uscis stem opt travel

Students seeking services can see our current  student services page , which includes virtual and in-person options. For J scholar and Employment-based services, please see our Contact Us page .

Travel and Re-entry to the U.S. While on OPT

Can i travel while on opt.

Entering the U.S. infographic

Useful Employment and Career Links

• Social Security Numbers
• Berkeley Career Engagement's Int'l Student Website
• Networking & Mingling
• U.S. Tax Reporting Requirements
• UC Berkeley Departments: Hiring Employees on F-1 OPT/STEM OPT
• U.S. Employer Guide for Hiring Int'l Students
• Student Discovery Hub
• Safe Practices for Researching Employers

Please note :  The information provided in this post was accurate and up-to-date at the time of posting. Due to the dynamic nature of immigration policy, it is possible that the information or links provided may have changed over time. Users are advised to verify the accuracy and relevance of the content.

Traveling while on OPT or OPT STEM Extension

In general, an F-1 student on post-completion OPT or STEM OPT may travel outside the United States temporarily and be readmitted to resume F-1 status and employment for the remainder of the period authorized on his or her EAD card. The student must not have exceeded the maximum OPT unemployment or OPT STEM Extension unemployment time and must not have been absent from the US for more than 5 months.

Please also review all general travel and re-entry information on the main Travel and Re-Entry page. 

WARNING: Re-entering the United States in a status other than F-1 (such as a tourist) will invalidate F-1 status and OPT authorization.

*Travel While OPT or OPT STEM Extension is Pending 

Travel during the OPT application process is allowed, but not recommended as it poses certain risks. Keep in mind the following:

• You will need to have someone monitor your mail and let you know if you receive any communications from USCIS.
• If you receive a Request for Evidence, you will need to respond by a specific deadline, which could be difficult from outside the U.S.
• For post-completion OPT:  If you are denied for OPT while outside the United States after your Program Completion Date, you will not be able to re-enter or reapply. Your F-1 status will end.
• For OPT STEM Extension: If you are denied for OPT STEM Extension while outside the United States after your OPT EAD end date, you will not be able to re-enter or reapply. Your F-1 status will end.
• If you are approved for OPT/STEM while outside the United States, you will need to arrange for your EAD card to be sent to you in order to re-enter the United States.
• If your F-1 visa is expired, you will need to reapply for an F-1 visa with your EAD card and proof of employment.
•  If you choose to travel while your application is pending, be sure that you are monitoring your mail. Sign up for an account with  USCIS Case Status online . C ommunicate with BIO about your travel plans. 

OPT/STEM I-20 Updates & Travel Endorsements

During OPT/STEM, the I-20 should be up-to-date with your current information, and the travel endorsement is only valid for 6 months .

• Employer Updates: If your OPT or STEM OPT is Approved, your I-20 should reflect the approval and your current employer on page 2. Follow instructions on the OPT Reporting page to log into the SSU Hub to upload your approved EAD card and to add any new employment. You'll receive a new I-20 via email in 5 business days with the new  employer.
• Travel Endorsement: To receive an updated travel signature, follow the instructions on our Travel Endorsement page .
• Replacement I-20: If you need a new OPT or STEM I-20, you can submit a  Replacement Document request (#13)  to receive a new I-20 with a new travel endorsement via email. (Note: BIO has a 5 business day processing time!

Getting an F-1 Visa Stamp During OPT/STEM

If a student's F-1 visa has expired and the student wishes to travel outside the United States, a new F-1 visa must be obtained before re-entering the United States. Students who need to apply for a new visa should consult BIO prior to travel to discuss the visa application process and possible risks. General Visa information can be found on the  Applying for a Visa  webpage. If your F-1 visa has expired, and OPT or OPT STEM Extension application is pending, you will NOT be able to apply for a new F-1 visa until the application is approved and you have the EAD. 

If You Are on OPT & Have a Pending or Approved H-1B or OPT Cap-Gap I-20

Please first check with your employer and the legal counsel processing your H-1B about your travel plans. Berkeley International Office can only advise you on travel as an F-1, but we cannot advise on how your travel might impact a pending or future H-1B request. Students travelling using an OPT Cap-Gap I-20 should see the H-1B Cap Gap page for more information.

Traveling During F1-OPT/STEM OPT

Travel during post-completion opt & stem opt extension.

Remember, a student’s U.S. immigration status is  their responsibility  and they must validate that all their  Post-Completion OPT  or  STEM OPT Extension reporting requirements are up-to-date with the ISO  PRIOR  to submitting a request for a new Form I-20.

NOTE:  If a student is missing any of the below mentioned documents ,  they risk being denied entry into the U.S. and/or losing their F-1 status and OPT/STEM OPT benefits . The ISO can never guarantee re-entry into the U.S. or predict what may happen at the U.S. border point-of-entry, as entry to the U.S. is always  determined by CBP upon a request for admission into the United States.  Students can find additional information regarding travel during a student’s F-1 OPT/STEM OPT period below and I.C.E.’s  website .

Travel During Post-Completion OPT

Travel during an  APPROVED  period of Post-Completion OPT is not restricted  if  the student has all the materials/documents required for entry into the U.S. 

IMPORTANT : New Form I-20(s) will be issued and provided to students electronically to the students’  main email address we have on file for them. Students  MUST  print their Form I-20(s), and sign and date the document(s) by hand.  [NOTE: Immigration has  stated  that students are  NOT  allowed to sign their Form I-20(s) electronically; student signatures must be by hand –  ONLY ].

Travel/Re-Entry to U.S.  AFTER  Program Completion End Date –  OPT  Approved :  If a student plans on re-entering the U.S.  AFTER  the program completion end date listed on their OPT Form I-20, then ICE (U.S. Immigration Customs and Enforcement)  states  under the question,  ‘Can I reenter if I left while on OPT?’:  “If USCIS has approved your OPT you will be expected to have your EAD in hand to re-enter the United States, in addition to your Form I-20, valid passport and visa, and a letter of employment if you have one. If you exceed the limits on unemployment while outside the United States, you will not be eligible to re-enter the United States in F-1 status.”

Therefore, a student will need the required documents listed below to re-enter the U.S. during their approved period of OPT:

• Valid passport (valid for 6 months into the future).
• Students should  NEVER   use a tourist visa (B-1/B-2) or Visa Waiver Program (VWP / ESTA) to enter the U.S. while on OPT, as that will cancel their OPT authorization.
• If the student’s EAD card has been approved, then their employer(s) should be  reported  to iMIT and listed on page 2 of their most recently issued Form I-20.
• Most recently issued Form I-20 signed for travel (page 2)   within the past 6 months.
• Approved OPT EAD card.
• Letter should include the dates of employment/training, job duties, location of training activity, supervisor contact information, and any salary/stipend received.
• Proof of  vaccination  against COVID-19.

Travel During STEM OPT Extension

Travel during the STEM OPT Extension period is not restricted  if  the student has all the materials/documents required for entry into the U.S. 

IMPORTANT : New Form I-20(s) will be issued and provided to students electronically to the students’  main email address we have on file for them. Students  MUST  print their Form I-20(s), and sign and date the document(s) by hand.   [NOTE: Immigration has  stated  that students are  NOT  allowed to sign their Form I-20(s) electronically; student signatures must be by hand –  ONLY ].

Therefore, a student will need the required documents listed below to re-enter the U.S. during their approved period of STEM OPT Extension:

• Most recently issued Form I-20  must have  the student’s current employer(s) listed on page 2. 
• Most recently issued Form I-20 must be signed for travel (page 2)   within the past 6 months .
• Approved OPT EAD card(s).

For the STEM OPT Extension, if a student’s current Post-Completion OPT EAD card is expired and they do not yet have their STEM OPT Extension EAD card, the ISO  strongly   recommends against travel outside of the U.S. at this time. However, if a student will travel outside the U.S.  without  an approved STEM OPT EAD card, then the student must have proof that their STEM OPT application was filed in a timely manner  and  carry the USCIS receipt notice (Form I-797) during their travels.  

DHS has clarified in the preamble to the 24-month rule [ 81 FR 13103 par.774 ] that,  “Students on STEM OPT extensions (including those whose application for a STEM OPT extension is pending) may travel abroad and seek reentry to the United States in F-1 status during the STEM OPT extension period if they have a valid F-1 visa that permits multiple entries and a current Form I-20 Certificate of Eligibility endorsed for reentry by the DSO within the last six months. The student’s status is determined by CBP upon admission to the United States or through a USCIS adjudication of a change-of-status petition.”

Students who would need to apply for a new F-1 entry visa sticker at a U.S. Embassy/Consulate while abroad in order to return to the U.S.  should not travel  until they receive their STEM OPT EAD card.

How Do I Know If I Need An Updated Travel Signature During Post-Completion OPT / STEM OPT?

During an approved period of Post-Completion OPT / STEM OPT a travel signature on a Form I-20 is  ONLY  valid for 6 months  from the travel signature date listed on page 2. 

By answering the three (3) questions listed below, one can determine whether or not they need an updated Form I-20 and travel signature:

• Am I re-entering the U.S. within the next month?
• Does my most recently issued Form I-20 have a travel signature (on page 2) that is  LESS  than 6 months old? 
• Does my most recently issued Form I-20 have list my current OPT/STEM employer information on page 2?

How Do I Request An Updated Travel Signature During Post-Completion OPT / STEM OPT?

Alumni/ae who need an updated travel signature during Post-Completion OPT or STEM OPT Extension can request a new Form I-20 via iMIT.  BEFORE  submitting a request in iMIT, students  MUST  confirm that their OPT or STEM OPT Extension Reporting Requirements and contact information are up to date in iMIT  PRIOR  to submitting a request for new Form I-20/travel signature. 

IMPORTANT : New Form I-20(s) will be issued and provided to students electronically to the students’ main email address we have on file for them  (double-check that this information is listed correctly in iMIT!) . Remember, students  MUST  print their Form I-20(s), and sign and date the document(s) by hand.  [NOTE: Immigration has  stated  that students are  NOT  allowed to sign their Form I-20(s) electronically; student signatures must be by hand –  ONLY ].

If a student has used the above diagram and they have determined that a travel signature is required, then a student must  login  to iMIT (through limited client services) and click on “F-1 Student Services” > “Request Replacement of Form I-20” > and complete that e-Form to obtain an updated Form I-20/travel signature. 

ATTENTION :  The e-Form will ask for the ‘ Reason for Current I-20 Replacement’ , and the student will select the appropriate drop-down option. Next, where the e-Form requests ‘ Upload Proof of Finances ’, students MUST upload updated funding documentation (e.g., a recent employer letter with updated salary information or official position offer letter with salary, confirming employment status). Financial support documentation is required in order to issue the new Form I-20. All funding documentation should be issued within the past 6 months and showing at least US$48,000 ($4,000 per month x 12 months) , which is based on current student estimate of monthly living expenses and health insurance, to demonstrate meeting estimated cost of living expenses on OPT/STEM OPT. If your OPT or STEM OPT position does not provide payment/salary equal to at least $48,000, students can also upload additional funding documentation (such as a personal bank statement, or letter of support and financial statement from a sponsor) that in combination with OPT/STEM OPT position salary or stipend will equal at least US$48,000. Students must carry their financial support documentation, including proof of employment, when them when traveling abroad and re-entering the U.S. to present to U.S. immigration officials if requested.

Make sure  Post-Completion OPT  or  STEM OPT Extension  Reporting Requirements  are up-to-date with the ISO  prior  to submitting a request for a new Form I-20.

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Official website of the Department of Homeland Security

• SEVIS Help Hub

F-1 STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT) Extension

• Student Records
• F/M Student Employment

Quick Links:

Overview of 24-month opt extension based on stem degree, recommend stem opt extension, upload form i-983, record-keeping requirements during stem opt, reporting requirements during stem opt, stem opt extension and unemployment, related sevis alerts and lists, h-1b cap gap extension of stem opt, correcting opt data: correction requests and data fixes.

