On Nov. 14, 2016, the Institute of International Education (IIE) released its annual Open Doors Report as part of International Education Week. The report provides detailed information about the student flows into and out of the United States during the previous academic year.

This year, the report indicates that the 2015-16 academic year saw a historic milestone: Over one million international students studied in the United States.

In addition, the report noted that:

“More than a third of these international students studied engineering, math or computer science, and 14 percent engaged in Optional Practical Training (OPT), including many in science, technology, engineering or math (STEM) professions.”

In fact, the number of international students participating in OPT increased by 23 percent, and the STEM OPT extension likely helped to spur this growth.

OPT is a form of training, often paid, that directly relates to an international student’s program of study. Students can apply for OPT during their program of study, which is called pre-completion OPT, or after they finish their program of study, which is post-completion OPT.  

The STEM OPT extension has specific eligibility requirements and can only be applied after a student successfully completes their 12 months of regular, post-completion OPT. For more information about the extension, please visit the STEM OPT Hub on Study in the States.

To apply for regular OPT, students must first request approval from their designated school official (DSO). A DSO makes this recommendation in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System and by endorsing a student’s Form I-20, “Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status.”

The student must then file the Form I-765, “Application for Employment Authorization” and supporting documents with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), and, if approved, USCIS will issue a Form I-766, “Employment Authorization Document.” The student cannot begin their training until they receive their authorization from USCIS.

Would you like to learn more about training opportunities in the United States? Visit Study in the States and follow us on social media to stay up to date on the latest news from the international student community.