1 First semester rhythm months 1-5

Lock course load for full-time student status — minimum 9 credit hours grad / 12 undergrad. Going below = SEVIS termination + visa loss

Apply for SSN (Social Security Number) within 30 days of starting on-campus job — required for payroll + credit-builder card

First 90 days checklist →

On-campus job: 20 hrs/week max during term, 40 hrs/week in breaks. Track hours; multiple jobs aggregate to the cap. Going over = visa violation

Apply for a credit-builder card — Discover It Student, Capital One Student, Deserve EDU. Pay in full each month for 12 months → unsecured card

Auto-pay tuition for tranche-based loans — disbursement schedule alignment + no late fees

Locate the nearest Indian grocery + connect with the Indian Student Association (ISA). Don't isolate

2 First US tax filing April year 1

File Form 8843 by April 15 — mandatory for all F1 students every year, even with zero US income. Skipping triggers IRS issues 5+ years later

If on-campus income: file Form 1040-NR via Sprintax (most ISAs get a discount code). Don't file 1040 unless eligible — wrong filing creates IRS issues

Sell or transfer Indian mutual funds before becoming US tax resident — PFIC (Passive Foreign Investment Company) penalties are brutal

PFIC Q&A →

If you cross $10K aggregate in any Indian account during the year, file FBAR (FinCEN 114) — separate from tax return, due June 30. Joint accounts with parents count

FBAR / FATCA guide →

3 First summer + CPT internship May-Aug year 1

Begin internship applications in May-June — fall recruiting at top firms (Goldman, JPM, Microsoft, Google, McKinsey, BCG) opens in August for next-summer roles. Applying late = locked out of cycle

Apply for CPT (Curricular Practical Training) through your DSO (Designated School Official) 4-8 weeks before internship start. CPT is faster than OPT but tied to specific employer

If going home for summer: don't stay outside the US more than 5 months on F1 status. Re-entry requires valid I-20 + visa + return ticket. Some students get questioned at port-of-entry after long absences

Internship work limit: 40 hrs/week max on full-time CPT. Track separately from on-campus job hours

Build a $5K-15K savings buffer from summer earnings — this is the year you should bank money, not spend it. Year 2 living expenses + emergency cushion

4 Year 2 — return offer + Plan B Sep year 2 → Mar grad year

Convert summer internship to return offer by November — top firms decide early. Strong return offer = H1B sponsorship + filing in March

If no return offer by January: activate Plan B research immediately. Canada Express Entry timeline, Indian market salary survey, EU 1-year bridge programs (Germany, Netherlands)

Build local network — alumni events, conferences in your field, LinkedIn connects with 2nd-year students at target firms. Most grad-year jobs come through warm intros, not cold applications

Update FBAR + tax filings annually. Don't let compliance lapse — fixing it later costs 10x more

Avoid the second-MS trap — extending OPT through another degree rarely improves H1B odds, doubles cost. Better: return strategically, work 2-3 years, return on L1 / O1 visa with leverage

5 Pre-graduation transition final 90 days

Apply for OPT (Optional Practical Training) 90-150 days before program end. Filing window starts 90 days before, USCIS processing 2-4 months

If STEM degree: file STEM OPT extension 90 days before initial OPT expires. Adds 24 more months. Employer must be E-Verify enrolled

If H1B selected: get start date in writing from employer. Plan transition — apartment, healthcare, payroll forms

If returning to India: ACATS brokerage transfer Schwab International or IBKR before changing address. Robinhood freezes on India address; ACATS is no-tax-event

Robinhood Q&A →

Withdraw 401(k) employer match cleanly if returning to India. Use RNOR window (2-3 years post-return) for Roth conversions if applicable

401(k) when moving back →

Update SEVIS address with DSO + USPS forwarding. File final F1-period US tax return next April using Sprintax

You've landed. Now what?

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