1. 24-Month OPT STEM Extension
UCI International Center

2. Where to Find Information for 24-Month OPT STEM Extension
In addition to the information contained in this presentation, please review the online STEM OPT information at under Current F-1 Students Tab)

3. Eligibility Requirements
Students currently on OPT who hold a STEM degree (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) are eligible to apply for a 24-month OPT extension.
You must:
Find out if your degree qualifies, visit:
You can find your CIP code (Classification of Instructional Programs) on the first page of your I-20.
Have earned a bachelor’s, masters, or doctoral degree from a school that is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education-recognized accrediting agency and is certified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) when you submit your STEM OPT extension application.
Work for an employer who meets all the requirements listed and will agree to the following:
Be enrolled in E-Verify and remain in good standing.
Report material changes to the STEM OPT student’s employment to the DSO within 5 business days.
Implement a formal training program to augment the student’s academic learning through practical experience.
Provide an OPT opportunity that is commensurate with those of similarly situated U.S. workers in duties, hours, and compensation.
Complete the Form I-983, Training Plan for STEM OPT Students. In this form,  you must attest that:
You have enough resources and trained personnel available to appropriately train the student;
The student will not replace a full- or part-time, temporary or permanent U.S. worker; and
Working for you will help the student attain his or her training objectives.

4. Timeline 24 Month OPT STEM Application Timeline 120 Days 180 Days
Current EAD card end date
24 -Month OPT STEM will start the day after your current OPT ends
Earliest Date to Apply for 24- Month OPT STEM
120 Days
180 Days
Allotted days you can work with a pending OPT STEM
Application and no EAD card
24 Months of OPT STEM
Apply for 24 Month OPT STEM During This Period
USCIS MUST Receive 24- Month OPT STEM Application BEFORE the current EAD card end date
OPT application MUST be mailed to USCIS within 60 days of the date the OPT STEM I-20 was issued by the International Center.
USCIS requires days to review your application after they receive it.
The IC requires 7 business days to review your application.

5. 24-Month OPT STEM Application Timeline
You may apply for the 24-Month OPT STEM extension up to 120 days before your current EAD card end date. You cannot apply after your EAD card end date.
It will take the International Center seven business days to process your application and USCIS days to approve your application and send you the EAD card.
Your OPT STEM employment will begin the day after your current EAD card end date and will end 24 months later.
You can work up to 180 days past your current EAD card end date IF you have applied for OPT STEM and the application is pending.

6. Application Instructions
Complete OPT STEM Extension Checklist
Two 2”x2” U.S. passport-sized photos with your name printed on the back of each
Copy of Passport Biographical Page
Copy of F-1 Visa
Copy of STEM degree diploma
Copy of front and back of post-completion EAD card
I-94 Record (printed from
Copy of post completion OPT I-20 OPT
I-983; Completed by you and your employer
Employment Update form
NOTE: All of the above documents must be submitted when applying for OPT STEM.

7. SAMPLE Completing the I-765 Form
The I-765 Form is available through the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website.
Make sure you are using the latest edition.
SAMPLE

8. Completing the I-765 Form
Check  “Renewal of my permission to accept employment” box
Section 1: Write last name followed by first name. Example: Anteater, Peter
Section 2: Leave blank if you have not used any other names
Section 3: Use your U.S. address that you will be at for the next days. If you are using another individual’s address, please use this format: “C/O First and last name of individual”
Section 4: Please write your country of citizenship/nationality as listed in your passport
Section 5: Write your place of birth: city, province, and c
Section 6: Date of birth as listed in your passport
Section 7: Gender as listed in your passport
Section 8: Check box stating your marital status Section 9: Provide your social security number. If you do not have one, leave blank
Section 10: Write down your 11 digit I-94 number found on your I-94 document
Section 11: For OPT STEM Extension, mark the “yes” box and proceed to the next questions:
Which USCIS office? Please write CALIFORNIA if current OPT was approved by UCI.
For dates: Please write the start and end dates on your current EAD card
Results: please write “GRANTED”

9. Completing the I-765 Form
Section 12: Write your date of last entry in the U.S. Refer to your I-94 record
Section 13: Write the airport code of the city you last entered the U.S. For example, if you entered through Los Angeles, write “LAX”
Section 14: Write F-1 Student; however, if your last entry was with another visa, write that visa instead
Section 15: Write F-1 Student
Section 16: In the parenthesis, write (C) (3) (C)
Section 17: Write the level of degree of you obtained and your program of study. Example: Ph.D in Computer Science
List employer’s name
List employer’s e-verify number
Signature Section: Sign in black ink
**IMPORTANT! Make sure your signature does not touch the TOP TEXT or BOTTOM line.

10. Completing the I-983 Form
The 24-Month OPT STEM Extension requires that the student and their employer complete the I-983 learning plan that clearly articulates the student’s STEM OPT learning objectives and affirms the employer’s commitment to helping the student achieve those objectives.
Download the form I-983 here
For further instructions on how to fill out the I-983 please see here
Work with your employer to complete and sign each section
Submit the form to the and the rest of your 24-Month OPT STEM Extension application to the International Center

11. How to Submit Your OPT Application
It is required to meet with an advisor to review your STEM OPT application.
Submit your completed STEM OPT application during a Employment Hand-In Session Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 9:00am to 11:00am
Other ways to submit your STEM OPT application:
Schedule an appointment to meet with an International Student Advisor by calling
Write a letter to authorize a friend to submit your STEM OPT application on your behalf during the hours listed above.
This letter must include: your name, the name of the application, a statement of permission and the name of the friend submitting your application. Please sign and date this letter.

12. 24-Month OPT STEM Employment Guidelines
Employment must be paid.
Employment must be a minimum of 20 hours per week.
Employment must be directly related to your course of study. 
Limitation on Unemployment for the STEM OPT Extension. Students approved for the 24-month STEM OPT extension may not accrue more than a total of 150 days of unemployment throughout their entire 36 months on OPT. Time spent outside the United States, if not employed by a U.S. employer, is counted towards the 150-day period of unemployment. To count as “employed” a student should be able to provide evidence, acquired from the student’s employer, to verify that he or she worked at least 20 hours per week during the period of reported employment.
Unemployment Caution: SEVIS records will automatically terminate for students who have no employment reported for 150 days. Be sure that you have made alternate plans and communicated them to the International Center before your record is terminated. If you have any concerns, you can always an International Student Advisor.

13. I-983 Updates
Students must submit their self-evaluations via the form I-983 to the International Center during the first 12 months on the STEM OPT extension and at the completion of the 24-month extension period or at the conclusion of employment, whichever comes first. Evaluations should be submitted within 10 days of the required date.
Student and employers must report to the International Center a change in any of the following via the I-983:
Employer name and address
Decrease in student's compensation
Reduction in hours worked to less than 20 hours a week
Employer's EIN
Termination of employment

14. Reporting Requirement to the International Center
Students are required to report to the International Center by submitting the OPT employment update form within 10 days, any change in the following:
Legal Name
Residential address
Employer name and address
Change in status of current employment, including loss of employment, change of status to H-1B, transfer to another F-1 program, or change employers.  If you change employers, you and your employer will need to complete a new I-983 and submit to the International Center.
Students are required to report to the International Center every 6 months - regardless if there is a change or not - the following:
Legal name
Status of current employment

15. Further Questions & Information
For questions, please the International Center staff at or call our main line at (949)

16. Thank You!