Qualified students on Optional Practical Training (OPT) in one of the designated STEM fields can apply for a 24-month extension of their OPT. Click here to view a recording of a 24-month STEM OPT webinar hosted by OIS.
Students must file an application with USCIS to apply for the STEM extension of OPT. During the STEM extension period students may only work for employers who are enrolled in the E-verify system and the employer must agree to update OIS within 5 business days when the student leaves or the employment is terminated.
E-verify is a system that shares information between the Social Security Administration and the Department of Homeland Security to verify that a potential employee is eligible to work in the United States. During the STEM extension students may change employers or work for multiple employers, provided that all employers are enrolled in the E-verify system. Not every employer is enrolled in E-verify and there is not an official list of E-verify employers. Therefore, students will need to confirm this information with the employer directly. If the employer has questions about the E-verify system, please refer them to the E-Verify website or their human resources professional.
Students are allowed to have up to 150 days of unemployment over the entire OPT period, including the initial 12-month post-completion OPT and the STEM OPT extension. Not more than 90 days of unemployment can be used during the initial 12-month OPT, and additional 60 days of unemployment are granted for STEM OPT.
During the STEM extension students are required to update OIS within 10 days of any change in their legal name, immigration status, employment status, or residential address. The process of reporting these changes is described below in the STEM Extension Reporting Requirements. Students must also report to OIS every six months, even if their information has not changed, using the online OPT Employment Validation Form. Please see the FAQ page about the STEM extension and contact OIS if you have any questions.
STEM Eligibility Requirements
Types of Employment
During the STEM extension period, students must be employed for at least 20 hours per week by an E-Verify employer in a position directly related to their field of study. Types of employment that are allowed during the STEM extension period are:
- Multiple employers. Students may work for more than one employer, but all employment must be related to the student’s most recently completed STEM degree program and all employers must be enrolled in E-Verify. Moreover, each STEM OPT employment must be at least 20 hours per week. For more details, please review the STEM Extension Reporting Requirements section below (under “Changing Employers or Adding a New Employer”).
- Paid employment. As of May 10, 2016, unpaid internships and volunteer work are no longer eligible employment opportunities for the STEM OPT extension. Similarly, students cannot represent themselves as both employer and employee on the I-983 form, meaning self-employment is also not allowed.
- Bona fide employer-employee relationship. To be eligible to employ a STEM OPT student, an employer must have a bona fide employer-employee relationship with the student. The employer that signs Form I-983 must be the same entity that provides the practical training experience to the student. Moreover, a STEM OPT student must be supervised by the employer’s own personnel. Please review the “STEM OPT Employer Requirements and Responsibilities” of this USCIS webpage for more details.
Certain employment arrangements, such as employment through a staffing agency or self-employment, may not be suitable for STEM OPT. Please refer to the DHS clarifications on bona fide employer-employee relationship and employment by start-up businesses posted in the Federal Register.
For more details about STEM OPT employer requirements and responsibilities, please visit this USCIS webpage on STEM OPT.
Remember: students are allowed to have up to 150 days of unemployment over the entire OPT period, including the initial 12-month post-completion OPT and the STEM OPT extension. Not more than 90 days of unemployment can be used during the initial 12-month OPT, and additional 60 days of unemployment are granted for STEM OPT. If, for example, you used 50 days of unemployment during your initial 12-month OPT, you will have 100 days of unemployment left for your STEM OPT extension.
Please note: it is the student’s responsibility to maintain documentation for each job held during the OPT period. It is recommended that students obtain proof that the position is/was related to the STEM field that the student completed, duration of the position and contact information for the manager/supervisor
STEM Extension Application Process – Step I: Request a new I-20 for STEM OPT from OIS
Before sending the STEM OPT application package to USCIS, students need to receive a new Form I-20 with the STEM OPT recommendation from OIS. In order for OIS to issue the STEM OPT I-20, student must upload the following documents to the STEM OPT Upload Center:
- 24 Month STEM OPT Request Form completed and signed by student and employer
- Copy of previous EAD(s)
- Copy of Form I-983 (pages 1-4) completed and signed by student and employer. (Check the Instructions on Completing the Form I-983.) Form I-983 pre-filled with NC State’s information is available on our Forms page. If you are applying for STEM OPT with NC State as your employer, please use Form I-983 for students applying for STEM extension as NC State University’s employees available on our Forms page.
- Receipt from payment of the OIS STEM OPT Maintenance Fee
- Make sure the information in your SEVP Portal account is up to date.
Please use your NCSU email credentials to access the form. If you’re using Chrome as your internet browser, please make sure you are logged in under your NCSU Gmail account.
