STEM OPT Extension

The STEM OPT extension is an opportunity for an additional 24 months of work experience in your field of study.  If eligible and approved, this special OPT extension is available to each student in F1 status currently on OPT in a STEM field. 

To be eligible, a student must:

  • Already be approved for the regular 12-month OPT
  • Have earned a degree in a field on the U.S. government’s STEM major list (Science, Engineering, Technology, or Mathematics)
  • You must be employed in a job directly related to your field of study
  • Work for an employer who is enrolled in the U.S. government’s E-Verify program.   

You must apply for the 24-month STEM extension prior to the expiration date of the first OPT period.  USCIS will not accept the I-765 application any earlier than 90 days before the current EAD expiration date.

The start date of the 24-month OPT extension will be automatically set to the day after the expiration of the current 12-month OPT authorization.  The end date will be 24 months later.  It is not possible to request smaller increments of time for the OPT extension.  You continue to be in F1 status while on the STEM extension and Southeastern is responsible for reporting your status and updating SEVIS with any changes in your name, address, employment or if you terminate your STEM extension employment.

How To Apply

Download the following Form I-983 and Instructions. You and your employer must complete pages 1-5 only. Instructions for pages 6-7 will be given later. This form must be completed before you may proceed to step 2 and request the extension. Submit the I-983 to the International Services Office via the Online Student Request Form. Please do not email the form to our office. Once we review the form and decide you are eligible for the extension, we will contact you to make an appointment to complete the STEM extension application.        

                 i983form                i983instructions

 

While Your STEM Extension Application is Pending

A Notification of Receipt from USCIS should arrive to the address on the I-765 within 2-3 weeks.  This receipt has a code beginning with EAC and a series of numbers.  This is your case number and you can track the status of your application online at www.uscis.gov.

It will take 45-90 days for your application to be processed.  When approved, USCIS will send you an Approval Notice and then an Employment Authorization Document (EAD card) with a picture on it and the authorization dates you are allowed to work under OPT.  Once you receive the card, please ensure that your name is spelled correctly and the dates are correct. If a student's regular post-completion OPT expires after a STEM OPT I-765 is properly and timely filed, the student's employment authorization is considered automatically extended for up to 180 days while the STEM EAD application is pending.

The ISO will also issue you a new I-20 for the approved STEM OPT.  If you receive the card at your own address, please contact the ISO that you have received the card.  We will need a copy for our records and we will then issue you the new I-20. 

Reporting Requirements

You must inform the international services office of any and all employment.  Any changes in employment must also be reported.  You are also required to report any changes in your physical address. .To report this information, please select the button below.

                             opt reporting

 

**Every 6 months from the start date of the extension, you are to report your employment and current address, even if no changes have been made. Submit this through the above link**

**After 12 months you will be required to submit page 6 of the I-983 form through the Student Online Request Form. At the end of the 24 month extension, you will then submit page 7, Final evaluation of Student Progress**

You are responsible for reporting the above information!

In addition to reporting to the International Services Office, you also have the option to login to your own portal also known as the SEVP Portal launched by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program.  The portal is a tool that F-1 students on post-completion OPT or STEM OPT extensions may choose to use to report changes to their home address, telephone number and employer information. The portal is accessible from both your mobile device and computer.

You will receive an email with instructions on creating a portal account after your OPT is approved by USCIS.  This email will come from do-not-reply.sevp@ice.dhs.gov. If you do not see the email, check your spam or junk folder. If you still do not see it, contact the International Services Office to have it sent again to an email address of your choice.  The initial email will be sent to your Southeastern Webmail account.

*NOTE:  Failure to report to the ISO any changes or failure to report for the six and twelve month validation will result in your SEVIS record automatically terminating with reason “Failure to Report While on OPT.”

Travel On STEM OPT

If your current EAD card has expired you cannot travel outside of the US, even during the 180 valid period.  Once you receive the new EAD card, you can travel but must show the following documents:

  • New EAD card
  • Passport valid 6 months into the future
  • Proof of Employment (this can be a letter from your employer)
  • Most recent I-20 with valid travel authorization on 2nd page
  • If your visa has expired or will expire while you are out of the country, it will need to be renewed

 

Important Notes

  • You cannot accumulate more than 150 days of unemployment during the 24 months.
  • Your I-20 must be signed for travel every six months if you plan to leave and re-enter the US
  • Unlike regular OPT, a student on STEM OPT cannot meet their employment requirement through volunteer work