STEM OPT Extension

The Basics

The STEM OPT Extension is a 24-month period of practical training that directly relates to an F-1 student’s program of study in an approved STEM field. Students on Post-Completion OPT may apply for STEM OPT after obtaining a STEM OPT I-20 from ISSS, gathering additional documents, and sending an application to United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for employment authorization.  STEM OPT requires more reporting than Post-Completion OPT and has stricter employment requirements. For example, during STEM OPT you can only work for an E-Verify employer, and you and your employer will maintain an I-983 training plan. While on STEM OPT, you must report to ISSS every 6 months to maintain your status.

  • F-1 students with a STEM degree who are in the final 90 days of post-completion OPT may apply for a 24-month extension of their practical training. The CIP code found on page 1 of your I-20 must appear on the list of designated majors designated by ICE as STEM eligible majors. 
     
  • The extension may be based upon your most recent STEM degree or upon a STEM-eligible degree that was awarded by an accredited U.S. college or university within the 10 years preceding the date ISSS issues your STEM Extension I-20 
     
  • You may apply for the extension based upon a concurrent degree program or double major as long as one of the programs is STEM-eligible.

For more detailed information, refer to the STEM OPT Hub | Study in the States

Application Timeline

You may apply for STEM OPT extension work authorization up to 90 days before the expiration of your post-completion OPT EAD and before your active OPT period ends. You must file a new USCIS I-765 no more than 60 days after ISSS sends you an updated STEM OPT Extension I-20. It may take up to 3 months for USCIS to process your application, however, if your STEM OPT extension is timely filed, you may continue to work for up to 180 days beyond the end date of your OPT EAD while you wait for the new EAD. During that time, you must meet job requirements for the STEM OPT Extension. Your USCIS I-765 receipt notice and Post-Completion EAD card are your proof of continued work authorization. 

Eligibility

  • You must currently be on Post-Completion OPT with an EAD end date in the future.
  • You must have earned a STEM degree. Please refer to CIP code on your OPT I-20 to determine if your degree is listed on the STEM designated degree program list. Please contact ISSS if you have any questions about your CIP code.
  • The extension may be based upon your most recent STEM degree or upon a STEM degree that was conferred within the past 10 years.
  • You must have qualifying employment:
    • Must be employed by an E-Verify employer. USCIS has created an online E-Verify Employer Search Tool.
    • Employment must be compensated.
    • The student and employer must have a “bona fide” employer-employee relationship.
    • Self-employment is not permitted under the STEM OPT extension benefit
    • Employment must be directly related to the STEM degree
    • Employment must be full-time (more than 20 hours per week)
    • You and your employer must maintain a Form I-983 Training Plan

Note about qualifying employment: STEM OPT employment is more limited than Post-Completion OPT employment. STEM OPT requires the employer to maintain a “bona fide employer-employee relationship with the student.” This means that the employer cannot be an employer in name only. The employer that signs the Form I-983 must also be the one that provides training to the F-1 student. See the USCIS website for STEM OPT Employer Requirements and Responsibilities. While STEM OPT participants may engage in training at a work site other than the employer’s principal place of business, all of the training obligations must still be met. USCIS has indicated that certain types of employment may not be able to demonstrate a bona fide employer-employee relationship.

The Department of Homeland Security can conduct site visits and has said they will review on a case-by-case basis whether the student is a bona fide employee of the employer signing the training plan. 

Application Process

  • Step 1: Carefully review the information on this website and reach out to an ISSS advisor if you have any questions.
     
  • Step 2: Prepare Form I-983 Training Plan with your employer (see notes on Form I-983 below)
     
  • Step 3: Email Form I-983 and the STEM OPT Extension Request to ISSS at intl@uoregon.edu
     
