STEM OPT Extension | International Center

Certain F-1 students who receive science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) degrees may apply for a 24-month extension of their post-completion optional practical training (OPT).

Eligibility Criteria

To qualify for STEM OPT, you must:

Have been granted OPT and currently be in a valid period of post-completion OPT; and
File the STEM OPT application with USCIS during the final 90 days of your post-completion OPT authorization period; and
Have earned a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree in a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) major within the last 10 years. The degree must be from an institution that is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education-recognized accrediting agency and is certified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) at the time you submit your STEM OPT extension application; and
Have a paid job or job offer of at least 20 hours/week with an employer enrolled in the U.S. Government's E-Verify program, doing work that is directly related to your STEM major field of study; and
Fully complete and sign, alongside an Employer Official from your E-Verify employer, the I-983 form

Please Note: All five of the above criteria must be met in order for a student to be eligible for STEM OPT.

Application Time Frame

To be eligible for STEM OPT, students must file no earlier than 90 days prior to the end date of post-completion OPT, and no later than the end date of post-completion OPT. USCIS must receive your STEM OPT application within 60 days of the STEM OPT I-20 issuance date.

Application Procedures

1. Prepare a fully completed and signed I-983 Form

The I-983 Form “Training Plan for STEM OPT Students” is a document which must be completed, signed and dated jointly by the student and his or her E-Verify employer. The I-983 must clearly articulate the STEM OPT student’s learning objectives and affirm the employer’s commitment to helping the student achieve those objectives. STEM OPT students and their employers are subject to the terms and conditions of the 24-month STEM OPT extension regulations explained on the Form I-983, effective as of the employment start date requested for the associated STEM OPT period.

For assistance in completing the I-983, please view our U-M I-983 Instructions. For an overview of I-983 information, please see the Study in the States website.

2. Submit the STEM OPT I-20 Request

Log in to the M-Passport portal, click on Requests > OPT - STEM Extension Request, and follow the instructions from there. Incomplete requests cannot be processed.

Please note: the STEM Extension Request in M-Passport does not appear until 100 days before the end date of your current period of OPT.

Remember that to be eligible for STEM OPT, students must apply no earlier than 90 days prior to the end date of Post-Completion OPT, and no later than the end date of Post-Completion OPT.
Accordingly, the International Center will not process a request for a STEM OPT recommendation I-20 submitted more than 100 days in advance of your current OPT end date. Having said that, we do encourage students to plan ahead and not wait until the last few weeks of Post-Completion OPT to submit a STEM OPT I-20 request.

Note for STEM OPT I-20 applicants who are employed by U-M: Once your OPT STEM Extension I-20 Request is received and approved by an IC advisor, the advisor will send an e-mail to your U-M supervisor with the U-M E-Verify number information. You will need this number to complete the I-765 form. Please ask your supervisor for the E-Verify number after you have been notified by an advisor that your request has been received.

Note for applicants who are applying for STEM OPT not based on their current degree indicated on the Post-Completion OPT I-20, but instead based a previously obtained STEM degree: Please use the comments text box on the OPT STEM Extension I-20 Request Form to declare your intentions to apply for STEM OPT based on a previously obtained STEM degree. Provide relevant details of this previously obtained STEM degree, such as the degree level, the major field of study and associated CIP code, and the university at which the degree was awarded.

3. Wait for an IC advisor to review your STEM OPT I-20 request

An International Center advisor will review your STEM OPT I-20 request and follow up via email with any clarifying questions (if applicable). If we determine your STEM OPT I-20 request is valid and complete, we will then send your STEM OPT recommendation to SEVIS electronically to generate a new I-20. The STEM OPT recommendation will be printed on page 2 of the new I-20. The processing time required to produce your new I-20 is approximately 2 weeks.

You will receive an email notification once your new I-20 is ready. You will be able to download the I-20 from your M-Passport account at that time.
As soon as you receive the I-20, review the information on pages 1 and 2 of the I-20. Pay particular attention to the employment information (for both Post-Completion and STEM OPT) on page 2. If everything looks accurate, add your signature and the date to the bottom of page 1 in the Student Attestation section.

