Question 1

Who is eligible for CPT and when can I start training?

Accepted Answer

F-1 students who have completed one full academic year (with limited exceptions for graduate programs that require immediate practical training) may be authorized for CPT by their DSO. We start technical training as soon as you enroll so you're billable the day your I-20 is endorsed.

Question 2

Can CPT work be the same as my degree program?

Accepted Answer

Yes — USCIS requires CPT to be an integral part of your established curriculum and directly related to your major. Every placement we make is mapped to your program of study and signed off by your DSO before you start.

Question 3

Does CPT employment count against my OPT time?

Accepted Answer

Part-time CPT (20 hrs/week or less) does not affect OPT. 12+ months of full-time CPT eliminates OPT eligibility, so we plan your schedule with your DSO to preserve OPT.

Question 4

Will ZunAIrah's place me with a real employer or a body shop?

Accepted Answer

Only direct W-2 placements with vetted Fortune 500 clients and tier-1 integrators — no third-party layers, no unpaid bench time. Offer letters, pay stubs and project allocations are all verifiable.

Question 5

When should I apply for my OPT EAD?

Accepted Answer

USCIS accepts OPT applications up to 90 days before your program end date and up to 60 days after. We start your EAD packet the moment you join so you don't lose billable weeks waiting on the card.

Question 6

How many days of unemployment am I allowed on OPT?

Accepted Answer

USCIS allows 90 days of unemployment during the initial 12-month OPT and an additional 60 days during the 24-month STEM extension. Our placement bench rarely lets clients use more than 2–3 weeks.

Question 7

What is required for the STEM OPT 24-month extension?

Accepted Answer

A STEM-eligible degree, an E-Verify employer, and a Form I-983 training plan signed by you and the employer. We provide an E-Verify employer of record and draft the I-983 with your manager.

Question 8

Do I have to report changes to USCIS during OPT?

Accepted Answer

Yes — address, employer, and material changes must be reported to your DSO, and STEM-OPT requires 6-month, 12-month, 18-month and 24-month evaluations. We send automated reminders and templates for every milestone.

Question 9

Who qualifies for an H-1B specialty occupation petition?

Accepted Answer

Roles that require theoretical and practical application of a body of specialized knowledge and at least a U.S. bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in a specific specialty. Our attorneys benchmark your role against the SOC code and recent USCIS approvals before filing.

Question 10

Will ZunAIrah's pay my H-1B filing and legal fees?

Accepted Answer

Yes — employer-side filing fees, attorney fees, and I-129 filing are covered for all of our sponsored hires, in line with USCIS rules that bar passing those costs to the employee.

Question 11

How fast can you file an H-1B transfer?

Accepted Answer

Most transfer petitions are filed within 5–10 business days of receiving your documents, with premium processing (15-day USCIS adjudication SLA) available on request. You can begin work as soon as USCIS receipts the petition.

Question 12

What happens to my H-1B if I'm laid off?

Accepted Answer

USCIS provides a 60-day grace period to find a new sponsor, change status, or depart. We fast-track transfers for laid-off engineers — bring your I-797, recent pay stubs, and resume and we'll move within the grace window.

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