  • Step 4: Receive your STEM OPT Extension I-20 from ISSS 
     
  • Step 5: Assemble the required documents for USCIS Form I-765, Application for Work Authorization
    • Passport photo: Must be taken within last 6 months and must meet U.S. passport photo requirements. No glasses allowed.
    • Copy of most recent I-94 admission to US: Go to CBP website to retrieve and print your most recent I-94 Arrival Record. If the I-94 information is incorrect contact ISSS to submit a correction request to CBP Deferred Inspection.
    • Copies of former OPT EADs: Front and back.
    • Color copy of Passport ID page: If your passport will expire in next 6 months, renew the passport before sending the application or submit proof of renewal application to USCIS.
    • Copy of F-1 visa or I-797 Change of Status Approval Notice: Visa can be expired.
    • Copy of STEM OPT I-20: Signed by you and ISSS advisor. Submit all pages. Recommendation must be dated within the past 60 days when received by USCIS or the application may be denied.
    • Copy of diploma: Related to this period of STEM OPT, or UO official transcript showing degree conferred.
    • Filing fee: Refer to the official USCIS I-765 web link above.
       
  • Step 6: Optional - You can request a STEM OPT extension document review with an ISSS advisor before filing the I-765 application. To schedule an appointment, call 541-346-3206.
     
  • Step 7: File the USCIS online I-765 application and pay the filing fee of $470. You have the option of paying an additional premium processing fee, but note that if the STEM OPT application is filed with USCIS before the OPT EAD end date, you may continue working for up to 180 days after the OPT end date while your STEM OPT application is pending with USCIS. 

I-983 Training Plan 

The I-983 is a training plan completed by you and your employer. It may be audited by the Department of Homeland Security, so it is important to keep your I-983 up-to-date. This is a “living document” that you and your employer will update throughout your STEM OPT period. Each time it is updated, you will submit a copy to ISSS. You and your employer will fill out the I-983 together. You cannot fill out this form by yourself. There are sections for you to complete and sections for the employer to complete. Here are the most common issues to check for. For detailed instructions, see studyinthestates.dhs.gov/form-i-983-overview. 

Filing Tips

  • You must receive your STEM OPT I-20 before filing your I-765 with USCIS. If you submit the I-765 before your STEM OPT I-20 is issued by ISSS, your application will be denied and your filing fee will be forfeited.
  • The eligibility category for STEM OPT is (C)(3)(C)
  • The Reason for Applying is “Renewal of my permission to accept employment”.
  • The A-number is the 9-digit USCIS# on your current EAD card.
  • For the question about your degree, you should include your degree level and degree name. If you need more space, you can list your full degree in the Additional Information section.
  • If a question does not apply to you, please leave it blank. Do not type “N/A” unless otherwise directed.
  • For the question about your employer’s E-Verify number, make sure to include the E-Verify number and not the EIN (tax) number. These are different codes. Check with your employer if you are not sure what to put.
  • For the Institution Accreditation field, if you are applying for the STEM OPT Extension based on your most recently earned degree at UO that is currently reflected on your OPT I-20, this field would not apply to you and can be left blank. The accreditation is only needed if you are applying based on an older degree you earned in the last 10  years. If you are applying for STEM OPT based on a prior degree you did not earn at UO, you will need to reach out to  your previous institution for accreditation documents.
  • Do not upload the I-983 to the I-765 online application. ISSS will upload the I-983 to your F-1 SEVIS record.
  • Save all required documents as pdf files on your computer as you prepare to file the STEM OPT I-765 application.
  • USCIS must receive your application within 60 days of the date ISSS issued your STEM OPT I-20, and no later than the end date listed on your OPT EAD card. If the recommendation is more than 60 days old at the time of receipting your application will be denied.
  • If you timely file your STEM OPT application, you can continue working for 180 days past your post-completion OPT EAD end date while you wait for a response from USCIS. During that time you must meet the job requirements for STEM OPT, such as working for an E-Verify employer.

Limits on Unemployment

While on Post-Completion OPT, you are allowed a maximum period of 90 days of unemployment. During the 24-month STEM OPT Extension, you are allowed an additional 60 days of unemployment. Unemployment days are cumulative and any unused days of unemployment during Post-Completion OPT carry over to your STEM OPT period.  Unemployment days are each day (including weekends) that you do not have qualifying employment. 

