What is the STEM OPT Extension?

STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT) is at max a 2-year period of temporary training that is directly related to an F-1 student’s program of study.

F-1 students who completed a program of study in an approved STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) field are eligible to apply for a 24-month extension of their Post-Completion OPT, which is called the STEM OPT extension, or STEM OPT.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the STEM OPT Extension, you must:

• be in valid F-1 status while on Post-Completion OPT.
• you must not have done STEM OPT twice before.
• and must have completed a degree in a field on the current STEM list of eligible majors (check your I-20’s CIP Code against this list) in the U.S. within the last 10 years.
• have an eligible employer and position.
• have filled out pgs 1-4 of the I-983 with that employer and keep up with the extra reporting requirements (such as the pg 5 evaluations).
• apply within the 90-day period immediately before your EAD expires.

*NOTICE*

Many STEM OPT applicants who applied with USCIS online have experienced mailing address inaccuracies. To avoid this, you can file Form AR-11 if your address has changed between the I-765 you submitted for Post Completion OPT and the I-765 you will submit for the STEM OPT extension. Try, also, to go into your USCIS account and update your address there, if possible.

How to Plan for STEM OPT

You must read and understand all information on the OPT pages, these STEM OPT pages, and the Optional Practical Training Application FAQs before planning for STEM OPT.

Budgeting for the application

The ISSS STEM OPT I-20 fee

Note: ISSS charges a $200 one-time fee to issue the STEM OPT I-20. Please plan accordingly.

This will not count towards the base USCIS I-765 fee, which you are still responsible for.

Our fee allows us to cover the overhead of helping STEM OPT participants throughout their time as STEM OPT participants for two years. The fee is comparable to the $175 immigration services fee we charge to international students for each semester they enroll.

An estimate

This estimate is subject to change (always follow USCIS’ fee schedule, as they have suddenly changed fees in the past):

As of Aug 9, 2024, someone filing online for STEM OPT would prepare recent U.S. passport-style photos for around $11, pay ISSS $200, then after they have the STEM OPT I-20, they’d pay USCIS $470, for a total of $681.

For those who want a faster processing time (currently set at 30-days), Form I-907 can be added on and is $1685 (as of Aug 9, 2024), for a grand total of $2366. Details on where and how to pay are both on the instructions tab and in the eForm itself.

First, check your major’s eligibility

Remember to check the general eligibility notes. Now check to see if your major qualifies for the STEM Extension. Compare your I-20’s CIP code to Check the current STEM list.

Your “Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) Code” is the number listed underneath your I-20 major in the middle of pg 1 on your I-20. It is written in the format XX.XXX.

1. Look at your last I-20 from us.
2. If your I-20’s CIP Code is on the linked STEM list, your major is qualified for the STEM Extension.
3. If your I-20’s CIP Code is NOT on the list, then your major does not qualify for the STEM Extension.
4. We in ISSS do not decide which CIP Codes correspond to what academic programs at CSU.
5. As a reminder, CIP Codes have standardized major names (CIP Code Titles) so as to apply for all the thousands of differently titled but curricularly similar programs across the U.S. It’s okay if the CIP Code Title on your I-20 doesn’t quite match what CSU calls it. For example, CSU has an “Impact MBA” program, but the CIP Code Title for that is “Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods, Other,” so that long name is what would show up on an I-20.

What’s the difference between STEM OPT and Post-Completion OPT?

Similarities between OPT and STEM OPT

1. Both require a special I-20 first.
2. Both require USCIS Form I-765 to be submitted (different eligibility categories, though–(c)(03)(B) for Post-Completion OPT and (c)(03)(C) for STEM OPT) during a very specific timeframe (the timeframe is different for STEM OPT) to get an EAD.
3. Both have a work requirement and unemployment to avoid.
4. Both require employment to be in a position directly related to the student’s field of study and for at least 20 hours/week.
5. International travel while the I-765 is pending is not recommended.

Differences between OPT and STEM OPT

OPT

1. No job needed to request.
2. Any lawful job arrangement is possible, including volunteer roles and freelance.
3. ISSS does not require any documentation from the employer.
4. Can combine multiple jobs to get to your 20-hr/week minimum.
5. Can’t work until you have your EAD.
6. Reporting is required any time a change occurs, within 10 days.