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In this document:

• Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) optional practical training (OPT) refers to the 24-month extension of post-completion 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.
• 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:

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

Regulations and Policy Guidance

Any STEM OPT requests entered into SEVIS must comply with applicable federal regulations and guidance. DSOs must understand the following regulations and policy guidance:

• 8 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 214.2(f)(10 through (13)
• 8 CFR 274a.12(c)(3)
• SEVP Policy Guidance on OPT
• SEVP Policy Guidance: Practical Training – Determining a Direct Relationship between Employment and a Student’s Major Area of Study

• F-1 Optional Practical Training (Help Hub/Study in the States)
• STEM OPT Hub (Study in the States)

OPT Request Statuses

The table below lists the statuses used to identify the stages of OPT requests in SEVIS:

Process Overview

SEVIS will compute the start and end dates of the STEM OPT extension. The requested STEM OPT Start Date is the day following the current post-completion OPT End Date. The requested end date for this segment of OPT is 24 months after the requested start date. DSOs cannot change these dates.

During the full period of the extension, the school that recommended the STEM OPT must continue to:

• Maintain records on the student.
• Update required SEVIS student reporting as notified by student.

The student can continue to work for 180 days after the original USCIS Employment Authorization Document (EAD) expires if:

• Student filed a Form I-765 for the STEM OPT extension.
• USCIS received the Form I-765 for the extension before the EAD for the original post-completion OPT expired.

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)

Remind your F-1 students: 

• Not to file the Form I-765, “Application for Employment Authorization,” until you have recommended STEM OPT extension in their SEVIS records, and they have the updated Form I-20 with the STEM OPT extension recommendation.  
• USCIS must receive the STEM application within the 60-day period after your DSO STEM OPT extension recommendation and no later than the current post-completion OPT end date. 

If a student submits the Form I-765 on paper or electronically before you recommend the STEM OPT extension or after the 60-day post-DSO recommendation period: 

• USCIS will deny the application. (Federal regulations require the DSO OPT recommendation on the student SEVIS record before the Form I-765 is submitted.)  
• The student will lose the application fee. 
• The student will have to reapply for STEM OPT extension and pay the fee again. 

Any F-1 STEM Optional Practical Training request in Requested status longer than 180 days is automatically canceled by SEVIS.

Students must submit a completed  Form I-983 Training Plan for STEM OPT Students  to the DSO  before  the DSO can recommend the STEM OPT extension in SEVIS. Students must submit a new Form I-983 for every new employment/training experience they accept during their STEM OPT extension.

For more information and a tutorial on completing the Form I-983, see the  STEM OPT Hub  on the Study in the States site.

To recommend the STEM OPT extension after receiving the completed Form I-983 Training Plan for STEM OPT Students, DSOs should:

• Go to the  Student Information  page.

• Click  OPT Request  from the  Student Information  page. The  OPT Employment  page opens. 

• Click  Extend . The  Extend OPT Employer  page opens

• Enter the employer information.

Note:  A  *  (red asterisk) indicates required fields. 

• Click one of the following:
• Cancel : Returns to the OPT Employment page without adding the OPT extension request to the student’s record.
• Extend OPT Employer : Processes the recommended OPT extension in SEVIS. An Update Successful message displays.

• Click  Print I-20  and sign page one of the Form I-20. Give the Form I-20 to the student. 
• The student must also sign page one of the Form I-20 and submit a copy of the Form I-20 to USCIS, along with the Application for Employment Authorization (Form I-765).

Find more information on allowable electronic signatures and Form I-20 transmission in SEVP’s policy guidance Use of Electronic Signatures and Transmission for the Form I-20 .

• Click  Return to Employment  List. The  OPT Employment  page lists the requested extension and a link to upload the Form I-983. (See Upload Form I-983 section for more details.)

USCIS highly recommends sending transcripts with the STEM OPT application if the extension is based on a prior degree.

DSOs can find additional employment authorization filing information and requirements at the USCIS  Form I-765  site.

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:

• 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.

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

• Click  Upload Evidence . The  Upload Evidence  modal opens. 

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

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
• 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  Uploads  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.

During the STEM OPT, DSOs must maintain the following in the student’s file:

• All Forms I-983 training plans submitted by the student.
• All self-evaluations submitted by the student.
• 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 214.2(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 all 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 : Must submit a self-evaluation within 10 days of the 12- and 24-month marks of the start date of STEM OPT employment authorization.  
• Must submit self-evaluation within 10 days of ending each employment with current employer.
• Must submit self-evaluation within 10 days of 12- and 24-month marks of the start date of STEM OPT employment authorization.

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:

• 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.

Review the information displayed on the screen:

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 Update Personal Information  page  via the Edit button in the Personal/Contact section.         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.

• 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.
• Click either  Report OPT Participation  or  Cancel : 

• Click  Return to View Record  to view the  Student Information  page.   

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.

Return to the  OPT Employment  page.

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

Students authorized for STEM OPT must be employed by an E-Verify-certified employer. A student on STEM OPT can be unemployed for a total of 150 days. This includes any of the remaining 90 days of unemployment allotted from the standard post-completion OPT.

• Student whose record lacks employer information is considered unemployed.
• DSOs must  enter new employer information  into SEVIS based on the student’s completed Form I-983.
• Students on STEM OPT can edit most employer information via the SEVP Portal, but not the employment start date.
• SEVP officials can manually terminate a student who accrues more total days of unemployment than regulations allow.
• See the  Unemployment Counter  article on the SEVIS Help Hub for more information.

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

SEVIS will automatically extend STEM OPT if:

• On or after April 1, as directed by USCIS timely filing rules, an employer files an eligible H-1B petition to change the student’s status.
• Requested start date for the H-1B is October 1.
• Student’s OPT or STEM OPT extension ends on or after April 1, and the H-1B petition was filed with USCIS before the EAD expired.

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.

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Travel on OPT and STEM Extension

• For Students

If you want to travel outside the country while on post-graduate OPT or OPT with STEM extension, you will need to follow certain rules and carry various documents in order to reenter the United States. 

Be aware that post-graduate OPT is an extension of your F-1 status. If you return to the United States in another status—as a tourist, for example—it will invalidate your F-1 status and OPT authorization. 

Travel Documents for F-1 OPT

If you will be traveling during your 12-month opt....

You will need the following documents to reenter the United States:

• Valid passport 
• Valid F-1 visa stamp (Canadians excepted) 
• I-20 showing F-1 status, with travel signature within the last six months
• Employment authorization document (EAD) card or, if your OPT application is still pending, the receipt notice from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
• A job-offer letter or letter confirming current OPT employment

Can I travel abroad if I’ve applied for OPT but haven’t graduated?

Before you graduate, you should be able to get back into the United States without an OPT card, as long as your graduation is still at least one month away. Your reentry will be based on your return as a current student. Your OPT application will have no impact on your travel.

If your graduation is coming in less than one month, and you want to reenter the United States in F-1 status, you have probably already applied for OPT. Instead of an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) card, you will need to show the USCIS I-797 receipt notice of your OPT application , along with all of the other documents needed to enter the United States while on OPT. If you have questions about traveling close to graduation, talk with one of our advisors before you leave.

I’ve graduated, but I don’t have my OPT approval. Can I travel abroad?

If you have applied for OPT, we suggest you do not travel internationally before it is approved, and you have your employment authorization document (EAD) card. If your OPT application is denied while you are abroad, you cannot reenter the United States in F-1 status to reapply for OPT.

I’m waiting for my OPT approval. Can I leave the country and return on a tourist visa?

No! If you intend to continue working on OPT, never enter the United States in any other immigration status except F-1. If you leave the country and reenter with B status (tourist visa), you will lose your F-1 status, and your OPT will be invalid!

The visa stamp in my passport has expired. How can I travel?

If you are going to Canada or Mexico and staying for less than 30 days, you can reenter the United States on your expired F-1 visa stamp. You will need all of the other documents required for travel on OPT, and you must fulfill these requirements:

• You do not apply for a United States visa while in Canada or Mexico.
• You are not from one of the countries currently considered by the U.S. federal government to be state sponsors of terrorism. The current list includes Iran, North Korea, Syria, and Sudan.

If you are traveling elsewhere than Canada or Mexico, you will need to go to a U.S. embassy or consulate while you are abroad and apply for a new visa stamp. Find out how to apply for F/J Reentry . 

Before leaving on your trip, contact us to talk with an advisor . The consulates often change the visa application requirements for students on OPT.

How is my application for a new visa stamp affected by OPT?

When you have graduated, and you are on OPT, you have a somewhat higher risk of being denied renewal of your visa stamp. This is because your F-1 student visa requires that you intend to return to your home country at the end of your study program. 

Now that you are on OPT, it may be harder for you to convince the embassy official of your intent to return home. If the official is not convinced, your visa application will be denied. However, many students on OPT do get their F-1 visa stamps renewed. If you’re concerned, please talk with one of our advisors.

Do I still need to get a travel signature while on OPT?

Yes! While you are on OPT, if you travel outside the United States, you need to have the travel line on your I-20 signed every six months. Please submit a travel signature reprint request .

Travel Documents for OPT STEM Extension 

If you will be traveling while on opt stem extension....

• Employment authorization document (EAD) card for OPT with STEM extension
• A job-offer letter or letter confirming current OPT STEM employment

Note: Be aware that while OPT STEM is pending approval by USCIS, you may be questioned by a Customs and Border Protection officer when seeking entry to the US. It is best practice to avoid travel until your OPT STEM is approved by USCIS and you have your OPT STEM EAD.

I’m waiting for my OPT STEM approval. Can I leave the country and return on a tourist visa?

No! If you intend to continue working on OPT or OPT STEM, never enter the United States in any other immigration status except F-1. If you leave the country and reenter with B status (tourist visa), you will lose your F-1 status, and your OPT/OPT STEM will be invalid!

The visa stamp in my passport has expired. How can I travel on OPT STEM?

If you are going to Canada or Mexico and staying for less than 30 days, you can reenter the United States on your expired F-1 visa stamp. You will need all of the other documents required for travel on OPT STEM, and you must fulfill these requirements:

Before leaving on your trip, contact us to talk with an advisor . The consulates often change the visa application requirements for students on OPT STEM. 

Can I travel internationally if my application for OPT STEM is pending?

While you may travel out of the United States and reenter while your OPT STEM extension application is pending, be advised that your eligibility for re-entry may be questioned by a Customs and Border Protection officer . We recommend waiting until your OPT STEM extension is approved by USCIS and you have your OPT STEM employment authorization document (EAD) . If you choose to risk travel during this time, have a copy of the I-797 receipt for your OPT STEM application along with the other documents required for travel while on OPT.

How is my application for a new visa stamp affected by OPT STEM?

When you have graduated, and you are on OPT or OPT STEM extension, you have a somewhat higher risk of being denied renewal of your visa stamp. This is because your F-1 student visa requires that you intend to return to your home country at the end of your study program. 

Now that you are on OPT or OPT STEM, it may be harder for you to convince the embassy official of your intent to return home. If the official is not convinced, your visa application will be denied. However, many students on OPT do get their F-1 visa stamps renewed. If you’re concerned, please talk with one of our advisors.

Do I still need to get a travel signature while on OPT STEM?

Yes! While you are on OPT or OPT with STEM extension, if you travel outside the United States, you need to have the travel line on your I-20 signed every six months. Please submit a travel signature reprint request

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Campus Resources

• International Student Services >
• Immigration & Visa >
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OPT STEM Extension

Globull perspectives: advice for international students seeking employment in the us.

Learn from UB international alumni about their experiences seeking employment post-graduation. Guests will share stories, offer insight into their experiences, as well as offer advice for international students.

F-1 students with STEM degrees in fields listed on the ICE STEM Designated Degree Program List may be eligible for the OPT STEM Extension.

USCIS's premium processing fee will increase to $1685 starting February 26, 2024 for I-765 applications.

• Read About the Premium Processing Fee Change

USCIS's OPT (I-765) application fee will increase to $470 for online filings starting April 1, 2024. Paper OPT filings will increase to $520.

• Read About the USCIS OPT Fee Change

Eligibility & When to Apply

F-1 students with STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) degrees in fields listed on the  ICE STEM Designated Degree Program Lis t may be eligible for the OPT STEM Extension. It allows you to continue working off-campus in a job related to your major directly after the completion of Post-Completion OPT.

Who is eligible for the STEM Extension?

