Can I work remotely for a US employer from outside the US on OPT?

OPT is F-1 employment authorization tied to maintaining F-1 status, which generally assumes you are physically present in the United States, and time spent outside the country counts toward your unemployment limit unless you are genuinely employed. SEVP guidance acknowledges remote work arrangements (DSOs are told not to change the SEVIS employer address for students working remotely), but this is framed around students remaining in the U.S. Working remotely for your U.S. employer while physically abroad is a gray area not clearly authorized by the OPT rules, so you should confirm with your DSO before relying on it.

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.