F-1 STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT) Extension

Last updated: July 25, 2024

In this document:

Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) optional practical training (OPT) refers to the 24-month extension of post-completion OPT.
Designated school official (DSO) refers to both the principal designated school official (PDSO) and DSO, unless otherwise noted.

Students who majored in an eligible Science, Technology, Engineering or Math (STEM) field may qualify for a one-time, 24-Month Extension of post-completion optional practical training (OPT).

A student may request a first STEM OPT extension if:

Student is in a period of Active Post-Completion OPT.
Student’s primary or secondary major was a STEM-eligible field, or the student completed a previous primary or secondary major in a currently STEM-eligible field.
Student has not already had a STEM OPT extension of any duration based on the qualifying STEM degree.
Qualifying STEM degree was at the bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral level.
Qualifying STEM degree was earned within the ten previous years of the date the DSO recommends the STEM OPT extension.
School where the student earned the STEM degree is currently:
- SEVIS-certified
- Accredited by a U.S. Department of Education accrediting organization
Student will be, or is working, for an employer enrolled in the E-Verify program.

A student may request a second STEM OPT extension if:

Second STEM degree meets all the above requirements.
Student is in a period of Active Post-Completion OPT.
Student has a second STEM degree at a higher level than the one used for the first STEM OPT extension.
Student has not already based any portion of a STEM OPT extension on the second STEM degree.

Regulations and Policy Guidance

Any STEM OPT requests entered into SEVIS must comply with applicable federal regulations and guidance. DSOs must understand the following regulations and policy guidance:

8 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 214.2(f)(10 through (13)
8 CFR 274a.12(c)(3)
SEVP Policy Guidance on OPT
SEVP Policy Guidance: Practical Training – Determining a Direct Relationship between Employment and a Student’s Major Area of Study

OPT Request Statuses

The table below lists the statuses used to identify the stages of OPT requests in SEVIS:

Status	Status Meaning
Requested	DSO requested OPT in SEVIS on behalf of the student, but U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) has not yet received the Application for Employment Authorization (Form I-765).
Pending	USCIS has received the Form I-765.
Approved	USCIS has approved the Form I-765.
Denied	USCIS has denied the Form I-765.
Canceled	DSO or a scheduled SEVIS maintenance job canceled the practical training request in SEVIS.
Withdrawn	USCIS approved the student’s request to withdraw the Form I-765.

Process Overview

SEVIS will compute the start and end dates of the STEM OPT extension. The requested STEM OPT Start Date is the day following the current post-completion OPT End Date. The requested end date for this segment of OPT is 24 months after the requested start date. DSOs cannot change these dates.

During the full period of the extension, the school that recommended the STEM OPT must continue to:

Maintain records on the student.
Update required SEVIS student reporting as notified by student.

The student can continue to work for 180 days after the original USCIS Employment Authorization Document (EAD) expires if:

Student filed a Form I-765 for the STEM OPT extension.
USCIS received the Form I-765 for the extension before the EAD for the original post-completion OPT expired.

The Request Status will be listed as “Pending” in SEVIS once USCIS receives the Form I-765.

8 CFR 214.2(f)(10) to (f)(13)

While a DSO recommends STEM OPT in SEVIS, it is the student who must apply for the work permit with the USCIS. If the STEM OPT is approved, USCIS will issue an EAD.

DSOs should know the USCIS regulations that extend work permission in special cases while USCIS processes extension requests.
8 CFR 274a.12(b)(6)(iv)-(v)

Remind your F-1 students:

Not to file the Form I-765, “Application for Employment Authorization,” until you have recommended STEM OPT extension in their SEVIS records, and they have the updated Form I-20 with the STEM OPT extension recommendation.
USCIS must receive the STEM application within the 60-day period after your DSO STEM OPT extension recommendation and no later than the current post-completion OPT end date.

If a student submits the Form I-765 on paper or electronically before you recommend the STEM OPT extension or after the 60-day post-DSO recommendation period:

USCIS will deny the application. (Federal regulations require the DSO OPT recommendation on the student SEVIS record before the Form I-765 is submitted.)
The student will lose the application fee.
The student will have to reapply for STEM OPT extension and pay the fee again.

Any F-1 STEM Optional Practical Training request in Requested status longer than 180 days is automatically canceled by SEVIS.

Students must submit a completed Form I-983 Training Plan for STEM OPT Students to the DSO before the DSO can recommend the STEM OPT extension in SEVIS. Students must submit a new Form I-983 for every new employment/training experience they accept during their STEM OPT extension.

