STEM OPT Extension: Eligibility, Rules, and Application Guide

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The STEM OPT extension allows eligible F-1 graduates with qualifying science, technology, engineering, or mathematics degrees to extend their post-completion Optional Practical Training for an additional 24 months.

Unlike regular OPT, STEM OPT has stricter requirements. The employer must participate in E-Verify, provide a structured training opportunity, complete Form I-983, and maintain a genuine employer-employee relationship with the student.

What Is the STEM OPT Extension?

The 24-month STEM OPT extension is a temporary employment authorization period for eligible F-1 students who are already participating in post-completion OPT.

When combined with the initial 12-month OPT period, an eligible graduate may receive up to 36 months of total practical training in the United States. The employment must remain directly related to the STEM degree used to qualify for the extension.

STEM OPT Extension Eligibility Requirements

An applicant generally needs to meet all the following conditions:

Maintain valid F-1 status.
Currently participate in an approved period of post-completion OPT.
Hold a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree in an eligible STEM field.
Have earned the degree from an accredited, SEVP-certified U.S. educational institution.
Work or have a job offer from an employer enrolled in E-Verify.
Work at least 20 hours per week for each qualifying employer.
Perform duties directly related to the qualifying STEM degree.
Complete Form I-983 with the employer.
Submit Form I-765 within the permitted application period.
Have no more than the permitted number of previous STEM OPT extensions.

The STEM eligibility decision is based on the program’s Classification of Instructional Programs, or CIP, code rather than only the name printed on the diploma. Students can find their CIP code on Form I-20 and compare it with the official DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List.

Can You Use a Previously Earned STEM Degree?

A student whose current OPT is based on a non-STEM degree may sometimes qualify using a previously completed STEM degree.

The previous degree generally must:

Be a bachelor’s degree or higher.
Appear on the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List.
Have been awarded by an accredited and SEVP-certified U.S. institution.
Have been completed within the 10 years before the DSO recommends STEM OPT.
Not have already been used for a STEM OPT extension.
Be directly related to the proposed employment.

Applicants using a previous degree must provide evidence of that degree with Form I-765.

How Many STEM OPT Extensions Can You Receive?

An F-1 student may receive no more than two STEM OPT extensions during their lifetime.

A second extension generally requires completing another qualifying STEM degree at a higher educational level. For example, someone who used STEM OPT after a bachelor’s degree may later become eligible again after completing an eligible master’s degree.

STEM OPT Employer Requirements

The employer must satisfy several conditions before the student can qualify.

The employer must:

Be enrolled in E-Verify.
Have a valid Employer Identification Number.
Employ the student for at least 20 hours per week.
Provide formal training connected to the student’s STEM degree.
Complete and sign Form I-983.
Provide compensation comparable to similarly situated U.S. workers.
Have sufficient resources and personnel to supervise the student.
Confirm that the student will not replace a full-time or part-time U.S. worker.
Maintain a genuine employer-employee relationship.

The employer must control and supervise the student’s work. A company that only places the student at another business without providing the required training and supervision may not meet the STEM OPT rules.

What Is Form I-983?

Form I-983, officially called the Training Plan for STEM OPT Students, explains how the position will provide practical training related to the student’s degree.

The student and employer must complete the form together before the designated school official can recommend the STEM extension.

The training plan includes:

Employer and student information.
The student’s degree and CIP code.
Employment dates and weekly hours.
Salary or other compensation.
Training goals and learning objectives.
The student’s duties.
Supervision methods.
Methods used to measure progress.
Employer attestations.
Student self-evaluations.

Form I-983 is normally submitted to the school’s DSO, not directly with the Form I-765 application, unless USCIS later requests it.

When Should You Apply for STEM OPT?

Students may submit Form I-765:

Up to 90 days before the current post-completion OPT expires.
After receiving a STEM OPT recommendation and updated Form I-20 from the DSO.
Within 60 days after the DSO enters the recommendation in SEVIS.
Before the current OPT employment authorization expires.

Applying too early, applying after the EAD expiration date, or using an outdated STEM OPT recommendation can result in rejection or denial.

How to Apply for a STEM OPT Extension

Step 1: Verify the Degree CIP Code

Check the CIP code printed on Form I-20 against the latest DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List.

Step 2: Confirm the Employer’s E-Verify Participation

Ask for the employer’s E-Verify Company Identification Number or valid E-Verify Client Company ID.

