STEM OPT Extension

SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TODAY

Need a photo for your OPT Application? The UTD Passport Services Office can deliver physical or digital copies of a passport-sized photo, which are the same requirements needed for your OPT application.
http://UTD.LINK/PASSPORT

Fast Facts

• You may request a STEM I-20 and apply for STEM OPT with USCIS up to 90 days before the expiration of your Post-Completion OPT EAD. You must be in a period of Post-Completion OPT in order to apply for the STEM OPT extension. You cannot apply for the STEM OPT extension by itself.
• If your STEM OPT extension is timely filed, you may continue to work for up to 180 days beyond the end date of your Post-Completion EAD while you wait for a decision from USCIS.
• You may apply for the extension based upon a dual degree program or double major as long as one of the programs is STEM eligible.
• You may be eligible for up to two 24-month extensions based upon two separate STEM degrees at different educational levels moving up.
• You may apply for STEM OPT based on a previously issued STEM eligible degree. Contact an ISSO advisor to learn more.

Apply for STEM OPT Extension

To apply for the STEM OPT extension, you will first request a STEM OPT I-20 from the ISSO, and then you will send an application to USCIS.

Eligibility

• F-1 students with a STEM degree who are in the final 90 days of post-completion OPT may apply for a 24-month extension of their practical training.
• The CIP code found on page 1 of your I-20 must appear on the list of designated majors designated by ICE as STEM eligible majors. For details about UT Dallas programs and your I-20, visit Understand Your I-20.
• The STEM degree must be awarded by an accredited U.S. college or university
• The extension may be based upon your most recent STEM degree or upon a STEM degree that was conferred within the 10 years preceding the date the ISSO issues your STEM Extension I-20 (If you are applying based on a previous degree, you must meet additional eligibility criteria. Talk to an ISSO immigration advisor for details.).
• You must have qualifying employment:
  • Must be employed by an E-Verify employer. USCIS has created an online E-Verify Employer Search Tool.
  • Employment must be compensated.
  • The student and employer must have a “bona fide” employer-employee relationship.
  • Employment must be directly related to the STEM degree
  • Employment must be full-time (more than 20 hours per week)
  • You and your employer must maintain a Form I-983 Training Plan

Apply for your STEM OPT I-20

1. Carefully review the information in the STEM OPT Guide, and Complete the STEM OPT Workshop in iComet. Completing the STEM OPT Workshop is required to receive your STEM I-20.
2. Pay the $300 Practical Training Fee. Choose “STEM OPT Extension” at check-out.
3. Log into iComet and submit STEM OPT I-20 Request eForm under F-1 Alumni. Upload copies of your:
   • Practical Training Fee receipt
   • Completed Form I-983 (view the I-983 Sample Video)
   • Your current EAD card.
4. The ISSO will email you with filing instructions when your STEM OPT I-20 is ready. Your STEM OPT packet will include a letter confirming that if you file your STEM OPT application before the deadline, you may continue working for up to 180 while your application is pending. You do not need to send this letter to USCIS. It is for your own records.

Send your application to USCIS

After receiving your OPT I-20 from the ISSO, you will prepare documents for your application to USCIS. You will file your application online or mail your application packet to USCIS, who must receive it no later than your Post-Completion OPT end date. For more details, see the USCIS Applications webpage.

For a detailed checklist of the documents you should prepare, see our STEM OPT Guide.

Tips

• You must receive your OPT I-20 BEFORE filing your I-765 with USCIS. If you submit the I-765 before your OPT I-20 is issued, your application will be denied and your filing fee will be forfeit.
• Compile the application, make a copy for your personal file and submit the application to USCIS.
• USCIS must receive your application within 60 days of the date you were recommended for STEM OPT in SEVIS and no later than the end date listed on your OPT EAD card. If the recommendation is more than 60 days old at the time of receipting your application will be denied.
• If you timely filed your STEM OPT application, you can continue working for 180 days past your Post-Completion OPT EAD end date while you wait for a response from USCIS. During that time you must meet the job requirements for STEM OPT, such as working for an E-Verify employer.
• USCIS will provide a receipt notice after your submission. Check it for errors!
• If approved, an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) for STEM OPT will be sent to the mailing address listed on the I-765.

Report STEM OPT Employment

To maintain F-1 status during STEM OPT you must comply with U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) employment and reporting requirements. DHS requires students to report all changes of address and periods of employment and unemployment while authorized for STEM OPT. To meet your reporting obligations, you must report the information to the ISSO. Please note, while you may also make some updates using the SEVP Portal, you are still required to submit a reporting eForm to the ISSO.

You must report within 10 days of receiving your STEM EAD card, submit validations reports every 6 months, and report updates no later than 10 days after any subsequent change. 