STEM OPT

1. Very specific job is required to be secured, as described below and in Form I-983.
2. You must have a bona fide employer-employee relationship (with you as the employee), and the company you work for must be enrolled in e-Verify.
3. The employer must work with you to complete Form I-983 and agree to the requirements of it, including evaluation throughout the STEM OPT period.
4. Positions can’t be stacked to get to the 20 hours/week. All employment arrangements must comply with the I-983 requirements, which means they all must be at least 20 hours/week.
5. Can work for 180 days as if you already have STEM OPT approval while the I-765 is pending.
6. On top of the normal reporting within 10 days of any change, there is a check-in style report required every 6 months and an evaluation requirement at the 12-month and 24-month/end of employment marks.

Timing

Finding an eligible STEM OPT job

Before you get close to the STEM OPT application window, you will need to check if your employer on Post-Completion OPT is e-Verify and if they will complete the I-983 with you, or else arrange one with a different employer.

Not all positions are eligible for STEM OPT, so many OPT participants who plan to do STEM OPT later on choose to only work with STEM-eligible employers during their Post-Completion period to avoid a last-minute job hunt.

If you do not find a STEM OPT -eligible position by the time your OPT expires, you won’t be allowed to apply for the STEM extension. You will movie into the Post-Completion OPT 60-day grace period instead, and you won’t be permitted to work or re-enter the U.S. (unless a transfer out or Change of Level has enabled this process).

Needless to say, since you must have a specific type of job lined up to even apply for STEM OPT, you’ll want to factor in this aspect of job-hunting perhaps as early as your final semester in school or else at the beginning of your Post-Completion OPT period.

Note: it is completely acceptable, so long as you have enough unemployment for it, for your STEM OPT employment to begin on a date later on in the STEM OPT period. An example: Jill’s Post-Completion OPT will end Dec 31, 2024, and her Post-Completion OPT employer was not STEM-eligible, but she has secured STEM-eligible work that begins Jan 30, 2025. It will use up almost half of her new unemployment days allotment, but it’s permitted!

The I-983 takes time

1. To apply for STEM OPT, you have to get a STEM OPT I-20 from ISSS at CSU.
   1. ISSS takes 5-7 days to process
2. To get a STEM OPT I-20, you have to work with your employer to complete pages 1-4 of Form I-983.
   1. How long will it take your employer to fill out their portion of the I-983? Check with them!

Many students have questions about the Form I-983. The I-983 official instructions answer a lot of those questions, as does our tab on the I-983 and our FAQ, but plan for this Q&A time, as well as for whatever amount of time your employer will need to complete their portions. HR often fills out one section while your actual supervisor for the position fills out or guides a different section. That may take up to a month to complete, especially if it’s a busy time in the office.

• Pages 1-4 must be complete when you request the STEM OPT.
• Pg 5 is the evaluation which can only be done when you are actually in your STEM OPT period, so leave this blank when applying.

The application window

The application window opens 90-days out from your OPT expiration. Please check your EAD to see what your OPT expiration date is. 90-days before your OPT expires is the earliest we can create the STEM OPT I-20, and thus the earliest you can request the STEM OPT I-20.

Below is an image to illustrate this timeline. Note that for those who are approved for STEM OPT, there is no 60-day grace period at the end of Post-Completion OPT. There is no gap between the OPT and STEM OPT periods. There will, however, be a 60-day grace period at the end of the STEM OPT, for those who maintain status for the whole 2 years.

This image below illustrates the grace period after the STEM OPT period:

While the application is pending

So long as you are eligible and you file correctly and timely in that 90-day window, you will be permitted to remain in the U.S. and continue working for up to 180 days in a STEM OPT-eligible position, as if you already have approval for STEM OPT.

Remember: once you are in your STEM OPT period, you can only do STEM OPT-eligible work (with the I-983 required for all employment).

Your employer may need to update your I-9 with special annotation confirming your continued work authorization. They may need to see your USCIS Receipt Notice. They can reference USCIS’ M-274 Handbook for Employers, specifically the sections about STEM OPT.

Avoid Unemployment

STEM OPT has a work requirement, but it adds on 60 more days to whatever remains of your Post-Completion OPT unemployment amount, for a total possible maximum of 150 days of unemployment spread out amongst the three OPT years (90 days for Post-Completion OPT and 60 days for STEM OPT).

