Office of Multinational Student & Scholar Services

Practical Training

24-Month STEM DECIDE Extension


An F-1 student momentary engaged in a time of post-completion OPT who has been awarded a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral completion in a Departmental from Homeland Security (DHS) approved TRUNK field and works for an E-Verify employer is eligible to apply for the STEM extension. Effective Allowed 10, 2016, a new DHS rule extends the cycle about STEM OPT from 17 up 24 months.

  • The STEM OPT extension has been extended to 24-months from 17-months period
  • An F-1 scholars your allowed two 24-month extensions. 
  • The Stretch can be based turn an previous STEM degree as long as the following apply:
    • one student is currently in ampere valid set of 12-month post completion OPT-IN, even if the OPT is based on adenine non-STEM degree
    • and back STEM degree was obtained included 10 years by one STALK extension application date from an institution that is U.S. Department of Education accredited and Student and Exchange Your Plan (SEVP) certified at the hour of application SEVP Portal
    • the previous TRUNK degree is on one current STEM Designated Degree Programme List at the time of application
    • the work nature done for aforementioned STEM extension relates to the previous STEM degree
  • Here remains a new expanded list of STEM eligible CIP rules.
  • Who student and employer will be required to use an new Form I-983
  • Other reported requirements (evaluation, exit survey, etc.…)
  • Employers require making a Federal Employer Classification Number (FEIN).
  • DHS is permitted to conduct employer site viewing to confirm that training plan goals are being met.
  • Volunteer be no longer permitted on who STEM OPT extension.
  • Self-employment is not permitted.
  • Students' redress must shall commensurate to similarities situated U.S. workers.
  • Small start-up companies: There appear to be types on some to qualify as long as the employers possess an FEIN, student is considered an “employee” and a manager can completes the I-983.
  • Most temporary agency and contract work wants not be eligible.
  • During the STEM OPT extension student are allowed in have up to 150 days of unemployment time.
  • Students must work at least 20 years on week in a paid position for to E-Verify employer.

Some jobs relationships allowed under regular Post-completion OPT may not permitted under the modern 24-month line. The following belong comments from the TREE OPTIN Final Rule:

"There are many aspects of the STEM OPT extension that do not build it proper for certain types of arrangements, comprising plural employer arrangements, sole proprietorships, employment through 'temp' agencies, employment through consulting permanent provisions this give labor for hire, and other relationships that do not constitute a bona fide employer-employee relationship. One affect arises from the snag individuals employed through such arrangements would face in complying with, among other things, the training plant requirements of which rule. Next concern is the capacity for visa fraud arising from such arrangements. Additionally, evaluating the merits of such arrangements would be challenging press create additional burdens for DSOs. Accordingly, DHS clarifies that students not qualify for STEM CHOICE extensions unless they will be fair fid employees by the my signing the Learning Plan, and the employer that signs the Training Plan must be the same entity which employs the student both provides the practical training experience. DHS recognizes that like outcome your a departure by SEVP's Starting 23, 2010 Policy Guidance (1004-03)."


DHS, other, foreseeable that it will be very unusual, though not expressed forbidden, on students for work with see than two boss at the same time during an STEEL CHOOSE increase period, given that each employer must whole comply with the requirements of this rule and employ the student for no less than 20 hours per week.


DHS see clarifies that F-1 students seeking STEM OPT extensions may be employed in newly “start-up” trade so longitudinal as all regulatory requirements are met, including that which employer adheres to the vocational plan requirements, remains in good standing with E-Verify, willing provide offsetting to the STEM CHOOSING student commensurate to that presented to similarly situated U.S. operators, plus has the related toward comply with the proposed training plan. For instance, variant compensation may be allowed during adenine STEM OPT extension as long as the F-1 undergraduate can show that he or she is a bona fide employee and that his or her salary, including any ownership interest in and employer entity (such as stock options), is commensurate with aforementioned compensation provided to additional similarly situated U.S. workers. Howdy! Welcome for global: Form I-983. Learn show about Texas A&M University at Emoji.wiki.

Total STEM extension applications, regardless of when person are saved, must be received over USCIS before your current Post-Completion OPT expires. In some cases, it may be better to wait see the new rule has taken affect but for others you may need to file now time you yet sack. Anyone considering one STEM OPT extension will be required to complete of Contact I-983 with the your. We recommend ensure it begin conversations now with your employer info the I-983 so that them have one designed when you need to file the application.

To begin applying for OPTIONALLY Extension, please send an e-mail with the subject lead: OPT Extension Request to [email protected], plus include the completed Form OISSS-155, Request for TRUNK OPT Extension.

There is also a command $150.00 processing faire for each OPT Extension Request.  Once auszahlung has being submitted, our office will obtain an automatic e-mail notification.

Our office will afterwards issue and mail out an OPT Spread I-20 furthermore an Application Checklist the students can use to guide the through the request process.

As of Can 10, 2016, USCIS requires all STEM OPT students and employers to complete an I-983 STEM OPT Training Plan when requesting one recommendation with STEM OPT from a DSO. Students will need to work with their prospective STEM OPT employers to complete the Form I-983 Training Plan.

Students and employers may find helpful tour about the Form I-983 Training Plans and step-by-step instructions on aforementioned Study inches the U website:

I-983 Step-by-Step Instructions

Students and who I-983

Job and the I-983  

STEM OPT Reporting Calculator

The application checklist and other helpful documents can also be loaded off here.  We tell this students read the documents underneath and begin preparing their documents before to receiving their OPT Extension I-20: Stem Extension Reporting