• You must be currently authorized for Post-Completion OPT (or you are on the "Cap Gap Extension").
• You cannot apply for STEM OPT on the basis of a certificate program or a minor.
• You may use a degree received from a U.S. school other than the University at Buffalo, provided that you meet all of the requirements listed in this section.
• The employer must be registered in the E-Verify  system. E-Verify is an Internet-based system operated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in partnership with the Social Security Administration (SSA).  It allows participating employers to electronically verify the employment eligibility of their newly hired employees. 
• Your employment must be directly related to your major field of study. It is your responsibility to prove and document how your employment is directly related to your field of study. 
• You must work at least 20 hours per week.
• You must be paid. Volunteer employment is not permitted.
• You cannot be self-employed.
• The employer must agree to sign and adhere to the training program outlined in Form I-983 .
• Each student is permitted a lifetime maximum of two OPT STEM extensions.  To qualify for a second OPT STEM Extension, your second STEM eligible degree must be at a higher level than your first STEM eligible degree and you must have a valid Post-Completion OPT EAD card. 
• Considering STEM OPT employment with a staffing agency? Find details on Study in the States .   

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 the STEM OPT extension on the second STEM degree
• Second STEM degree meets all of the above requirements.     

When should I apply for my STEM Extension?

The earliest you can apply for the OPT STEM Extension is 90 days prior to the expiration of your EAD card.  If it is submitted too early, the USCIS will deny the application. 

Your application must be received by the USCIS before your current OPT EAD card expires.  

The USCIS must receive your STEM OPT application before your current EAD expires AND within 60 days of the issuance of your I-20 with the OPT STEM recommendation.

Do NOT submit your application to the USCIS more than 90 days before your current EAD expires. If you do, your application may be denied. 

Application Step 1: Request Your STEM OPT I-20

Step 1 is applying for an opt stem extension i-20 from iss, prepare your opt application and submit it online to iss following the directions below:.

• Pay the UB STEM OPT fee . The fee is $132. After paying the fee, remember to save the receipt.
• Login to   UB Global . Click on “Optional Practical Training”, select the “OPT STEM Extension” group and then "STEM Extension I-20 Request".

Check our troubleshooting tips before emailing. The answer to your concern may be listed.

3. Complete the e-form and upload all required documents. Only documents saved as PDF or JPEG are acceptable.  You must submit:

• UB OPT Fee receipt.
• Such documentation must specify your field of study. 
• If you are applying on the basis of a degree received from another U.S. educational institution, you will also be required to upload proof that this degree was in a STEM eligible field.  A copy of your previous school’s I-20 and transcript may suffice. 
• If additional documentation is needed, we will contact you.
• Form I-983   (“Training Plan for STEM OPT Students”).   The form must be complete, including all required signatures. Below is additional information that will be helpful when completing the Form I-983.

Form I-983 Tips for UB Students

I-983 instructions.

General information on completing Form I-983 can be found on the  Department of Homeland Security's website . 

• Information specific to students completing Form I-983 is available on the  student page.
• Information specific to employers and Form I-983 is available on the  employer's page.

UB specific information is available on the next tabs.

Section 5: Employer Site Information

Students must list the physical location of their employment on the I-983. The work site location should be where day-to-day duties are conducted and this may be different than the employer's primary address.

If working remotely from home, you should not enter your home address in the work site address fields. Instead, you would enter the address of your employer where you would report to work if not working remotely.

4.    Click "Submit”.  After reviewing your application, ISS will enter your OPT STEM recommendation into the SEVIS system, which will produce a new I-20 with the OPT STEM recommendation. You will receive an email when your OPT STEM I-20 is ready.  Check our e-form processing page for current processing times.

Application Step 2: Apply for Your STEM EAD

After receiving your new i-20 from iss, submit your stem opt application to the uscis service center for an ead..

There are two methods to file your I-765 with USCIS, a paper I-765 you submit by mail or online with a USCIS online account. Since OPT is a personal application, it is your choice which method you use. Both options cost the same, and the overall processing times are also generally the same.

Many students choose to use the online system because the Receipt Notice is created immediately, documents issued by USCIS (like the receipt notice or any requests for evidence) are available directly in the online system, and applying for OPT online via MyUSCIS is a great way to mitigate the risk of rejection because the online form ensures the application is signed electronically and the correct fee is paid.  

You must choose only one method for your application. Do not submit multiple OPT applications to USCIS without first speaking to an ISS advisor to discuss your situation.  

1.) Before your current EAD expires AND

2.) Within 60 days of the issuance of your I-20 with the OPT STEM recommendation.

While Your Application is Pending with USCIS

What if my mailing address changes, change your address.

We strongly encourage you to update your address with USCIS to ensure you receive all correspondence and benefits from us in a timely manner and avoid possible delays related to your case. In addition, all noncitizens must report a change of address to USCIS within 10 days (except A and G visa holders and visa waiver visitors) of moving.

Changing your address with the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) will not change your address with USCIS. You must update your information with both USCIS and USPS. If you need to change your address with the USPS, you may update it through  the USPS website  or visit your nearest post office.​

Before You Change Your Address

Do not use this request to change your address if:

• You are a victim of domestic violence, trafficking, or other crimes;
• You previously filed a Form I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence, abuse waiver;
• You have submitted an affidavit of support for another person and you are a U.S. citizen or national;
• You are a civil surgeon; or
• You are an Attorney of Record/Registered Representative and need to update your address.

If you fall under any of the listed categories,  read more about how you should change your address .

Reporting Address Changes to USCIS

• Log into your USCIS online account.
• Select MyUSCIS.
• On your account screen, click the "request to change your address" link to see the instructions.
• Click the "Change my address" button.
• Follow the instructions step by step.

Before you begin, make sure you have enough time and the required information to complete the form in one session. Once you start your request, you must not close this window or navigate away from the page. If you do not complete your request in one session, your responses will not be saved, you will lose all progress, and you will need to begin a new Change Your Address request.  

You may also use this tool if you do not have any pending cases and have moved to a new address, and need to update USCIS about where you live.

How long is the STEM OPT application process?

Currently, processing time at the USCIS can be as long as 5 months. However, processing times vary widely, depending on the time of year and workload at the Service Center to which you send your application. We encourage you to regularly review the processing times found on the  USCIS website .

If you have a job offer and 120 days has passed since the Receipt Date on your I797 Receipt Notice, you may contact us for assistance. We can inquire with USCIS about the status of your application. However, we cannot guarantee that our inquiry will result in an expedite or change in processing times.

Once you have waited 150 days, or beyond the current maximum published USCIS processing times, we recommend that you take the following actions:

• Email ISS with a copy of your receipt notice and a description of the actions you have already taken (any communication with USCIS, for example). If ISS has not already inquired with USCIS on your behalf, we will do so.
• File an " Outside Normal Processing Time E-Request " with USCIS.
• File a Case Assistance Request with the CIS Ombudsman Office. You can find additional information about the role of the CIS Ombudsman and how to file a request for assistance here .

If you received a Request for Evidence, we do not recommend taking any of the actions above until you have waited 60 days after USCIS received your response.

Planning to contact USCIS? Be sure to review their tip sheet to help make your communication with USCIS as effective as possible.

> USCIS Contact Center Tip Sheet

Is it possible to expedite my OPT application?

Premium processing, which provides expedited processing, is available for OPT applications with USCIS. Please refer to USCIS's premium processing page for details on cost, eligibility, and timing.

If you do not request premium processing USCIS expedite criteria are very strict and it can be difficult to provide sufficient evidence. Having a job offer or the possibility of losing that job do not generally qualify for an expedite unless you can effectively make an argument that your situation does meet the criteria. If considering an expedite, please ensure that you have sufficient documentation and a compelling argument.

Additional information on expedite criteria and how to file can be found on the USCIS page . 

Can I work with a pending OPT STEM Extension application?

 If you submitted your complete application to the USCIS in a timely manner (i.e. before your EAD card expired), then you may continue working for up to 180 days while your application is pending with the USCIS. However, if your application is denied by the USCIS, you must stop working upon the date of denial.

Can I change employers with a pending OPT STEM Extension application?

It is possible to change employment while your application is pending with the USCIS. However, you are required to report any change of employment to ISS and to the USCIS.  ISS must issue you a new I-20 reflecting your new employment information.  Your new employer must meet all USCIS criteria for a STEM Extension employer and you must submit a new Form I-983 and Final Evaluation for your previous employment, to ISS.    

Contact ISS for instructions on how to report your new employment to the USCIS. 

Can I travel outside the U.S. with a pending OPT STEM Extension Application?

If your Post-Completion EAD has expired, we do not recommend traveling outside the U.S. until after your OPT STEM Extension application is approved and you have your new EAD card.

For additional, general OPT travel information visit our Travel  pages.  

Reporting Requirements & Important Reminders

Opt stem reporting requirements.

Review the Maintaining Status During OPT STEM Extension section of our website for information on reporting requirements & deadlines, STEM evaluations, immigration status, and more.

It is imperative that you read, understand, and adhere to OPT STEM requirements. Failure to do so could result in the denial of future immigration benefits.

After your OPT STEM EAD Expires

If you maintained your immigration status during your OPT STEM Extension, you will have a 60-day grace period after your EAD expires.  You are permitted to remain inside the U.S. during those 60 days to prepare for your departure, apply to change your status (if eligible) or begin a new degree program. If you are not admitted to a new degree program or do not submit a change-of-status application before the end of the 60 days, you must leave the U.S.

During your 60-day grace period, you may not work. If you fail to depart the U.S. before the end of your 60-day Grace period (if eligible), you may begin to accrue unlawful presence.

Important Reminders:

• If you transfer to another school or begin study at another educational level at UB, then your OPT authorization will automatically be terminated.  
• If you are accepted to begin another degree program at UB and your OPT has not yet expired, your OPT will terminate on the first day of classes for your new degree program.
• If you later decide not to mail your OPT STEM Extension application to USCIS for any reason, you must notify ISS immediately so that we can cancel your OPT recommendation in SEVIS.
• While on OPT, you are still in F-1 status.

We offer weekly advising specifically for those on OPT.

> OPT advising: sign in to the queue

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Uscis e-filing i-765 stem opt application guide.

Guide to help students navigate the I-765 STEM OPT Application via the USCIS e-Filing system.

If you have questions on the STEM application process, the quickest way to receive help is to use HIO Daily Virtual Drop-in Hours or Special STEM OPT Virtual Drop-in Hours.

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STEM OPT Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

The following exhaustive resource is meant to answer some of the most common questions that students have regarding STEM OPT. If you have a question about STEM OPT, it is most likely covered here in one of these three sections:

I. General STEM OPT Questions

II. The STEM OPT Application Process

III. While on STEM OPT

Also, feel free to type key words into your browser’s Control-F or search function to find your question and answer faster. For example, if your queston is about the I-983, key in Ctrl-F, then type “I-983” in the search box.

stem opt general questions

Unpaid internships, employment, and volunteer work are not eligible employment opportunities for the STEM OPT extension. Similarly, you cannot represent yourself as both employer and employee on the I-983 form, meaning self-employment is also not allowed.

You may obtain up to 2 STEM extensions provided that the second STEM extension is for a higher qualifying degree.

For example: if you receive a 24-month STEM OPT extension based on your bachelor’s degree in Engineering and you later earn a master’s degree in Engineering, you may apply for an additional 24-month STEM OPT extension based on your master’s degree (after obtaining OPT for the master’s degree). In this example, if you went on to pursue a 3rd degree in the U.S., such as a PhD, you would not be eligible for a third STEM OPT extension, since the maximum is two lifetime uses. 

The US government agency responsible for the Form I-983 has created a document with detailed instructions on how to fill it out. Those instructions can be found here:  https://www.ice.gov/doclib/sevis/pdf/i983Instructions.pdf .

The I-983 instructions cover the vast majority of students’ situations or concerns. 