Step 3: Complete Form I-983

Work with the employer to create a detailed and accurate training plan.

Step 4: Request a New Form I-20

Submit Form I-983 and any documents required by the university to the designated school official.

Step 5: File Form I-765

After receiving the STEM OPT recommendation, submit Form I-765 under eligibility category (c)(3)(C). Eligible applicants can file online or by mail.

Documents Required for STEM OPT

Applicants commonly need:

Form I-765.
STEM OPT-recommended Form I-20 signed by the student and DSO.
Copy of the current EAD.
Passport identity page.
Most recent Form I-94.
Passport-style photograph.
Diploma or official transcript showing the STEM degree.
Evidence of a previously earned STEM degree when applicable.
Employer’s E-Verify identification number.
Correct USCIS application fee.
Certified translations when documents are not in English.

Students should follow the current Form I-765 instructions and their university’s international student office checklist.

STEM OPT Application Fees in 2026

The USCIS fee schedule updated in May 2026 lists the standard Form I-765 charges for OPT and STEM OPT applications as:

Filing method	Form I-765 fee
Online application	$580
Paper application	$630

USCIS fees can change, so applicants should verify the required amount through the official fee calculator immediately before submitting the application. An incorrect payment can cause the filing to be rejected.

Premium Processing

Applicants may optionally request premium processing by submitting Form I-907.

From March 1, 2026, the premium processing fee for eligible OPT and STEM OPT Form I-765 applications is $1,780, paid in addition to the standard filing fee. Premium processing requires USCIS to take adjudicative action within the applicable 30-day period after all prerequisites are satisfied, but it does not guarantee approval.

Can You Work While the Application Is Pending?

When Form I-765 is filed correctly and on time, the student’s existing employment authorization is automatically extended for up to 180 days while USCIS processes the STEM OPT application.

The automatic extension ends when USCIS makes a decision or when the 180-day period expires, whichever occurs first.

STEM OPT Reporting Requirements

Students have more reporting duties during STEM OPT than during regular OPT.

They must generally:

Report changes in their address, name, employer, or employment status.
Validate their personal and employment information every six months.
Submit the first self-evaluation after 12 months.
Submit the final evaluation after 24 months.
Submit a final evaluation when leaving an employer.
Provide a new Form I-983 when changing employers.
Submit an updated Form I-983 when material changes occur.

The 12-month and final evaluations must generally be submitted within 10 days after the relevant reporting period ends.

Changing or Having Multiple Employers

A STEM OPT student may change employers, but the new employer must meet all STEM requirements.

Before or shortly after beginning the new position, the student should:

Complete a new Form I-983 with the new employer.
Submit the final evaluation for the previous employer.
Provide the documents to the DSO.
Ensure that the new employer information is entered in SEVIS.

Students may work for multiple employers, but each employer must participate in E-Verify, complete a separate Form I-983, and provide at least 20 hours of qualifying employment per week.

STEM OPT Unemployment Limit

Students receive an additional 60 days of permitted unemployment during STEM OPT.

This creates a total maximum of 150 unemployment days across:

The initial 12-month post-completion OPT period.
The 24-month STEM OPT extension.

Any unemployment already accumulated during regular OPT counts toward the 150-day total.

Can You Be Self-Employed on STEM OPT?

Self-employment generally does not qualify when the student cannot demonstrate a genuine employer-employee relationship.

A startup may qualify only when another authorized person can act as the employer, sign Form I-983, supervise the student, and satisfy all STEM OPT requirements. The student cannot simply sign the employer attestations on their own behalf.

Common STEM OPT Application Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors:

Using a degree that is not on the DHS STEM list.
Working for an employer that is not enrolled in E-Verify.
Filing after the existing EAD expires.
Filing more than 60 days after the DSO recommendation.
Providing the wrong E-Verify number.
Beginning a new job without completing Form I-983.
Working fewer than 20 hours per week.
Failing to submit six-month validations or evaluations.
Exceeding the 150-day unemployment limit.
Assuming unpaid work or independent contracting automatically qualifies.

STEM OPT Extension: Eligibility, Rules, and Application Guide

What Is the STEM OPT Extension?

STEM OPT Extension Eligibility Requirements

Can You Use a Previously Earned STEM Degree?

How Many STEM OPT Extensions Can You Receive?