24-Month STEM OPT Extension

Certain F-1 students who are currently authorized for post-completion OPT may qualify to apply for a 24-month extension of that OPT authorization, bringing the total OPT available to 36 months. 

Students should read the information on this page thoroughly to determine eligibility and contact ISSS before beginning the STEM application process.

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Eligibility

To be eligible for the 24-month extension, a student must have received, or be completing, a degree included in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics) Designated Degree Program List. You can view the current list of STEM degrees on the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement website on the Schools and Programs page in the Resources Section. Please note that the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program list on the site is a PDF that changes each year, so check their website for the most up-to-date list.

To determine if your degree is part of this program and be eligible for the extension, you need to see if you CIP code is on the list. You can find your CIP code next to your major on your I-20.  If you are unsure if your degree qualifies, please contact ISSS for assistance. Please note that CIP codes are used for many purposes, and are tied to Department of Education filings. They cannot be artificially changed to meet STEM OPT eligibility.

The STEM extension may be requested on the basis of the most recent degree earned from Ohio University, or on a prior STEM degree if the following requirements are met:

  • The STEM degree must have been issued within the 10 years preceding the request for the extension
  • The STEM degree must have been issued by an educational institution located in the U.S., and with U.S. accreditation
  • The job the extension is based on must be related to that STEM degree

Additional Eligibility Requirements

In addition to the requirements outlined in the previous section, all applicants must also meet the following requirements:

  • The student must maintain valid F-1 status
  • The student must be currently on post-completion OPT
  • The employment must be full-time (For immigration purposes, full-time is defined as working more than 20 hours per week)
  • The student must be offered a job by an employer currently using the E-Verify program
  • The student must not be self-employed
  • The student must be paid by the employer (Volunteer work cannot fulfill the STEM OPT work requirements)
  • The student must not have been granted more than one STEM extension in the past  (The STEM extension is only available twice per lifetime, regardless of the number of STEM degrees earned)
  • The STEM application must be received by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) prior to the end of the initial period of post-completion OPT
  • The student and employer must complete form I-983 and agree to adhere to it
  • If the student is employed by a staffing agency, the student must have a supervisor at that agency who will directly evaluate the student’s work at the placement location. The I-983 must be completed by the staffing agency supervisor, rather than any supervisor at the placement location. If the staffing agency will not provide supervision and evaluation, the job will not qualify for the STEM extension.

  • E-Verify Program

    The E-Verify program is an internet-based system operated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in partnership with the Social Security Administration (SSA). E-Verify is a free, easy-to-use web-based system available to employers in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Please contact your employer to learn if they are registered with E-Verify and to obtain their E-Verify number.

    ISSS is unable to advise on the E-Verify program/process as this is between your potential employer and DHS. 

    E-Verify Program

How To Apply For the 24-Month STEM Extension

To apply for the 24-Month STEM Extension, complete the following steps:

  1. Read all of the information on this page to determine if you qualify for the STEM extension.
  2.  Ask your employer to complete the I-983 form.
  3. Log into iCats and find the "OPT: STEM Extension Request" e-form under "F-1 Practical Training." Complete the e-form and submit it.
  4. Wait for the email from ISSS that confirms your request has been processed. Your STEM Extension recommendation I-20 form will be attached. You will need this form before you can proceed.
  5. Once you have received your new I-20 form from ISSS you can complete your online I-765 application by following our STEM OPT Extension Online Application Instructions. We recommend having an ISSS student advisor review your I-765 before you submit it.
  6. Submit the online I-765 to USCIS

Form I-983 Information

Form I-983 is a form that will be used to define the formal training plan for the remainder of the OPT experience.  For help with Section 1, which requires information regarding Ohio University, please see the example Form I-983 [PDF].

It is imperative that every section on pages 1-4 of this form be completed. ISSS is required by law to review the form for completion upon receipt. If any part of pages 1-4 of the form is not complete, we are not allowed to process your request for the STEM OPT extension.

Form I-983 Helpful Tips
  • Please note that the "Start Date of Employment" in Section is for the new period of OPT.  Therefore you should use a start date of the day after your current OPT expires.
  • Because form I-983 is an agreement between the employer and employee, ISSS cannot provide guidance on the content beyond page 1. Students should review the Form I-983 information section on the Study in the States website for additional guidance. 
  • Employers with questions should start by reviewing the information on the Study in the States website. 

