Guide

STEM OPT extension: who qualifies and when to apply

The 24-month STEM OPT extension, step by step. Who qualifies, what the employer must do, when to file, and what you must report once it starts.

If your degree is in science, technology, engineering or math, the STEM OPT extension can add 24 months of work authorization after your post-completion OPT. It is the biggest reason to plan your job search around the right employers from the start.

Who qualifies

You need all of these:

  • A qualifying degree. It must be on the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List. You can also use an earlier STEM degree from an accredited US school, earned within the last 10 years.
  • Post-completion OPT that is current, based on a degree.
  • An employer enrolled in E-Verify. This rules out many employers, so check it before you apply.
  • A training plan (Form I-983), completed with your employer and signed by both of you.
  • Paid work of at least 20 hours a week, in a real employer-employee relationship, directly related to your STEM degree.

You can receive the STEM extension twice in your lifetime, each time for a qualifying degree at a higher level.

When to file

  1. Your DSO recommends the extension in SEVIS, after reviewing your I-983.
  2. You file Form I-765 with USCIS within 60 days of that recommendation.
  3. You can file up to 90 days before your current OPT EAD expires, and it must be filed before it expires.

If you file on time and your EAD expires while the application is pending, you can keep working for up to 180 days while you wait.

Once it starts

  • Report every six months. Confirm your details with your DSO.
  • Submit self-evaluations on your I-983 at 12 months and at the end.
  • Report changes within 10 days, including a new employer, which also needs a new I-983.
  • Watch your unemployment days. The extension adds 60 days, for 150 in total across OPT and STEM OPT.

Where we fit

We check that an employer is enrolled in E-Verify before we apply there on your behalf, and we help you keep track of the dates. We don't give immigration advice: your DSO and USCIS make these decisions.

Official sources

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