For example, by the expiry of his OPT, Bob had used up a total of 52 unemployment days while on Post-Completion OPT. 90-52=38. That means he has 38 unemployment days remaining at the end of OPT. He receives 60 more upon entering his STEM OPT period. 38+60=98. So Bob has a total supply of 98 days beginning on Day 1 of the STEM OPT period and which must last him for his entire STEM OPT period.

Reporting

STEM OPT participants must report within 10 days of any change, just as they were required to do on Post-Completion OPT.

Additionally, during the STEM OPT period, there is a check-in style report required every 6 months and an evaluation requirement at the 12-month and 24-month/end of employment marks.

So, 6 months in, 12 months in, 18 months in, and 24 months in, a report will be required, even if nothing changed during the entire 2 years you were on STEM OPT. Please read more about reporting on the OPT Reporting page.

The end of your STEM OPT

If you keep your status for your whole STEM OPT period, your work authorization will come to an end after two years.

Then you will have a 60-day grace period. During the grace period, you cannot travel and re-enter the U.S. from abroad unless you arrange a SEVIS transfer or a Change of Level within your grace period. Remember: college admission cycles are often a year out, so you’ll want to carefully plan out these next steps if they are of interest to you.

Some STEM OPT participants are selected for H-1B lottery, and can read about Gap-Gap on our FAQ. Put simply, Cap Gap skips the grace period for a more seamless transition between STEM OPT and H-1B. We also send an email to OPT & STEM OPT participants every March on the topic of H-1B and Cap-Gap which answers most questions on the topic.

This image below illustrates the grace period after STEM OPT ends:

Request Your STEM OPT I-20 Here

If your CSU eID is still active, you can log into your WorldRams account by clicking the link below:

STEM OPT I-20 Request eForm

However, if it has been more than 12 months since you graduated from CSU it is likely that your eID has expired and we will need you to sign into your WorldRams account through the Limited Access Portal in the link below:

• Step 1: Get your PIN
  • E-mail me my Limited Access PIN
  • You will receive an email with your PIN – when you click the link below to access the form it will ask you for your University Identification Number. This is your CSU Student ID number that begins with an 8.
• Step 2: Log into the WorldRams Limited Access Portal
  • STEM OPT I-20 Request eForm

If you save or remember this PIN, you will only need to do this process once to access your WorldRams Portal and can use the same PIN to login to your account in the future, such as when you need to submit your OPT Reporting eForm.

Instructions for Completing the STEM OPT I-20 Request eForm

1. Be sure to read the information on this webpage and our OPT Application FAQs thoroughly before starting the application process.
   • If you still have questions about the application process, please connect with an international advisor via our Advising Options.
2. Complete the ISSS eForm to request the updated I-20 you will submit to USCIS in your online application.
   • You will need to upload your completed Form I-983 (pages 1-4) in order to submit your eform. The I-983 is kept in your file with our office. You will not submit this document to USCIS with your application.
   • You will also need to upload proof of payment of the ISSS fee, which you can pay online. On the Storefront home page, choose “ISSS,” scroll down to the bottom, and click “OPT STEM Extension Student Services Fee.”
3. An advisor will review your request and email you an updated I-20 recommending you for STEM OPT.
   • You are responsible for submitting your application to USCIS.

Please note: It can take up to 7-10 business days for our office to process your request once it is received, please plan accordingly.

I-983 Training Plan

The Form I-983 Training Plan is required to be provided to ISSS in your STEM OPT I-20 Request eForm.

The I-983 does not need to be submitted to USCIS with the I-765, so don’t be surprised that there’s no convenient upload location for it in the online I-765 for STEM OPT.

