• Successful completion of a STEM degree in a field with an approved CIP code (listed here);

  • ACU Degrees currently with STEM-eligible CIP codes include: 

Animal Science, Biology, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Physics, Environmental Science, Engineering, Multimedia, Mathematics & Computer Science.

• Employment (or an offer of employment) for at least 20 hours per week from a qualifying employer:

  • 1. • A company registered with the E-Verify system;

       • A company with an IRS employer identification number (EIN)

       • A company able to provide the training specified on the Form I-983;

       • Please note: self-employment is not qualified employment for STEM OPT.

• A direct relationship between the employment and the student’s qualifying STEM degree (on the I-983);

• Submission of a valid Form I-983 Training Plan completed by the student and the employer

• Evidence of current F-1 student status (from the most recent I-94)

• Maintained status while on OPT (ex: less than 90 days of unemployment, etc…)

• File from within the U.S. within the required filing dates (up to 90 days prior to the OPT end date, and no later than the EAD end date). 

Note: there are a few additional qualifications that generally do not apply in the ACU context. Talk with the DSO/PDSO for more details.

The STEM OPT will begin the day after your OPT EAD end date, and end 24 months later. 

Students approved for STEM OPT have the following reporting requirements:

• Update your residential address and phone number within 10 days of a change

• List your employment details (including job ending dates) in the SEVIS portal within 10 days of a change and at each 6 month reporting interval to the DSO/PDSO at ACU;

• Submit to the PDSO/DSO in the OISVS the annual self-evaluation every 12 months as prescribed in the I-983 instructions, (signed by your employer), including a final evaluation at the end of your STEM OPT.

STEM OPT Ending and Unemployment Limits

• Your OPT will end:

  • • •  if you accrue a total of 150 days of unemployment (counted from the start of your first OPT period)

        • • There is no additional grace period

      • if you transfer to another school to begin another degree program, or 

      • at the end date of your STEM OPT EAD

• If you have under 150 days of unemployment, you will have 60 days beyond the expiration of your EAD to either depart the U.S., transfer to a new school, have an I-20 issued for a new program, or apply for a change to another immigration status.  

NOTE:  Beginning study in a new academic program will end your STEM OPT authorization. 

1. Check the US government processing times. [You must select "I-765" for form type. For Field Office or Service Center, most of our students' applications go to the Potomac Service Center, but it is based on your current location.]

2. Most STEM OPT applications take between 3-5 months to process.

3. Students who have filed the STEM OPT application on time may work in qualified employment for up to 180 days beyond the expiration of their EAD card (which is counted in the 24 month period). 

4. Students must stop working if the STEM OPT EAD card is not received within the 180 period until it is received. (See 8 CFR 214.2(f)(11)(i)(C))

5. You can request Premium Processing at the time of application or after the application has been submitted.

   1. 1. 1. 1. • Additional fee (as of 7/24 it was $1,685)

               • USCIS will review the application within 30 business days 

               • It will usually take an additional 2 weeks to receive the EAD card after approval.

Full details on how to request premium processing is on the USCIS webpage for the Form I-907, the form needed to request premium processing. It can be done in your My.USCIS account.