Timing For the I-20 Form

Once ISSS creates your new I-20 form for the STEM extension, it is only valid for 60 days.  If you find that you must delay the application more than 60 days after the I-20 was signed by an advisor, it is very important that you contact ISSS for assistance. USCIS will reject an application if the OPT request is more than 60 days old on the date it is submitted. 

Additional Timing Information

USCIS must receive your extension application no sooner than 90 days before your current OPT end date, but no later than that end date. 

While USCIS must receive your application before your OPT ends, it is not necessary for your extension application to be approved before the expiration of your current EAD card. If your EAD card expires while your application is pending, your OPT authorization is automatically extended to allow time for processing. You may continue to work while the application is being processed for up to 180 days. It is not necessary to obtain documentation from ISSS for this timeframe.

Requirements During STEM Extension

During a STEM extension, there are important responsibilities you must follow. Communicating changes to the ISSS team during a STEM extension is imperative to maintaining your F-1 status.

Because there are varying timelines associated with when to report specific responsibilities, review the outlined communication timelines to gain a better understanding of how often you should be communicating with the ISSS team during your STEM extension.

Immediately

Notify ISSS immediately if your immigration status changes via iCats.

Within 10 Days of a Change
  • Address Changes: Continue to report U.S. address changes to ISSS within 10 days of the change by updating your address in the Go OHIO app. Be sure to update the “SEVIS U.S.” address.
  • Employer Changes: Report the name, address and phone number of your U.S. employer, including any changes in the name and address of the employer, and any interruptions in the employment to ISSS within 10 days. 
    • Report employment changes by completing the "OPT: Report New Employment" and "OPT: Report End of Employment" e-forms in iCats. Remember that all employment must be with an E-Verify company.
  • I-983 Training Plan Changes: If you change employers, or if there are substantial changes to the I-983 training plan that was submitted earlier, you must submit an updated I-983 to isss@ohio.edu  within 10 days of the change. Failure to complete this step may result in the termination of your F-1 status and OPT.

Every 6 Months
  • Report To ISSS: Every six months you must report to ISSS by responding to emails from the ISSS team regarding your STEM OPT verification, even if no details of your employment or address have changed. 
    • Reporting in is a requirement set by the OPT regulations. Failure to complete this step may result in the termination of your F-1 status and OPT.

Before the 12 and 24 Month Marks
  • Self-Evaluation: Before the 12 and 24 month marks of the STEM extension, you must complete an official self-evaluation submit it to ISSS by emailing isss@ohio.edu. 
    • These should be completed on page 5 of the I-983 form that is on file with your employer. 
    • Failure to complete this step may result in the termination of your F-1 status and OPT.

Before OPT Ends
  • Departure Plans: Notify ISSS if you permanently depart the U.S. before your OPT ends.
  • New Academic Program: Notify ISSS if you plan to begin a new full-time academic program before the end of your OPT. The transfer of your SEVIS record to the new school or the beginning of a new full-time program at Ohio University will end your OPT authorization.

Unemployment During OPT

While on OPT and the 24-month STEM Extension, you must not accrue more than an aggregate total of 150 days of unemployment during the combined 36 months of OPT.

Carry Required Documents to Travel on STEM OPT

To travel outside of the U.S. and reenter following travel while authorized for OPT, you must carry:

  • A valid passport (your passport must be valid 6 months into the future at all times)
  • A valid U.S. F-1 visa (Except for Canadian citizens)
  • A valid EAD card
  • A valid form I-20 with international student advisor signature on page 3 (signatures are valid for 6 months )
  • If you need a new travel signature, please request it via iCats(opens in a new window).
  • Evidence of your current employment in the form of a letter from your employer

Port-of-Entry officials sometimes get confused about whether entry is allowed with a pending OPT application. If you travel and return to the U.S. while your application is pending, we recommend that you refer the official to this Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) webpage(opens in a new window) if you encounter any complications.  

Please note that any entry to the United States is up to the discretion of the Customs and Border Patrol at the initial border entry point. 

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