Travel with Pending Application

It is risky to travel while you have a pending application with USCIS. If USCIS sends a request for evidence or other correspondence, it can be very difficult to respond from outside the U.S. If you travel while your application is pending, pay attention to your OPT EAD end date. You may travel and return to the U.S. before the OPT end date has passed.  However, if your Post-Completion OPT end date has passed and you do not have your STEM OPT EAD card yet, please consult with an ISSS advisor before traveling so we can advise you on what documents to carry. At the least, you should carry your I-765 receipt notice, OPT I-20 and proof of employment. Make sure your F-1 visa is still valid for re-entry to the U.S. and your passport must not expire within the next 6 months. 

Employment Reporting Requirements

During the STEM OPT period, you have additional reporting requirements. In addition to reporting changes in employment and personal information, you must submit validation reports to ISSS every 6 months via the STEM OPT Update form, even if your information has not changed. For the 12-month and 24-month validations, you must also complete the self- evaluation on page 5 of your I-983. 

You must maintain your I-983 and report material changes. When your employment information changes, you will report to ISSS and include a copy of your updated I-983. Detailed reporting instructions can be found online at STEM OPT Update.

FAQs

What if my employer is not an eVerify employer yet, can I still apply for STEM OPT while the eVerification process is in progress? 

If your employer is not an eVerify employer at the time of requesting the STEM OPT I-20 from ISSS, please do not submit the request and wait until your employer becomes an eVerify employer to apply for STEM OPT I-20 with ISSS and I-765 STEM OPT application with USCIS. Your employer must be an eVerify employer in order for youto be eligible for STEM OPT. If your employer has just applied to be an eVerify employer but they are not an eVerify employer yet, you must wait to apply for STEM OPT until your employer becomes an eVerify employer. Pleaseremember that USCIS must receive your STEM OPT application before the end date of your Post-Completion OPTEAD end date.

What if my employer changes but my STEM OPT I-765 application is still pending with USCIS? 

  1. STEM OPT employer changed while you are still on Post-Completion OPT 

If your employer changes while you are still on Post-Completion OPT and your STEM OPT application is pending with USCIS, please submit the following to ISSS to obtain an updated STEM OPT I-20:•OPT Update eform in iconnect.uoregon.edu reporting the end of employment for current employment andnew employment with new employer along with a job offer letter of the new employer and a description ofhow your job is related to your degree.•STEM OPT Employment Update Form reporting new employment along with I-983 of the new employer that has pages 1-4 filled out and page 5 of I-983 must be left blank. ISSS will update your employmentinformation in SEVIS and issue you an updated STEM OPT I-20.

If your STEM OPT application is still pending with USCIS, please print, sign and upload the updated I-20 issued to you by ISSS as an unsolicited evidence in the documents tab of your myUSCIS account along with a letter of explanation that includes details about the switch of employers, eVerify number of the new employer and STEM OPT application receipt number, job offer letter of new employer and I-797C Receipt for STEM OPT application with USCIS. 

  1. STEM OPT employer changed after your STEM OPT period starts 

If your employer changes after the start of your STEM OPT period and your STEM OPT application is pending with USCIS, please submit the following to ISSS to obtain an updated STEM OPT I-20:•STEM OPT Update reporting the end of employment for current employment along with a final evaluation I-983 that has pages 1-4 and final evaluation section filled out and signed at the bottom half of page 5 of I-983.•STEM OPT Employment Update Form reporting new employment along with I-983 of the new employer that has pages 1-4 filled out and page 5 of I-983 must be left blank. ISSS will update your employment information in SEVIS and issue you an updated STEM OPT I-20.

If your STEM OPT application is still pending with USCIS, please print, sign and upload the updated I-20 issued to you by ISSS as unsolicited evidence in documents tab of your myUSCIS account along with a letter of explanation that includes details about switch of employers, eVerify number of the new employer and STEM OPT application receipt number, job offer letter of new employer and I-797C Receipt for STEM OPT application with USCIS.

Options After STEM OPT

After the OPT end date, there is a 60-day grace period in which you can: 

  • Start another academic program at UO
  • Transfer to another school
  • Change to another visa category, (i.e. H-1B)
  • Research if you are eligible for an adjustment of status to Permanent Resident via employment
  • Leave the U.S. - you must notify ISSS of your departure via the STEM OPT Update.