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F-1 Employment: STEM OPT Extension

STEM OPT EXTENSION FEE INCREASE: On April 1, 2024 the application fee for United States Citizenship and Immigration Services’ (USCIS) Form I-765, which is used for applying for the 24-Month STEM OPT Extension and post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT), will increase. For applicants who choose to file their application on the USCIS website, the filing fee will be $470 (a $60 increase from the $410 fee); for applicants who file by mail, the fee will be $520 (a $110 increase from the $410 fee). For more detailed information, please see this Federal Register notice.

Watch the Spring 2024 STEM OPT Extension Workshop recording above. You must view the recording and contact OISA with any questions you have BEFORE you submit your STEM OPT Extension Request in the ISS Portal.        

Overview & Eligibility

The STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT) Extension is an extension of post-completion OPT for up to 24 additional months available to F-1 international students with qualifying science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) majors and employment opportunities. To be eligible for the STEM OPT Extension, you must meet the following criteria: 

  • Be in an authorized period of post-completion OPT and not exceeded 90 days of unemployment.
  • Have completed a degree in a qualifying STEM field. Wesleyan majors with Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) codes that qualify for the 24-Month STEM OPT Extension are: Archaeology (45.0301), Astronomy (40.0201), Biology (26.0101), Chemistry (40.0501), College of Integrative Science (CIS - 30.0101), Computer Science (11.0701), Earth & Environmental Sciences (40.0101), Economics (45.0603), Environmental Studies (03.0103), Integrated Design, Engineering, Arts & Society (IDEAS - 14.9999), Mathematics (27.0101), Molecular Biology & Biochemistry (26.0205), Neuroscience & Behavior (42.2706), and Physics (40.0801).  
  • Have paid, active employment or an offer of employment directly related to your STEM degree with an employer who uses E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility. Use this E-Verify tool to find participating employers. The employer must also have an Employer Identification Number (EIN) and agree to certain requirements listed on the I-983 Training Plan, including following reporting requirements and allowing for potential site visits from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Self-employment and unpaid employment are not permitted for the 24-Month STEM OPT Extension. 
  • Secure a training experience for your employment that is at least 20 hours per week. Part-time employment is not permitted during the STEM OPT Extension. You may work more than one position, but each job must meet the requirements of the Extension and you must submit separate I-983s for each employment opportunity. Additionally, all employment opportunities on the STEM OPT Extension must be for at least 20 hours per week. Study in the States provides additional guidelines regarding multiple employers.
  • Employment through staffing agencies may not be suitable for the STEM OPT Extension. USCIS states, “Staffing and temporary agencies and consulting firms may seek to employ students under the STEM OPT program, but only if they will be the entity that provides the practical training experience to the student and they have and maintain a bona fide employer-employee relationship with the student.” This means that your training and supervision must be provided by the employer completing your I-983 and cannot be delegated to the client or customer of the staffing agency. See USCIS STEM OPT Employer Requirements and Responsibilities for more information. 
  • You may be approved for up to two STEM OPT Extensions per lifetime. Each extension must be based on a separate period of post-completion OPT, and the second STEM OPT Extension must be based on a higher degree level than the first STEM Extension. 
  • Most students apply for a STEM Extension based on the degree used to obtain their current OPT. However, you may apply based on a prior STEM degree you obtained if it the major is eligible for the Extension and it was granted by an SEVP-approved institution within the past 10 years (consult with OISA). 

When to Apply

USCIS will accept your 24-Month STEM OPT Extension application up to 90 days prior to and no later than your OPT end date listed on your EAD card. USCIS uses Coordinated Univerisal Time (UTC) to determine the date and time that you file your application. If you are filing your application close to the end of your 90-day application window, make sure to check UTC in advance and submit your application prior to the deadline!

If your application is filed in a timely manner but is still pending approval when your post-completion OPT authorization expires, you may work for your STEM-qualifying employer for up to 180 days while awaiting your new Employment Authorization Document (EAD) card.  

How to Apply

Step 1: Update Your Address with USCIS

Complete and submit the AR-11 Change of Address form on the USCIS website. We recommend that you do this before you submit your STEM OPT Extension application to USCIS; you may submit your AR-11 Change of Address form prior to your 90-day application window for the STEM OPT Extension. 

If you do not update your address with USCIS, it is possible that they may send your receipt notice and EAD card to the address you used when you previously applied for post-completion OPT. This could happen even if you list your current mailing address on your STEM OPT Extension application.   

Step 2: Submit Your STEM OPT Extension SEVIS Maintenance Fee to OISA

Please mail your $250 money order for the STEM OPT Extension SEVIS Maintenance Fee to Wesleyan University Office of International Student Affairs, Fisk Hall Room 105, 262 High Street, Middletown, CT 06459 or submit your money order via the OISA secured drop box outside of Fisk Hall Room 105.

Please note: OISA will not process your STEM OPT Extension Request until your SEVIS Maintenance Fee payment has been received; the fee covers the cost for OISA to process your request and continue to maintain your SEVIS record and provide you with immigration advising throughout your 24-month STEM OPT Extension period. 