The age old question: “To apply for STEM or not?” with an upcoming H-1B is a tough one, and is a personal decision. What we tell students is this: is the cost of the I-765 application fee worth it to you to have two years of STEM OPT time as a backup option in case your H-1B falls through (for some reason)? We can tell you that many many students choose to continue with the STEM OPT process as a backup option, and have seen several end up needing it, especially if the Change of Status is not approved, or if your H-1B petition is denied, rejected or withdrawn (perhaps due to a student being laid off while the H-1B is pending; consider your job stability as well). Also, another question to ponder is this: “Do I even like this H-1B job/employer/boss? Am I okay working here until 9/30?” Having a back up STEM authorization can be useful if you find out that you hate your H-1B-sponsor job/employer/boss and would rather have more options in case you need to jump ship but other employers aren’t willing to sponsor H-1B right away, but still may offer a good opportunity. 

It’s may be good to have options–even if they come at a price. Think about the I-765 fee and the ISSO Service fee as a percentage of your earnings over two years?–the fees most likely represent a small fraction of your possible earnings in the United States, especially if you are in a lucrative field.

Still, some other students choose to forgo this back up option. There’s the ISSO fee and the USCIS processing fee to consider–that is real money that you could save by . Ultimately, this question comes down to a personal choice, and personal tolerance for uncertainty/risk.

No, there is no public list of employers participating in E-Verify. Please ask an employer that you are interested in working for on STEM OPT if they participate in E-Verify during the interview process.

No. However you may still be eligible to apply for a STEM OPT extension as long as USCIS can receive your completed application within the 60-day grace period of the cap gap, as reflected on p.2 of your cap gap I-20. Work authorization is not allowed during this period of time.

The STEM extension is 24 additional months of OPT for F-1 students currently engaged in 12 months of postcompletion OPT. In order to qualify, students must have been awarded a degree in a STEM field as it is listed at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) approved STEM field list and work for an E-Verify employer.

The period of the STEM extension is determined entirely by your 12 month OPT EAD card end date: the start date for the extension will be the day after your 12 month EAD card ends and your end date will be 24 months after the start date. The dates are set by USCIS, they cannot be changed.

Here’s an example:

12 month OPT EAD card end date: July 11th, 2022

STEM OPT Dates: July 12th, 2022 – July 11th, 2024

USCIS cannot receive your STEM OPT I-765 earlier than 90 days prior to the end date of your 12 month EAD card, but you can apply for your new I-20 from the ISSO about 90-100 days before the EAD card expiration–this allows ISSO staff some time to process and provide you the I-20 before the 90 day window opens. Your application must also be received by USCIS within 60 days of the STEM OPT I-20 issuance date (indicated by the date of the ISSO’s Advisor’s signature on page 1).

In terms of a deadline, USCIS must receive your I-765 application prior to the end date of your 12 month EAD card. 

the stem opt application process

This is a little bit different from when you were on regular 12 Month OPT. The answer is: yes, you may start working for your STEM OPT employer (or continue working) as long as USCIS has received your STEM OPT I-765 application before your 12 Month OPT EAD end date. In visa language, such a petition has been “timely filed”. 

Though it may feel strange to work on an expired 12 month OPT EAD, this is one of the nice features of a pending, “timely filed” USCIS request for STEM OPT students: your legal F-1 status and work authorization in the US are automatically extended by up to 180 days or until you receive a decision from USCIS regarding your request.

Sometimes, employers think this 180 day period is an “Automatic Extension of an EAD” and may tell you you don’t qualify for it–that’s not correct. The 180 day period is not based on an automatic extension of the EAD, but is instead granted on the basis of a timely filed I-765. The auto extension of EAD is something completely different that is not relevant to F-1 students. You can share this text with your employer if they are still confused. 

If you wish to change employers while your STEM I-765 petition is pending with USCIS, you’ll need to get a new I-983 from the new employer, then submit a new STEM OPT I-20 application to provide the additional details we need (you don’t need to pay the fee a second time, however). Then, separately, you’ll email the advisor who issued and signed your first STEM recommended I-20 1) your Receipt # and 2) an updated Page 3 of the I-765 showing the new employer details. After all that is done, the STEM advisor will issue the new I-20 and attempt to send it to USCIS (with the Page 3 of the I-765) on your behalf before they process your request. 

There is some risk to changing an employer with a petition pending: the risk is, if the documents don’t reach USCIS before they process, they go in, try to find you via your old employer’s E-Verify #, see you no longer work there, and then they deny your STEM request (because to them, they think you don’t have a STEM employer)–then you’d have to re-file if you receive the denial notice in time, or leave the U.S. if you are no longer eligible to re-file. This would be a rare outcome, and students mostly accomplish a change of employer while the STEM EAD is pending without issue, but any time a case becomes more complex, there are additional chances for hiccups in the process.

Yes and this job offer needs to meet the following requirements:

• It has to be directly related to your degree level and field of study

• It has to be full time (i.e. more than 20 hours per week)

• It must be from an employer who participates in E-Verify

• It must be an eligible type of employment (unpaid or volunteer positions and positions with temp agencies do not qualify)

You may use the case number (the number begins with three letters followed by 10 numbers such as YSC1234567890) that is provided on the receipt notice to track the status of the application the USCIS website .

Remember, average processing time for I-765s is around 90 days. “Average” or the median, means that some applications will be less than 90 days, and some will likely take longer. 

The average USCIS processing time for STEM OPT I-765s is 90 days.

Once we receive the completed application package via webform from you, it will take 10 business days to issue the new I-20. This processing time frame does not include shipping time.

The ISSO is pleased to share a resource that we developed to help STEM OPT students complete the I-765: the STEM OPT I-765 Materials Guide.

This detailed, page-by-page, item-by-item guide provides tips and recommendations on how to complete this lengthy petition.

If you have a pending H1-B and a Cap Gap I-20, but still applied for STEM OPT as a back up, the STEM OPT start date on your I-20 will automatically default to October 1 because of the H1B fiscal year Start Date. This is a known issue and is unfortunately not something that the ISSO has control over.

To counter this, the ISSO automatically issues students in this unique situaton a letter to use with your new I-20: you will need to include a copy of this special letter with your STEM OPT I-765 application, requesting USCIS to use the actual STEM dates. 

Receiving an RFE, or a “Request for Evidence” on a STEM OPT application isn’t the end of the world, but you do need to act immediately . Please scan a copy of your RFE and send to the ISSO ([email protected]) so an advisor may review it and help you prepare your response. Please make sure to include your name and SEVIS ID number in the e-mail.

When you submit your request for a STEM I-20 by filling out the application request webform , the ISSO will reflect your employer’s name and address exactly as it is reported to us. We won’t necessarily catch your typo and fix it. If you have made a typo and need us to correct it, submit an Employer Update via the ISSO webform, with the understanding that you may need to pay for a new shipping order. 

Note: If your Employer has a long name, the entire name may not be reflected on page 2 of your I-20. This is due to a character limit on the Form I-20 itself. In this case, you can either:

1. Enter your employer’s “Business Name” OR

2. Leave the name as is, with the understanding that your employer’s complete name has been properly reported within the SEVIS system. It doesn’t matter too much either way, as long as the E-Verify name is entered correctly on your I-765.

Scenario 1:

A common situation where this occurs is with students who work for Amazon.com.

Amazon.com’s HR asks students to put the employer name as “Amazon.com and its affiliates and subsidiaries”. However, this name exceeds the I-20 character limit, and will appear cut off on the I-20. In this case, we recommend students enter “Amazon.com” for the I-20 purposes, as long as they enter the longer name on their I-765 for the Employer’s Name as it appears in E-Verify.

This will not cause a problem. The main question is “Can the government tell who you work for?” and in the vast majority of cases, it is clear, even with minor differences between a company’s business name and the E-Verify name. 

Scenario 2:

Another common situation where this occurs is when students forget to add “Inc.,” “Ltd.,” “DBA,” (which stands for ‘Doing Business As’) to their STEM OPT application, or students provide inconsistent names across the STEM OPT application. When this happens, the ISSO will default to the name entered on the STEM application for the field “Company Name of Current Employer”. 

As long as you enter the name per E-Verify on your I-765, whether you want to get a new I-20 to reflect your omission of “Inc.” “Ltd.” etc or not depends on you–it’s not a matter of concern for your overall STEM Extension application, as long as USCIS can tell who you work for by the I-765. Note that you may need to pay for a new shipment order if you request a non-critical update to your Employer’s Name, especially if the error is the result of inconsistent info or a typo made on your application. 

E-Verify is an internet-based system operated by USCIS in partnership with the Social Security Administration to help employers determine the employment eligibility of their employees. You can find more general information about EVerify here: www.uscis.gov/everify. All potential STEM OPT employers must participate in E-Verify.

If you are a student applying for the STEM OPT extension, to find out your employer’s E-Verify number for your I-765, contact your STEM OPT Employer’s Human Resources team to get the number–they are the best source to give you the correct information. Do not attempt to look up the E-Verify number from some other source (i.e. Googling it) as this could result in a wrong or outdated number of your I-765.

Also, it’s very important to note that an E-Verify # and an EIN # are two different numbers–don’t mix them by accident!

while on Stem opt

Yes, you may change your employer after your STEM OPT has been authorized. You must report any change of employer or employer address within 10 days. If you change your employer, you must update the ISSO through our Employment/Address Update Reporting Form. You will need to submit a new I-983 every time you change your employer. You will also need to submit a final self-evaluation report (on Page 5 of the I-983) each time you end employment by submitting an OPT STEM Extension Validation Reporting Form (the same form is used for both).

Note: If you change your employer while your STEM extension application is pending, you must first send an email to [email protected] with subject line ‘change of employer while STEM OPT pending’. You should then apply for a new I-20 with the new employer’s information following the instructions above. The ISSO will then issue a new I-20 and inform USCIS of the change. The ISSO will mail the new I-20 to the address you provide on the online request form. 

Yes, traveling outside of the U.S. while on an approved STEM extension is permitted. You must have the following documents to reenter the US or apply for a new F-1 visa:

• A STEM OPT I-20 signed on page 2 by an ISSO advisor within the last 6 months;
• A Valid Employment Authorization Document (EAD);
• A passport that is valid for at least six months in the future;
• A valid F-1 visa stamp (except for visits solely to Canada or Mexico less than 30 days, Canadian citizens, or those wishing to apply for a new visa);
• A job offer letter/proof of employment.

F-1 regulations and government guidance and practice are mixed on whether students can travel outside of the US if you are in your 180-day period of interim employment while your STEM extension is pending, and your prior 12 month EAD is already expired. If you are traveling outside of the US under these circumstances, first understand that you are taking a risk of being denied re-entry. The ISSO cannot quantify this risk, and CBP (and airlines) have discretion. Secondly, you also would want to carry the documents mentioned above (substituting the expired regular OPT EAD for the “Valid EAD”), as well as the receipt notice you received proving your I-765 for your STEM extension was filed in a timely matter (I-797). Even this may not guarantee re-entry. For this reason, the ISSO conservatively does not recommend travel after the 12 month EAD has expired and while the STEM EAD is still pending.

Note: Travel at any time while in F-1 status carries some risk. The risk (especially for delay) increases for individuals on OPT if your F-1 visa has expired and a new one is required in order to reenter the US. Travel during the “cap-gap” period may not be possible if your EAD card has expired. Consult with your employer/immigration attorney if you have plans to travel and have approved an approved Cap Gap I-20.

You may work for more than one qualifying employer while on STEM OPT, but all employment must be related to your most recently completed degree program, all employers must be enrolled in E-Verify and complete reporting requirements (i.e. I-983s), and you must work a minimum of 20 hours a week for each employer.

There is no maximum number of hours that can be worked while on STEM OPT, but because there is a minimum, it may be difficult to work for more than 2 employers.

Example 1: Possible, but Tiring

For example, if you work for two qualifying STEM OPT employers, at a minimum, you would need to be working 40 hours per week. For three employers, you’d be working a minimum of 60 hours weeks, and for four qualifying employers, you’d be working a minimum of 80 hours per week etc–and that’s a lot of time spent working. 

Example 2: Not Possible

Most students ask about working for multiple employers on STEM OPT in the context of part-time work. For example, they work 40 hours per week with Employer A, and want to do 5 hours per week of side hustle with Employer B. This particular scenario would not be possible, since the student would need to work a minimum of 20 hours with Employer B, per STEM OPT regulations. 

Oh no! You forgot to submit a STEM Report (6, 12, 18, or 24 month), or submitted a report to our office more than 21 days from the due date–what happens next?

