Definition of STEM OPT: Certain F-1 students who receive science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) degrees may apply for a 24-month extension of their post-completion optional practical training (OPT).
If a student earned a degree in a field that appears on the U.S. government's official list of STEM OPT major they might be eligible for the 24-month STEM OPT extension. To confirm if your degree is on this list, look at the major code(s) listed in the "Program of Study" section on Page 1 of your I-20 form, and then look for that code in the CIP code column of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security STEM Designated Degree Programs list. https://www.ice.gov/doclib/sevis/pdf/stemList2023.pdf
Previously obtained STEM degrees: If a student participates in a period of post-completion OPT based on a non-STEM degree, they may be eligible to use a previous STEM degree from a U.S. institution of higher education to apply for a STEM OPT extension. They must have received both degrees from currently accredited and SEVP-certified institutions and cannot have already received a STEM OPT extension based on this previous degree. The practical training opportunity also must be directly related to the previously obtained STEM degree.
For example: If a student is currently participating in post-completion OPT based on a master’s degree in Management but they previously received a bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, they may be able to apply for a STEM OPT extension based on the obtained previously bachelor’s degree as long as it is from an accredited U.S. college or university and the OPT employment opportunity is directly related to your bachelor’s degree in Information Technology. To be eligible for STEM OPT, students must file no earlier than 90 days prior to the end date of post-completion OPT, and no later than the end date of post-completion OPT. USCIS must receive the STEM OPT application within 60 days of the STEM OPT I-20 issuance date. Eligibility Criteria for the 24-month OPT extension:
All five of the above criteria must be met for a student to be eligible for STEM OPT. Work authorization status while STEM extension is pending. If a student successfully files the application for STEM OPT with USCIS during the final 90 days of post-completion OPT, they may continue employment even if your Post-Completion EAD card is expired. This automatic extension of post-completion OPT is valid until the STEM OPT application is adjudicated or until 180 days has passed from the expiration date of your post-completion EAD card, whichever is sooner. Types of Employment Allowed during STEM OPT:
STEM OPT employment may include multiple employers. Students may change employers during STEM OPT, and/or work for more than one employer simultaneously, but all employment must meet the criteria of qualifying STEM OPT employment as outlined above. Any changes in STEM employment must be formally reported to the Walsh College DSO within 10 days of any change.
Self-employment / business ownership cannot qualify for STEM OPT extensions.
Guidance for Online Filing of Form I-765 for STEM Optional Practical Training USCIS instructions in detail here https://www.uscis.gov/i-765
For any field that is not applicable on the electronic application it can stay blank.
Eligibility category - Select c(3)(C) STEM Extension. The degree level and major field of study for the STEM OPT qualifying degree is listed on page 1 of the I-20. Reporting requirements with a Pending or Approved STEM OPT At all times while your STEM OPT application is pending, as well as during any subsequent periods of approval, students must continue to comply with F-1 address reporting, and must also comply with employment reporting guidelines, reporting any changes of employment within 10 days of a change.