Page 1 (Sections 1 and 2 of the I-983)

Page 1 must be completed by the student. Below are some common inquiry points:

1. Your SEVIS ID starts with ‘N00’ and is at the top of your I-20s.
2. CSU’s SEVIS school code is DEN214F00179000.
3. You can leave the “Designated School Official (DSO) Name and Contact Information” field blank. The advisor who receives your application will fill in their own information.
4. STEM OPT Requested Period will begin the day after your OPT expires and end 2 years after the expiry. For example, Mary’s OPT ends Dec 31, 2024. Her STEM OPT will begin Jan 1, 2025 and end Dec 31, 2027.
5. Your “Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) Code” is the number listed underneath your I-20 major in the middle of pg 1 on your I-20. It is written in the format XX.XXX. So the I-20 major “Dairy Science” has the CIP Code “01.0905,” so Mary would write “Dairy Science 01.0905” in this section.
6. Most of our students need to check ‘no’ in response to the question “Based on Prior Degree?” See our FAQ for details on why.
7. “Employment Authorization Number” is the left-most number on the front of your EAD (USCIS #: XXX-XXX-XXX)
8. Yes, digital signatures are fine.

Page 2 (Sections 3 and 4) as well as page 4 (Section 6)

This section must be completed by the employer. Digital signatures are fine.

Page 3 (Section 5)

This can be completed the student and employer together, as it is the training plan.

Page 5 (Evaluations)

Leave page 5, the evaluations, blank, when you are requesting your STEM OPT I-20. It is for later. You will fill this section out later as part of your OPT reporting requirements once your STEM OPT application is approved.

Please visit the Study in the States website for a tutorial on how to complete the Form I-983, or read the I-983 official instructions.

STEM OPT I-765 Document Checklist

These items will be requested in the ‘evidence’ section of your STEM OPT I-765.

• Updated I-20 that shows your STEM OPT as “requested” on the second page.
• $470 – this fee can be paid online at the end of your online application.
• Recent, digital passport photo that complies with USCIS requirements. Passport photo requirements can be found here.
• Most recent I-94 (a 1-pg pdf available on the CBP website; you don’t need the ‘travel history’; just the formal I-94 document).
• Copies of any previous EAD cards.
• Copy of your diploma / transcript showing the STEM major.

Filing USCIS Form I-765 for STEM OPT

ISSS recommends you to file FORM I-765 for STEM Extension online

1. If you have questions about the I-765 that aren’t answered here, check the rest of the tabs on this page or read the FAQ.
2. If you already have an online USCIS account, update your mailing address in your USCIS online account profile to match the mailing address you will put on the I-765. This is where the EAD will be mailed. It should be a stable address for you while the application is pending.
3. Gather your STEM OPT application documents
   • Review the STEM OPT I-765 Document Checklist to make sure you have everything you need.
   • You must have an updated I-20 issued by ISSS for your OPT application. Your I-20 must show your STEM OPT as “requested” on the second page of your document.
     • Print a color copy of your new I-20 for your records, and upload your hand-signed copy to your online application.
     • You must physically sign your I-20 in ink.
     • View an example of what page 2 of your document should look like here.
4. Start your Online Application with USCIS.
   1. Log into your USCIS account
   2. Click “File a Form Online”
   3. Select “I-765, Application for Employment Authorization” from the drop down
      menu.
   4. Basis of Eligibility: Select the type of OPT you are applying for: (c)(3)(C) STEM OPT Extension
   5. Reason for Applying
      • Select “Initial Permission”. This is considered your first time applying for STEM OPT at this degree level, even if you applied for STEM OPT at another time at another degree level.
   6. Preparer and interpreter information
      • Select “No,” unless you are working directly with a legal attorney or language interpreter to file your I-765.
   7. ABOUT YOU – Your Name
      • Enter your legal name as it appears on your biographical passport page and Form I-20.
      • If your name on your passport does not match your current I-20, please contact ISSS for correction.
   8. When completing the Mailing Address section of the online application:
      • The address you enter as your Mailing Address is where USCIS will mail your EAD card.
      • USCIS will not allow EAD cards to be forwarded!
      • If you do not know where you will be living in the next three months, please use a friend or family member’s address or the ISSS mailing address:
        • Colorado State University, 1024 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, CO, 80523
      • Someone must sign for delivery of the EAD card. If someone other than yourself such as your roommate, family member, friend, apartment office manager, might be signing on your behalf, you must submit a Form 3801 to the US Post Office local to the mailing address you used for delivery, but there may be issues even then.

If you would like an advisor to answer questions regarding the online I-765, or if you would like to learn about submitting a paper application by mail (not recommended), please schedule an appointment with an International Advisor via Navigate or join walk-in hours of Open Advising (remote options available, too).