STEM OPT Extension

STEM OPT is an extension of the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program in the US. It allows F-1 students who have earned degrees in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM) fields to extend their work authorization for an additional 24 months beyond the initial 12-month OPT period. This extension is designed to provide students with more time to gain practical experience in their field of study.

USCIS may take 2 to 4 months to process STEM OPT applications, so we strongly encourage eligible students to apply as early as possible. To apply, please follow the instructions below carefully.

How to Apply for STEM OPT

Step 1) Learn About STEM OPT

There's a lot of information about STEM OPT, so it's crucial to learn as much as you can before you begin applying. First, watch the following video:

Be sure to inform your assigned international advisor that you intend to apply for STEM OPT before your current OPT expires. ISSS is not responsible for last-minute STEM OPT application requests. It is the student's responsibility to file for STEM OPT in a timely manner. Remember, you must apply for STEM OPT before your OPT expires!

STEM OPT At a Glance:

Step 2) Receive Special I-20

Next, you'll need a special I-20  rom your assigned international student advisor (DSO). To receive the I-20, please submit a "STEM OPT Application I-20" request in your ISSS Student Portal. As a post-graduate user, you can continue using your ISSS Student Portal for important submission requests such as for OPT, STEM OPT, EAD card submissions, SEVP Portal Account Help, accessing your I-20 documents, and more! If you're having trouble logging in, please contact your assigned international student advisor.

Your "STEM OPT Application I-20" request will require submission of the Form I-983 completed and signed by you and your employer. You can retrieve a blank USCIS Form I-983 here, and reviewUSCIS's Form I-983 Guide here to help you and your employer fill out the form.

• Remember that your employer must be e-verified and employment must be related to your degree and 21 or more hours a week.

Once your international advisor reviews your valid documents, you will receive an email that your special I-20 is ready in your ISSS Student Portal. You will then use it to submit in your online STEM OPT application.

*Note: USCIS must receive your STEM OPT application within 60 days of the special I-20 issue date! This means that after you receive the special I-20 from your international advisor, you must file your application as soon as possible or it may result in the denial of your STEM OPT application!

Step 3) Submit Online STEM OPT Application

After receiving your special I-20, please print it out, sign it with wet, black ink, and scan it again to use for your online STEM OPT application.

Now it's time to submit your online STEM OPT application, also called an I-765 Form. You will do this in your previousmyUSCIS account here, or you can create a new account. Please follow along with this detailed, step-by-step OPT PowerPoint Guide to proceed:

Please follow along with this detailed, step-by-step STEM OPT PowerPoint Guide to proceed:

Payment & EAD card

The online application will require an I-765 fee payment. When you've received confirmation of your payment (also called a Form I-797 Receipt Notice), your application is completed. USCIS will send your EAD card to the mailing address provided in your STEM OPT application, but if your mailing address changes, you must inform USCIS in your myUSCIS account and your international advisor for further assistance.
 
Please remember to submit an "STEM OPT EAD Upload" request in your ISSS Student Portal when you receive your EAD card. Then, they will provide you with STEM OPT reporting requirements necessary to maintaining your F-1 status. These requirements are different from the reports you made during OPT!

180-Day Grace Period

USCIS provides students who timely filed for STEM OPT with an automatic 180-day grace period from the date their OPT card expires to continue working while their STEM OPT application is being processed (source). However, once the 180-day grace period is over, the student cannot continue working if the application is still pending.

Additional Information

STEM OPT Reporting Requirements:

Per the requirements you signed and acknowledged at the time you request your special STEM OPT I-20, you will be required to report any changes in your address, phone number, or employment within 10 days of the change. While you will still be able to report changes in your personal address or phone number through your SEVP Portal account, you will no longer be able to report employment changes yourself.

Please follow this procedure to report end of or new employment on STEM OPT: 

• If you ended employment with a previous employer, please submit a "STEM OPT Form I-983 Upload" in your ISSS Student Portal. The Form I-983 should include a completed “Final Evaluation on Student Progress” page (second half of page #5 of the I-983) from the employer you have ended employment with.
  • Be sure to include your employment end date in this evaluation and a signature from your employer.
• If you have secured new employment, please please submit another new "STEM OPT Form I-983 Upload" in your ISSS Student Portal. This should be your new employer's Form I-983, completed and signed by both you and your employer.

 

VALIDATION REPORTS

EVERY 6 months:

• You will be required to submit a six-month STEM OPT validation report to your DSO (that’s me!) 6 months from now. Your DSO will then submit the report on your behalf.
• Your first validation report is due every 6 months from your STEM OPT start date. They will be due exactly at the 6, 12, 18, and 24 month mark of your STEM OPT period. You will receive an email notification from your SEVP Portal when these reports are due. 
• WHEN YOUR REPORT IS DUE, please submit a "STEM OPT Validation Report" request in your ISSS Student Portal.

