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