The STEM OPT extension is a 24-month period of temporary training that directly relates to an F-1 student’s program of study in an approved STEM field. The STEM OPT Hub maintained by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Study in the States, is a helpful tool designed for school officials, F-1 students and interested employers.
Confirm Your STEM OPT Eligibility
The USCIS website has detailed information about the STEM OPT extension including eligibility criteria, and outlines responsibilities for students and employers.
To be eligible for the STEM OPT Extension you must:
Be maintaining valid F-1 status
Be on an authorized period of Post-Completion OPT
Have a degree in an eligible STEM field as indicated on the DHS STEM Designated Program List (from a Student and Exchange Visitor Program-certified school that is accredited when the student submits their STEM OPT extension application to USCIS). To see if your Brandeis degree is STEM designated, look on your most recently issued Form I-20 under "major 1" or "major 2" in the "Program of Study '' box.
Have employment from an employer that is enrolled in the USCIS E-Verify program.
Work a minimum of 20 hours per week per employer
Receive payment from your employer
Not be self-employed
Apply before your current post-completion OPT period expires.
To be eligible for the STEM OPT Extension, your employer must:
Be enrolled in the USCIS E-Verify program.
Have a Federal Employer Identification Number
Agree to the terms of STEM OPT by completing their sections of the Form I-983.
STEM OPT Application Timeline
You can submit the STEM OPT application to USCIS up to 90 days prior to the end of the current OPT period (the end date is listed on your EAD card and OPT approval from USCIS). The application to request an updated Form I-20 from the ISSO with the STEM OPT recommendation must be submitted to the ISSO no later than 10 business days prior to the end of your current post-completion OPT.
The STEM OPT application must be received by USCIS before the expiration of the current OPT period (end date is listed on your EAD card and OPT approval from USCIS).
Please refer to the STEM OPT Extension Application process.
In order to maintain F-1 status on the STEM OPT extension, students must check in with their ISSO advisor (DSO) every six months. The advisor will submit the validation report through the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) to validate the employment information or to report changes made to the student's Form I-983 training plan. Validation reports must be submitted within 10 days of the due date.
All check-ins need to be submitted through the ISSO Portal so your ISSO advisor can update the SEVIS record.
Your validation report is due at 6 months, 12 months, 18 months, and 24 months after the start date of your STEM OPT.
You will be sent automatic email reminders by the SEVP Portal when you are due for a validation report. However, you are responsible for keeping track of when your validation reports are due.
You must submit your validation report within 10 days of your due date.
If you have a change in employment/personal information, this needs to be updated within 10 days of the change.
If you have a change in your employment/personal information and you are due for one of your 6-month validation reports around the same time, you should submit both forms in the ISSO Portal.
6-month check-in: It is your responsibility to check-in with the ISSO at the 6 month mark of your STEM extension to confirm that you are still working for your employer with the same responsibilities as initially reported on the Form I-983 training plan. Complete the validation report by submitting the STEM OPT Check-In Request through the ISSO Portal and verify your employer and address are correct. No section of the Form I-983 needs to be submitted at this time.
12-month check-in: It is your responsibility to provide your annual evaluation at the 12 month check-in. The progress evaluation can be found on page five of the Form I-983. Complete the validation report by submitting the STEM OPT Check-In Request through the ISSO Portal and verify your employer and address are correct. Page five of the Form I-983 can be uploaded in the ISSO Portal as part of the STEM OPT Check-In Request.
18-month check-in: It is your responsibility to check-in with the ISSO at the 18 month mark of your STEM extension to confirm that you are still working for your employer with the same responsibilities as initially reported on the Form I-983 training plan. Complete the validation report by submitting the STEM OPT Check-In Request through the ISSO Portal and verify your employer and address are correct. No section of the Form I-983 needs to be submitted at this time.
Final Evaluation: A final evaluation is required when you complete your STEM employment OR if you leave your job and switch to a new employer. The final evaluation can be found on page 5 of the Form I-983. Complete the validation report by submitting the STEM OPT Check-In Request through the ISSO Portal and verify your employer and address are correct. Page five of the Form I-983 can be uploaded in the ISSO Portal as part of the STEM OPT Check-In Request.