At 12 months:

• You will be required to submit an annual evaluation on your current I-983. This is found on Page #5, under “Evaluation on Student Progress.” This will be a written report signed and dated by your employer.
  • The date range must be the start of your STEM OPT period to the 12-month mark of your STEM OPT period.
• Please submit a "STEM OPT Validation Report" request in your ISSS Student Portal including the written evaluation on your I-983.

At 24 months, or end of employment:

• Please complete the “Final Evaluation on Student Progress” on Page #5 of your I-983 form.  Then, submit a "STEM OPT Validation Report" request in your ISSS Student Portal including the final evaluation on your I-983.

If you have any questions, please reach out to your assigned international advisor.

Information for STEM OPT Employers

Employers play a key role in maintaining and strengthening the integrity of the STEM OPT extension program. Although compliance with the program's various reporting requirements predominately apply to students and their universities, there are instances where STEM OPT employers must assist in tracking the STEM OPT students and their practical training progress. Employers must be registered in E-Verify to employ international students on STEM OPT. In addition, the employment opportunity must be full-time (at least 21 hours per week). Review Study in the States STEM OPT Reporting Requirements here for more information.

DHS requires that the STEM OPT student and employer work together to complete the form I-983. Properly completing this form will successfully document the relationship between the STEM OPT opportunity, the academic degree received, and the learning objectives of the F-1 student. Review the Study in the States Guide for I-983 Forms here for more information.

Site visits are when DHS officials visit the student's site of employment to ensure that STEM OPT students receive structured and guided work-based learning experiences and reduce the potential for abuses of the STEM OPT extension. During a site visit, DHS's intent is to confirm that information reported on the student's I-983 Form concerning the training opportunity is accurate, while not placing an unnecessary burden on employers. Review the Study in the State Site Visits here for more information.

TTU Employer Information

I-983 Form Training Plan Section 3:

TTU Employer ID Number (EIN): 75-6002622
Number of Full-Time Employees in U.S.: 13,456
NAICS code: 611310
Start Date of Employment: The date the employee will begin STEM OPT training with the department.
TTU HR Information Page Regarding E-Verify:TTU E-Verify Webpage
E-Verify Number for TTU: 280703

Employers with employment-related inquiries may seek assistance from TTU Human Resources department. For immigration-related inquiries, the student may seek assistance from their assigned international advisor.

STEM OPT Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Do I qualify for the STEM OPT extension?

To qualify for the STEM OPT extension, students must have a US-certified degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Math. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) decides which degrees (according to CIP code) are qualified for the STEM OPT extension.

Review DHS's list of qualified STEM degrees here.

*Note: If you are an interdisciplinary student, please reach out to your international advisor for additional guidance.

2. When can I apply for STEM OPT?

The student must first be on regular OPT. Then, the student can file for the STEM OPT extension online up to 90 days prior to the student's regular OPT expiration date as seen on their EAD card. The student cannot apply for STEM OPT after the expiration date.

Failure to apply before OPT expiration, or to file last-minute without sufficient I-20 processing time, will result in the closure of STEM OPT opportunity. Then, the student will have a 60-day grace period to leave the US, enroll in a new program, or transfer to a new university.

We strongly encourage students to apply for STEM OPT as soon as possible, as it can take USCIS two to four months to adjudicate applications.

See USCIS's current I-765 (OPT application) processing times here.

Once your international advisor provides you with the special I-20 required for your online application, you must submit it within 60 days of the I-20 issuance. Failure to adhere to this regulation, and submitting your STEM OPT application with an expired I-20, will result in denial of your STEM OPT application and may cause you to fall out of F-1 visa status. Please be advised.

3. How long can I do STEM OPT?

The Student Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) regulations allow F-1 students who have earned degrees in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM) fields to extend their work authorization for an additional 24 months beyond the initial 12-month OPT period. This extension is designed to provide students with more time to gain practical experience in their field of study.

4. How long does it take for a STEM OPT application to be approved?

It may take USCIS two to four months to process a STEM OPT application. You can review current I-765 (OPT Application) processing times here.

Processing times are unpredictable and subject to change without notice, so we strongly recommend applying as early as possible!

USCIS provides students who timely filed for STEM OPT with an automatic 180-day grace period from the date their OPT card expires to continue working while their STEM OPT application is being processed (source). However, once the 180-day grace period is over, the student cannot continue working if the application is still pending.

5. Do I need a job offer to apply for STEM OPT?

Yes, the student must secure an e-verified employer to apply for STEM OPT. The employer must assist the student in filing the I-983 form required to apply for STEM OPT. The employment must also be related to the student's STEM degree and provide 21 or more hours of work a week.

6. Am I still an F-1 student while on STEM OPT?

Yes. STEM OPT is only a work authorization for F-1 students, therefore, you are still an F-1 visa student and must continue to abide by F-1 visa regulations.

7. When should my STEM OPT Start Date be?

The STEM OPT start date is automatically the day after your regular OPT expires, even if you have not received your STEM OPT EAD card yet. You will be given an automatic 180-day grace period to continue working after the new start date on STEM OPT until your application is adjudicated. You cannot continue working once the 180-day grace period ends if your application is still pending, but you may start work again once the application is approved.

