What is STEM OPT Extension and how to get it?
Talk to Expert
Some F-1 students who have received education in STEM courses can apply for a 24-month extension of their post-completion optional practical training (OPT). These extensions are granted to those who have a job offer from an employer in the U.S. or a college acceptance letter and the opportunity to stay in the U.S. after they graduate from their STEM degree program.
In this article, we will inform you about the STEM OPT extension and how you can get it if you are studying in the USA across its universities.
What is STEM OPT Extension in USA?
To receive the STEM OPT extension, a student must pursue his practical training through an employer that is enrolled in USCIS' E-Verify employment eligibility verification program. The STEM extension is a work permit for students in their last year of study and will be moving on to graduate school in a STEM field. The student must have had an F-1 student visa while they studied. They must have been enrolled at a higher education institution, completed coursework equal to at least one year of full-time study, graduated from that institution and received a job offer from the employer.
The STEM OPT extension is 24 months of temporary training which is related to an F-1 student's program of study in an approved STEM field/area. Students with a degree or pending graduation in a qualifying STEM program may be eligible to apply for one of these extensions. F-1 students (eligible) with STEM degrees who have finished their programs and are on regular OPT which is 12 months can apply for a STEM OPT extension visa. A regular work permit given for OPT is for 12 months. If they are eligible for a STEM OPT extension of 24 months then the total OPT duration is 36 months. Students must stop their employment when they reach the end date mentioned on their EAD card, however, they can remain in the US for a grace period of 60 days.
Predict your IELTS, TOEFL, and PTE in just 4 steps!
Also Read
Eligibility for the STEM OPT Extension
To qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension in USA, the candidate must meet the STEM OTP extension requirements listed below:
- Have been granted OPT and currently be in a valid period of OPT.
- Have earned either a bachelor’s, master's or doctoral degree from a school that is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency and is also certified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) when the candidate is submitting his STEM OPT extension application.
- The employer of the student from where is pursuing his STEM OPT extension must be enrolled with USCIS's E-Verify employment eligibility verification program.
- Should work for an employer who meets all the requirements set by the STEM OPT Employer Responsibilities section.
Also read, Eligibility for pursuing STEM abroad.
Applying for STEM OPT Extension
Given below are the documents required to apply for STEM OPT:
- A student must submit Form I-765 up to 90 days before his current OPT employment authorization expires
- Application fee
- Employer's name as listed in E-Verify
- Employer’s E-Verify Company Identification Number or valid E-Verify Client Company Identification Number
- Copy of student's STEM degree
- Form I-20, Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status, endorsed by your DSO within the last 60 days
If the candidate has filed for the STEM OPT extension on time but his OPT period expires, but, his extension application is still pending, then his employment authorization will be automatically extended for 180 days by USCIS. The automatic 180-day extension is given once USCIS decides on the student’s STEM OPT extension application.
Check out the 08 New Majors Added for STEM OPT Extension in USA for F-1 visa holders.
After Receiving STEM OPT Extension
Students who received the STEM OPT extension must do the following:
- Report these changes to your DSO within 10 days of the change:
-
- Student's legal name
- Student's residential address
- Student's email address
- Student's employer's name
- Student's employer's address
- STEM OPT students must report to their DSOs every six months even if no information has been changed.
Unemployment during the OPT Period
A student can be unemployed for a limited number of days during his OPT period. However, DHS allows STEM OPT students an additional 60 days of unemployment during the 24-month STEM OPT extension period. Students with regular OPT can stay unemployed for 90 days, however, after getting a 24-month extension they get an additional 60 days of unemployment which makes their total unemployment days to 150.
Cap-Gap Extension
If you are an F-1 student who timely filed an H-1B application, and a request for a change of status is pending, then you may apply for the H1-B Cap-Gap Extension of your F-1 status. This extension will allow you to continue to lawfully stay in the United States until your H-1B petition is processed.
Students whose H1-B petitions are pending or approved can stay in the US in F-1 status under the H1-B Cap-Gap Extension until the start date of their approved H1-B job period. They are allowed to stay in this status even if their OPT authorization or the grace period for F-1 expires before October 1.
STEM OPT Employer Responsibilities
F-1 students can only qualify for the STEM OPT extension if their employer is signing Form I-983 as the employer needs to attest this form for the F-1 students. The F-1 student STEM extension is available to international students who have been granted a degree in a qualifying field of study. F-1 students are eligible for this extension if they have been pursuing full-time studies in the United States and can present an employment offer from a qualifying employer. The employer that signs the Training Plan of the F-1 student must be the same entity that employs the student and provides practical training experience to him. STEM OPT applicants can also work for a small business if they fulfil all the regulatory requirements.
The company should be in good standing with E-Verify and must have the resources to fulfil the proposed training plan.
What is STEM OPT Extension and how to get it FAQs
Q. What is the difference between OPT and stem OPT?
A. STEM OPT is a two-year extension for recent graduates in USA who completed their education in a STEM-eligible degree program. On the other hand, OPT is open to all students on an F-1 visa, but few students qualify for STEM OPT.
Q. What are the STEM OPT extension requirements for Indian students?
A. The STEM extension is a work permit for students in their last year of study. who are planning to pursue further studies in a graduate school, particularly in a STEM field. And, the STEM OPT extension is a 24-month period of temporary training which is related to an F-1 student's program of study in an approved STEM field/area. To apply for STEMP OPT Extension, you must submit the following:
- Form I-765 up to 90 days before his current OPT employment authorization expires;
- Application fee;
- Employer's name as listed in E-Verify;
- Employer’s E-Verify Company Identification Number or valid E-Verify Client Company Identification Number;
- Copy of student's STEM degree; and
- Form I-20, Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status, endorsed by your DSO within the last 60 days.