For more information and a tutorial on completing the Form I-983, see the STEM OPT Hub on the Study in the States site.

To recommend the STEM OPT extension after receiving the completed Form I-983 Training Plan for STEM OPT Students, DSOs should:

Go to the Student Information page.

Click OPT Request from the Student Information page. The OPT Employment page opens.

Click Extend. The Extend OPT Employer page opens

Enter the employer information.

Note: A * (red asterisk) indicates required fields.

Field	Description
*Explain how employment is related to student’s course of study	If this STEM extension is based on a prior STEM degree, the DSO will also enter the following information in this field, “Extension based on prior STEM degree: Degree name Degree level Degree classification of instructional program (CIP) code Date degree awarded Name of school that awarded degree Location of school that awarded degree SEVIS code of school that awarded degree, if available Class of admission at time of degree" DSOs must note in this field they have seen the Form I-983 by entering text, “I have reviewed the Form I-983. It is complete, signed, and addresses all program requirements.” Based on the student’s summary, describe how the job relates to the major area of study. Include the following elements: Job title Employer name Major area of study Whether full-time or the average number of hours worked per week Description of regular job duties and how they connect to the student’s studies Example: PhD in Computer Science: Student is employed as a Computer and Information Research Scientist at ABC Research Institute. She works as part of a team of scientists and engineers that designs experiments to test the operation of various software systems. Her work builds on research in complex algorithms and machine learning, which she studied as part of her dissertation. See SEVP Policy Guidance: Practical Training – Determining a Direct Relationship between Employment and a Student’s Major Area of Study for more details and for more samples. Note: These remarks do not appear on the Form I-20.
*Employer Name	This field displays any information previously entered into SEVIS, but can be edited. Enter or update the business name of the employer.
*Employer EIN	Enter the Employer Identification Number (EIN) for the student’s employer. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issues EINs to employers for tax reasons.
Job Title	Enter the student’s job title.
*Start Date	Enter the date the student began or will begin the job. If the student will continue work for the same post-completion OPT employer, enter the actual start date for the STEM OPT. Note: Do not enter an employer start date before the actual start date for the STEM OPT. If the employer employment dates are outside the actual dates of the OPT STEM period, SEVIS will not consider the student employed. The start date will stop SEVIS’ count of consecutive days of unemployment.
End Date	Enter the date the student will stop working for the employer, if known. Leave this field blank, if the end date is not known. Note: The date entered in the End Date field will not affect the overall SEVIS-calculated STEM extension end date. Do not enter an employer end date after the actual end date for the STEM OPT. If the employer employment dates are outside the actual dates of the OPT STEM period, SEVIS will not consider the student employed.
*Full Time/Part Time Indicator	By default, this field is pre-populated as full-time. It is not editable.
Employer Address*	Click the Add Employer Address button. The Address modal opens. Enter the employer address following SEVP guidance on entering U.S. addresses. This field validates when Address Doctor is working. Enter the Employer’s site address as shown in Section 5 of the Form I-983.
*Supervisor Last Name	Enter the last name of the student’s supervisor, as shown in Section 5 of the Form I-983. This is a required field for STEM OPT.
*Supervisor First Name	Enter the first name of the student’s supervisor, as shown in Section 5 of the Form I-983. This is a required field for STEM OPT.
*Supervisor Telephone Number	Enter the work/business telephone number for the student’s supervisor, as shown in Section 5 of the Form I-983. This is a required field for STEM OPT
*Supervisor Email	Enter the email address for the student’s supervisor, as shown in Section 5 of the Form I-983. This is a required field for STEM OPT.

Click one of the following:

Cancel: Returns to the OPT Employment page without adding the OPT extension request to the student’s record.
Extend OPT Employer: Processes the recommended OPT extension in SEVIS. An Update Successful message displays.

Click Print I-20 and sign page one of the Form I-20. Give the Form I-20 to the student.
The student must also sign page one of the Form I-20 and submit a copy of the Form I-20 to USCIS, along with the Application for Employment Authorization (Form I-765).

Find more information on allowable electronic signatures and Form I-20 transmission in SEVP’s policy guidance Use of Electronic Signatures and Transmission for the Form I-20.

Click Return to Employment List. The OPT Employment page lists the requested extension and a link to upload the Form I-983. (See Upload Form I-983 section for more details.)

USCIS highly recommends sending transcripts with the STEM OPT application if the extension is based on a prior degree.

DSOs can find additional employment authorization filing information and requirements at the USCIS Form I-765 site.

