F-1 and OPT: study in the United States, then work in your field
The F-1 admits full-time students at SEVP-certified schools. After graduation, Optional Practical Training allows 12 months of work in the field of study, and graduates with a STEM degree can extend for 24 months more with an E-Verify employer, giving up to 3 years to find a longer path. Curricular Practical Training allows work during the program. The status is tied to the school and the I-20; the school's designated official, not USCIS, manages most of it. The F-1 is where most of the country's future H-1Bs, O-1s and green card holders begin.
Education, not legal advice.
Talk to an attorney who does F-1 and OPT work