What happens if I hit 90 days of unemployment on OPT?

During post-completion OPT you may not accrue more than an aggregate of 90 days of unemployment. Once you exceed that limit, you are considered to be violating your F-1 status, your SEVIS record can be terminated, and you would generally need to either leave the United States or take another authorized step (such as enrolling in a new program or changing status). Days you are genuinely employed, and time before your OPT EAD start date, do not count against the 90 days, so report every job to your DSO promptly to keep the counter accurate.

Informational, not legal advice. Immigration rules change and individual cases differ. Confirm anything that affects your status with your school’s DSO or an immigration attorney before acting.