STEM OPT FAQ:
All you need to know about STEM OPT
STEPS FOR APPLYING FOR OPT - POST COMPLETION
1. Submit STEM OPT I-20 Request via the International Student Platform.
2. Receive STEM OPT I-20.
4. File Your STEM Extension Application with USCIS.
5. Wait for USCIS to approve STEM Extension Application.
Important: Do NOT submit your STEM Extension application to USCIS until you receive your STEM OPT I-20 from the ISS Office.
Attend OPT Workshop. View this semester's Workshop Schedule. (Recommended not required)
Do you have questions about STEM OPT? If so, review our most frequently asked questions.
- What is the 24-Month STEM OPT Extension?
- Who is eligible to apply for the STEM OPT extension?
- When can I apply for the STEM OPT Extension?
- How do I apply for STEM OPT Extension?
- What documents do I need to apply for STEM OPT Extension?
- Are any STEM OPT Extension workshops offered?
- Where can I work completing STEM OPT?
- What are the work restrictions while on the STEM OPT?
- What kind of work is considered employment while completing STEM OPT?
- Information for STEM OPT Employer
- The Employer’s Training Obligation: Staffing and Temporary Agencies
- While completing STEM OPT, what are my reporting requirements?
- What are the validation requirements while completing STEM OPT?
- What are the unemployment limitations while completing STEM OPT?
What is the 24-Month STEM OPT Extension?
The STEM OPT extension is an extension that allows eligible F-1 students with science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) degrees to extend their initial 12-month post-completion OPT work authorization for an additional 24 months, totaling 36 months of employment authorization.
Who is eligible to apply for the STEM OPT extension?
Students who graduate in certain Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics majors might be eligible to extend the 12-month Optional Practical Training period for an additional 24 months.
When can I apply for the STEM OPT Extension?
The earliest you can apply for the 24-month STEM OPT Extension is 90 days prior to the expiration of your OPT EAD card. Your application must be received by USCIS before your current OPT EAD card expires. (Please note, this request is available in your My OPT Profile 100 days prior to your OPT end date.)
How do I apply for STEM OPT Extension?
You can visit our 24-Month STEM OPT Extension site for more information about how to apply.
What documents do I need to apply for STEM OPT Extension?
Form I-983 Training Plan for Stem OPT Students
Copies of the following documents:
Biographical page of passport, F-1 visa information page, most recent I-94 record, OPT I-20, all previously issued EAD cards, STEM diploma, SUNY New Paltz transcript
Are any STEM OPT Extension workshops offered?
Yes, we offer two STEM OPT Extension workshops each semester. You can find details about the workshop on our Employment Workshop site.
Where can I work while completing STEM OPT?
You can work anywhere in the United States.
What are the work restrictions while completing STEM OPT?
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Any work must be related to your major field of study.
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Any employer must have an E-Verify number.
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You must work a minimum of 20 hours of paid work for an E-Verify employer and the work must be directly related to your field of study to count as employment while on the STEM extension.
What kind of work is considered employment while completing STEM OPT?
Paid employment. All employment during the STEM extension must be paid employment. Volunteer experience does not count as employment for the purpose of maintaining F-1 status during the STEM extension.
Information for STEM OPT Employers:
The student’s prospective STEM OPT extension employer must be enrolled in USCIS’ E-Verify employment eligibility verification program and must, along with the student, complete and sign a Form I-983. Additional resources for Employers and the Form I-983 can be found on the Study in the States website.
The student must submit the completed and signed Form I-983 to their DSO. The Form I-983 must include information clearly describing how the training opportunity being offered by the employer has a direct relationship to the student’s qualifying STEM degree. Additionally, the Form I-983 must clearly indicate that the student will work a minimum of 20 hours per week during the extension period.
F-1 students cannot qualify for STEM OPT extensions unless they will be bona fide employees of the employer signing the Form I-983, and students may not provide employer attestations on their own behalf.
The Employer’s Training Obligation: Staffing and Temporary Agencies
Staffing and temporary agencies and consulting firms may seek to employ students under the STEM OPT program, but only if they will be the entity that provides the practical training experience to the student and they have and maintain a bona fide employer-employee relationship with the student. STEM OPT participants may engage in a training experience that takes place at a site other than the employer’s principal place of business as long as all of the training obligations are met, including that the employer has and maintains a bona fide employer-employee relationship with the student.
As noted in the 2016 STEM OPT rule, certain types of arrangements, including multiple employer arrangements, sole proprietorships, employment through ‘‘temp’’ agencies, employment through consulting firm arrangements that provide labor for hire, and other similar relationships may not be able to demonstrate a bona fide employer-employee relationship and, therefore, may not meet the requirements of the STEM OPT extension.
While completing STEM OPT, what are my reporting requirements?
Yes, while on the STEM OPT extension, you need to report the following:
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Report any change in US address to the International Student office within 10 days.
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Report new employer
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Report change in current employer such as change in employer’s address, Employer Identification Number, or any changes in your training plan outlined on Form I-983.
To update employment details, complete STEM Employment Update request in the International Student Platform.
To update physical address, complete Contact Information Update request in the International Student Platform.
What are the validation requirements while completing STEM OPT?
In addition to STEM OPT reporting requirements listed above you are also required to validate your STEM experience.
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SEVP requires validation of your STEM OPT employment every 6 months. You can validate your STEM OPT employment by submitting the the STEM OPT Validation Request in the International Student Platform.
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In addition to the 6-Month validation, you must also submit a completed “Evaluation of Student Progress” (page 5 of I-983) 12 months and 24 months into the approved 24-month STEM OPT extension period. If an opportunity ends early the student must submit the final evaluation within 10 days following the conclusion of the opportunity.
Not submitting a final evaluation would be a violation of the terms of Form I-983, “Training Plan for STEM OPT Students,” and may jeopardize the student’s nonimmigrant status.
What are the unemployment limitation while completing STEM OPT?
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The OPT regulations allow 90-day of unemployment during the first OPT authorization. Once authorized for a OPT 24 Month STEM Extension an additional 60 days are allowed for a total of 150 days.
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Therefore, the maximum period of unemployment allowed is 150 days during the entire 36 month OPT period.
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You should not exceed the allotted 150 days of unemployment time.
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Each day of unemployment (including weekends) is counted towards the 150-day requirement for students on an STEM OPT Extension.
Additional Resources
USCIS website STEM OPT
DHS website STEM OPT Hub (Study in the States)