4. Send your complete application and required documents to USCIS

USCIS encourages students to file their STEM OPT application online. The benefits of doing so include:

Immediate filing of OPT application with USCIS and issuance of I-765 receipt notice (the I-765 receipt notice may be useful in updating Form I-9 for employment authorization verification beyond the expiration of post-completion OPT);
Direct access to USCIS notices including, but not limited to receipt notice, requests for evidence, approval notice, etc.
Ability to communicate with USCIS through a secure inbox
Option to provide additional unsolicited evidence/updates to your application if necessary
Minimizes risk of rejection of the application by vetting common reasons for rejection such as applicant’s signature and proper fee payment
Ability to pay application fee through your bank account (ACH), debit, or credit card.

Reminders for Online Filing

You must be physically present in the U.S. when your OPT application is filed with USCIS.
While filing Form I-765 online allows for immediate filing and receipt of your application, the overall processing time for the I-765 application is the same regardless of paper vs. online filing. See the USCIS website for current processing times.
Please carefully review all answers and documentation before submitting your application to USCIS. Any amendments to the application would need to be submitted to USCIS by uploading evidence in the ‘Unsolicited evidence’ section of the ‘Documents’ tab of your USCIS online account. Additional evidence that was not requested in a request for evidence will be considered by USCIS at their discretion, and USCIS will consider the timeliness and relevance of the information when adjudicating your application.
USCIS has the discretion to require biometrics appointments on a case-by-case basis.
Since online filing has only been announced in April 2021, our office is unable anticipate all potential challenges of online filing.

Guidance for Online Completion of Form I-765 for STEM Optional Practical Training Extension

5. Track the status of your application

If you successfully file your STEM OPT application, USCIS will send you a receipt notice. If you file your application online, you should immediately obtain confirmation of your filing and have access to receipt information. If you apply for STEM OPT via a paper-based application, you should generally expect to have a receipt notice mailed to you approximately 3-4 weeks after your application is first received by USCIS.

Once you have received your receipt number, you can track the status of your application using USCIS online tools such as the case status search feature.

6. Receive an EAD card in the mail from USCIS

Once USCIS has completed their final review of your STEM OPT application, they will issue a formal adjudication decision of approval or denial. Expect at least 90 days processing time, recognizing that processing times can fluctuate from student to student and year to year. Current expected I-765 processing times can be found on the USCIS website.

If your application is approved, you then need to receive an EAD card in the mail from USCIS. It is the EAD card which confirms your STEM OPT approval and helps prove your ongoing F-1 status and work authorization. The start date of the STEM OPT EAD card should automatically be set to the day after the expiration of the current Post-Completion OPT authorization. The end date will be 24 months later.

Additional Information

Types of Employment Allowed during STEM OPT

Qualifying STEM OPT employment must consist of:

At least 20 hours per week of work
Paid work (unpaid employment is not permitted on STEM OPT)
Employment which is directly related to the STEM-eligible field of study
Employment must be with an employer enrolled in E-Verify
The employer must have and maintain a bona fide employer-employee relationship with the student
Employment must be tied to a fully completed I-983 form
The employer agrees to comply with the STEM OPT Employer Requirements and Responsibilities, as outlined on the USCIS website

STEM OPT employment may include:

Multiple employers. Students may change employers during STEM OPT, and/or work for more than one employer simultaneously, but all employment must meet the criteria of qualifying STEM OPT employment as outlined above. Any changes in STEM employment must be formally reported to the International Center within 10 days of any change.
Self-employment / business ownership. F-1 students cannot qualify for STEM OPT extensions unless they will be bona fide employees of the employer signing the Form I-983. F-1 students may not provide the employer attestation (i.e., signatures) on their own behalf nor provide their own training. However, they may start a business so long as all regulatory requirements are met. The employer that signs the Form I-983 must be the same entity that employs the student and provides the practical training experience.

List of degrees in STEM fields

If a student earned a degree in a field that appears on the U.S. government's official list of STEM OPT major fields, he/she may be eligible for the 24-month STEM OPT extension. In order to confirm if your degree is on this list, look at the major code(s) listed in the "Program of Study" section on Page 1 of your I-20 form, and then look for that code in the CIP code column of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security STEM Designated Degree Programs list.