During Cap Gap: STEM OPT reporting requirements continues during the Cap-Gap Extension (every 6 months).
In addition to the required six month check-ins, if there are any material changes to or deviation from the Form I-983 that the ISSO has on file, a newly modified Form I-983 must be submitted.
Material changes or deviations may include but are not limited to:
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 (Employers and the Form I-983) or student’s learning objectives as documented on the Form I-983.
We recommend submitting an updated I-983 training plan if your employer name changes, even if the EIN name doesn't change. Please contact your ISSO advisor if you have questions about updating the SEVIS record when there is a change.
What happens if I miss the deadline for one of my validation reports?
If you do not submit your Validation Report in the ISSO Portal on time, ISSO will not have the ability to submit your report to SEVIS and the status of the STEM OPT Validation or Evaluation will remain as “past due” in your SEVP Portal.
If I end my STEM OPT before my STEM OPT end date, do I still need to submit the validation reports that are due after I have ended my STEM OPT?
No, you only need to submit validation reports that are due while you are actively on STEM OPT. However, you still need to submit the Form I-983 Final Evaluation and report you will end your STEM OPT Extension The Final Evaluation (second section of page 5 on the Form I-983) may be submitted through the ISSO Portal.
While on STEM OPT you must:
Unemployment While on the STEM OPT Extension:
Refer to the following information for Documents Required for Re-entry to the U.S. if you plan to travel. Students on the STEP OPT are still in F-1 status and will need a valid F-1 visa to return to the U.S. See section on visa renewal (if necessary).
Required documents to re-enter the U.S. while on STEM OPT Extension:
Valid I-20: Page two should list your employer's information and be signed for travel within the last six months.
Valid F-1 Visa: If your F-1 visa has expired, you must apply for a new one at your local U.S. embassy or consulate prior to your return. (Exception: Canadian citizens do not need a visa.)
Valid Passport: The expiration date should be at least six months into the future at any given time.
Valid Employment Authorization Document (EAD)
Evidence of a job offer or resumption of employment. If you are returning to the U.S. without evidence of a job offer, you may be questioned at the port of entry.
If you need to leave the U.S. before you receive your EAD, please see the Department of Homeland Security final rule for more information about traveling while the STEM OPT application is pending.
If your employer has filed an H-1B petition on your behalf, check with your employer and immigration attorney about any travel plans, as leaving the U.S. while an H-1B application is pending may jeopardize your petition.
Before submitting your STEM OPT Extension to USCIS
Submit a STEM OPT Request in the ISSO Portal with a new Form I-983 signed by your new employer.
When you receive your new STEM OPT Extension Form I-20, sign and date it and submit a copy to USCIS with the rest of your STEM OPT Extension application documents.
If you have already submitted your STEM OPT Extension application to USCIS, and it is now pending, do not submit another, duplicate application. Instead, follow the instructions below.
While your STEM OPT Extension is Pending
If you decide to change employers while your STEM OPT application is pending, please notify your ISSO advisor right away so we can advise you on how to update the application with USCIS.
Make sure that the new employer follows all of the requirements to be eligible for STEM OPT, including that your employer is registered with E-Verify. You will need to submit a new Form I-983, completed and signed by your new employer.
Your advisor will then create an updated STEM OPT I-20 with your new employer information and send it to USCIS to include with your application.
Please note, submitting this additional information to USCIS may affect the processing time of your STEM OPT application.
After your STEM OPT Extension Is Approved
If you change employers while on approved STEM OPT, you will need to update your Form I-20 with the new employer information within 10 days of the change.
Submit an Employer Update Request in the ISSO Portal with a new Form I-983 training plan signed by the new employer.
Within the Employer Update Request, you will need to submit the Final Evaluation (page 5 of the Form I-983) to document the end date of employment with your previous employer.
Changes to your mailing address should be submitted to your SEVP Portal.
Post-Completion OPT:
Tuesday, 04/05, 11 am - 12 pm
Wednesday, 05/11, 10 am - 11 am
STEM OPT:
Tuesday, 04/05, 12 pm - 1 pmZoom Link:
https://brandeis.zoom.us/j/99047722076