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International Student and Scholar Services

Employment While on STEM Extension

180-Day Automatic EAD Extension

If you applied for your STEM Extension in a timely fashion, your OPT EAD card is considered automatically extended for 180 days. You can continue to work for up to 180 days after your current EAD card expiration, while your STEM Extension application is pending with USCIS.

  • Any employment during this 180-day period must meet the STEM job requirements outlined below.
  • If your STEM application is still pending with USCIS after 180 days, you must stop working while you wait for your case to be adjudicated.

Job Requirements

Any job you take while on STEM must be:

  • a paid position (volunteer and unpaid work is not permitted)
  • at least 20 hours/week
  • with an E-Verify employer
  • directly related to your STEM degree
  • based upon a completed and signed Form I-983 on file with ISSS
  • based upon an employer-employee relationship
    • Self-employment not permitted: a student cannot be both the employer and the employee completing Form I-983.
    • The employer who signs the Form I-983 must be the same entity providing the training.
    • The person supervising and providing the training cannot be an employee/contractor of the employer's client/customer.

Changing Jobs

If you change jobs while on STEM, you must report the change to ISSS within 10 days (see the Reporting Requirements section for further details).

Unemployment

While on STEM Extension, you cannot exceed 150 days of unemployment for the entire 36 months (12 months of OPT + 24 months of STEM). Staying past the 150-day limit may be considered a violation of status by DHS and may result in the termination of your SEVIS record.

Remote Work Abroad

Working remotely from abroad poses some unique challenges and risks.

Current SEVP guidance states that students can work remotely while on STEM Extension as long as they continue to comply with the regulatory requirements, but it is unclear whether this applies to remote work from outside the U.S. 

Any time spent outside of the U.S. may count as unemployment. Please see the USCIS – Absences From the United States page for further details.

Despite these risks, if you decide to work remotely from abroad, ISSS advises you consult closely with your supervisor, Human Resources office, and your employer's attorney prior to engaging in remote work abroad while on STEM Extension. Items to discuss might include whether:

  • You will continue to be on US-based payroll
  • There are tax-related implications
  • There is a plan in place if a USCIS site visit were to occur
  • You will remain compliant should the employer plan to sponsor a future work-based visa

During your time abroad you must:

Before re-entering the U.S., please review the Travel Abroad on STEM Extension section of our website fo​​​​​​​r the more information and a list of documents to carry.