Step 3: Submit Your 24-Month STEM OPT Extension Request in the ISS Portal

Before you begin your 24-Month STEM OPT Extension Request in the International Student and Scholar (ISS) Portal (found within the "F-1 Student Requests tab), please gather the following documents and payments:

For information about money orders and paying the Form I-765 processing fee, read our Money Order page.

Once you have submitted a complete 24 Month STEM OPT Extension Request in the ISS Portal, an OISA staff member will review it, confirm your eligibility, and create a new I-20 with a STEM OPT Extension recommendation for you after we have received your OISA STEM OPT Extension SEVIS Maintenance Fee payment (Step 3 below). Please allow 7 business days for processing.

DO NOT SUBMIT YOUR STEM OPT EXTENSION APPLICATION TO USCIS UNTIL AFTER YOU RECEIVE YOUR NEW I-20 WITH STEM OPT RECOMMENDATION FROM OISA. If you fail to follow these instructions, your STEM OPT Extension application could be denied and you could miss out on this benefit of your F-1 status.   

Step 4: Receive and Review Your I-20 with STEM OPT Recommendation

After OISA processes your request, you will receive an updated I-20 with STEM OPT Extension recommendation along with a list of materials to submit to USCIS. The recommendation date is listed next to the Designated School Official (DSO) signature on page 1. Please check page 2 of your I-20 to confirm your requested STEM OPT Extension start and end dates and employer information are listed correctly. Then sign by hand and date on page 1 in the "Student Attestation" section.    

Please note: The STEM OPT Extension recommendation on page 1 of your I-20 is only valid for 60 days. USCIS must receive and receipt your STEM OPT Extension application within 60 days of the recommendation date on your new I-20. 

Step 5: Submit Your STEM OPT Extension Application to USCIS

Decide if you will submit your STEM OPT Extension application by mail or on the USCIS website with the online Form I-765. If you are mailing in your OPT application, send your materials by certified mail with return receipt requested, or express mail, to the appropriate USCIS filing location based on your mailing method. Use the Procedures for Filing your STEM OPT Extension Application guide and USCIS' I-765 Instructions and Checklist of Required Initial Evidence for Form I-765 to make sure you correctly complete your application and include all required materials and documentation. If you are filing online, see below for relevant guidance. 

Please note: USCIS will accept your application up to 90 days before the post-completion OPT end date listed on your EAD card and within 60 days of the OPT recommendation date listed next to the DSO signature on page 1 of your new I-20. Your application will be rejected or denied if received outside of this filing window. 

Reminder: USCIS uses Coordinated Univerisal Time (UTC) to determine the date and time that you file your application. If you are filing your application close to the end of your 90-day application window, make sure to check UTC in advance and submit your application prior to the deadline! If you apply within the 90-day window and your employment meets all the requirements of the STEM OPT Extension you may continue to work for up to 180 days while your application is pending with USCIS.  

Filing Your STEM OPT Application Online

As of April 12, 2021, F-1 students have the option to file their OPT (pre-completion/post-completion) and 24-Month STEM OPT Extension applications online via the USCIS website. You can read USCIS' announcement about this new filing option here. 

Here are some general guidelines about filing your STEM OPT application online:

  • Just as you would do if you were mailing in your application to USCIS, you must receive a new I-20 with a STEM OPT recommendation from an OISA staff member before you can apply online.
  • USCIS has not yet provided guided steps for completing form I-765 online and submitting the required supporting documents when applying for OPT/STEM OPT via their website. It is very important that you carefully read each screen, enter your correct information for each field, and upload copies of the required documents for your STEM OPT application.
  • If you fail to submit a complete STEM OPT application online, you could receive a Request for Evidence (RFE), rejection, or denial from USCIS. If this happens, contact OISA via email at oisa@wesleyan.edu and request advising support.
  • Do not mail anything to USCIS if you are filing online.

Please note that processing times for OPT/STEM OPT applications, whether submitted online or via mail, remain the same according to USCIS.

Student Reporting Requirements

Please print out and review the STEM Extension Reporting Requirements chart on the Study in the States website. Carefully review the following guidance to adhere to your STEM OPT Extension reporting requirements and maintain your F-1 visa status throughout your authorization period. 

After Receiving Your EAD Card

Upon receiving your EAD card from USCIS, you must log in to the ISS Portal and complete the OPT & STEM OPT EAD Card Submission request to submit a copy of your EAD to OISA. Submtting a copy of your EAD and reporting your employment and personal contact information via the ISS Portal is a requirement of maintaining your status while on the 24-Month STEM OPT Extension. 

Report new employment or changes to current employment within 10 days of the change

To submit your employment information to OISA, log in to the ISS Portal and complete and submit an OPT Employment Update (found within the "F-1 Student Requests" tab). 

