank balance) will thank you.

Ready to see which path lines up with your ambitions? Create your free relocation plan with BorderPilot today and start navigating with confidence.