Unfortunately, there is no way to make a STEM report retroactively. SEVIS does not have a mechanism for this. During the 42 day window for reporting, which includes 21 days before the due date, and 21 days after the due date, a button appears in a STEM OPT student’s SEVIS record:

After 21 days after the due date, the button shown above simply disappears. To repeat, even a DSO has no ability to report if you’ve missed the deadline.

This leads us to the next question students ask: what happens if I missed a report (or several)?

The ISSO cannot predict what the exact consequences will be. Technically, failure to report is a violation of STEM OPT rules and regulations, but our office will not terminate your STEM OPT for such a lapse. If any consequences occur, they will occur in a future H-1B or green card petition, when the government will ask for proof that you submitted all relevant STEM reports in a timely manner. If that situation arises for you, you obviously won’t have proof that you submitted on time (and our office won’t have that either). A screenshot of your SEVP Portal will show a missed report, and so will your SEVIS record. If you receive a Request for Evidence for a USCIS petition related to a failure to report, you may want to hire a competent immigration attorney to assist you with responding to the RFE in a strategic manner. The ISSO cannot advise on this, as we cannot give legal advice.

The uncertainty surrounding the failure to report is one major reason why students should be diligent about their reporting dates (we recommend circling them on a calendar or setting a reminder for yourself). In the end, students who fail to report must accept their mistake and hope that it does not come back to cause issues. This is a tough pill to swallow, but reflects the reality of the situation.

Sorry to hear that!

Yes, students on STEM OPT may be temporarily unemployed. Under standard post-completion OPT, you receive a 90 day allotment to be unemployed. When you receive the STEM extension, you receive an additional 60 days to be unemployed giving you a total of 150 days of unemployment during your entire OPT time.

Looking for a new job? Remember that alumni have access to the Career Center’s services .

First off, please note that it takes our office up to 10 business days to process a validation report request. Students should keep that in mind and submit their reports as early as 21 days before the actual due date. 

Secondly, even after we’ve processed a validation report and entered it into SEVIS, it may take a few days, or even weeks, for that data to backfeed into your SEVP Portal. In short, that “Past Due” message might linger in your Portal, even long after your validation report was correctly made–that’s nothing to worry about and is a data migration slowness issue. Eventually, it will update. 

Yes: any time you are unemployed, whether you’re in the US or outside, counts against your 150 day unemployment allotment for STEM OPT students.

If you have a STEM Report due prior to the H-1B effective date, you must submit that report using the ISSO’s STEM Reporting Form. If your H-1B has already been approved: congrats, you are all done with F-1 visa status! 

Sometimes, former students with a recently approved H-1B ask, “I’m done? That can’t be–what do I need to do now?” And the answer is “ nothing “–at least in terms of the ISSO and your F-1 status. That’s right: you don’t need to do anything with our office. There’s no need to report your H-1B approval, no need to contact our office etc. No information needs to be reported. In fact, letting us know about this information is basically a waste of your time, since there’s nothing we do with it (except tell you “congrats” and delete your email). 

The reality is that USCIS will close your F-1-associated SEVIS account automatically after your Change of Status H-1B is approved and the effective date has arrived. You’ll still have access to a shell version of the SEVP Portal for up to 6 months, but you don’t need to do anything with the Portal anymore. If for some reason you insist on checking the Portal (even though it no longer applies to you), you’ll be greeted by bizarre warnings that reflect that your Portal is no longer up-to-speed — these can be ignored. In fact, you should ignore the Portal completely. You are on H-1B now after all, and the Portal is an F-1 system. 

Sometimes former students with a recently approved H-1B ask us questions about their new H-1B visa status (“how do I maintain my H-1B status?” “What do I need to travel on my new H-1B status?”). We cannot answer those. We can only answer questions about the F-1 or J-1 visa programs. Now that you’re on H-1B, you should direct any and all visa-related questions to your new visa status sponsor — the employer sponsoring your H-1B.

In short, while the ISSO is happy for you that you’ve secured an H-1B, your relationship with our office once your H-1B is approved is essentially over, at least in terms of visa advising. You are still welcome to send us a “hello” letter or postcard from time to time if you wish though — we love those!

Reporting while on STEM OPT is generally much more complicated than it was when you were on regular OPT, but we are here to help. Check out this part of our website for a detailed breakdown of reporting requirements.

There are two basic “methods” of reporting: the SEVP Portal is one method for certain information, and the ISSO webform is another “method,” depending on the information that needs to be reported. 

Congrats on the H-1B!

If you have a receipted or approved H-1B petition with a request for a change of status with a 10/1 Start Date, your F-1 status and OPT authorization will automatically extend if your employer has filed a timely H-1B petition and USCIS has officially receipted or approved the petition. If you require a Cap Gap I-20, you may request one using the  Cap-Gap Extension Request Form . Note: Cap Gap extensions are based on how far along your H1-B is in the process; a filed  petition is different from a USCIS receipted or approved petition.

Please note that ISSO will NOT be able to update you on the status of your H-1B application. Therefore, you should forward all of your inquires about your H-1B status to the immigration attorney helping you with the H-1B application.

Most prospective STEM OPT alumni will already be familiar with the SEVP Portal from their 12 Month OPT period. But just to review: the SEVP Portal is a US government tool that allows students to make certain changes and updates directly to their SEVIS record. Students are invited to create a SEVP Portal Account within 14 days of when their 12 Month OPT EAD card is approved, and will receive an auto email from [email protected] providing a link to create an account.

STEM OPT students keep their SEVP Portal access from the 12 Month OPT period, but there are some key differences for the extension period:

• STEM OPT students must continue to use the SEVP Portal to report changes to personal contact info (phone, address etc.)
• However, unlike regular OPT students, STEM OPT students cannot report their Employer Information or Updates on their own. Click the link below to learn how to report Employer Updates while on STEM OPT.

Click here for Student Reporting Requirements while on STEM OPT . 

It depends. Generally, U.S.-based employment is subject to all federal and state taxes, unless exempt under certain country tax treaties. Employment is not subject to Social Security Tax if a student has residency in the U.S. for less than five (5) years, but determining residency for tax purposes is a complicated matter and you need to ask a tax professional to confirm your status. For your reference, please consult IRS Publication 519 at https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-publication-519 . 

F-1/J-1 students

Select Section

Travel advisory

The ISSC wishes to provide support during this uncertain time, and answer questions related to traveling as ASU responds to COVID-19. We understand the uncertainty of the situation and respect the unease it may cause, and we aim to give as much advice as we can based on the available information. Due to the rapidly changing nature of this situation, please continue to: 

Follow CDC travel guidelines, restrictions and recommendations .

Check for updates on ASU’s response to COVID-19 .

Review updates, travel restrictions and FAQs from the ISSC related to COVID-19 .

You can travel inside or outside of the U.S. while you are studying or working. However, you need to ensure that you follow certain regulations to travel safely, and plan ahead to avoid any delays.

Travel within the U.S. for current degree seeking students

When you travel within the U.S. to any of the 50 states (including Alaska and Hawaii) or to the U.S. territories (Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa), be prepared to take the following documents with you: 

• Valid I-20 or DS-2019
• Valid electronic I-94 record

Passport - Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your period of stay in the United States (unless exempt by country-specific agreements )

Travel outside the U.S. for current degree seeking students

As you prepare to arrive at the U.S. Port of Entry, please be prepared to present the following documents to the Port of Entry Officer.

• Required documents:
• Valid F-1 or J-1 visa.
• Current I-20 or DS-2019 with valid  travel signature.

Have copies of your  unofficial transcripts  and  enrollment verification  forms from ASU.

ASU  Sun Card

• ASU travel letter

You should also be prepared to answer the following questions to the Port of Entry Officer:

• Demonstrate your ties to your home country by sharing your plans to return home after you complete your degree.
• You may be asked to share all of your social media platforms you have used within the last five years. As such you will be required to provide the following:
• Username, screen name, handle or other identifier for each platform you use or have used.
• Your current email address and phone number.
• Any email addresses and phone numbers you have used in the past five years.

Note: You will not be required to provide any of your passwords.

• Answer any and all questions honestly and calmly.

Travel While on Post-Completion OPT or STEM-OPT Extension

If you are completing Post-OPT or STEM-OPT Extension, your travel signature is only valid for six months from the date of the last signature or until the end date on your EAD card, whichever comes first.

*The ISSC does not recommend traveling while an OPT application is pending with USCIS.* 

When planning to travel outside of the U.S., on Post-OPT or STEM-OPT, be prepared to take the following documents with you:

• Valid F-1 visa. Please see Visa Renewal for instructions on how to renew your visa. 
• OPT authorized I-20 with a valid  travel signature  endorsed within the last six months.
• Valid Employment Authorization Document (EAD card)
• Job offer letter (if available)
• If you will be traveling for more than 30 days, we recommend you obtain a letter from your employer explaining your employment status and the nature of any employment activities while you are outside the U.S. Travels may not exceed 5 months.

Things to consider before traveling:

• Is your travel essential and worth the risk of issues with travel and reentry to the U.S.?
• Is there a travel restriction for you to return to the U.S. from the country you will be visiting?  Travelers Prohibited from Entry to the United States
• Is there a quarantine requirement when you get to that country that you must fulfill? Quarantine is no longer required when you return to the U.S. but still  recommended .
• Does the country you are visiting require COVID testing upon arrival? Health and travel history? Smart-phone based tracking of travel around the country?
• Do you need a visa for the country you will be visiting? 
• Do you need to  renew your visa  to return to the US? Is the embassy open in the country you will be visiting and accepting F-1 or J-1 student visa appointments?
• Will you have a layover in a country that has a travel restriction for the US? Are you able to have a layover in a different country?
• If you are unable to return to the US due to travel restrictions or embassy closures, can you continue your degree program from your home country or must you return to the US to continue?
• If you are graduating and considering pursuing Post-OPT, will you be back in the US in time to apply?

Travel to Country Other Than Your Own

If you plan to travel to a country other than your own, you should contact the consulate of that country to find out if you need a visa to enter that country.

Travel to Canada, Mexico, and/or Adjacent Islands

The  automatic visa revalidation process  re-validates that you are eligible to enter the U.S. for a single trip. It is not considered a new admission to the U.S. nor a renewal of a visa.

If you plan to travel to  Mexico, Canada, and neighboring islands/U.S. territories  with an expired F or J visa, you may be allowed to enter the U.S. using the  automatic visa revalidation process  under the following conditions if you(r):

• Visit outside of U.S. is not more than 30 days and the purpose is pleasure or vacation only.
• Have maintained full-time F or J status at all times.
• Have an unexpired passport and last I-94 indicates a status of “Duration of Stay.”
• Have an I-20/DS-2019 with a valid travel signature
• Have not applied for a visa during the travel.
• Are not from North Korea, Iran, Sudan, or Syria, which are countries identified as  State Sponsors of Terrorism  by the Department of State.

Frequently asked questions

What are the possible risks involved with traveling home during break and re-entering the u.s..

There is always a risk when traveling outside the country. Risks include:

Flights being cancelled

Travel restrictions being added due to COVID-19

Quarantine enforcements

Federal Regulations changes

ASU modality changes

Please continue to watch the  CDC’s travel recommendations .  If you plan to travel internationally, please be sure you have completed the necessary steps to allow yourself to be granted entry to the U.S. upon your return.

WHAT DO I DO IF I GET CALLED INTO SECONDARY INSPECTION AT THE AIRPORT?

There is no cause for alarm if you are asked to step into a side room for a secondary inspection. They may need to ask you some questions or verify some information. You are allowed to ask the officer what the issue is, but we recommend you do so respectfully.  We recommend you review this  website  for more information. 

WHAT DO I DO IF I GET DENIED ENTRY TO THE US?

If you are told that you are being denied entry to the US, contact the International Students and Scholars Center during normal business hours at +1 480-727-4776 or the Experience Center outside normal business hours at +1 855-278-5080.

WHAT DOCUMENTS DO I NEED TO HAVE TO RETURN TO THE US?

Initial Students:  Incoming students should review travel information and other next steps here:  https://admission.asu.edu/international/travel

Continuing Students:  Continuing students should bring the following documents with them when traveling abroad:

Valid F-1 or J-1 visa.  Please see  Visa Renewal  for instructions on how to renew your visa. 

