STEM Extension

Visit the STEM OPT Hub on the Study in the States website for a variety of information regarding 24-Month STEM Extension, including FAQs and resources for employers.

Learn about more common employment-related questions on our STEM FAQ.

Apply for STEM Extension?

You will need to complete some steps to apply for STEM Extension.

Am I Eligible for a 24-Month STEM Extension?

You may be eligible if ALL of the following statements are true:

I am currently working on approved post-completion OPT based upon a bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited, SEVP-certified U.S. institution in a STEM field.
- You can determine if your degree qualifies as a STEM field by checking if your major CIP code (6-digit number found on page 1 of your I-20 under "MAJOR 1") appears on the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List.
- Students who have completed all coursework except thesis/dissertation may also be eligible for a STEM Extension.
- Students whose current post-completion OPT is based upon a non-STEM degree but who have previously earned a STEM degree may also be eligible for a STEM extension (See "24-Month STEM Extension Based on Prior Degree" section below).
I have a paid job for at least 20 hours per week with an E-Verify employer (E-Verify Employers Search Tool).
- Your employer should be able to confirm their enrollment in E-Verify and provide the company's E-Verify number.
I am not self-employed. A student applying for 24-Month STEM Extension cannot act as both employer and employee.
I have completed a Form I-983 Training Plan with my employer.
I have maintained my F-1 status and reported any changes in my address or employer to ISSS.
I have not exceeded the limit of two STEM extensions per lifetime.
If this is my second STEM Extension, it is based upon a degree at a higher level.
I will apply for the STEM Extension before the expiration date of my current OPT, but no more than 90 days prior.

24-Month STEM Extension Based on Prior Degree

The STEM regulations allow F-1 students to file for a 24-Month STEM Extension based upon a prior degree. This allows students who have earned a STEM degree to pursue a higher level of study in a complementary non-STEM field. For example, a student who has earned a Bachelor's in Information Technology that goes on to earn a Master's in Public Health could be eligible for the 24-month STEM Extension. However, the job which is the basis for the STEM Extension must directly relate to the prior STEM degree.

You may be eligible for the 24-Month STEM Extension based on a prior degree if the prior STEM degree:

has not been the basis of a previous STEM Extension
was conferred less than 10 years ago
was conferred by an accredited and SEVP-certified U.S. institution at the time you are applying for a STEM Extension
is on the STEM Designated Degree Program List at the time you are applying for a STEM Extension

While Your Application is Pending

Read about tracking your application status and managing updates or issues while it's pending.

Learn more about pending applications

Employment While on STEM Extension

The STEM Extension employment requirements are different than those for post-Completion OPT.

Reporting Requirements

STEM reporting begins the day after your post-completion OPT ends, even if your STEM application is still pending, and must be submitted to ISSS.

Learn more about reporting requirements

Cap Gap Extension

The Cap Gap Extension allows eligible F-1 students with timely filed H-1B petitions to extend their OPT/STEM employment and status until H-1B begins.

Toward the End of STEM

After the end date of your STEM, you are no longer authorized to work, but you have a 60-day grace period. Learn what to do at the end of your STEM.

Find out what to do toward the end of STEM

Travel Abroad on STEM Extension

Students currently on STEM Extension (or who have a STEM Extension application pending) may travel abroad and seek reentry in F-1 status.

Students on STEM FAQ

What is STEM and when do I need to apply for it?

STEM is the abbreviation for science, technology, engineering and mathematics. STEM OPT is a 24-month employment extension for students in the STEM Field that directly follows employment on Post-Completion OPT. You can determine whether your degree qualifies as a STEM field by checking whether your major CIP code (found on page 1 of your I-20) appears on the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List.

If you have a STEM designated degree program, you can apply for a STEM extension up to 90 days before but no later than the expiration date on your OPT EAD card.

Can I travel internationally while my STEM application is pending?

In the new STEM Final Rule, the Department of Homeland Security states that students currently on STEM Extension (or who have a STEM Extension application pending) may travel abroad and seek reentry in F-1 status.

More information about travel on STEM can found on the ISSS Travel Abroad on STEM Extension webpage.

How do I access the ISSS Portal and update my contact information while on STEM?