Q. When to apply for STEM OPT extension?
A. On an average, it takes about 90-120 to get a STEM OPT extension. Hence, to be on the safe side, you must submit the Form I-765 up to 90 days before your current employment expires, to apply for the STEM OPT extension. Also, you should submit the Form I-20, Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status, endorsed by your DSO within the last 60 days of your present job.
Q. What are the STEM OPT extension eligibility criteria for Indians?
A. If you wish to be eligible for the 24-month STEM OPT extension in USA, you must meet the conditions listed below:
- Have been granted OPT and currently be in a valid period of OPT.
- Have earned either a bachelor’s, master's or doctoral degree from a school that is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency and is also certified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) when the candidate is submitting his STEM OPT extension application.
- Your STEM OPT extension must be enrolled with USCIS's E-Verify employment eligibility verification program.
- Should work for an employer who meets all the requirements set by the STEM OPT Employer Responsibilities section.
Q. What happens after stem OPT expires?
A. If your STEM OPT expires, you can still reside in US for a period of 60 calendar days, post the end date of your STEM OPT period. It is a 60-days long grace period given to a candidate by DHS, in order to prepare for their departure. Students with regular OPT can stay unemployed for a period of 90 days. Whereas, after getting a 24-month extension, you get an additional 60 days of unemployment which makes the total unemployment days to be 150.
Q. Can I get OPT twice?
A. You can only get an OPT generated once you have completed a degree. Also, the 12 month period of this OPT must be used in one go as it cannot be broken into segments. You can get an OPT when you complete your Bachelor's degree, and the next when you finish pursuing the Master's or PhD degree. Note that OPT can only be used once per higher degree level, even if you have multiple degrees per level. For example, even if you have two Master's degree, you can only get one OPT generated for that particular course level.
Q: What GPA is needed to go to Ohio State?
Q: Is MIT costly for Indians?
MIT is not costly for Indian students. Applicants can study BTech program at affordable tuition fees as compared to other BTech colleges in the USA. The MIT BTech fees is around INR 50 L to INR 52 L.
Q: What GPA is required for the University of South Dakota?
The University of South Dakota expects a GPA score of 2.5 from undergraduates and 3 from postgraduates on the 4-pointer scale. Along with the GPA scores, undergraduates must meet the basic eligibility and submit an ACT score of 21 or higher and an SAT score of 1070 or higher. In addition, they must submit the required documents, such as academic history, transcripts, letters of recommendation, English language scores, and more.
Q: Is University of Minnesota Morris hard to get into?
According to various sources, University of Minnesota Morris has an acceptance rate of around 78% making it moderately selective for admissions. Some of the general admission requirements for international students are given as follows:
- Overall Student's GPA
- Letters of Recommendation
- High School Class Ranks
- Additional Academic Record
Students are required to apply for admission according to the deadlines given on the official university website.
Q: Is Texas A&M Commerce a good university?
Texas A&M Commerce is regarded as one of the top public universities across the United States. Moreover, the Texas A&M Commerce ranking 2024 under the category of Best Colleges is National Universities is #369. Also, the acceptance rate of this university is 42%. Additionally, the university offers the best academic programs, expert faculty, job & placement, and more. Besides, Texas A&M University-Commerce also offers over 130 academic degrees for its students.
Q: What are the requirements for admission into Purdue?
Purdue University application must have the following components:
Undergraduate Admissions
- The application itself
- Purdue-specific questions from the application
- Self-reported high-school grades
- Self-reported SAT or ACT scores (if applicable)
- Application fee
Steps to apply for Purdue University Undergraduate Courses
- First of all, complete and submit a Common application as per the Purdue University application deadlines
- Make sure that Purdue University receives all material required to complete the application
Graduate Admissions Steps
- Firstly, check Purdue University entry requirements
- Then, create an application account to start the application
- Choose the campus and course as per the preference
- Then, submit the results of the tests needed for the graduate program
- Prepare the additional documents based on the graduate program
- Lastly, pay the non-refundable application fee to submit the application. Purdue University graduate application fee is USD 75 for international applicants
Q: Is it expensive to study in UT Tyler Texas?
Annual tuition fee required to pursue a degree course at Indiana State University is around INR 15 L on an average, which can be considered affordable as a study abroad option. Students can refer to the table for course-specific fees requirements:
| Courses | 1st Year Tuition Fees |
|---|---|
BBA (5 courses) | INR 10 L - 15 L |
MBA/PGDM (4 courses) | INR 12 L - 14 L |
BSc BTech (5 courses) | INR 15 L - 18 L |
MIM (3 courses) | INR 12 L - 14 L |
BBA (4 courses) | INR 15 L - 17 L |
BSN (1 course) | INR 15 L |
BSc (1 course) | INR 15 L |
Q: Is Canada or USA cheaper to study?
International students are more likely to receive financial help or scholarships from Canadian universities than from American ones, which is quite uncommon. Furthermore, tuition at Canadian institutions is typically 27% less expensive than that of US universities. However, some United States universities offer international students Financial aid and other scholarships that help them to study in the United States.
Aishwarya is a professional Writer currently working as a Study Abroad Expert in the Editorial Team at Shiksha. She has over 5 years of experience and is skilled at creating Online Content with leveraged knowledge i... Read Full Bio
Bishakha is a seasoned education management professional with over 7 years of experience in overseas education industry. She has demonstrative experience in student placement, counselling, research, training, client... Read Full Bio
Statement of Purpose
Letter of Recommendation
Student Visa Application
Admission Essay Writing
Student Curriculum Vitae
There is no minimum GPA score for UG admission at Ohio State. However, International students must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale or equivalent) for graduate admission. Applicants may submit a standardized test score (GRE or GMAT) if their cumulative GPA is below 3.0 for the last degree.