Current I-20 or DS-2019 with valid  travel signature .

ASU travel letter  

CAN I ENTER THE U.S. AFTER THE SEMESTER START DATE?

Initial Students:  Initials students can only enter the US within 30 days prior to the start date listed on their I-20. If you plan on arriving in the U.S. after your program start date, you will need to have your I-20 deferred to the next academic session. Please contact  admissions  to have your I-20 deferred. 

Continuing Students:  Continuing students should arrive back to campus by the first day of classes. If you plan to arrive after the semester start date, be prepared to answer questions at the Port of Entry regarding your late arrival. If you plan on applying for Post-OPT, please note that you must be in the U.S. in order to apply. 

WHAT SHOULD I DO WHEN I ARRIVE IN THE U.S.?

What to do when you arrive in the U.S.:

When the plane lands in the U.S., proceed to the immigration and customs checkpoint.

Have all necessary information ready to present to the officer. 

Complete all immigration and customs checkpoints.

• If you experience any difficulties during the immigration and customs process, please contact the ISSC during normal business hours at +1 480-727-4776 or the Experience Center outside normal business hours at +1 855-278-5080.

WHAT CAN I EXPECT AT THE US AIRPORT?

At your Port of Entry, U.S. Customs and Border Protection will check your documents. This is where you will present your passport, visa and I-20 to the Customs and Border Protection officer. 

While a CBP officer inspects your immigration documents, you may be asked some general questions. We encourage you to remain calm as questions are a normal, routine procedure. Always answer questions clearly, honestly and politely. If there is a problem, suggest that they contact the International Students and Scholars Center during normal business hours at +1 480-727-4776 or the Experience Center outside normal business hours at +1 855-278-5080.

There is no cause for alarm if you are asked to step into a side room for a secondary inspection. They may need to ask you some questions or verify some information. You are allowed to ask the officer what the issue is, but we recommend you do so respectfully.

WHAT DOCUMENTS ARE NECESSARY WHEN TRAVELING DURING THE POST-OPT PERIOD?

Here are the guidelines from the US Department of Homeland Security:  https://www.ice.gov/sevis/travel

You must have the following documents to return to the U.S. in F-1 status: 

A Form I-20, endorsed for travel and signed by your DSO within the last 6 months

Valid F-1 visa

Current EAD card

Financial information showing proof of necessary funds to cover tuition and living expenses

Job offer letter (if available, but not required)

Bring a letter from your employer explaining the nature of the employment activities outside of the U.S. if you will be traveling for more than 30 days. Travels may not exceed 5 months.

HOW CAN I GET A TRAVEL SIGNATURE?

Before submitting a Replacement and Travel I-20 Request eForm, make sure your employment and local address are updated.

Travel signatures for current students are valid for twelve (12) months. However, while on Post-OPT are valid for six (6) months. Processing time is up to 10 days due to a caseload. Therefore, plan your travels accordingly.

To request a travel signature: 

Submit a Replacement and Travel I-20 eForm through the ISSC’s  ISSC eForm Portal  and follow the step-by-step instructions. Once you click the "submit" button, you will see a screen indicating that you successfully submitted your request. Processing time is up to 10 days due to case load, and therefore are processed first-come, first-served. Plan your travels accordingly as it may take up to 10 days to process your requests.

• If you are unable to print your Form I-20, please visit our website for additional  printing and mailing options . Please note that you do not need to send the ISSC a copy of your signed I-20.

CAN I TRAVEL WHILE ON POST-OPT?

Yes, traveling while on approved Post-OPT is allowed.  Once your Post-OPT is approved, you will be expected to have your EAD card in hand to re-enter the United States.

Travel signatures while on Post-OPT are only valid for six months.

For more information on travel documents, please read through  Travel While on F-1 OPT .

CAN I TRAVEL WHILE MY POST-OPT APPLICATION IS PENDING?

Traveling while your application is pending should be undertaken with caution and avoided if possible.

Here are some possible travel scenarios:

Traveling before your completion date and while you have a pending OPT application.    Returning to the US before your completion date is permitted because you are still a student even when your application is pending. 

Traveling after your completion date and while your OPT application is pending.    This is not recommended because once you complete your program you will be expected to have your EAD card in hand to re-enter the United States.

USCIS may send you an RFE (Request for Evidence) while you are away, so you would want to make sure you have provided the correct U.S. address both to your DSO/school and on the application and would be able to send in any requested documents.

Also, if USCIS approves your Post-OPT application, you will be expected to have your EAD card in hand to re-enter the United States. Like an RFE, USCIS can only send the EAD card to your U.S. address.

For more information on travel, please read through  Travel While on F-1 OPT.

CAN I TRAVEL WHILE MY STEM OPT 24-MONTH EXTENSION IS PENDING?

Traveling after your Post-OPT EAD card has expired and while you have a pending 24-Month STEM OPT application.    The SEVP Policy Guidance outlines that if the student’s employment authorization document expires and the 24-Month STEM OPT extension document is pending the student must wait to receive the new employment authorization document to travel.

Traveling before your Post-OPT EAD card has expired and while you have a pending 24-Month STEM OPT application.    Returning to the US before your Post-OPT EAD card expires is permitted because you still have a valid EAD card to show at the port of entry even when your STEM extension application is pending. 

Also, if USCIS approves your STEM OPT application, you will be expected to have your EAD card in hand to re-enter the United States. Like an RFE, USCIS can only send the EAD card to your U.S. address.

Travel signatures while on 24-Month STEM OPT are only valid for six months

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STEM OPT application guide

Online stem opt application guide.

Read through this guide as you prepare to submit your online STEM OPT application.

Submitting a complete application is your responsibility , and USCIS will make the decision to approve or deny your request. Remember that you need to have your STEM OPT I-20 recommendation from OIS before you submit anything to USCIS. You will request your STEM OPT I-20 by completing the "STEM OPT Extension Checklist"   in the F-1 Practical Training menu in Atlas.

STEP 1:  Assemble the items on the checklist below.

Material Checklist for STEM OPT Application

You will need to upload the following materials for your STEM OPT application:

• A signed (with a pen-to-paper signature), dated copy of pages 1 and 2 of your new STEM OPT I-20
• Passport-style photograph
• Copy of the name & photo page of your passport (including expiration date and any extension pages)
• Copy of any previous Employment Authorization Documents/OPT cards (front and back)
• Download your electronic I-94 . (Please note: do not print the “get travel history” page.)  If there are any mistakes or omissions on your I-94, contact OIS before submitting your application.
• Paper I-94 card (front and back)
• Your I-797 Approval Notice (front and back), if you changed your immigration status inside the U.S. and have not departed since that time.
• Payment via the USCIS online system in the form of your credit card or U.S. bank account. You can find the filing fee at your time of application on the USCIS website . If you will request an OIS review of your application materials, do not pay the application fee until the review is completed. Paying the application fee will submit your application to USCIS and you won't be able to make edits to your application after it is submitted.

STEP 2: Create a myUSCIS online account (if you do not already have one) to file online the I-765 Application for Employment Authorization.

STEP 3:  If you would like an OIS advisor to review your application materials, you will be able to submit the "Optional STEM OPT Application Review" request after you have received your STEM OPT I-20.  You will need to generate the PDF of your I-765 application by clicking “View draft snapshot” to upload in Atlas. 

STEP 4: Submit your STEM OPT application online.

STEP 5:  Upload your receipt notice for your STEM OPT application in your STEM OPT Checklist. Wait 2-5 months for your STEM OPT Card (also called "Employment Authorization Document (EAD)." After it is received, upload a copy of your OPT Card in the STEM OPT Checklist. Processing times may vary and can be longer than estimated timeframes.

STEP 6:  Follow your case status through the USCIS “Check Your Case Status” tool  or through your USCIS online account.

Completing the I-765

It’s important that you complete your I-765 correctly. Read the below information to see how to answer certain questions.  You can view further instructions on completing the I-765 on the USCIS website .

Getting started

Basis of eligibility.

• What is your eligibility category?  (c)(3)(C)
• What is your degree? Enter your STEM eligible degree here
• What is your employer's name as listed in E-Verify? Confirm this information with your employer
• What is your employer's E-Verify Company identification number or E-Verify client company identification number? Confirm this information with your employer. This number is not the same as the Employer Identification Number (EIN). 

Reason for applying

• What is your reason for applying?  Renewal of permission to accept employment
• Have you previously filed Form I-765?  As you would have completed the I-765 for your 12 Month OPT Authorization, indicate "Yes"
• Is someone assisting you with completing this application?  Only indicate “Yes” if you have used an interpreter or if someone prepared your application for you.
• If you do not have a Middle Name, you can leave this field blank. Do not put 'N/A' in this field.
• Your name on the I-765, your most recent I-20, and your passport should be the same. If not, notify OIS.
• Have you used any other names since birth? : Check “Yes” if you have had previous legal names or names you are commonly called.

Your contact information

• How may we contact you?  Enter your U.S. telephone number and email address
• Is your current mailing address the same as your physical address?  If your mailing address is different than your physical address, check “no”

Describe yourself

• What is your gender?  Enter your current legal gender as indicated on your immigration documents
• What is your marital status?  Enter your current legal marital status

When and where you were born

• What is your city, town, or village of birth?  Enter your city, town, or village of birth
• What is your state or province of birth?  Enter your state or province of birth
• What is your country of birth?  Enter your country of birth
• What is your date of birth?  Enter your date of birth (mm/dd/yyyy format)

Your immigration information

• What is your country of citizenship or nationality?  Enter your country (or countries) of citizenship
• Please look at the sample electronic I-94 on Additional Application Materials, page 11. If your electronic I-94 is missing any of this information or there are other errors, please contact OIS before sending your application.
• If you have a paper I-94 card, enter all 11 characters of the Departure Number at the top left corner of the card.
• If you changed status within the U.S. and have only an I-797 Approval Notice confirming your F-1 status, enter all 11 characters of the I-94 number on the bottom right of the I-797.
• Date of arrival: Enter the date you last entered the U.S.
• Place of arrival: Select the city where you cleared U.S. Customs
• Status at last arrival: Enter the immigration status you held when you last entered the U.S. and the immigration status you currently hold. If the status you currently hold is not “F-1 - Student” please contact OIS to make an appointment with an International Student Advisor.
• What is the passport number of your most recently issued passport?  Enter your passport number
• What is your travel document number (if any)?  This space should only be completed if you do not have a passport.
• What is the expiration date of your passport or travel document?  Enter the expiration date (mm/dd/yyyy format)
• What country issued your passport or travel document?  Select the country that issued your passport
• What is your current immigration status or category?  Select “F-1 – Student.” If this is not “F-1 - Student” please contact OIS to make an appointment with an International Student Advisor
• What is your Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) Number?  Enter your SEVIS Number. This can be found on your I-20

Other information

• What is your A-Number?  If you have an A-Number, enter it here. If not, select “I do not have or know my A-Number”
• What is your USCIS Online Account Number?  If you have a USCIS Online Account Number, enter it here. If not, select “I do not have or know my USCIS Online Account Number”
• If you do not have a Social Security Number, you will need one to work while on OPT. Get more information about Social Security Numbers .
• What is your Social Security Number?  Enter your Social Security Number
• Do you want the SSA to issue you a Social Security Card?  Select “no” if you have a Social Security Number. Select “yes” if you wish to be issued a Social Security Number
• Consent For Disclosure: If you have selected “yes” for the SSA to issue you a Social Security Number, select “yes” and provide the requested information

2x2 photo of you

You can get passport-style photos taken at FedEx, the U.S. Post Office, some private shipping companies, and some banks.

• You will need to upload a recent, color photograph of yourself.
• The photos must be in color with a full face, frontal view, on a white to off-white background.
• Your head must be bare unless you are wearing headwear as required by a religious denomination of which you are a member.
• If you need help understanding the requirements, you can use the Department of State’s photo composition tool .

Please do not submit your application before contacting OIS if:

• Your personal information / date of entry / class of information (immigration status) is incorrect in any way, OR
• You are missing the “D/S” notation

Your I-94 may need to be corrected by CBP, and this correction should take place before submitting the OPT application .

