The STEM OPT extension is a 24-month period of temporary training that is directly related to an F-1 student’s program of study in an approved STEM field. F-1 students currently on a valid 12-Month Post-completion OPT with an eligible STEM degree have the option to apply for a 24-Month STEM OPT Extension to receive an additional 2 years of employment authorization that is directly related to their STEM degree program. Students may not apply for STEM OPT extensions during the 60-day grace period following an initial period of regular post-completion OPT. To check if you have a specific major that is STEM-eligible, please refer to the DHS list known as the STEM Designated Degree Program list on the ICE.gov website.

Non-STEM field students do not qualify to apply for the extension. It is possible, however, to use a prior U.S. degree to apply for the extension if the degree was in a STEM field and was conferred within the last 10 years.

F-1 international students may be eligible to apply for a 24-month STEM OPT extension if they:

  • Are maintaining an active F-1 status.
  • Are currently on valid 12 months post-completion OPT.
  • Have a degree in a STEM field from a U.S accredited institution.
  • Have a paid full-time (20 hours or more) position from an E-Verify employer.
  • Have a job directly related to the STEM field of study Not: It is the student’s responsibility to demonstrate the relationship between their job and the STEM field.
  • Have an employer that is willing to complete the I-983 training plan(Please see our I-983 Guide)
  • Submit their STEM OPT application to USCIS before the end date of their post-completion OPT as noted on the OPT EAD Card.
  • Have not participated in

The STEM employer must be:

  • Enrolled in E-Verify and willing to complete a Training Plan I-983 with you.
  • Responsible for paying your salary. Employment on STEM OPT cannot be unpaid.
  • Responsible for supervising and training you.

You cannot do the following while on STEM OPT:

  • You cannot accumulate more than 150 days of unemployment time during your 36 months of OPT (12 months Post-Completion OPT + 24 months STEM Extension OPT)
  • You cannot be self employed
  • You cannot work in an unpaid position
  • You cannot change employers without submitting a I-983 training plan to the ISO along with other required documents.

 

Students may apply for STEM OPT Extension up to 90 days prior to the expiration date of the student’s current OPT employment authorization and must apply before the expiration date of the EAD card.

Important Notes:

  • Students may not apply for STEM OPT extension during the 60-day grace period
  • Students must file within 60 days of the date the ISO advisor enters the recommendation for the STEM OPT extension into his or her SEVIS record.

Prior to apply with USCIS, students must obtain a new I-20 with the OPT STEM recommendation from the ISO. In order to apply for an I-20 with the OPT STEM extension recommendation, students must submit their request through the ISO Gateway and allow up to 5 business days for processing. To complete the request, you will need to have the following documents:

  • Completed I-983 with all required signatures (Please see our I-983 Guide)
  • Copy of the front and back of your Current OPT EAD
  • An original employment offer letter on company letterhead. Must contain start date.
    • If original offer letter does not contain the correct start date, you must also submit an employment verification letter from your employer.
  • Draft of I-765 (Do not submit to USCIS without the I-20 with the OPT STEM recommendation from the ISO!)
  • Copy of Diploma AND official transcript showing your graduation from an eligible STEM field
  • All previously issued I-20s from TCU that contain CPT/OPT authorizations for current degree (copies)
  • Most recent I-94
  • Copy of Passport & F-1 Visa

On 4/12/2021, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that F-1 students seeking Optional Practical Training (OPT) can now file their form I-765 online if filling under the pre-completion, post-completion and the 24-month STEM extension categories.

It is extremely important to proceed carefully with the online application process. The system allows you to submit your application without all required documents and this may result in complications with your online application.

Otherwise, you may continue to submit the OPT application to USCIS by mail. Please consult with an ISO advisor if you are unsure about the process.

