STEM Eligibility Requirements

• Student must have completed a degree program in a STEM field, which currently serves as the basis for the student’s current post-completion OPT (a previous STEM degree may be used under certain conditions – see below for more details).  This means that the CIP code of the student’s major must appear on the STEM Designated Degree Program List approved by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as of May 10, 2016. The CIP code is used to standardize majors and is what a student should use to determine if his or her major appears on the STEM list. The major’s CIP Code is listed on a student’s current I-20 (first page, “Program of Study” section). If your major’s CIP Code is not on the above-referenced STEM List approved by DHS and you don’t have a qualifying previous degree (see below), you will not be eligible for STEM OPT – no matter how closely your major is related to other programs that are on this list

• Student must be engaged in an approved post-completion OPT in order to apply for the STEM extension. Student may not file a STEM OPT application sooner than 90 days before the student’s current OPT expiration date.

• Student must have a job offer from an employer enrolled in E-verify. The employer must also have an employer identification number (EIN) used for tax purposes.

• Students may apply for the STEM OPT extension based on either their current degree or on a previous STEM degree earned at an accredited and SEVP-certified U.S. educational institution. That previously obtained degree must have been conferred within the 10 years preceding the date when OIS recommends the student for STEM OPT.

• F-1 students are eligible for one 24-month STEM extension per qualifying degree.  Students may become eligible for an additional 24-month OPT STEM extension by completing another degree at a higher level for a total of two 24-month STEM extensions per lifetime. Degrees earned outside of the U.S. cannot be considered for a STEM OPT extension application.

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.

• 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 signs 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.

STEM Extension Application Process – Step II: Mail the STEM OPT Application to USCIS

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:

• Form G-1145 (optional). Use most recent version available at http://www.uscis.gov/g-1145. This form is for students who wish to receive electronic notification that their application has been accepted.

• Form I-765 (original, signed). Use most recent version available at http://www.uscis.gov/i-765. Please review the OIS Guidelines for Completing Form I-765. Important Note: Among other things, you will need to indicate your employer’s E-Verify number on this form. Many students confuse E-Verify number with Employer Identification Number (EIN) that they enter on their Form I-983. E-Verify and EIN are not the same number! Make sure you obtain a correct E-Verify number from your employer before you fill out this form. 

• Check or money order for $410 stapled to I-765, made payable to U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

• Two identical color passport-style photographs (2″ x 2″) taken within 30 days of filing date. Write your full name and A-Number (same as USCIS #, which should be listed on your current EAD card) using a pencil or a felt pen on the back of each photo. Paperclip the photos to the I-765. For specific photo requirements, please refer to the I-765 Instructions available at http://www.uscis.gov/i-765. Make sure you don’t wear glasses when the photo is taken!

• Copy of the new I-20 with the STEM OPT recommendation from OIS (sign your I-20 before photocopying and leave a copy with OIS).

• Copy of your current and previously issued EAD(s) (front and back).

• Copy of diploma and/or transcripts clearly showing graduation in a STEM field.  If diploma does not list your field/major, you must include transcripts.  Unofficial transcripts are fine. USCIS does not need sealed, official transcripts.

• Copy of most recent I-94 record. Download your most recent I-94 record from https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94.

• Copy of an offer or employment verification letter from a qualified E-Verify Employer indicating job title, job description, and work location.

• [Highly recommended but not required] Copy of the I-20 with the initial OPT recommendation from OIS. We also recommend that you include copies of all other previously issued I-20s.

• [Highly recommended but not required] Copy of most recent F-1 visa.

• [Highly recommended but not required] Copy of passport ID and expiration page (valid at least 6 months into the future).

• Other forms or documents as may be recommended by your attorney or HR representative.

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 III: USCIS Processing

The following information should be kept in mind regarding USCIS processing of the STEM OPT application.

• USCIS processing time is approximately 90 days from the day USCIS receives your application.

• Within 2-3 days of USCIS receiving your application, you should receive a text message or email, if you included the G-1145 form with your application.

• Within about 2-3 weeks you should receive a paper receipt notice from USCIS at the address listed on the I-765 indicating that your case has been accepted for processing.  If you do not receive this within 30 days, you should contact USCIS as there may be an issue with the mailing address you indicated on the I-765.

• The paper receipt notice documents that your case has been accepted for processing by USCIS. Once your case is in process, your F-1 status and work authorization are automatically extended for a period of 180 days following the expiration date of your current EAD. The expired EAD presented together with the Form I-20 issued for the STEM extension and the Receipt Notice from USCIS will be sufficient to prove your employment authorization until you receive the new EAD.

• Once your case is approved, you will receive the I-797 Approval Notice and the EAD (separately).

• If USCIS needs more information or documentation to approve your case, you will receive a Request for Evidence (RFE).  If you receive an RFE, please contact OIS immediately.

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.