Previously obtained STEM degrees: If you are an F-1 student participating in a period of post-completion OPT based on a non-STEM degree, you may be eligible to use a previous STEM degree from a U.S. institution of higher education to apply for a STEM OPT extension. You must have received both degrees from currently accredited and SEVP-certified institutions, and cannot have already received a STEM OPT extension based on this previous degree. The practical training opportunity also must be directly related to the previously obtained STEM degree.
- For example: If you are currently participating in post-completion OPT based on a master’s degree in law but you previously received a bachelor’s degree in mathematics, you may be able to apply for a STEM OPT extension based on your bachelor’s degree as long as it is from an accredited U.S. college or university and the OPT employment opportunity is directly related to your bachelor’s degree in mathematics.

24-Month STEM OPT Extension Available Twice: The 24-month STEM OPT extension is available to each student at two non-consecutive periods during their lifetime. Please note that this is different from the rules applicable to post-completion OPT, for which students can be approved for a new post-completion OPT period each time they go up to a higher degree level (i.e. bachelor's, then master's, then doctorate).

E-Verify: E-Verify is a database system operated by the Department of Homeland Security in partnership with the Social Security Administration. It allows participating employers to electronically verify the employment eligibility of newly hired employees. E-Verify is currently voluntary in most states. For more information visit the E-Verify website.

While Application is Pending

If you successfully file the application for STEM OPT with USCIS during the final 90 days of post-completion OPT, then you may continue employment even if your Post-Completion EAD card is expired. This automatic extension of post-completion OPT is valid until your STEM OPT application is adjudicated or until 180 days has passed from the expiration date of your post-completion EAD card, whichever is sooner.

At all times while your STEM OPT application is pending, as well as during any subsequent periods of approval, you must continue to comply with F-1 address reporting and insurance requirements. You must also comply with employment reporting guidelines, reporting any changes of employment within 10 days of a change.

After Approval

Once your application for the 24-Month STEM OPT is approved, USCIS will issue you a new EAD card. The 24-Month STEM OPT period represents a continuation of your current F-1 status. You must stop your employment when the end date on the EAD card is reached, but may remain in the US for a 60-day grace period after the end date on your EAD card.

Unemployment Limits

You are expected to be employed in your STEM eligible field of study during the 24-Month STEM OPT. The maximum period of unemployment is 150 days, which includes any days of unemployment during the initial 12 months of Post-Completion OPT. For example, you finish the 12 month Post-Completion OPT with 30 days of unemployment time accrued, then you would have 120 days of unemployment remaining during your period of STEM OPT.

How to Avoid Collecting Unemployment Days

To avoid collecting unemployment days during STEM OPT, you must work at least 20 hours per week for an E-Verified employer in a paid position directly related to your STEM eligible field. Here are additional details about STEM OPT employment requirements:

In order to receive the STEM OPT extension, you must pursue your practical training through an employer that is enrolled in USCIS' E-Verify employment eligibility verification program.
All employment on STEM OPT must be a minimum of 20 hours of work per week and provide you with formal training and learning objectives.
You must work with your potential STEM OPT extension employer to complete the Form I-983, which must include how the training opportunity has a direct relationship to your qualifying STEM degree. View our I-983 instructions to learn how to properly complete and submit the Form I-983.
You cannot qualify for STEM OPT extensions unless you will be a bona fide employee of the employer signing the Form I-983 because F-1 students may not provide the employer attestation (i.e., signatures) on their own behalf. However, you may use a start-up business so long as all regulatory requirements are met. The employer that signs the Form I-983 must be the same entity that employs you and provides the practical training experience.
Please note that your post-completion OPT employer does not need to be the same as the STEM OPT extension employer.

Reporting Requirements

You are required to report STEM employment every 6 months from the start of your STEM OPT. Any change of employment or address during your STEM OPT period must be reported within 10 days of the change.

Address Updates: At all times while on STEM OPT, please remember you must continue to update Wolverine Access with your U.S. address and phone number(s). The F-1 regulations mandate any change of address must be reported within 10 days of any change.

EAD Copy: Submit a scanned copy of your STEM OPT EAD card via M-Passport. Log in to M-Passport, click on Requests > OPT - Submit EAD Card, and follow the instructions from there.

Changing Employers: Any changes of employment during your STEM OPT period, such as ending a current job and/or starting a new job, must be reported to us via M-Passport within 10 days of the change. Please log in to M-Passport, and click on Requests. You must submit the OPT - Report End of Employment request (within 10 days of ending employment) and/or the OPT - Report Add New Employment request (within 10 days of starting employment).

