OPT STEM Extension

Eligibility Apply Pending Approved

What is OPT STEM Extension?

OPT STEM Extension is for students who majored in designated Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) degrees approved by DHS. This type of OPT is a 24-month extension of Optional Practical Training (OPT) and can only be used at a maximum of two degree levels. For example, if a student uses STEM OPT at the bachelor’s and master’s levels, they may not use STEM OPT at the doctoral level.

A student with a qualifying Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree, and who is in a valid period of standard post-completion OPT, may be eligible to apply for an additional 24-month extension of Optional Practical Training (OPT).

Need information to share with your employer? Check out the Employer Information webpage.

Eligibility

To qualify for OPT STEM Extension, you must:

1. Be maintaining F-1 status
2. Hold a passport valid at least 6 months into the future
3. Currently be on approved Post-Completion OPT
4. Be applying for STEM OPT Extension for the first time at the current level of education
5. Be holding a valid OPT I-20 for a degree in an eligible STEM field
6. Be already working for or have a valid employment offer:

• from a company that is registered with E-Verify;
• for a paid position (unpaid positions do not qualify);
• that is not considered self-employment; and,
• complete the I-983 Training Plan with your employer when you apply for STEM OPT and again 12 months and 24 months after your approved OPT STEM Extension EAD start date.

To qualify for OPT STEM Extension, your employment must:

1. Be related to your major area of study, either for your most recently received degree or for a previous degree in which you did not receive STEM OPT approval;
2. Be with an e-Verified employer;
3. Be full time, at least 21 hours/week (each position);
4. Be a paid position;
5. Be with an employer willing to complete the I-983.

When to apply for STEM OPT Extension

If qualified, you can submit your STEM OPT extension application to USCIS up to 90 days before your current OPT end date. It is important to note, however, that the OPT STEM Extension application must be received by USCIS within 60 days of the date on which the ISSS office made the recommendation for STEM OPT in your SEVIS record and before your current OPT expires.

Steps to Apply

1. Log in to the ISSS Portal.
2. Go to Tab 4.
3. Click on STEM OPT Extension Request.
4. Select the employer with whom you plan to apply for OPT STEM Extension.
5. Complete the request, including read the information, take the quiz, fill out the questionnaire, and upload your I-983.

Step 4: ISSS issues your OPT STEM Extension Recommended I-20

1. ISSS must receive and review your request along with a copy of your I-983 (see Step 1 above) before ISSS can issue a STEM OPT Recommended I-20 to you. If we have questions or need more information, we will contact you via the email address that we have on record for you within your ISSS portal.
2. Once issued, ISSS will upload the STEM OPT Recommended I-20 to the Documents section in Tab 4 of your ISSS Portal. You will be notified through the email address that we have on record for you within your ISSS portal.

Step 5: Gather Required Supporting Documents

Gather the documents that are required for your OPT STEM Extension application to USCIS:

• Passport style photographs
• Copy of your valid passport photo/identification page
• Copy of your F-1 visa or Change of Status Approval Notice ( if you changed your status inside the U.S.)
• Copy of your most recent I-94
• Copy of transcript or diploma showing degree completion
• Copy of your OPT EAD card
• Copy of the ISSS issued OPT STEM Extension Recommended I-20
• Copy of your Employment Offer Letter or pay stubs

Save these documents in an easily accessed place on your computer.

Step 6: Fill in the I-765 Application Online

• Review the ISSS instructional video about how to complete the online I-765 application for STEM OPT.
• Review a sample form I-765 STEM OPT application.
• It is a similar to your OPT application, but you will now use the category for STEM-OPT.
• DO NOT pay the fee or submit your application until you have completed your final review (see next step).

Step 7: Application Review

• Watch the video to ensure that you have completed the application correctly. Make sure that you have your OPT STEM Extension Recommended I-20 attached before you pay and submit.

Note: If you pay and submit and are rejected for failing to attach required documents or for missing information, USCIS will not refund your money and you may miss out on the opportunity to reapply. Be sure to review your application very carefully before paying your fee and clicking submit.

Step 8: Submit the Application to USCIS

1. Make any ISSS Advisor suggested corrections to your online I-765 and supporting documents.
2. Finalize the online I-765.
3. Pay the fee and submit.
4. You should immediately receive a Receipt Notice of Action.
5. Report your STEM OPT Application Receipt number to ISSS by logging in to the ISSS Portal, navigating to Tab 4, and clicking OPT/STEM OPT Receipt Number request.

USCIS Processing Times

USCIS processing times vary. Check the official USCIS website for the current processing time using the following information:

• Form: I-765
• Form Category: Based on a request by a qualified F-1 academic student [(c)(3)]
• Field Office of Service Center: Potomac Service Center

While Your Application is Pending

You should receive a Receipt Notice of Action immediately. This will prove that you have an application pending with USCIS.  This Notice of Action will include a receipt number (LIN number). This is the number that you will use to check your case status on the USCIS online account you created. You may check on the status of your application at any time via your My USCIS account.

Work While Your Application is Pending

Students are authorized to continue working for 180 days after the initial OPT end date, as long as the STEM OPT application was properly filed on time.

Contact your employer to update your I-9 document.

• For Section 2, List A: students should use their current EAD information, and under additional information write: “180-day ext.”
• For more information about the I-9, visit Handbook for Employers and FAQ’s about I-9.

After OPT STEM Extension is Approved

Throughout the STEM OPT extension period, the student and employer must comply with the reporting, training, supervision, evaluation, wage, documentation, and other obligations specified in the regulations and on Form I-983.