(Please note: do not upload the page that appears when you click "Get Travel History")

Employment Authorization Document

• Be sure to print the electronic STEM OPT I-20, then sign your name and date page one in ink (do not electronically sign)

College Degree

• Upload a copy of your diploma or transcript for the degree that is the basis of your STEM OPT Extension

Institution Accreditation

• This section is only required to be completed if you are applying for STEM OPT based on a previously-earned STEM degree. If you have not already, please contact OIS if you are applying for OPT based on a previously earned degree. If you are applying for STEM OPT based on your most recently earned STEM degree, you will not need to complete this section.

Additional information

If you have had a previous SEVIS number, add a response to additional information as follows:

• Section: About You
• Page: Your immigration information
• Question: What is your Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) Number?
• Additional Information: Enter previous SEVIS Number

Review, pay, and submit

Reviewing your application.

Review the application information that you provided.

• If you would like an OIS advisor to review your application materials, you will be able to submit the "Optional STEM OPT Application Review" request after you have received your STEM OPT I-20.  You will need to generate the PDF of your I-765 application by clicking “View draft snapshot” to upload in Atlas. 

Pay and submit

• When you are ready to submit your STEM OPT application, complete the statement and applicant’s declaration and certification sections.
• Remember: if you wish to move forward with the optional OIS review of your documents prior to applying for STEM OPT with USCIS, you should wait to pay until your review session with OIS is complete. You will not be able to make changes to your application after you have paid the application fee.

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The STEM OPT extension is an opportunity for an additional 24 months of work experience in your field of study.  If eligible and approved, this special OPT extension is available to each student in F1 status currently on OPT in a STEM field. 

To be eligible, a student must:

• Already be approved for the regular 12-month OPT
• Have earned a degree in a field on the U.S. government’s STEM major list   (Science, Engineering, Technology, or Mathematics)
• You must be employed in a job directly related to your field of study
• Work for an employer who is enrolled in the U.S. government’s E-Verify program.   

You must apply for the 24-month STEM extension prior to the expiration date of the first OPT period.  USCIS will not accept the I-765 application any earlier than 90 days before the current EAD expiration date.

The start date of the 24-month OPT extension will be automatically set to the day after the expiration of the current 12-month OPT authorization.  The end date will be 24 months later.  It is not possible to request smaller increments of time for the OPT extension.  You continue to be in F1 status while on the STEM extension and Southeastern is responsible for reporting your status and updating SEVIS with any changes in your name, address, employment or if you terminate your STEM extension employment.

How To Apply

Download the following Form I-983 and Instructions. You and your employer must complete pages 1-5 only. Instructions for pages 6-7 will be given later. This form must be completed before you may proceed to step 2 and request the extension. Submit the I-983 to the International Services Office via the Online Student Request Form. Please do not email the form to our office. Once we review the form and decide you are eligible for the extension, we will contact you to make an appointment to complete the STEM extension application.        

While Your STEM Extension Application is Pending

A Notification of Receipt from USCIS should arrive to the address on the I-765 within 2-3 weeks.  This receipt has a code beginning with EAC and a series of numbers.  This is your case number and you can track the status of your application online at www.uscis.gov .

It will take 45-90 days for your application to be processed.  When approved, USCIS will send you an Approval Notice and then an Employment Authorization Document (EAD card) with a picture on it and the authorization dates you are allowed to work under OPT.  Once you receive the card, please ensure that your name is spelled correctly and the dates are correct. If a student’s regular post-completion OPT expires after a STEM OPT I-765 is properly and timely filed, the student’s employment authorization is considered automatically extended for up to 180 days while the STEM EAD application is pending.

The ISO will also issue you a new I-20 for the approved STEM OPT.  If you receive the card at your own address, please contact the ISO that you have received the card.  We will need a copy for our records and we will then issue you the new I-20. 

Reporting Requirements

You must inform the international services office of any and all employment.  Any changes in employment must also be reported.  You are also required to report any changes in your physical address. .To report this information, please select the button below.

**Every 6 months from the start date of the extension, you are to report your employment and current address, even if no changes have been made. Submit this through the above link**

**After 12 months you will be required to submit page 6 of the I-983 form through the Student Online Request Form . At the end of the 24 month extension, you will then submit page 7, Final evaluation of Student Progress**

You are responsible for reporting the above information!

In addition to reporting to the International Services Office, you also have the option to login to your own portal also known as the SEVP Portal launched by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program.  The portal is a tool that F-1 students on post-completion OPT or STEM OPT extensions may choose to use to report changes to their home address, telephone number and employer information. The portal is accessible from both your mobile device and computer.

You will receive an email with instructions on creating a portal account  after your OPT is approved by USCIS.  This email will come from [email protected] . If you do not see the email, check your spam or junk folder. If you still do not see it, contact the International Services Office to have it sent again to an email address of your choice.  The initial email will be sent to your Southeastern Webmail account.

*NOTE:  Failure to report to the ISO any changes or failure to report for the six and twelve month validation will result in your SEVIS record automatically terminating with reason “Failure to Report While on OPT.”

Travel On STEM OPT

If your current EAD card has expired you cannot travel outside of the US, even during the 180 valid period.  Once you receive the new EAD card, you can travel but must show the following documents:

• New EAD card
• Passport valid 6 months into the future
• Proof of Employment (this can be a letter from your employer)
• Most recent I-20 with valid travel authorization on 2nd page
• If your visa has expired or will expire while you are out of the country, it will need to be renewed

Important Notes

• You cannot accumulate more than 150 days of unemployment during the 24 months.
• Your I-20 must be signed for travel every six months if you plan to leave and re-enter the US
• Unlike regular OPT, a student on STEM OPT cannot meet their employment requirement through volunteer work

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Travel Abroad While Unemployed On Stem Opt?

• Last updated Jun 24, 2024
• Difficulty Beginner

• Category Travel

Travelling abroad while unemployed and on an OPT or STEM OPT extension can be risky and is not recommended. If you are unemployed, an officer can legally refuse your entry to the U.S. and students who have exceeded the maximum days of unemployment while on their OPT are considered out-of-status. If you are unemployed and need to travel abroad, it is recommended that you carry proof that you are looking for employment.

If you are travelling abroad while on an OPT or STEM OPT extension, you must have all the required documents for re-entry to the U.S. This includes a valid passport, an OPT I-20, proof of employment, a valid Employment Authorisation Document (EAD card), and a valid F-1 visa.

What You'll Learn

Required documents for re-entry to the us, risks of travelling while unemployed, time outside the us and unemployment, travelling while your application is pending, covid-19 travel requirements.

Students on an F-1 visa who are unemployed and have a pending OPT or STEM OPT application should exercise caution when travelling abroad and attempting re-entry into the US. If you are in this situation, it is recommended that you consult with a DSO before travelling.

• A valid passport (valid for at least 6 months into the future). An exception is made for citizens of countries listed on the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) Travel page, who can enter with a current passport up to the actual date of expiration.
• OPT I-20 (showing an OPT status of Requested, Pending, or Approved on page 2) with a travel signature less than six months old.
• A print-out of the I-20, which you will need to sign at the bottom of page 1 and carry with you when presenting it to US officials.
• Proof of employment (e.g. a letter from your supervisor, job offer letter, contract, etc.).
• A valid Employment Authorization Document (EAD card). If your OPT application is approved while you are abroad, you will need to present the EAD upon your return.

Please note that failure to have the proper documentation may result in denied re-entry into the US or temporary, conditional entry with an I-515A.

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Travelling abroad while unemployed can present several risks and challenges, especially when it comes to visa applications, immigration procedures, and maintaining unemployment benefits. Here are some key risks to consider:

Visa and Immigration Challenges:

• Proof of Employment: Some countries may require proof of employment or a sponsor when applying for a visa or entering the country. Not having a job could raise questions about your purpose of visit, financial stability, and intentions to return to your home country.
• Increased Scrutiny: Border control officers may scrutinize your travel plans and intentions more closely if you are unemployed. They may ask detailed questions about your finances, travel itinerary, and ties to your home country.
• Risk of Denial of Entry: Without a job, you might face a higher risk of being denied entry to your destination country. Officers may suspect that you intend to overstay your visa or seek unauthorized employment.
• Documentation Requirements: When travelling on an OPT or STEM OPT visa, specific documentation is required for re-entry to the US, including proof of employment. Failing to provide this documentation may result in denied re-entry or temporary conditional entry.

Impact on Unemployment Benefits:

• Continued Job Search: To maintain unemployment benefits, you typically need to demonstrate that you are actively searching for employment. Travelling while unemployed may disrupt your job search and impact your eligibility for benefits.
• Reporting Requirements: Failing to report your travel plans and temporarily discontinuing your unemployment claims during your trip could raise red flags with the unemployment office and potentially impact your benefits.
• Physical Availability for Work: Some states require you to be physically present and available for work to receive unemployment benefits. Travelling out of state or abroad may result in the discontinuation of your benefits for that period.

It is important to carefully review the visa requirements and immigration procedures of your destination country, as well as the regulations related to unemployment benefits in your state, to understand the specific risks associated with travelling while unemployed.

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If you are unemployed and on OPT, you can travel abroad, but you should be aware of the risks. If you are in this situation, it is recommended that you consult with a DSO before travelling. You will need to have the proper documentation with you when attempting to re-enter the US, and failure to do so could result in you being denied re-entry.

When travelling abroad, you should carry the following documents with you:

• A valid passport (with at least 6 months until expiration, unless you are a citizen of a country listed on the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) Travel Page, or a Canadian citizen).
• An OPT I-20 with a travel signature less than 6 months old.
• Proof of employment (e.g. a letter from your supervisor, a job offer letter, or a contract).
• A valid Employment Authorization Document (EAD card).

If your OPT application is pending, you may travel abroad, but this should be undertaken with caution. If your OPT application is approved while you are abroad, you will need to present your EAD upon your return.

Time spent outside the US during a period of post-completion OPT or STEM OPT extension may be considered unemployment unless:

• You are employed during a period of leave authorised by your employer.
• You are travelling as part of your employment.

If you are going to be outside of the US for an extended period of time but will still be considered employed, it is recommended that you have documentation from your employer certifying that you have remained employed during your absence.

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If you are unemployed and your STEM OPT application is pending, you should exercise caution when travelling abroad and seeking re-entry into the US. It is important to note that you may be denied re-entry or granted temporary, conditional entry.

When travelling, ensure you carry the following documents:

• A valid passport (valid for at least 6 months into the future).
• Proof of employment (e.g. a job offer).
• A receipt notice from USCIS that your STEM OPT application is being processed.

If your OPT application is approved while you are abroad, you will be required to present the EAD upon your return. Therefore, students are discouraged from travelling until the application has been received and the I-797 receipt notice has been issued. The receipt notice should be brought as proof that an application has been submitted.

Additionally, it is important to note that any time spent outside the US during a period of post-completion OPT or STEM OPT extension may be considered unemployment unless you are either:

• Employed during a period of authorised leave by your employer.
• Travelling as part of your employment.

How to Verify a Travel Agent's License: A Step-by-Step Guide

If you are unemployed and on an OPT or STEM OPT extension, you can travel abroad, but there are some COVID-19 travel requirements and other documentation you must consider. Firstly, it is important to note that F-1 regulations allow students participating in OPT to travel abroad, but there may be additional risks and documentation required.

When entering or connecting through the US, all travellers must provide contact tracing information. Failure to do so will result in denied boarding, as per the CDC order. Currently, COVID-19 testing and vaccination are not required for travellers entering or connecting through the US. However, it is important to monitor the latest travel requirements and restrictions, as these are subject to change. You can use resources such as Delta FlyReady or the Delta Discover Map to review the specific entry requirements for your trip. Additionally, it is recommended to consult your airline in advance to ensure you are aware of any additional requirements or expectations.

Other Documentation:

When requesting re-entry into the US, ensure you carry the following documents:

• A valid passport (with at least six months' validity remaining, unless from an exempt country or a Canadian citizen)
• OPT I-20 with a travel signature less than six months old
• Proof of employment or proof that you are seeking employment if unemployed
• A valid Employment Authorization Document (EAD card)

Please note that failure to provide the proper documentation may result in denied re-entry into the US. Additionally, time spent outside the US during OPT or STEM OPT may be considered unemployment unless you are employed during this period or have authorized leave from your employer.