DSOs may upload a Form I-983 when a:

STEM OPT extension recommendation is added to the record.
STEM OPT employer is added to the record.
12-month self-evaluation is reported in SEVIS.
24-month or final self-evaluation is reported in SEVIS.
Material change was made to STEM employer information.

These events may be added to the record by a DSO directly in SEVIS or through batch processing or by SEVP through a correction request or data fix. Only DSOs can upload a Form I 983.

You cannot upload the Form I-983 through batch. If you use batch processing to submit any of the actions listed above, you must log in to SEVIS after SEVIS processes your batch to upload the Form I-983.
Upload each Form I-983 separately. Do not combine multiple Forms I-983 into one PDF.

To upload a Form I-983:

Go to the OPT Employment page.

SEVIS only displays the upload link after a STEM OPT employer is added to the record. Each STEM employer in the student’s record will have its own upload link. The link will not display for deleted employers.

Click Upload for the relevant employer. The Upload Form I-983 page opens.

Click Upload Evidence. The Upload Evidence modal opens.

Click Browse and select the file you want to upload.
Click the Upload Reason drop-down list and select the reason for the upload:

Form I-983 – 12-Month Training Evaluation
Form I-983 – 24-month or Final Training Evaluation
Form I-983 – Edit Employer
Form I-983 – New Employer

Click Submit. SEVIS adds the document to the list at the bottom of the page.

DSOs must retain the original Forms I-983 in the student’s file.

View History of Uploaded Form I-983 for an Employer

The Upload Form I-983 page also serves as a historical listing of Form I-983 documents uploaded for a specific employer. You can access the Upload Form I-983 page from either of the following:

OPT Employment page (as shown above)
Employment Information page (as shown below)

STEM Employment Information page screenshot

Click Uploads for the employer whose documents you want to see. The Upload Form I-983 page opens.

The upload information is also captured on the Event History page.

During the STEM OPT, DSOs must maintain the following in the student’s file:

All Forms I-983 training plans submitted by the student.
All self-evaluations submitted by the student.

General Reporting: Any changes in the student’s legal name, address, employer, or employment status within 10 days of the change.
Validation Reporting: A 6-, 12- and 18-month validation report to the DSO that confirms the student’s name, address, employer name and address, and employment status are correct.
Self-Evaluations: Self-evaluations are submitted to the DSO at the end of any employment and at the 12- and 24-month marks from the start date of the STEM extension. A concluding self-evaluation occurs at the end of any period of employment, regardless of its duration, for example; 14 months.

DSOs can only submit the concluding evaluation in SEVIS at either the 12- or 24-month mark.

General Reporting

During the STEM OPT extension period, such as the initial 12 months of post-completion OPT, the student must:

Students must report any changes to the DSO in the student’s legal name, address, employer, or employment status within 10 days of the change. Students on STEM OPT can also use the SEVP Portal to change personal contact information and existing employer information. However, they must submit any new employer information to their DSO on the Form I-983.

DSO Actions:

Use the Personal Information link on the Student Information page to update the student’s name or address changes in SEVIS.
Use the OPT Request link on the Student Information page to update the employer or employment status changes in SEVIS.

For additional related information, see:

8 CFR 214.2(f)(12)(ii)(E)
SEVP OPT Policy Guidance
F-1 Add, Edit, Delete Optional Practical Training (OPT) Employer
View Employment Information
Unemployment Counter
SEVIS and the SEVP Portal
SEVP Portal Help on Study in the States

Validation Reports

During the STEM OPT extension period, the student must make a 6-, 12-, 18- and 24-month validation report to the DSO that confirms the student’s current name, address, employer, and employment status are correct.

DSO Action: Use the Report OPT Employment link on the Student Information page to report the validation has been completed.

DSOs can only access the Report OPT Employment function during the three separate reporting windows. (See Deadlines for Validation Reports and Self-Evaluation.)

SEVIS will auto-terminate the student record, if all the following statements are true:

Student is in a period of active STEM OPT extension.
SEVIS record was not updated to reflect the validation report.
Date is 46 days after the reporting deadline.

Note: This auto-terminate functionality is currently disabled but will be enabled in a future release. However, even though the auto-terminate is not on now, a government official can still terminate a record at any time.

The DSO is required to report the student’s participation within 21 days of the established report date.

Planning Tool for 24-Month Extension of STEM OPT
This interactive tool provides a customized reporting schedule for a student.