OIS issues a new Form I-20 with the STEM extension recommendation and a new travel endorsement page. You will need a copy of this document to be included as part of your application to USCIS. When your I-20 is ready, you will receive an email from OIS with an attached cover letter that will include details for assembling and mailing the STEM OPT application to USCIS, as well as reporting requirements. If you’re unable to pick up the I-20 from our office, you can send us a shipping label and we will arrange the delivery of the document to your location.
Please allow up to 10 business days for processing and issuance of the new I-20.
USCIS must receive your STEM OPT application before your current EAD expires, but no sooner than 90 days before the EAD expiration date and within 60 days of the I-20 issuance (as indicated by the Designated School Official’s signature date on page 1 of the I-20). USCIS requires that the STEM application include: Use this list of USCIS lockbox facilities to determine where to mail your application. Information regarding employment authorization is subject to change. Students should confirm the application requirements, fees and process with USCIS. For the most up to date instructions regarding the I-765 please see: http://www.uscis.gov/i-765 If the application is approved, USCIS will issue a new EAD with the STEM OPT dates. Review the EAD card for accuracy and provide a copy to OIS. If you fail to provide a copy to OIS, you may lose your status and employment authorization.STEM Extension Application Process – Step II: Mail the STEM OPT Application to USCIS
The following information should be kept in mind regarding USCIS processing of the STEM OPT application. USCIS does not allow applicants to pay a fee for expedited processing and guaranteed adjudication by a certain date. Rather, USCIS accepts requests for expedited processing of petitions filed in a timely manner based on certain criteria. Students may follow the instructions on the USCIS web page to determine if you meet the USCIS criteria for expedited processing and to complete an expedited processing request. OIS is not involved in the processing of any petitions filed with USCIS and any inquiries regarding the expedited processing request need to be sent to USCIS. Students may also contact USCIS directly to ask questions regarding pending applications. USCIS offers a request for inquiry regarding a pending petition. Students may follow the instructions on the USCIS web page to request an inquiry and update from USCIS regarding their pending petition. OIS is not involved in the processing of any petitions filed with USCIS and any questions regarding the inquiry process need to be sent to USCIS.STEM Extension Application Process – Step III: USCIS Processing
THE BELOW INFORMATION IS VERY IMPORTANT! Use our STEM OPT CALCULATOR to calculate your reporting windows. Use our STEM OPT CALCULATOR to calculate your reporting windows. After we receive your documents, we will update your SEVIS record accordingly and issue a new I-20 for you. You will receive an email from us when your I-20 is ready for pick up or shipping. Remember: students are allowed to have up to 150 days of unemployment over the entire OPT period, including the initial 12-month post-completion OPT and the STEM OPT extension. Not more than 90 days of unemployment can be used during the initial 12-month OPT, and additional 60 days of unemployment are granted for STEM OPT. If, for example, you used 50 days of unemployment during your initial 12-month OPT, you will have 100 days of unemployment left for your STEM OPT extension. SEVP Portal: On March 23, 2018, DHS’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) has launched the SEVP Portal. The SEVP Portal is a tool that F-1 student on OPT or STEM OPT extension can use to report changes to their home/mailing address, telephone number and employer information. Please review the information and links related to the Portal here: https://internationalservices.ncsu.edu/2018/03/16/sevis-introduces-new-student-facing-portal-for-f-1-students-on-opt/. The use of the Portal is not mandatory, but highly recommended by SEVP and OIS. All prospective STEM OPT students and employers are required to complete a Training Plan (Form I-983) at the start of employment to establish expected outcomes and learning objectives. This reporting and oversight requirement establishes the extended OPT period as an integral piece of an academic training experience. Students will need to review Form I-983 every 12 months throughout the STEM OPT experience to self-assess progress and performance. The training plan, or Form I-983, can be found here: https://studyinthestates.dhs.gov/students-and-the-form-i-983. A Form I-983 pre-populated with NC State University’s School SEVIS Code and DSO Contact Information can be found on OIS’s Forms for Current Students page. Make sure to read the Instructions on Completing the Form I-983. If your employer has questions about this requirement, please refer them here: https://studyinthestates.dhs.gov/employers-stem-opt-reporting-requirements. If you have further questions, talk to your current employer or a potential new employer about the new I-983 Training Plan requirements. DHS has a wealth of information on their website for employers here:https://studyinthestates.dhs.gov/employers-stem-opt-reporting-requirements. The employer should review the new requirements and work with you to start preparing the I-983. Students who are granted the 24-month STEM extension of OPT can have up to 150 cumulative days of unemployment during the 36-month OPT period (the original 12-month OPT plus the 24-month STEM OPT extension).Provide Copies of Your EAD
STEM Extension Reporting Requirements
STEM Extension I-983 Training Plan and Evaluation Requirements
Days of Allowable Unemployment
If you have any further questions regarding STEM OPT, please visit the Frequently Asked Questions page.
To see information about H-1B cap-gap extension, please visit our H-1B Cap-Gap page.