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 an advanced certificate.
• 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 field of study. It is your responsibility to prove and document how your employment is directly realated 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.

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.  

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 “F-1 Practical Training Applications” and then “Application for 24-Month OPT STEM Extension”.

3. Complete the “Application for 24-Month OPT STEM Extension” e-form and upload all required documents. Only documents saved as PDF or JPEG are acceptable.  You must submit:

• Form I‑765 (fillable online)
  • Be sure to use the correct eligibility code for the OPT STEM Extension: (c)(3)(C).
  • Carefully review the Form I-765 instructions on the USCIS I-765 webpage. ISS Form I-765 suggestions are available within the OPT e-form application or with your UBIT login on our I-765 tips page.
• 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 confirming that your OPT STEM I-20 is ready.  We will mail your I-20 to you if you indicated on the e-form that you would like it mailed.  

• Original Form I‑765.  Don't forget to sign and include all seven pages!
• Form G-1145 (E-Notification of Application/Petition Acceptance).
• Photocopy of your diploma or transcripts indicating that you have completed all degree requirements with the exception of your thesis/dissertation.
  • Your diploma must specify your field of study.  If not, you must include a photocopy of your official transcript.
  • If you are applying on the basis of a degree received from another school, you must also submit your transcript from the previous school.
• Photocopy of EAD card(s).
• Application fee of $410
  • This can be a personal check (from a U.S. bank), or a U.S. money order.
  • Personal checks and money orders should be made payable to the "U.S. Department of Homeland Security". 
  • Write the 11-digit number from your I-94 on your check or money order and don’t forget to sign and date the check. Click here to see an example personal check.
• Photocopy of your current I‑20 – page 1 and page 2 with OPT STEM recommendation.
  • Don't forget to sign and date the Student Attestation section of your I-20.
• Photocopies of all previous I‑20's. Do not send originals.   
• Photocopies of your current, valid passport (biographic and photo pages) and U.S. visa stamp page in your passport. 
• Photocopy of the front and back of your most recent I-94 Card OR print-out of electronic I-94 (available on CBP's website).
• Two (2) identical natural color photographs of yourself, taken within 30 days of your application and not previously used.  
  • Please review these photo specifications. If your photos do not meet USCIS requirements exactly, your application may be rejected or denied.
  • In pencil, please write your name and I-94 number lightly on the back of each photo.

1. Go to study.eshipglobal.com to log in or create a free account.
2. Click on the “OPT Application” image or the “Send Packages to USCIS” button.
3. Enter your sender address and select the appropriate USCIS location as the recipient. You can refer to this link if you would like to double check the service center. [Find the correct lockbox and the relevant address here (look under “Foreign Students”, category (c)(3)(i)).
4. On the University Information, Search for SUNY at Buffalo (for an additional 10% discount on already discounted pricing). You will select the service option and make a payment.
5. Print your label, attach it to the shipping envelope. You can either schedule a free pick up from your location by clicking on “Schedule Pick Up” or you can drop off your package at the nearest carrier location. If you don’t have an envelope, you can get one free of charge at the nearest shipping carrier location.

If you have any questions or concerns around this mailing option or need further assistance with shipment creation, pick up or delivery, please reach out directly to UEMS support team (studentsupport@eshipglobal.com) for immediate assistance.

Visit the USCIS I-765 Direct Filing Address for the current lockbox mailing address. Be sure to click on "Foreign Students".

You should use a reliable, express delivery service (e.g. UPS, FedEx) to mail your application. Utilizing an express delivery service will enable you to track your application and its delivery. Please save your receipt.

USCIS recently announced that Form I-765 OPT applications can be filed online. If you choose to file electronically at this time, please know that ISS does not yet have specific instructions for online filing. USCIS has also not yet clarified if there are any notable differences between online filing and paper filing. You are not required to file online, you may still continue to file a paper application. Once additional details are provided by USCIS, we will update our website with more specific guidance.

“The USCIS lockbox facilities have received a significant increase in filings in recent weeks. This increase, along with facility capacity restrictions necessary to protect the health and safety of the lockbox workforce during the COVID-19 pandemic, is causing significant delays for processing receipt notices. We continue to work to minimize delays. Once we process your submission, we will review your package.

If you properly filed your form, we will send a receipt notice to the mailing address provided on your form, normally within 30 days. If your submission is incomplete or improperly filed, we will reject it per current procedures.”

If you have already filed your application for OPT/OPT STEM Extension:

• Track you application and keep of proof of courier delivery to the lockbox.
• Be aware that this is a know issue and you will need to have patience.

If you have not yet filed your application for OPT/OPT STEM Extension:

• Review the USCIS I-765 instructions and ISS I-765 Tips
• Complete Form G-1145, E-Notification of Application/Petition Acceptance, and clip it to the front of your form to request a text message and/or email when USCIS accepts your form.
• Submit single-sided photocopies of requested documents, unless the form instructions specifically state you must submit an original document.
• Submit only the required evidence and supporting documentation listed in the form instructions. If USCIS needs additional information, they will request it from you.

Additional USCIS filing tips can be found on the USCIS Form Filing Tips page.

The USCIS Ombudsman will continue to try to assist individuals who have not received a Notice of Action (Form I-797C) 90 days after their application/petition was received at USCIS. Applicants who have not received a receipt notice within 60 days of filing should first contact USCIS.

If USCIS does not respond to your inquiry within 30 days, you may submit a request for case assistance to the CIS Ombudsman using the information on their website at https://www.dhs.gov/case-assistance. Please be sure to include proof of filing (delivery confirmation).

The CIS Ombudsman is working with USCIS to find solutions to mitigate the harm to applicants impacted by the delays in issuing receipt notices. For more information, please read USCIS' announcement. 

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 ISS 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.  Finally, to notify ISS, follow the instructions found at the bottom of this page.

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.

USCIS expedite criteria are very strict and it can be difficult to provide sufficient evidence to meet the USCIS criteria. 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 or risk accruing unlawful presence.

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.