Document Checklist:

Apply online:

*Refer to our STEM OPT Online Guide for detailed instructions

  • $470 to be paid at the end of the application electronically. Note: Do not make payment without double checking your application for errors. Once payment is submitted, no corrections/edits may be made.
  • One passport style photo, no more than six months old (Photo Guidelines).
  • Copy of your new I-20 with STEM OPT recommendation. Please sure it’s signed with wet blue ink.
  • Copies of all previous issued I-20s from TCU with CPT/OPT authorizations.
  • Your most recent I-94.
  • Copy of your OPT EAD Card.
  • Copy of your diploma.
  • Copy of your passport identification/signature page and the page showing your passport expiration date (Must be valid for at least 6 months from the date USCIS receives the application).
  • Copy of your F-1 visa.
  • Copy of any previous EADs (if applicable).
  • Evidence of Institution Accreditation (only needed if applying with previous degree).
    • SEVP certification here
    • TCU Accreditation Information here

Note: The online application itself is the I-765. Before you submit payment, you will have a chance to review your online application by downloading a draft of your application

Even after F-1 students begin OPT, the ISO will still monitor students’ SEVIS status, and students must still work with the ISO to maintain their F-1 visa status. It is the student’s responsibility to report information related to their STEM OPT employment. The ISO will continue to support and maintain the students’ record during this period.

While on your 24-month STEM OPT, you are required to update your employment and/or personal information to the ISO within 10 days of any changes. The below information must be reported through the ISO Gateway :

  • Your residential address, phone number, and email address
  • Employer(‘s) name, EIN, and E-verify #
  • Employer(‘s) address
  • Job Title
  • Start and/or end dates of employment
  • Any periods of unemployment
  • Any Material Changes to your I-983 (Salary, Benefits)
  • Validation Reports every 6 months
  • 12-Month Self Evaluation I-983
  • Final Self Evaluation I-983 at the end of each employment
  • 24-Month Final Evaluation I-983
  • Ending your STEM and leaving the U.S. permanently
  • Change of visa status

Validation Reports

Students on STEM OPT must complete a validation report with the ISO every 6 months confirming their record in SEVIS accurately reflects their current circumstance and information. As part of this six-month validation report, students must confirm that the following information is correct in SEVIS and submit a validation report through the ISO Gateway:

  • Student legal name.
  • Student residential or mailing address.
  • Student employer name and address.
  • Student’s status of current employment

The I-983 students submit with their STEM validation report must be up to date. Any changes or deviations from the original I-983 must be updated accordingly. These changes may include employer’s EIN, reduction or increase to a student’s salary, significant decrease in hours per week that a student engages in a STEM training opportunity, learning objectives, or employment site location. Regardless of what changes took place, as long as the STEM OPT student and the STEM OPT employer meet the regulatory requirements for STEM OPT, there should not be any issues with the student’s employment authorization. We recommend all students to register and utilize their SEVP portal because the SEVP portal will send out a reminder via email 30 days before any validation report is due.

Students are also required to complete an annual self-evaluation describing the progress of the training experience in the 12- and 24-month validation report. The initial self-evaluation should be done 12 months after the STEM OPT start date and the final assessment that recaps the training and knowledge acquired during the complete, 24-month training period should be completed along with the 24-month validation report.

Note: A final self-evaluation should also be completed each time a student completes employment with an employer during the STEM OPT period.

 

Change of STEM employer

Students with a 24-Month STEM extension cannot begin new employment without first following the applicable steps below:

If you are ending employment, you must complete and submit to the ISO a completed final employment evaluation from Page 5 of the I-983 within 10 days of ending the employment.

To begin new employment, you must submit a completed I-983 from the new employer and a copy of the job offer. After submission, the ISO will make the necessary updates to your SEVIS record and add the new employer information. To submit a change of employment, submit your request to the ISO through the ISO Gateway. You will need the following documents to complete the request:

  • Offer Letter of New Employer
  • Completed I-983 of New Employer
  • Completed I-983 with previous employer with the final evaluation completed (be sure to include all 5 pages)
  • Copy of your most recent I-94

H-1B and OPT Cap-Gap Extensions

The Cap-Gap extension is available to F-1 students who, as of April 1st, were either on approved OPT or in their 60-day grace period and have a pending or approved change-of-status H-1B petition with the USCIS that was filed prior to the expiration of their OPT or 60-day grace period.

Students are eligible for the Cap-Gap extension if:

  • The employer files the H-1B petition and it is received by USCIS prior to the end of the post-completion OPT. In this case, a student’s employment authorization is extended until September 30th.
  • The employer files the H-1B petition and it is received by USCIS after the end of post-completion OPT but during your 60-day grace period following OPT. In this case, the student is allowed to remain in the US but not authorized to work until the H-1B goes into effect on October 1st.

Note: If the H-1B is not approved by Sept 30, the F-1 employment authorization will end. A student will have the standard 60-day grace period from the Cap Gap end date of Sept 30.