The F-1 to Green Card Pipeline: Key Visa Stages
The journey involves three critical non-immigrant work statuses before the final Green Card application.
Stage 1: F-1 Student Visa
| Element | Details | Timeline |
| Purpose | To study full-time at a SEVP-approved school. | 2-5 Years (Duration of academic program) |
| Intent | Non-immigrant intent (must intend to return home after studies). This changes when you apply for the Green Card. | |
| Real Example | A Kenyan student, Lelani, completes her Master’s in Data Science at a US university. |
Stage 2: Optional Practical Training (OPT)
| Element | Details | Timeline |
| Purpose | Temporary work authorization directly related to the student’s major. | 12 Months (Standard post-completion) |
| STEM Extension | 24-Month extension available for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math degrees, totaling 36 months of OPT. | Up to 3 Years (For STEM degrees) |
| Goal | Find a full-time job with an employer willing to sponsor an H-1B visa. | |
| Real Example | Lelani, with her STEM degree, secures a 3-year OPT period as a Data Analyst. Her employer, “TechCo,” agrees to sponsor her for the H-1B visa. |
Stage 3: H-1B Specialty Occupation Visa (The Bridge)
The H-1B is the most common transition from OPT to Green Card, allowing work for up to six years. The demand for H-1B visas far exceeds the supply, making it a competitive, cap-subject lottery.
| Element | Details | Timeline & Process |
| Purpose | To work in a specialty occupation requiring at least a Bachelor’s degree. | Up to 6 Years (Standard limit) |
| The Lottery | USCIS holds an annual electronic lottery (registration typically in March). Only selected registrations can file a full H-1B petition for an October 1st start date. | Annual, High-Risk (Odds vary greatly, often between 15-30% for a Master’s degree). |
| Cap-Gap | If your OPT expires before October 1st and your H-1B is selected, your F-1 status and work authorization may be extended to bridge the gap. | Varies (Between OPT end date and Oct. 1) |
| Real Example | Lelani‘s employer, TechCo, enters her in the H-1B lottery in March 2026. She is selected and approved, allowing her to start on October 1, 2026. She has 6 years to complete the Green Card process. |
Green Card (Permanent Residency) Path
For most F-1 graduates, the path to a Green Card is through Employment-Based (EB) sponsorship. This process is started by your employer while you are on an H-1B or even during OPT (though the H-1B is more common).
The Employment-Based (EB) Process (EB-2/EB-3)
Most skilled Kenyan graduates qualify for the EB-2 (Advanced Degree/Exceptional Ability) or EB-3 (Skilled Workers/Professionals) categories.
| Step | Form/Requirement | Process & Estimated Timeline |
| 1. PERM Labor Certification | ETA Form 9089 | The employer must prove there are no qualified U.S. workers for the job. This involves a mandatory recruitment period. |
| Employer Role | 12-18 Months (Recruitment, prevailing wage, DOL processing) | |
| 2. Immigrant Petition | I-140 Petition | The employer files this for you after PERM is approved. Premium Processing is available to expedite this step. |
| USCIS Processing | 6-9 Months (Standard) 15 Days (With Premium Processing) | |
| 3. Waiting for Visa | Visa Bulletin | A Priority Date (PD) is established when the PERM is filed. Since Kenya is generally current (no long backlogs) in the EB-2/EB-3 categories, the wait is minimal once the I-140 is approved. |
| Country Backlog | 0 – 6 Months (For a Kenyan national) | |
| 4. Final Application (Adjustment of Status) | I-485 Petition | Once the PD is current, the applicant files to Adjust Status to Permanent Resident from within the US. This grants an interim work permit (EAD) and travel permit (Advance Parole). |
| USCIS Processing | 8-18 Months (Varies based on workload) |
Estimated Total Green Card Timeline (Post-H-1B Start)
Assuming Lelani is on H-1B:
| Phase | Start Point | Estimated Duration |
| H-1B Employment | Oct 2026 | |
| PERM/I-140 Filing | Oct 2027 (After 1 year on the job) | |
| PERM/I-140 Approval | ~18-24 Months | |
| I-485 (Final Application) | After I-140 approval and PD is current | ~8-18 Months |
| Green Card Approval | ~3-4.5 Years from starting the H-1B to receiving the Green Card. |
Alternative Green Card Paths
While employment sponsorship is the main route, others include:
- Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery: Kenya is an eligible country. The annual lottery grants 50,000 immigrant visas randomly. You can enter once a year.
- National Interest Waiver (NIW): A sub-category of EB-2, allowing the applicant to self-petition (no employer required) if their work is of national importance to the US (often for researchers, entrepreneurs, or specialized STEM fields).
- Family-Based Sponsorship: If you marry a U.S. Citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident. This is typically the fastest path due to a shorter/non-existent waiting period, but it must be a genuine, good-faith marriage.
The most important advice for any Kenyan graduate is to seek an employer who is familiar with and committed to the sponsorship process as early as the OPT stage.
