STEM OPT Extension

Eligible F-1 students who have completed a designated STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) degree may be eligible to apply for a 24-month STEM OPT Extension. For a list of designated STEM degrees, please click here.

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for the 24-month STEM OPT Extension, students:

• Must be in their initial, 12-month Post- Completion OPT period (EAD card must not have already expired).
• Must have completed a designated STEM degree.
• Must not have exceeded 90 days of unemployment time during their initial, 12-month OPT period.
• Must have a bona fide employer-employee relationship with an employer enrolled in E-Verify (self-employment not eligible)
• Must have a paid, full-time employment offer (20 or more hours per week) for a position directly related to their field of study and appropriate for their degree level. Volunteer/unpaid positions not eligible.

Note: A student may participate twice in the STEM OPT Extension in their lifetime.

Application Timeline

• STEM OPT Extension applications may be submitted to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for processing as early as (but no earlier than) 90 days before a student’s initial, 12-month OPT EAD card end date.
• All documents listed in the STEM OPT Extension Application Checklist must be submitted to the ISO to request a STEM OPT Extension I-20 before a STEM OPT Extension application can be submitted to USCIS for processing.
• USCIS must receive a student’s STEM OPT Extension application by the end date of the student’s initial 12-month OPT period (as indicated on their EAD card).
• USCIS requires approximately 3 months to approve a STEM OPT Extension application.
• Students with a timely filed STEM OPT Extension application may continue employment for up to 180 days after their initial, 12-month OPT EAD card end date while their STEM OPT Extension application is pending.

Application Procedures

The Application Procedures for the STEM program are the same as the Post-Completion OPT, but with three additional requirements:

• Have an offer of paid employment for at least 20 hours per week from an employer enrolled in E-verify
• Complete Form I-983 with employer and DSO
• Copy of STEM degree diploma

If applying based off of a previous STEM degree (in addition to the requirements above):

• Copy of previous STEM degree I-20
• Copy of previous STEM degree diploma
• Copy of most recent TMU diploma

Make sure to report all of your OPT employment information through the SEVP Portal.

Reporting Requirements

Every 6 months: (through the SEVP Portal)

• Legal name
• Residential address
• Employer name and address
• Status of current employment

Self Evaluations: (submit via email to )

First self-evaluation is due 12 months after the STEM OPT Extension start date

Final self-evaluation is due at the end of the STEM OPT Extension period

Unemployment: (submit via email to )

• Report unemployment by submitting a self-evaluation for your previous employment within 10 days of your last day of employment

Material Changes: (submit via email to )

• Report material changes to an existing Form I-983 by submitting an updated Form I-983
• Material changes include (but are not limited to): any change of the employer’s EIN, any reduction in student compensation that is not tied to a reduction in hours worked, any significant decrease in hours per week that a student engages in a STEM training opportunity, changes to the employer’s commitments or student’s learning objectives as documented on the Form I-983.

Employer Non-Compliance:

If a STEM OPT student believes that their employer is not complying with the terms and conditions of the 24-month STEM OPT Extension regulations, the Form I-983 instructions, and the completed Form I-983 on file with their Designated School Official, the student may:

• Contact the Student and Exchange Visitor Program at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Follow instructions provided here.
• Report violations through the Homeland Security Investigations tip submission form.

Employment Types

• Paid Employment: A student must work at least 20 hours per week.
• Multiple Employers: A student may work for more than one employer, but all employment must be at least 20 hours per week, paid, related to their degree program and all employers must be enrolled in E-Verify. Students must submit a completed I-983 for each employer.
• Work for Hire: This is commonly referred to as 1099 employment, where an individual performs a service based on a contractual relationship rather than employment relationship. The company for whom the student is providing services must be registered with E-Verify. If requested by DHS, the student must be prepared to provide evidence showing the duration of the contract period and the name and address of the contracting company.
• Employment through Third Party Employers and Staffing Agencies: Employment must constitute a bona fide employer-employee relationship. I-983 must be signed by the E-Verify employer who is providing the practical training experience. The staffing placement agency cannot complete and sign the Form I-983 as an employer unless:
  • The staffing placement agency is an E-Verified employer of the student, and
  • The staffing/placement agency provides and oversees the training

Unemployment During OPT

F-1 students with an authorized 24-month STEM OPT Extension will have an additional 60 days (including weekends and holidays) of allowed unemployment time for a total of 150 calendar days during their 36-month (12 months initial + 24 months STEM) OPT period.