24-month STEM OPT Extension

Extension of post-completion OPT for F-1 students with certain science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) degrees.

Eligibility for STEM OPT Extension

• You must have earned a bachelor's, master's or doctoral degree in a major that appears on the STEM Designated Program List. Check your I-20 to view if your major's CIP code is eligible. The STEM degree may be either a CSUF degree with which you applied for your current post-completion OPT, or a previous STEM degree conferred within the last 10 years from a U.S. institution of higher education that is accredited and SEVP-certified.
• Your current approved OPT must be current and not expired.
• You must be currently working for or have a job offer from an employer enrolled in the E-Verify program and has an IRS Employer Identification Number (EIN). There must be a “bona fide employer-employee relationship”; you cannot be self-employed.
• Your job must be a paid position for a minimum of 20 hours per week.

When to Apply

USCIS may receive your STEM OPT application as early as 90 days before your current OPT end date. We recommend you submit your request to the ISS office 90 days before your OPT expires or as soon as possible to allow ample time for processing.

How to Apply

Step 1: Submit Your STEM Extension Request and Form I-983 to ISS

• Download and complete  Form I-983 with your STEM eligible employer. Refer to the PDF titled Completing the Form I-983: Training Plan for STEM OPT Students prepared by the Department of Homeland Security.
• Submit the STEM OPT Request and upload your Form I-983. Comprehensive instructions are found below:
  • Log in to your  International Students & Scholars (ISS) Portal
  • Navigate to  (2) Personal & Program  and confirm that your U.S. physical address is current.
    • If your address is not up to date, update your  SEVIS Domestic Address and/or Home Address  in your CSUF Portal.
  • In the ISS Portal, go to  (3) Requests & Documents  and confirm that your STEM employment information is current.
    • If updates are needed, submit a  Practical Training Employer Update  with your most recent employment details.
  • Navigate to  (3) Requests & Documents  and open the  STEM OPT Request and complete all of the steps.

Step 2: Make corrections to I-983 if requested

The ISS Advisor must verify that the I-983 has been properly completed by student and employer prior to issuing the STEM Extension OPT I-20.

• If corrections to your I-983 are needed, an ISS Advisor will you update your ISS Portal with the corrections needed. You and your employer will then need to edit the I-983 and sign pages 1, 2 and 4 and you will upload the updated I-983 and resubmit the STEM OPT Request via the ISS Portal.
• Processing time of 8-10 business days begins once ISS receives a complete and accurate I-983.
• Once processed, ISS will notify you via email and upload an electronic STEM OPT Extension I-20 to your ISS Portal. 

Step 3: Assemble Documents for your STEM Extension Application

After you receive your STEM OPT I-20 from ISS, assemble the documents by referring to the Checklist of Required Initial Evidence for Form I-765.

Step 4: File your STEM Extension OPT application to USCIS

• Create an Online Account (USCIS How-To Videolink opens in a new window )
• File the Form I-765 in your myUSCIS account (USCIS General Instructions and Q/Alink opens in a new window pdf file )
• Manage your Case Status (USCIS How-To Videolink opens in a new window )
• If needed, respond to a Request for Evidence (USCIS How-To Videolink opens in a new window )
• For E-filed applications, USCIS uses UTC or Coordinated Universal Time link opens in a new window to determine the time/date filed. If you are e-filing from California, your actual filing date will be adjusted to UTC, which is 8 hours ahead. It is your responsibility to ensure that your electronic submission is on-time. USCIS must receive your complete OPT STEM application no later than 60 days after the STEM OPT I-20 has been issued by ISS AND before the end date of your current post-completion OPT as noted by your EAD.

While Your STEM Packet is Being Processed by USCIS

Working

You can continue working in the U.S. for up to 180 days while the STEM OPT Extension application is pending with USCIS, even if your Post-Completion OPT EAD has expired. This benefit only allows you to work with the employer on your STEM request I-20. Your employer will require the expired OPT EAD and the STEM Extension OPT I-20 to verify your employment eligibility.

Travel

ISS advises students not to travel until the STEM Extension application is approved and you have received a new EAD card. For more information, visit our  Travel Outside the U.S.  webpage.

Employment Changes

Employment changes while your STEM OPT packet is being processed are not recommended. This is due to the fact that the paperwork that you submitted to USCIS for the STEM OPT benefit are for a specific employer. When you change employers, the documentation that USCIS holds is no longer accurate (STEM request I-20 that ISS issues and the I-765 with E-Verify employer name and number). For that reason, we strongly discourage changing employers until you receive the STEM OPT EAD card.

Maintaining Status While on STEM OPT Extension

Visit our  Maintaining Status While on STEM OPT Extension webpage to learn more about mandatory reporting requirements and how to maintain status while on STEM OPT Extension.

Additional Resources on STEM OPT

For additional information on STEM OPT, please visit:

• US Department of Homeland Security STEM OPT Hub
• USCIS Website on 24-month STEM OPT Extension