What Does It Mean When a Recruiter Asks Are You Willing to Come on Our W2 as an OPT STEM OPT Candidate

When a recruiter reaches out and asks "are you willing to come on our W2" what they are really telling you is that they already have a job opening at a client company — maybe a role at Cisco or Bank of America — and that client only works with their specific staffing agency to fill positions. The staffing agency is essentially saying we have the contract with this client, we are the only ones who can place candidates there, and if you want this job it has to go through us. Coming on their W2 means they put you on their payroll as their employee, handle your taxes, and become your employer on paper while you do the actual work at the client site every day. For OPT and STEM OPT candidates this is the arrangement you want to hear because it means there is a real job on the table, a clear employer who can sign your I-983, and a staffing company that is already set up to handle your work authorization. When a recruiter asks you this the right move is to confirm they are on standard E-Verify and that the role clearly connects to your degree before you say yes.