Students who have completed a degree in a STEM field and have already been authorized for 1 year of work experience under OPT, are eligible to apply for a STEM Extension to get 2 additional years of work authorization (3 years total).

Learn more below:

• Eligibility Requirements
• STEM Fields of Study
• E-Verify Requirement
• STEM Extension Application
• Premium Processing
• STEM Employment Reporting
• Regulations & FAQ

In order to apply for a STEM Extension, first you must confirm you meet all of the eligibility requirements listed below: 

• Qualifying Degree: Must have a Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Doctoral degree from an accredited, SEVP-certified, U.S. institution of higher education, and the CIP code of the degree’s major field of study must appear on the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List
• Qualifying Job: Must be paid for at least 20 hours of work per week; voluntary work does not qualify for STEM authorization. 
• Qualifying Employer: Must be enrolled in E-Verify and have an IRS Employer Identification Number (EIN); Self-Employment is not permitted under STEM. 

Job Offer Letter Requirements

1. Document & Employee Identification

• Must be on official company letterhead
• Include the issue date
• Include the student’s full name

2. Job & Employment Details

• Job title, duties/responsibilities, and required qualifications
• Work hours per week
• Employment start date (and end date if applicable)
• Salary (required for STEM OPT only)

3. Employer Verification & Contact Information

• Signed by employer or authorized representative
• Include representative’s:
  • Full name and title
  • Email and phone number
  • Company website and physical address

Note: Missing any of these elements may make the letter insufficient for verification.

• Form I-983: The student and employer must complete a Form I-983 Training Plan, and the student must present the completed I-983 to the ISS Team via our STEM Request form (Request Center) a maximum of 3 months before the student's OPT Authorization Expires. Please refer to How to Fill Out Form I-983 for step-by-step instructions. Passcode - h3KHrSrf 
• File I-765 STEM Extension Application: USCIS must receive the student’s STEM OPT application before the expiration of the student’s current post-completion OPT (standard post-completion or cap-gap), and no later than 60 days from the issuance date on the STEM Request I-20. The STEM OPT application package includes: Form I-765, I-765 filing fee, Form I-20 with the 24-month STEM OPT recommendation, and documentation of the qualifying STEM degree.

In order for an employer to host an F-1 student on STEM OPT, the employer must be enrolled in USCIS's E-Verify Program. There is no cost to enrolling in E-Verify.

"STEM Employer qualification. The student's employer is enrolled in E-Verify, as evidenced by either a valid E-Verify Company Identification number or, if the employer is using an employer agent to create its E-Verify cases, a valid E-Verify Client Company Identification number, and the employer remains a participant in good standing with E-Verify, as determined by USCIS. An employer must also have an employer identification number (EIN) used for tax purposes." 8 CFR 214.2(f)(10)(ii)(C)(5)

Students are strongly encouraged to apply online; please DO NOT file by paper mail. Online filing saves mailing time, mailing fees, and allows direct access to the USCIS application system. Detailed steps are shared below. Please carefully review you have completed all steps before submitting online.

Once you've submitted your application, you will receive your receipt number. You will also be sent an official receipt letter by paper mail. You can log back into your USCIS account to see case updates.

All updates to your work authorization must be reported through GVSU; updates to Employer information through your SEVP account are not sufficient. You will get reminder emails when it's time for validation at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months into your STEM authorization.

STEM Validation | 6 & 18 Month
Every 6 months, students must submit their I-983 confirming that their SEVIS information correctly identifies their: Legal name, Residential or mailing address, Employer name and address, and Status of current employment.

STEM Validation | 12 & 24 month
Every 12 months, students must submit their I-983 form with updated page 5 as well as confirm that their SEVIS information correctly identifies their: Legal name, Residential or mailing address, Employer name and address, and Status of current employment.

STEM Employer Change
Students are permitted to change employers while on STEM OPT. The new employer must be enrolled in E-Verify before the student begins to work for pay. The student must submit a new Form I-983 within 10 days of starting the new practical training opportunity.

STEM Loss of Employment
Submit this form if you are authorized to work under STEM OPT but do not currently have a job. Use the Change of Employer form if you are transitioning from 1 job to another.

Students have many questions about work authorization. To try to simplify the information, we have put key information into the categories listed below. As always, it's best to check with the ISS Team if you have doubts or questions

• Timeline
• Application Processing Time
• Working while Pending
• Premium Processing

• Unemployment
• Travel
• Classes
• Taxes

• Working at Start-Ups
• Self-Employment
• STEM Expiring
• H1-B & CAP Gap

You can apply up to 90 days before your OPT authorization expires and no later than the last day of your OPT authorization or cap-gap extension (although we DO NOT recommend waiting this long!). 
You must apply using the STEM request I-20 within 60 days of the date it is processed by the ISS Team. If you do not apply within 60 day, please submit a new STEM Request form.

Similarly to your OPT application, you will receive a receipt number. USCIS can take up to 120 to process your application. The only way to expedite this, is to pay for premium processing.

Your work authorization and F-1 status is automatically extended for up to 180 days while the STEM OPT Extension application is pending. The 180 days counts from the end date of your initial 12-month OPT. So if, for example, you applied for the extension 1 week before your OPT expires, your authorization will not lapse and you can continue to work until your STEM application is approved/denied. See Federal Code: 8 CFR 274a.12(b)(6)(iv)