While on STEM OPT, you must still maintain F-1 status. This means you must continue to comply with F-1 requirements until you complete the STEM Extension and leave the U.S. or change your visa status. Marymount University will continue to hold your SEVIS / I-20 record during OPT STEM Extension

Mandatory Reporting Requirements

While participating in STEM OPT, you have mandatory reporting deadlines:

• 6 MONTHS (after OPT STEM Extension start date)
  • Report via the ISSS portal, Tab 4, “OPT or STEM OPT Extension Employer Report” request to verify that your employer information is correct. Your validation must confirm the accuracy of your name, your physical address in the U.S., your  mailing address in the U.S., your employer’s name and address, and the status of your employment. This six-month validation report is due to ISSS within 10 business days of the reporting date.
• 12 MONTHS (after OPT STEM Extension start date)
  • Report via the ISSS portal, Tab 4, “OPT or STEM OPT Extension Employer Report” request to validate that your employer information is correct and submit a copy of your completed Self Evaluation on Student Progress in the I-983.
• 18 MONTHS (after OPT STEM Extension start date)
  • Report via the ISSS portal, Tab 4, “OPT or STEM OPT Extension Employer Report” request to validate that your employer information is correct. Your validation must confirm the accuracy of your name, your physical address in the U.S., your  mailing address in the U.S., your employer’s name and address, and the status of your employment. This 18-month validation report is due to ISSS within 10 business days of the reporting date.
• 24 MONTHS (after OPT STEM Extension start date; final report)
  • Report via the ISSS portal, Tab 4, “OPT or STEM OPT Extension Employer Report” request to validate that your employer information is correct and submit a copy of your completed Final Evaluation on Student Progress in the I-983.

You can use the ISSS STEM OPT Date Calculator to determine when you need to submit your reporting.

Maintain F-1 Status 

Throughout the STEM OPT extension period, the student and employer must comply with the reporting, training, supervision, evaluation, wage, documentation, and other obligations specified in the regulations and on Form I-983.

Remember your reporting requirements!

• Validation report every 6 months. Make a validation report to the ISSS office every six months starting from the date the extension begins. The validation should confirm the accuracy of your name; your physical and mailing addresses; your employer’s name and address; and the status of your employment. This six-month validation report is due to ISSS within 10 business days of each reporting date.
• Annual self-evaluation of training. You must complete the “Evaluation of Student Progress” portion of Form I-983 within 12 months of the listed STEM OPT start date. At the end of the STEM OPT extension, you must conduct a second, final self-assessment. Once the evaluations are complete, the student must collect signatures from their employer and submit the Form I-983 to the ISSS portal through the OPT-STEM OPT Employer Report. ISSS will upload a copy to SEVIS.

Unemployment: while on STEM OPT, you receive an additional 60 days of unemployment, which means a total of 150 days of unemployment for OPT and STEM OPT combined.

• Maintain your employment. You may not accrue more than 150 days of unemployment during your entire 36-month (12 months post-completion OPT and 24 months STEM OPT) OPT period.

Report via the ISSS portal, Tab 4 any change or addition of employment within 10 days of the change. This includes adding an additional employer, leaving an employer, or changing employers.

• Submit a revised Form I-983 if there are material changes. Report to ISSS any material changes to or material deviations from your Form I-983 Training Plan by providing a revised Form I-983 through your ISSS portal within 10 days of the change. This means if your position changed, your supervisor changed, the location’s address changed, or any training plans changed, you must update your I-983 and submit it to ISSS.
• Change or addition of employers. If you wish to change employers, the new employer must be enrolled in E-Verify and employ you for at least 20 hours per week, and the job must directly relate to your STEM major degree. If you begin a new job with a new employer less than 10 days after leaving your prior employer, you simply submit a new Form I-983 to ISSS. If the period of time between employers is longer than 10 days, you must first report the loss of employment to ISSS within 10 days of stopping work, and later submit a new Form I-983 within 10 days of starting your new employment.
• Report termination of employment. Both you and your employer have a separate obligation to notify ISSS of any termination of your employment for any reason. Your employer must notify the ISSS Advisor [DSO] within 5 days after your employment terminates or you have departed. You must notify ISSS immediately.

Report via the ISSS portal, Tab 4 any change in personal information, such as your name, address, or contact information within 10 days of the change.

• Report changes to your name and address. You must notify ISS within 10 days of any change to your legal name or your mailing or physical addresses.

Complete the OPT-STEM OPT EAD Upload Request. Make sure ISSS has on file a photocopy of the front and back of your Employment Authorization Document (EAD card) through this form after you have received the STEM OPT Extension.

Travel

While on STEM OPT you may travel out of the U.S., but be sure to carry the following documents:

• Valid STEM OPT I-20 with valid travel endorsement on page 2, good for 6 months
• Passport valid for at least 6 months into the future
• Valid F-1 visa
• Valid Employment Authorization Document (EAD) card
• Recommended: Proof of employment, such as letter from employer or pay stubs

Update the I-983

Work with your employer to update the I-983 when needed.

Submit your I-983 when:

• You are requesting a STEM OPT recommendation I-20 to apply for STEM OPT
• At your 12-month reporting requirement (complete Self Evaluation on Student Progress)
• At your 24-month reporting requirement (complete Final Evaluation on Student Progress)
• When you start with a new employer on STEM OPT
• When you leave an employer on STEM OPT (complete Final Evaluation on Student Progress)

ISSS has put together an I-983-Sample for you to reference as you fill out the I-983 form. Contact ISSS to find out the Designated School Official (DSO) name and email to include. This DSO may change depending on staff availability.

Be sure to visit the ICE official website to download the most up-to-date version of the I-983 form.

REMINDER: To report any employer updates or to submit changes on your I-983, log in to your ISSS portal and, in Tab 4, submit an OPT- STEM OPT Employer Report request. For any contact information update, submit a Contact Information Update request in the ISSS portal, Tab 4.

 

 

 

10/02/2024