Self-Evaluations

Students must report the progress they have made toward the training goals outlined on the Form I-983 for a particular employer. The student creates the self-evaluation; and then the employing supervisor must confirm and sign each self-evaluation. DSOs must keep these self-evaluations in the student’s file. The timelines for submission include:

Student still works for original employer: Must submit a self-evaluation within 10 days of the 12- and 24-month marks of the start date of STEM OPT employment authorization.
Student changes employers before the 12- and/or 24-month marks:
- Must submit self-evaluation within 10 days of ending each employment with current employer.
- Must submit self-evaluation within 10 days of 12- and 24-month marks of the start date of STEM OPT employment authorization.

Deadlines for Validation Reports and Self-Evaluations

DSOs must validate a student’s employment data three times during the STEM OPT extension. Validation reporting is done in SEVIS. Paper documentation is NOT mailed to SEVP. Timelines include:

Activity	Timeline
Validation Reports due	6 months after start of STEM OPT Extension 12 months after start of STEM OPT Extension 18 months after start of STEM OPT Extension 24 months after the start of STEM OPT Extension
Self-evaluations due	12 months after STEM OPT start date (midway) 24 months after STEM OPT start date (final) At conclusion of training opportunity (final; usually at 24 months, but possible any time during the period of authorized employment)
Report link displays in SEVIS	30 days before each report due date
Report link no longer displays in SEVIS	After DSO submits validation report 31 days after reporting deadline

If a DSO receives an early report of concluding employment from a student, the DSO must edit the OPT employer information to shorten the employment end date to reflect the last date of the training. If the student does not have any other employers, SEVIS will begin to count days of unemployment.
SEVIS only allows a DSO to report receipt of the conclusion of employment evaluation from a student during the window for 12- or 24-month reporting. Since unemployment has been accounted for by the entry of the employment end date, whichever window is the earlier of these two reporting alternatives is sufficient for reporting.

The Report OPT Participation link appears in the Employment/Training section on the left-hand side of the Student Information page.

Report STEM OPT Participation and Receipt of Self-Evaluations

To report (validate) STEM OPT participation and receipt of self-evaluation:

Click the Report OPT Participation from the Student Information page. The Report OPT Participation page opens.

At the 12- and 24-month marks, SEVIS displays two checkboxes on the Report OPT Participation page – one for the validation report and another for the self-evaluation. You must check both boxes before SEVIS will allow submission.

Review the information displayed on the screen:
1. If the employer address or information is wrong, correct the information:
  1. Add any missing employer.
  2. Edit incorrect information in an employer record.
  3. Delete all employer information, if the student never worked there.

b. If the student’s address is wrong, update the address on the Update Personal Information page via the Edit button in the Personal/Contact section.
c. If the address and employer information is correct, click the checkbox to verify that the student has confirmed his or her current address and employment.

Click the self-evaluation checkbox to indicate receipt of the student’s self-evaluation for either the 12- or the 24-month reporting deadline for each employer listed on the page. Each Form I-983 will be uploaded separately later.
Click either Report OPT Participation or Cancel:

Report OPT Participation: Verifies the student has confirmed his or her current address and employment information, and you have received the self-evaluation.
- A message indicates that the update was successful.
- Click Return to View Record to view the Student Information page.

The Student Information page will no longer display the Report OPT Participation link.

- SEVIS records the event in the student’s Event History, as “STEM OPT x-month Participation Reported.” No separate notation is added for the self-evaluation.
- SEVIS adds the student to the Students Requiring STEM OPT Form I-983 Upload alert list.
Cancel: Returns the user to the Student Information page without validating the student’s information.

Return to the OPT Employment page.
Click Upload to upload a separate Form I-983 for each employer. Refer to the Upload Form I-983 section above for details.

Students authorized for STEM OPT must be employed by an E-Verify-certified employer. A student on STEM OPT can be unemployed for a total of 150 days. This includes any of the remaining 90 days of unemployment allotted from the standard post-completion OPT.

Student whose record lacks employer information is considered unemployed.
DSOs must enter new employer information into SEVIS based on the student’s completed Form I-983.
Students on STEM OPT can edit most employer information via the SEVP Portal, but not the employment start date.
SEVP officials can manually terminate a student who accrues more total days of unemployment than regulations allow.
See the Unemployment Counter article on the SEVIS Help Hub for more information.