Material Changes to an Existing Form I-983

If you are working for the same employer but need to make changes to your I-983 form, please log in to M-Passport, click on Requests > OPT - Update Previously Reported Employment Details, and follow the instructions from there. Material changes or deviations from the original Form I-983 may 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.

Date-Specific Reporting Requirements

F-1 STEM OPT students are required to complete STEM employment reporting tasks after 6, 12, 18, and 24 months of STEM OPT have elapsed.

To calculate how many months of STEM OPT have elapsed, please refer to the “Valid From” date printed on your STEM OPT EAD card. Do not refer to your Post-Completion OPT EAD card for this.
For example, if your STEM OPT EAD card is valid from 01/01/2024 to 12/31/2025, then you will be required to complete STEM employment reports on 07/01/2024 (6 months elapsed), 01/01/2025 (12 months elapsed), 07/01/2025 (18 months elapsed), and 12/31/2025 (24 months elapsed). The reports may be submitted up to 30 days before this date and no later than 10 days after the date.

To report 6-Month STEM Validation and Annual Progress Evaluations, log in to the M-Passport portal > Requests > OPT - Submit STEM Validation Report and Progress Evaluation and follow the instructions from there.

Study in the States: STEM OPT Hub: For more information about STEM OPT Reporting Requirements, please refer to the US Department of Homeland Security’s website Study in the States, STEM OPT Hub.

Ending STEM OPT Early

Abandoning STEM OPT: If you decide to abandon your STEM OPT before the end date of your EAD and leave the U.S., you must notify the International Center so we can end your SEVIS record. Please log in to M-Passport, click on Requests > Departure Form, and submit the request telling us that you have decided to abandon your OPT and the date you plan to depart the U.S. We will end your SEVIS record effective the date you indicate you plan to leave the U.S. or the date you notify us, whichever is later. In addition, remember to submit a Final Evaluation for the end of your STEM OPT in M-Passport within 10 days of your end of employment.

Starting a New Program — at U-M or at Another Institution

During the period you are authorized for OPT, you may decide to apply to another academic program, either at U-M or another University. Once you are admitted to another degree program, it is important to discuss the situation with an advisor at the International Center, as the issuance of a new I-20 will effect/terminate your OPT. Please call the IC to request an appointment (appointments may be in-person or by telephone). If you are admitted to a degree program at another University, the International Center must transfer your I-20 to that institution so they may issue a new I-20 for you.

Admission to U-M for a new degree program/change of level. Once you have been admitted to a new degree program at U-M, the admissions office will issue a new I-20 to you. The issuance of this new I-20 does not end your OPT immediately. Your EAD is terminated as soon as you enter the U.S. with the new I-20 or you check-in for the new program, whichever is earlier. Either one of these events will activate your SEVIS record for the new degree and deactivate your OPT SEVIS record. This means you must immediately stop employment regardless of the card's appearance of validity if you reenter with your new I-20 or check-in at the IC.
Transfer to another school in the U.S. in order to begin a new degree program. Authorization for OPT is not transferable. Your authorization for OPT ends on the transfer release date. If you wish to complete OPT, set the release date for a date after the OPT ends. You can set the transfer release date to occur during the 60-day grace period following post-completion OPT (see the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Transfer for F-1 Students (refer to section 6.7)). On your transfer release date, you must stop employment regardless of your EAD card's appearance of validity.

In order to maintain your F-1 status, a new I-20 for change of academic level, new degree program, or transfer must be issued before the end of your 60 day grace period.

Change of Status During STEM OPT

If you change your immigration status (e.g. from F-1 to H-1B, F-2, J-1, etc.) during the period of your STEM OPT your STEM OPT will end on the effective date of the USCIS action notice or your entry to the US in the new status. Any unused STEM OPT time is lost (you cannot have both F-1 STEM OPT and another status at the same time, nor can you return to STEM OPT if your new status ends for any reason).

Please notify the International Center when you change status. To update your status with the International Center, email [email protected] with your UMID and a copy of your I-94 showing your new status. Your I-94 may be attached to the bottom of an I-797 Approval Notice or accessed online after entering the US in another status. If you are approved for permanent residency, please submit a copy of your green card instead of an I-94. Remember to submit a Final Evaluation for the end of your STEM OPT in M-Passport within 10 days of your change of status becoming effective.