What to report

Within 10 days of receiving your STEM OPT EAD card, you must submit a copy of your EAD card using the STEM OPT Reporting Form in iComet, found under the “F-1 Alumni” category. You must also report no later than 10 days after any of the following:

• Change in your current U.S. address
• Legal name change
• Start or end of employment
• Change of your employer’s work-site address
• Change of your employer’s name
• Material changes to your I-983
• 6, 12, 18, and 24 month validation due dates

Validation Reports

You must validate your information every 6 months. Validations have strict deadlines, and the ISSO can only validate your information during your validation window. If you miss your validation window, there is no way to complete the validation in SEVIS.

Your validation report due dates are exactly 6, 12, 18, and 24 months from the start date of your STEM EAD. Validation report due dates are based on your STEM start date, not the start date of employment with your employer. Submit your validation report no later than 10 days after your due date.

For every validation report, you will submit the STEM OPT Reporting Form in iComet with your personal address and employment information, even if none of your information has changed.

• 6-month and 18-month validation report: Submit only STEM OPT Reporting Form in iComet. Even if none of your information has changed, you are required to confirm your address and resubmit your employment details.
• 12-month and 24-month validation report: Submit the STEM OPT Reporting Form in iComet AND upload an updated I-983. Include all 5 pages of the I-983. Even if none of your information has changed, you are required to confirm your address and resubmit your employment details.
  • For the 12-month validation report, complete the top half (Evaluation) of page 5.
  • For the 24-month validation report, complete the bottom half (Final Evaluation) of page 5.
  • Evaluations should be signed by you and your employer.

Material Changes to Form I-983

Report to ISSO any material changes to, or material deviations from, your I-983 training plan by submitting a modified I-983. These include, but are not limited to:

• Change of supervisor
• 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

How to Report

There are three places you can update your information.

• Required: you must submit the STEM OPT Reporting eForm in iComet any time your personal or employment information changes.
• Optional but encouraged: In addition to the OPT Reporting eForm, you may:
  • Report some changes to SEVIS via the SEVP Portal.
  • Update your home address in Galaxy.

You will receive a confirmation email after the ISSO processes your STEM OPT Reporting Form in iComet. The ISSO will issue a new I-20 for the following updates :

• Legal name change
• Start or end of employment
• Change of your employer’s work-site address
• Change of your employer’s name

Common Reporting Scenarios

Always submit a copy of your STEM OPT EAD with your reporting forms.

SCENARIO	FORMS TO SUBMIT	TIPS
Ending Employment	STEM OPT Reporting Form in iComet with old employer’s information I-983 for old employer with “Final Evaluation” completed on Page 5.	Keep track of your unemployment days and make sure to report new employment before you exceed 150 days of unemployment.
Changing employers	STEM OPT Reporting Form in iComet with old employer’s information I-983 for old employer with “Final Evaluation” completed on Page 5. STEM OPT Reporting Form in iComet with new employer information, end date not required I-983 for new employer, Page 5 left blank	You do not have to submit the old employer and new employer information at the same time. Remember always report changes no later than 10 days after the change.
Adding a second employer	STEM OPT Reporting Form in iComet with new employer’s information I-983 for new employer.	Add a note in the “optional notes” section that says “adding second employer. Employment with [other company] is not ending.”
Change in employer information	STEM OPT Reporting Form in iComet Updated I-983	Sometimes information on the I-983 will change, but the information on the STEM reporting form will not (ex: change in salary is only reflected on the I-983). In this case, you should still submit both forms. You can add a note in the STEM OPT reporting eForm “reporting change in __” and indicate what has changed.
Changed positions with same employer	STEM OPT Reporting Form in iComet Updated I-983	Add a note on the STEM reporting eForm “changed positions with same employer”
It has been 6 or 18 months since my STEM OPT EAD start date	STEM OPT Reporting Form in iComet Even if none of your information has changed, you are required to confirm your address and resubmit your employment details.	Do not answer “no” to every question in the eForm. If you do not report any information in the eForm, your eForm will be closed and you may miss your validation window.
It has been 12 or 24 months since my STEM OPT EAD start date	STEM OPT Reporting Form in iComet Even if none of your information has changed, you are required to confirm your address and resubmit your employment details. I-983 with evaluation completed on page 5.	On page 5 of the I-983, there are two spaces to enter a student evaluation. For your 12-month validation, you complete the “Evaluation on Student Progress” and for your 24-month validation you complete the “Final Evaluation on Student Progress.” Do not answer “no” to every question in the eForm. If you do not report any information in the eForm, your eForm will be closed and you may miss your validation window.
Changing to H1B status (or another status)	STEM OPT Reporting Form in iComet Copy of I-797A Approval Notice for your new status Complete I-983 with “Final Evaluation” completed on Page 5

Additional STEM Resources

Frequently Asked Questions