Understanding the Difference Between Travel Document Number and Visa Number

Frequently asked questions.

Yes, you can travel abroad while unemployed on a STEM OPT, but it is not recommended. If you have exceeded the maximum days of unemployment, you will be considered out-of-status and may face issues re-entering the U.S.

You will need the following documents to re-enter the U.S. while unemployed on a STEM OPT:

- A valid passport (valid for at least 6 months into the future).

- A valid F-1 visa sticker (not expired), except for Canadians, Bahamians, and Bermudians.

- A recently issued Form I-20, with a travel signature less than six months old.

- Proof of vaccination against COVID-19.

- The original receipt notice for your STEM OPT application issued by USCIS.

If your OPT application is approved while you are abroad, you will be required to present your EAD upon return. Additionally, if you exceed the maximum unemployment days (90 days for OPT, 150 days for STEM OPT), you will not be eligible to re-enter the U.S. in F-1 status.

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Options for Noncitizen STEM Professionals to Work in the United States

The United States has long been a destination for top talent from all over the world. Our ability to attract global talent—especially in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM)—has spurred path-breaking innovation, leading to the creation of jobs, new industries, and new opportunities for all Americans.

This online resource provides an overview of some of the temporary and permanent pathways for noncitizens to work in the United States in STEM fields. This guide also highlights some of the most important considerations for STEM professionals contemplating working in the United States. Subsequent sections outline these pathways in more detail.

More information on how to apply is available on uscis.gov for both temporary and permanent pathways as well as for optional practical training for students. In addition, a general guide to employment in the United States can be found in the Working in the United States section of uscis.gov. You may wish to consult with an attorney to evaluate the best classification for you.

Key Questions to Consider When Choosing a STEM Pathway

Do I have the education, experience, or skills needed to qualify?

Some pathways, such as the O-1 nonimmigrant visa classification and the EB-1A immigrant visa classification, are for those with “extraordinary ability.” These require that a person have widespread and sustained acclaim. Others, such as the H-1B, require at least a relevant bachelor’s degree or equivalent. And others, such as the L-1, require a pre-existing relationship with a company that does business both in the United States and abroad.

Do I need to have a job offer? Do I need a company to submit a petition for me?

Most pathways require you to already have a job offer, in which case an employer will submit a petition to USCIS on your behalf. However, some classifications do not require a job offer and permit you to directly submit an application or petition with USCIS (“self-petitioning”). For example, if you are seeking lawful permanent resident status (a Green Card) based on a classification as an individual with “extraordinary ability” (the EB-1A category), you do not need a job offer and do not need an employer to file the immigrant petition on your behalf (meaning, you may self-petition). Although a job offer is not required in this example, you must provide evidence establishing that you are coming to the United States to continue work in your area of expertise.

Will I be working in the United States on a permanent basis as a lawful permanent resident, or will I be working on a temporary basis as a nonimmigrant?

Some opportunities provide a basis for individuals, including STEM professionals, to obtain permanent resident status in the United States. Permanent resident status allows you to live and work in the United States permanently, and typically provides you with a path to citizenship. These opportunities are known as “immigrant” pathways.

Others (for example, F-1 OPT, H-1B, L-1 and O-1), also known as “nonimmigrant” pathways, allow you to temporarily live and work in the United States. Many people who do work through one of these nonimmigrant pathways eventually transition to permanent resident pathways, and eventually U.S. citizenship .

Are there any other criteria that are required for a specific pathway?

Some criteria that are not directly related to professional qualifications can affect visa eligibility. For instance, only citizens of Canada and Mexico qualify for TN visas. In addition, there can be some timing or other requirements particular to certain pathways. For example, some immigrant pathways require the employer to first obtain an approved labor certification from the U.S. Department of Labor. The labor certification verifies that there are insufficient able, available, qualified, and willing U.S. workers to fill the position and that such employment will not adversely affect the wages and working conditions of similarly employed U.S. citizens.

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On March 27, 2024, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) began to release the fiscal year (FY) 2025 H-1B cap lottery results following an announcement that it had received enough registrations during the initial registration period.

The release of selections occurred less than a week after the conclusion of the H-1B cap  registration period . This year’s H-1B lottery selections were conducted over a span of five days and concluded on April 1, 2024, when USCIS  announced  that it had received enough electronic registrations for unique beneficiaries during the initial registration period.

• USCIS has yet to disclose the total number of H-1B registrations received for the FY 2025. The final rule, announced on January 30, 2024, has been incorporated into the H-1B FY 2025 lottery process, affecting how selections are made.
• Individuals not selected in this year’s H-1B lottery may be able to explore alternative options for continued employment authorization in the United States.

This year’s cap was highly anticipated, marking the first H-1B lottery conducted after USCIS’s announcement of its implementation of new safeguards and restrictions. These were detailed in a  final rule  published on January 30, 2024,  aimed  at “strengthen[ing] the integrity of and reduc[ing] the potential for fraud in the H-1B registration process.” A key objective was to ensure equal selection chances for each beneficiary, irrespective of multiple registrations submitted for them. Under this rule, the selection process was refined to focus on “unique beneficiaries” instead of registrations. This new selection methodology is intended to reduce the number of fraudulent registrations by ensuring that each registrant beneficiary has the same chance of selection, regardless of the number of registrations submitted on their behalf. In order to implement this process, USCIS required all registrants to provide passport information or a travel document.

Selected Registrants

For selected registrants, the H-1B petition filing period commenced on April 1, 2024, and it is set to conclude on June 30, 2024.

• The earliest H-1B start date for applicants selected in the FY 2025 H-1B lottery is October 1, 2024.
• For the first time, USCIS has introduced the option for online filing of H-1B cap petitions, alongside the existing paper filing method. The USCIS noted that during the initial launch of online organizational accounts, “users will not be able to link paper-filed Forms I-129 and I-907 to their online accounts.”
• “Cap gap” extension: Selected applicants who are currently on OPT or STEM OPT expiring prior to October 1, 2024, may qualify for a “cap gap” extension. This provision applies to F-1 students who are the beneficiaries of an H-1B cap petition with a timely request for change of status. The cap gap period begins when the F-1 student’s employment authorization expires, and, unless terminated, ends on September 30.

Nonselected Registrants

For registrants not selected in the initial process, it’s important to note that their status in the system will remain as “submitted” until USCIS confirms that it has received a sufficient number of petitions to meet the H-1B cap for FY 2025.

Registrants not selected in the FY 2025 H-1B lottery may still have several alternative options to maintain their work authorization in the United States. Some of these options include the following, as set forth below.

Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

F-1 nonimmigrant students may be eligible for employment authorization through CPT if they are lawfully enrolled as full-time students at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP)–certified schools and have completed at least one full academic year of study or are in their first semesters, if pursuing a graduate or higher degree program. CPT employment must be through an alternative work/study, internship, cooperative education, or other internship/practicum that is based on a cooperative agreement with the F-1 student’s school. The employment must directly relate to the student’s major field of study and it must be an integral part of the school’s established curriculum. An F-1 student may obtain CPT authorization for multiple employers, but the student can only begin working after CPT is authorized by the school’s designated school official (DSO). Individuals who work for one year or more pursuant to full-time CPT are not eligible for post-completion optional practical training (OPT) at the same education level. CPT is not a visa status and does not provide any status or work authorization for dependents.

Optional Practical Training (OPT)

Individuals in F-1 nonimmigrant status may be eligible for OPT employment authorization if they are employed in a role that is directly related to their major field of study. There are two types of OPT: (1) pre-completion OPT, and (2) post-completion OPT. Pre-completion OPT may be available for F-1 students enrolled at an ICE SEVP-certified school who have been lawfully enrolled for at least 1 full academic year. Individuals may be authorized to work up to twenty hours per week while school is in session and up to forty hours per week while school is not in session. Post-completion OPT may be available for F-1 students who graduated from an ICE SEVP-certified school. Individuals working pursuant to post-completion OPT must work at least twenty hours per week. Individuals may be permitted to work pursuant to OPT for up to twelve months including both pre-completion and post-completion OPT. OPT is not a visa status and does not provide any status or work authorization for dependents.

Non-selected registrants currently work-authorized pursuant to OPT may be eligible for STEM OPT if they received a  qualifying STEM degree  from a U.S. institution of higher education and their employer is enrolled in E-Verify. This option provides qualifying beneficiaries with a twenty-four-month (two-year) Employment Authorization Document (EAD).

The E-3 category provides a nonimmigrant visa option for Australian nationals working in a specialty occupation. E-3 beneficiaries may be granted employment authorization for up to two years, with the option to extend indefinitely (subject to some exceptions). Dependent spouses and children may qualify for E-3S or E-3Y status, respectively. E-3S spouses are eligible for work authorization and are considered employment authorized incident to status.

H-1B With a Cap-Exempt Employer

Individuals working in a specialty occupation may be eligible for H-1B status without being selected in the H-1B lottery if they are employed by a cap-exempt employer. Employers that may be exempt from the H-1B cap requirement include qualifying higher education institutions or related nonprofit entities, nonprofit research organizations, and government research organizations. Cap-exempt H-1B visa holders may be eligible for employment authorization for an initial period of up to three years, with the option to extend in three-year increments. Cap-exempt H-1B visa holders may be permitted to remain in H-1B status for up to six years, with exceptions to extend beyond the six-year period if certain requirements are met. Spouses and children of cap-exempt H-1B visa holders may be eligible for H-4 status. H-4 spouses are not authorized to work unless certain conditions are met by the primary H-1B visa holder.

The H-1B1 category provides a nonimmigrant visa option for individuals working in a specialty occupation who are nationals of Chile or Singapore. This visa category was established pursuant to free trade agreements with Chile and Singapore and permits H-1B1 visa status for up to 1,400 qualifying Chilean nationals and 5,400 qualifying Singaporean nationals each year. Individuals in H-1B1 status may be granted initial employment authorization for up to one year, and they may extend their status indefinitely (subject to some exceptions). Dependent spouses and children may qualify for H-4 status. H-4 spouses of H-1B1 visa holders are not authorized to work unless certain conditions are met by the primary H-1B1 visa holder.

The L-1 category may be available to individuals who have been employed outside the United States by a foreign company with a qualifying relationship to the U.S. employer for at least one continuous year in the three years preceding the individual’s admission to the United States. The individual must have been employed in a qualifying role outside the United States and must be working in a qualifying role within the United States. Individuals working in an executive or managerial role in the United States may be qualified for L-1A status. Individuals working in a specialized knowledge role in the United States may be qualified for L-1B status. Individuals in both L-1A and L-1B status may be granted initial employment authorization for up to three years, with the option to extend in two-year increments. Individuals in L-1A status may be permitted to remain in the United States for up to seven years, and individuals in L-1B status may be permitted to remain in the United States for up to five years. Dependent spouses and children may be granted L-2S and L-2Y statuses, respectively. L-2S spouses are eligible for work authorization and are considered employment authorized incident to status.

The O-1 category provides a nonimmigrant visa option for those beneficiaries “who possess extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics … and have been recognized nationally or internationally for those achievements.” To qualify, the petitioner and beneficiary must establish that the beneficiary has demonstrated “extraordinary ability by sustained national or international acclaim” and is typically defined as those who have “arisen to the very top of their field.” The O-1 category provides initial employment authorization in the United States for up to three years, with the option for extensions. Additionally, dependents of O-1 visa holders may qualify for O-3 nonimmigrant visa status, allowing them to reside in the United States; however, the O-3 category does not provide work authorization.

The TN category, established under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), and succeeded by the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), is designated for Canadian and Mexican citizens who meet specific professional qualifications within certain occupational categories. The USMCA outlines these qualifying professions, which include, but are not limited to, engineer, accountant, computer systems analyst, mathematician, lawyer, and research assistant. Beneficiaries awarded TN status may be granted employment authorization for an initial period of up to three years, with the option for renewals. Dependent spouses and children may be granted TD status, but are not authorized to work under this classification.

USCIS has yet to announce if there will be additional selection rounds for the FY 2025 H-1B lottery process, and there has been no indication of plans to conduct such rounds.

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