Personal Contact Information Updates

You should report any updates to your personal address or U.S. phone number in your SEVP Portal within ten days of the change. Alert ISSS of these updates by submitting an SEVP Portal Update Request in your ISSS Portal.

If, after ten business days, you do not see the change reflected in your ISSS Portal, please submit a Post-Completion Student Help Ticket.

Changing your Email Address

You should report a change to your email address by following these steps:

STEP 1: Submit a Post-Completion Student Help Ticket with your new email address.

STEP 2: ISSS will update your email address in the ISSS Portal and you will receive an automatic email with temporary login credentials.

STEP 3: Click on the link in the email to log in to the ISSS Portal. Your new username for the ISSS Portal will be your updated email address and you will create your own password.

STEP 4: ISSS will update your email address in SEVIS and you will receive an automatic email from SEVP with temporary login credentials.

STEP 5: Log in to the SEVP Portal with your new email address and temporary password.

I got a new job, how do I report this while on STEM?

If you change employers/add a new employer during STEM Extension, you should report this by following these steps:

STEP 1: Submit a Form I-983 Review Request in the ISSS Portal for your new employer. This document should NOT BE SIGNED until your request is approved. To reduce the time needed to process your request, ISSS highly recommends you refer to the I-983 Sample for guidance on how to correctly complete all fields.

STEP 2: Once your Form I-983 Review Request is approved by ISSS, both you and your employer must sign and date the document. Please refer to the I-983 Sample (very bottom of page) for examples of acceptable signatures.

STEP 3: Submit an OPT/STEM Employer Update Request in the ISSS Portal. This action constitutes you officially reporting the change in employers to ISSS. You will upload your new signed I-983 to this request. If you are reporting that you are changing employers, you will also need to upload the Final Evaluation (bottom of page 5 of the Form I-983) for your previous employer to this request.

STEP 4: Once ISSS has processed your request, you will recieve a new I-20 document showing your updated employment information.

More information about STEM reporting can be found on the ISSS STEM Reporting Requirements webpage.

I am on STEM and got an email to complete my 6-month periodic reporting, how do I do this?

You must report to ISSS every 6 months while on your STEM Extension, even if there is no change in information to report. To submit your 6-Month Validation Report, please complete a Report STEM Participation Request in the ISSS Portal. When you open the request, select "6-Month Validation" from the drop down menu. ISSS recommends that you submit your 6-Month Validation Report no earlier than 30 days prior to your 6-month mark (6 months from your EAD card start date) and no later than 10 days following.

NOTE: Emailing your ISSS Advisor stating that there are no changes in your information does not fulfill your reporting requirement. A periodic report needs to be officially submitted to ISSS through your ISSS portal.

What documents should I take with me when travelling abroad on STEM?

When traveling outside of the U.S. following STEM approval, ISSS recommends you carry the following documentation:

Passport valid for at least 6 months beyond your date of reentry
Valid F-1 Visa that permits multiple entries
I-94 Printout marked D/S
I-20 with a valid DSO travel signature on page 2 (the signature is only valid for 6 months from the date it was signed)
Valid EAD card
Proof of employment that you will begin or resume upon return from your trip such as a job offer letter, work contract, or proof of payment from employer

I keep getting emails from USCIS that my STEM reporting deadline has passed. What should I do?

You have up to 10 DAYS after the due date in the email from SEVP to submit your Report STEM Participatoin Request to ISSS. ISSS has an additional 21 DAYS after you submit the request to report your validation in SEVIS. You will continue to receive emails from SEVP about your validation report due date until ISSS is able to report your validation in SEVIS. As long as you have submitted the request within 10 BUSINESS DAYS following your due date, you can disregard the validation report emails from SEVP.
PLEASE ENSURE ACCURACY IN YOUR REQUEST: If your request is rejected/dismissed or put in "clarification requested" status due to incomplete/missing information, then you have not met your reporting deadline until you resubmit the request with accurate and complete information.
Your request will be REJECTED if ISSS discovers material changes that you did not already report. If there have been material changes to your current I-983, DO NOT SUBMIT THE REQUEST until you have updated ISSS with these changes. Please follow the instructions on our STEM Reporting Requirements page to report them.