You are eligible to apply for a practical training experience after you have been in F-1 student status for one academic year (exception: employment with a qualifying international organization may begin as soon as a student is in F-1 status). You may do so up to 90 days before the program end-date and up to 60 days after the program end-date, provided that it is filed within 30 days of the date the DSO enters the OPT recommendation into SEVIS.
Notes:
The employment authorization is automatically terminated whenever you fail to maintain immigration status;
Authorization to engage in practical training employment is automatically terminated when you transfer to another school or begins study at another educational level;
Post office does not forward mail form US CIS so please make sure you list the correct address on the application.
NOTE: Students approved for OPT continue to be in F-1 status, and therefore must have the I-20 endorsed for travel, a valid F-1 visa and an EAD card to re-enter. They are also required to update the International Student Advisor within 10 days of any address change, legal name change, employer’s name and address or interruption in employment.
If you have already started an application, do not start a new one. Please go to your User Home Page to continue working on your application.
STEM Optional Practical Training Extension
Student's with a STEM-qualifying bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree from an accredited, SEVIS-certified U.S. educational institution, who is in a valid period of standard post-completion OPT and has an offer of paid employment for at least 20 hours per week from an employer enrolled in E-Verify are eligible for the 24-month STEM OPT Extension.
- Students who have already been approved for 12 months of post-completion OPT; and
- Who have earned a bachelor’s or higher degree in a field included on the U.S. Government's list of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields within the last 10 years; and
- Who are employed in a paid job directly related to his/her field of study; and
- Who are working for an employer that is enrolled in the U.S. Government's E-Verify program.Please Note: All four of the above criteria must be met in order for a student to be eligible for the 24-month OPT extension.
Please Note: All four of the above criteria must be met in order for a student to be eligible for the 24-month OPT extension.
If a student earned a degree in a field that appears on the U.S. government's official list of STEM fields, he/she may be eligible for the 24-month OPT extension. In order to verify that your degree is on this list, look at the code listed under “Primary Major” on your Page 2 of your I-20 form, and then look for that code in the CIP code column of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security STEM Designated Degree Programs list.
E-Verify is a database system operated by the Department of Homeland Security in partnership with the Social Security Administration. It allows participating employers to electronically verify the employment eligibility of newly-hired employees. E-Verify is currently voluntary in most states. For more information visit the E-Verify website.
Students must apply for the 24-month OPT extension prior to the expiration of the first 12 months of “regular” OPT. The application must be received by USCIS prior to the expiration date of the first OPT period EAD in order to be properly (timely) filed. USCIS will not accept I-765 applications for STEM extensions any earlier than 90 days before the current EAD expiration date. Accordingly, International Center will process a STEM recommendation I-20 no more than three months and one week in advance of your current OPT end date. *Please note: you cannot apply during the 60 day grace period.
Work authorization status while STEM extension is pending: If you successfully file the application for your 24-month OPT extension prior to the expiration of your current 12-month OPT period EAD, you may continue employment even if your previous EAD card is expired until your OPT extension is processed or until 180 days has passed, whichever is sooner.
If you have already started an application, do not start a new one. Please go to your User Home Page to continue working on your application.