Students and designated school officials (DSOs) who missed the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) webinar about the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) optional practical training (OPT) extension for F-1 international students can now watch the recording on Study in the States.

During the April 14, 2016 webinar, SEVP leadership provided information about:

• Important dates related to the new rule, including the May 10, 2016, implementation date.
• What has changed in the rule, including the addition of the Form I-983, “Training Plan for STEM OPT Students.”
• The transition plan for students with existing STEM OPT employment authorization documents or with a pending 17-month STEM OPT application on May 10, 2016.
• Resources that students, employers and DSOs can use to better understand the rule.

The webinar included a brief introduction to Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) functionality that DSOs will need to know once the rule is implemented. Please note, SEVP will host the SEVIS Workarounds for STEM OPT webinar on April 29, at 2 p.m. EDT that will go into further detail about SEVIS functionality.

The SEVP Special Report: STEM OPT webinar also answered pre-submitted questions from stakeholders about the Form I-983, a student’s use of a prior STEM degree to complete a STEM OPT extension, specifics about the transition plan and other topics related to the rule.

The full webinar recording, which lasts approximately 40 minutes, and other presentation materials are available for download.

Do you have case-specific questions about the STEM OPT extension rule? Contact the SEVP Response Center or visit the Study in the States STEM OPT Hub for more information.