Report changes in personal contact information

Report changes in personal contact information, including physical street address, email address, and telephone number, within 10 days of the change. You can do this by submitting an Address Update Request in the ISS Portal (found within the "F-1 Student Requests" tab).  

Submit a Validation Report every six months during your STEM Extension period

You must submit a validation report every six months (6 months, 12 months, 18 months, and 24 months) during your STEM OPT Extension period even if there are no changes to your employment.

At the 12-month and 24-month points of the STEM period, you must submit a self-evaluation (page 5 of the I-983), signed by you and your employer along with your validation report. A "Final Evaluation on Student Progress" is also required if you end an employment position before the end of your STEM OPT Extension period.

To submit your validation report, log in to the ISS Portal , navigate to the STEM OPT Extension Validation Report (found within the "F-1 Student Requests" tab), and complete and submit the request.

Employer Reporting Requirements

  • Your employer is responsible for maintaining an E-Verify number and using E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of its staff. 
  • Your employer must notify OISA within 5 days of your departure or termination from employment. To meet this reporting requirement, they should send an email to oisa@wesleyan.edu.
  • Your employer must be willing to complete the "Evaluation of Student Progress" at the 12-month point of your STEM OPT Extension period and the "Final Evaluation on Student Progress" at the 24-month point and/or upon your departure from the company.

What is E-Verify?

E-Verify is used by some employers to determine the employment eligibility of their employees through an online system. It is important to note that not all employers use E-Verify. If you plan to work for a specific employer during your STEM OPT Extension period, you must first ensure that they are enrolled in E-Verify. If they are not, they are not a STEM OPT Extension-eligible employer for you. Use this E-Verify tool to find participating employers.

Never assume that a company uses E-Verify based on size or number of employees. Moreover, some companies may only use E-Verify for certain positions or departments. Always confirm with the employer beforehand that they are in fact eligible to hire F-1 visa status STEM OPT Extension participants for the position in which you will be working. More information on E-Verify can be found on Study in the States. 

Unemployment during STEM OPT Extension

You may accrue up to 60 days of unemployment during your STEM OPT Extension period, plus any unemployment days you did not use during your 12-month post-completion OPT authorization period. If you did not use any unemployment days during your post-completion OPT, the 90 days would carry over giving you an aggregate 150 days of unemployment to use during your STEM OPT Extension period. 

Employment Changes

Common employment changes can be tricky to report while on STEM. Please refer to the guidance below, which is separated into "Pending STEM Extension" and "Active STEM Extension" categories. Remember to report all changes within 10 days to OISA through the ISS Portal.

Pending STEM Extension

Changing Employers

Submit the OPT Employment Update through the ISS Portal to report the new employer details. Include the last date of employment with the prior employer. Include a new I-983 Training Plan (pages 1-4) signed by you and your new employer. OISA will issue an updated I-20 and send a copy to USCIS on your behalf to update your application. 

Loss of Employment, No New STEM Employer

Submit the OPT Employment Update through the ISS Portal to report your loss of employment. Your SEVIS record will be updated accordingly. If you have lost the employment on which your STEM application is based and do not have an offer with a new qualifying employer, your application may be denied.

Active STEM OPT Extension

Employment Ending and No New Employment

Submit the OPT Employment Update through the ISS Portal to report the end of employment. Include a "Final Evaluation on Student Progress" (page 5 of the I-983). 

Employment Ending and Starting New Job

Submit the OPT Employment Update through the ISS Portal to report the new employer details. Include the last date of employment with the prior employer. Include a new I-983 Training Plan (pages 1-4) signed by you and your new employer. Include a "Final Evaluation on Student Progress" (page 5 of the I-983) from the prior job. 

Adding Second or Multiple Employers

Submit an OPT Employment Update through the ISS Portal and I-983 for each new employer. Please note that any additional employer must also be enrolled in E-Verify and your role must be paid and related to your degree program.

Same Employer but Changes to Terms of Employment (eg., work site change, change in duties, change of supervisor, etc.)

Submit the OPT Employment Update through the ISS Portal indicating that you are reporting a change to your current employment information. Include an updated I-983 Training Plan (pages 1-4). 

Information for Employers

By employing an F-1 student visa holder on the STEM OPT Extension, you are providing a valuable training opportunity and will, in turn, benefit from the skills, knowledge, and cultural competence that they will bring. As the STEM employer, you are not responsible for filing any government petitions or paying any visa-related fees. You are, however, responsible for completing and adhering to an individualized training plan for your STEM employee and following these reporting requirements.

You are also responsible for reporting to Wesleyan OISA any termination or end to employment within 5 days of the event. To report a STEM employee’s departure, please send an email oisa@wesleyan.edu and include the employee's first and last name, former position at your company, and the date they finished their employment.

STEM OPT Extension Resources

Completing the Form I-983 Training Plan for STEM OPT Students

Travel on Post-Completion OPT and OPT STEM Extension

Study in the States STEM OPT Hub

Study in the States STEM Extension Reporting Requirements chart

OPT Cap Gap Extension