OPT STEM Extension

F-1 students with STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) degrees in fields listed on the ICE STEM Designated Degree Program List 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.

• You must be currently authorized for Post-Completion OPT (or you are on the "Cap Gap Extension").
• You must apply based on a STEM qualifying bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree from a SEVIS certified U.S. school in a field on the ICE STEM Designated Degree Program list.  Only degrees received within 10 years of the date of your DSO recommendation for an OPT STEM Extension are eligible.
  • 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.
• You must have a job or a job offer from an employer that meets all of the requirements explained below:  
  • 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. 
• We recommend that both students and employers review the OPT STEM information found on the Department of Homeland Security’s Study in the States website for information on employer responsibilities and other requirements.
  • 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.     

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.  

Login to your USCIS account and check your personal details. If your address needs to be updated make sure to do so before requesting your STEM OPT I-20.

• To update your address with USCIS, see How to Change Your Address.
  
• Note: Your USCIS account is different than your SEVP portal.
  

1. Pay the UB STEM OPT fee. The $95 STEM OPT fee must be paid online and cannot be charged to your student account. Remember to print the receipt.
   
2. Login to UB Global. Click on “Optional Practical Training”, select the “OPT STEM Extension” group and then "STEM Extension I-20 Request".

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.
• Photocopy of your diploma indicating completion of a STEM eligible degree or transcripts indicating that you have completed all degree requirements with the exception of your thesis/dissertation.  
  • 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.

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.

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.

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.  

ISS recommends that you use a mailing address on your Form I-765 where you can receive mail for 3-5 months after applying for OPT. However, if your mailing address changes after you submit your OPT application to USCIS, you must notify the USCIS, the Post Office and the SEVP Portal of your change in address within 10 days of the change. Failure to notify USCIS and the Post Office in a timely manner could result in delays in receiving your EAD.

To notify the USCIS, use their online Change of Address Form. You will need your OPT Application Receipt Number to complete the form. If you move to a new address, you should also notify the US Postal Service (USPS) using their online form. 

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.

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. 

 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.

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. 

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.  

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.

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.

• 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.