STEM OPT Eligibility

24-Month STEM OPT Extension Eligibility for F-1 Students

Eligible F-1 nonimmigrant students with STEM degrees may apply for a 24-month STEM OPT extension. STEM F-1 students must first apply for and receive an I-20 requesting the extension, and then apply for and receive the Employment Authorization Document (EAD) from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

Eligibility

• F-1 students with a STEM degree who are in the final 90 days of post-completion OPT may apply for a 24-month extension of their practical training.

• The CIP code found on page 1 of your I-20 must appear on the list of designated majors.

• The STEM degree must be awarded by an accredited U.S. college or university

• The extension may be based upon your most recent STEM degree or upon a STEM degree that was conferred within the 10 years preceding the date ISS issues your STEM Extension I-20 (If you are applying based on a previous degree, you must meet additional eligibility criteria).

• You must have qualifying employment:

  • 1. Must be employed by an E-Verify employer. USCIS has created an online E-Verify Employer Search Tool.

    2. Employment must be compensated.

    3. The student and employer must have a “bona fide” employer-employee relationship.

    4. Employment must be directly related to the STEM degree

    5. Employment must be full-time (at least 20 hours per week)

• If your STEM OPT extension is timely filed, you may continue to work for up to 180 days beyond the end date of your Post-Completion EAD while you wait for a decision from USCIS.

• You may apply for the extension based upon a dual degree program or double major as long as one of the programs is STEM eligible.

• You may be eligible for up to two 24-month extensions based upon two separate STEM degrees at different educational levels moving up.