F-1 STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT) Extension

In this document:

• STEM OPT refers to the 24-month extension of post-completion optional practical training (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:

• 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.
• Second STEM degree meets all the above requirements.

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)

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:

1. 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.

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

3. Click Upload Evidence. The Upload Evidence modal opens. 

4. Click Browse and select the file you want to upload.

5. 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

6. 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)

Click Upload 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.

There are three types of student reporting requirements while on the STEM OPT extension:

• 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 212.2(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 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: The student must submit the first assessment within 12 months of the STEM OPT start date, and a second, final assessment that recaps the training and knowledge acquired during the complete training period.  
• Student changes employers:
  • Must  submit the first assessment within 12 months of the OPT STEM start date
  • Must submit a self-evaluation no later than 10 days of the ending of employment with current employer.

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:

 

• 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:

1. 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.

2. Review the information displayed on the screen:
        a.    If the employer address or information is wrong, correct the information:

• Add any missing employer.
• Edit incorrect information in an employer record.
• Delete all employer information, if the student never worked there.

        b.    If the student’s address is wrong, update the address on the Personal Information page, which is accessed from the Student Information page.
        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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

Note: 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.

5. Return to the OPT Employment page.

6. Click Upload to upload a separate Form I-983 for each employer. Refer to the Upload Form I-983 section above for details.

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

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.