8. What do I do if my STEM OPT application has been pending for too long?

If you apply for STEM OPT and it is pending longer than the 180-day grace period you have after your regular OPT expires, you will still remain in status until the STEM OPT application is adjudicated. If the application is taking longer than the expected USCIS's I-765 processing times, you may be eligible to submit an inquiry via USCIS's e-Request website here.

You can also consider filing for Premium Processing for an additional fee by following the instructions here. Premium Processing guarantees that your application will be adjudicated in 30 business days, plus 1-3 weeks shipping time to receive your EAD.

9. How many unemployment days do I have on STEM OPT?

When you began regular OPT, you started with 90 unemployment days. If none of those days were used, you will receive an additional 60 days for STEM OPT, totaling 150 unemployment days. Remember, it is the student's responsibility to keep track of all accrued unemployment days. You may be able to review your unemployment days in your SEVP portal.

Unemployment days do not reset once STEM OPT begins. Your unemployment days used from regular OPT will "roll over" into your STEM OPT period. For example, if you accrued 20 unemployment days during regular OPT, then you would have 130 unemployment days remaining for your STEM OPT period.

10. What happens if all my 150 unemployment days are used?

BEFORE  you exhaust your 150 unemployment days, you must take action in one of these:

• Leave the country
• Receive admission for a new program at TTU (a new I-20 must be issued before the end of the 150 days)
• Transfer out to a new school (SEVIS record must be released before the end of the 150 days)
• Apply for a new visa status, commonly an H-1B (Please consult an immigration attorney for further assistance)
• Find full-time STEM OPT employment related to your major with an e-verified employer to stop the unemployment clock

11. What kind of jobs can I have during STEM OPT?

All employment must be e-verified, related to your STEM OPT degree, and reach 21 or more hours a week (full-time).

12. What's the difference between EIN and E-Verify?

Be aware that EIN and E-Verify numbers are completely different numbers.

• • Your I-983 form will ask for the 9-digit EIN number.
  • Your online STEM OPT application will ask for the 4-7 digit E-Verify number.

Your employer will know which numbers you will use. Please ensure to use the correct number in the appropriate forms.

13. How many hours can I work during STEM OPT?

STEM OPT is for full-time employment only. In the immigration language, full-time employment means 21 or more hours.

14. Can I have more than one employer while on STEM OPT?

Yes, it is acceptable to work for more than one employer so long as each job is 21 or more hours, related to your degree, and both employers are e-verified.

15. Can I be self-employed while on STEM OPT?

No, self-employment is not eligible for STEM OPT. The US Department of Homeland Security has clarified that STEM OPT employment requires a bona fide employer-employee relationship between the student and the employer.

16. Can I travel while my STEM OPT application is pending?

Traveling with a pending application with USCIS is risky, as you are required to remain in the US until you receive your EAD card. There is also some risk that your SEVIS record may change while traveling (such as application approval/denial, or Requests for Evidence), and that you may re-enter with an outdated I-20 or miss time-sensitive requests from USCIS.

However, if you must leave the US during this time, please reach out to your international advisor.

17. Can I volunteer while on STEM OPT?

No, volunteer/unpaid positions are not allowed for STEM OPT employment.

18. What happens if I change my mailing address while my STEM OPT is pending?

If you change the mailing address indicated on Form I-765 while you wait on the EAD card, you must update your DSO with the new address. You also must update your address in your myUSCIS account (learn more here). You should also reach out to the United States Postal Office (USPS) to change your address as well to ensure you receive your EAD card.

Please inform your international advisor if your address has changed so they can update your records as well.

19. What happens if my STEM OPT is denied?

Please reach out to your international advisor immediately for further guidance and provide them with the official I-797 Denial Notice which details the reasons for which your STEM OPT was denied.

Your next steps will be determined by the timing of the denial and other factors which your international advisor will discuss with you.

20. What if my EAD card is lost in the mail?

First, you should contact both USCIS helpdesk here and the US Postal Service here to find out more information on where your EAD card is. Additionally, you can find assistance through the missing US Postal Service mail webpage here. 

If you learn that your EAD card may be lost for good, you can file for a replacement EAD card here, but please be advised that it will require the same fee as the original I-765 application.

Sometimes mail packages are delivered to your neighbors, so you may want to inquire with them as well.

21. What is a Biometrics Appointment?

The U.S. Department of State released a “New Photo Policy for Employment Authorization Applications,” requiring STEM OPT applicants to submit a photo taken at an in-person Application Support Center (ASC) in their I-765 form.

Because of this, USCIS may still request a biometrics appointment from you even after submitting a valid photo in your application. If they do, you will receive a biometrics appointment notice in the mail stating the time and location you are to attend it. You can learn more about biometric appointments here (including how to reschedule, if needed), and view the USCIS Policy Notice here.