The following Alert and Student Lists in SEVIS help DSOs monitor and manage students on STEM OPT:

Alert/List	Description
Accrued Unemployment Days for Students on Approved OPT or STEM	This Alert List shows: SEVIS ID Surname/Primary Name Given Name OPT Type (Post-completion or STEM) OPT Actual Start Date OPT Actual End Date Currently Employed The number of days of unemployment allowed The number of days of unemployment used The number of days of unemployment remaining Note: All employer start and end dates must be within the employment Actual Start and End Dates. If employer dates fall outside the Actual Start and End Dates, the student will appear on this list as unemployed.
Students Requiring OPT Reporting (STEM OPT Validation Alert)	This Alert lists students in Active status when both of the following statements are true: Current, approved STEM OPT extension Not reported on their STEM OPT within the required reporting period If the DSO does not report participation for the student, the system automatically terminates the record with the reason of “Failure to Report While on OPT.” Note: This auto-terminate functionality is currently disabled.
Students Requiring STEM OPT Form I 983 Upload	This Alert lists: SEVIS ID Surname/Primary Name Given Name Request Status STEM Start Date STEM End Date Employer ID Employer EIN Employer Name Type of Action Date of Action Students are added to the alert list when: STEM OPT is added Employer is added 12-month self-evaluation is reported 24-month or final evaluation is reported These events may be added to the record by a DSO directly in SEVIS or through a batch processing or by SEVP through a correction request or data fix. Only the DSO can upload the form. Note: A student may be listed on this alert several times, if the student has more than one STEM OPT employer and/or if there is more than one event that may require the upload of a Form I 983 for a specific employer.
Students with Requested, Pending, or Approved Optional Practical Training (OPT)	This Student List shows: Active indicator SEVIS ID Class of Admission Surname/Primary Name Given Name DSO Recommended Start and End Dates Actual OPT Start and End Dates Student's Email Address OPT Type Request Status Receipt Number This lists Active students who have an OPT request that is in Requested, Pending, or Approved status. Students remain on the list from the time OPT is requested until: Request is canceled or withdrawn USCIS denies the application Actual OPT End Date, if approved
Students Terminated for Exceeding the Maximum Number of Days of Unemployment	This Student List shows: SEVIS ID Class of Admission Surname/Primary Name Given Name Termination Date OPT Type
Student with Post-completion or STEM OPT – Portal Account Status	This Student List shows: Surname/Primary Name Given Name SEVIS ID Portal Account Status OPT Type OPT Start Date OPT End Date Student’s Email Address Portal Account Created Date Portal Account Last Update Date This lists Active students who have active post-completion OPT or have a STEM OPT request that is in Requested, Pending, or Approved status. Students remain on the list from the time OPT is requested until: Request is canceled or withdrawn USCIS denies the application Actual OPT End Date, if approved

SEVIS will automatically extend STEM OPT if:

On or after April 1, as directed by USCIS timely filing rules, an employer files an eligible H-1B petition to change the student’s status.
Requested start date for the H-1B is October 1.
Student’s OPT or STEM OPT extension ends on or after April 1, and the H-1B petition was filed with USCIS before the EAD expired.

If OPT information in SEVIS does not reflect applications filed with or decisions made by USCIS, DSOs can ask to have the record corrected. There are two ways to correct data in a student record.

Method	What Can be Fixed
Correction Request	This option is used to request changes (using SEVIS) for the following: Status of OPT Request Employment Start Date
SRC Ticket (Data Fix)	This option is used for more complicated data fixes and requires DSOs to contact the SEVP Response Center (SRC) via phone at 703-603-3400 or 1-800-892-4829, or via email at SEVP@ice.dhs.gov. Types of OPT-related data fixes include: Adding retroactive OPT to a record Changing the OPT request status for an OPT request that is already in Approved status Any data fix that cannot be submitted in a correction request Note: These changes may add a student to the Students Requiring STEM OPT Form I-983 Upload alert list, as only a DSO can upload a Form I-983.

Method

What Can be Fixed

Correction Request

This option is used to request changes (using SEVIS) for the following:

Status of OPT Request
Employment Start Date

SRC Ticket
(Data Fix)

This option is used for more complicated data fixes and requires DSOs to contact the SEVP Response Center (SRC) via phone at 703-603-3400 or 1-800-892-4829, or via email at SEVP@ice.dhs.gov. Types of OPT-related data fixes include:

Adding retroactive OPT to a record
Changing the OPT request status for an OPT request that is already in Approved status
Any data fix that cannot be submitted in a correction request

Note: These changes may add a student to the Students Requiring STEM OPT Form I-983 Upload alert list, as only a DSO can upload a Form I-983.

SEVIS Help Hub

F-1 STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT) Extension

F-1 STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT) Extension