Provide Copies of Your EAD

• When you receive the EAD, provide a copy to your employer.You must also submit a copy of your new EAD to OIS through the STEM OPT Upload Center. OIS requires a copy so that your OPT extension and EAD can be verified in SEVIS.

STEM Extension Reporting Requirements

THE BELOW INFORMATION IS VERY IMPORTANT!

• Updating Residential Address in MyPack (within 10 days of move). Just like during the regular 12-month OPT, during the STEM extension you are required to update your residential address in MyPack (in the “Home/Mailing” and “SEVIS Local” fields) within 10 days of move. The latest address from the “SEVIS Local” field will be automatically copied to your SEVIS record. If you have registered an SEVP Portal account, please also update your address there.

• STEM OPT Validation (every 6 months). Every six months STEM OPT students are required to confirm their employment and address information. You must report to OIS 6 months, 12 months,18 months, and 24 months after the start of your STEM OPT extension by submitting the online OPT Employment Validation Form. The window for reporting a 6-month STEM OPT validation opens 15 days before the reporting date (i.e. the 6-month mark) and is due within 10 days of the reporting date.

Use our STEM OPT CALCULATOR to calculate your reporting windows.

• Annual Evaluations (every 12 months). Every 12 months you must submit to OIS an annual self-evaluation on page 5 of Form I-983 on the progress of your training experience, which must be signed by you and your employer. The section titled “Evaluation on Student Progress” must be submitted for the first 12 months of STEM OPT and the section titled “Final Evaluation on Student Progress” must be submitted at the end of STEM OPT. The self-evaluations are due within 10 days of the reporting date. Please use the STEM OPT Upload Center to submit your annual evaluations.

Use our STEM OPT CALCULATOR to calculate your reporting windows.

• Changing Employers or Adding a New Employer (within 10 days). You must notify OIS within 10 days of changing employers or adding a new employer by submitting the following documents through the STEM OPT Upload Center (please select “Report change of STEM OPT employer” as the reason of submission):
  • New Employer form
  • New I-983 (pages 1-4) completed and signed by you and your new employer
  • Final self-evaluation of your performance with the previous employer on page 5 of Form I-983 signed by you and your previous employer. If you continue to work with this employer (i.e. you just need to add another employer), you don’t need to submit the final self-evaluation.

  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. If your STEM OPT application is pending at the time you change employers, we will also send an electronic notification to USCIS about the change. No additional action will be required from you.

• End of Employment / Unemployment (within 10 days). You must notify OIS of any unemployment within 10 days of the event. This includes unemployment due to being fired, furloughed, laid-off, resigning, or the otherwise being unemployed. You are also required to complete a final evaluation (page 5 of I-983) at the end of each STEM OPT employment (within 10 days from the end of the employment). Please notify OIS about the end of your employment by sending an email to ois@ncsu.edu with the subject line: “End of STEM OPT Employment.” In the email, please specify the name of the employer and the end date of your employment. Please submit the final evaluation via the STEM OPT Upload Center.

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.

• Change in Information (within 10 days of the change). You must report changes in the following information within 10 days of the change via NC State MyPack or OIS’s OPT Employment Validation Form:
  • Legal name (via MyPack).
  • Residential or mailing address (via MyPack using SEVIS Local Address).
  • Employment address (via OPT Employment Validation Form). This must be the address of your physical work location (don’t use your employer’s main office address unless you work there). If the city/state of your new employment location has changed, we will issue an updated I-20 for you.
  • Status of current employment including any loss of employment (see Changing Employers and Unemployment above).

• Material Changes to an Existing Form I-983 (at the earliest available opportunity). You must notify OIS of any material changes to, or material deviations from, your formal training plan as documented on the I-983. Notify OIS of any of these material changes by submitting an updated I-983 through the STEM OPT Upload Center.
  • 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.

• Change in Immigration Status (within 10 days). You must notify OIS of any change in immigration status such as change to H-1B, F-2, etc. by submitting proof of the change of status such as an approval notice or new visa with I-94 to ois@ncsu.edu.

• Transfer to Another School. You must notify OIS if you wish to transfer your F-1 record to another school in order to pursue another degree.  We will need to transfer your SEVIS record to the new school. Notify OIS of your plans by submitting the transfer out form (download from our Forms for Current Students page).  Your OPT/EAD is no longer valid the day of your transfer out.

• Departure from the US (within 10 days). You must notify OIS if you complete your employment and return to your home country permanently by submitting OIS’s Departure Form (download from our Forms for Current Students page).
  

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.

STEM Extension I-983 Training Plan and Evaluation Requirements

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.

Days of Allowable Unemployment

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).

Helpful Links

• Department of Homeland Security: STEM OPT Hub
• List of eligible STEM fields (by CIP code)
• List of NC State Programs and assigned CIP Codes
• What is an “Accredited” institution?
• Form I-983 instructions