How to apply for the STEM OPT extension

What the STEM OPT extension is

Certain F-1 students with STEM degrees may apply for a 24-month extension of their post-completion OPT. USCIS SEVP describes it as a 24-month period of temporary training directly related to the student's program of study in an approved STEM field. Study in the States

• Dates. The extension begins the day after your initial post-completion OPT authorization expires and ends 24 months later, regardless of the date it is approved. 8 CFR 214.2(f)(11) SEVIS sets the start date as the day after your current post-completion OPT end date. SEVIS Help Hub
• Fixed period. USCIS says the extension is not lengthened by periods of part-time work or unemployment. USCIS Policy Manual
• No 14-month limit. The 14-month limit for completing post-completion OPT does not apply to the STEM OPT extension. 8 CFR 214.2(f)(10)
• Two in a lifetime. You may receive no more than two STEM OPT extensions. A second one must be based on a degree at a higher level than the degree used for the first. 8 CFR 214.2(f)(10) SEVP says you must also be in an initial period of OPT when you apply for the second one. Study in the States
• Once per degree level. SEVP says an extension may be granted only once per degree level, even with more than one STEM degree at that level. Study in the States A 17-month extension under the 2008 rule counts as one extension. 8 CFR 214.2(f)(10)
• Sources word this differently. The USCIS Policy Manual says the extension "can only be granted once per qualifying degree" and that students who do not fully use it are ineligible for any later STEM extension. The SEVIS Help Hub calls it "one-time." Both pages, the regulation and the USCIS STEM OPT page also describe a second extension based on a higher-level degree. USCIS Policy Manual SEVIS Help Hub USCIS

Who is eligible

You as the student

• You must have been granted OPT and currently be in a valid period of post-completion OPT. USCIS 8 CFR 214.2(f)(10)
• SEVP says you may not apply during the 60-day grace period that follows your initial post-completion OPT. Study in the States The postponed July 2026 rule would set a 30-day period after post-completion OPT or STEM OPT, with transition rules for students admitted for duration of status. Study in the States Federal Register USCIS I-765
• The qualifying degree must be a bachelor's, master's or doctoral degree from a school accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and certified by SEVP. USCIS The sources state the timing differently: the regulation says accredited "at the time of application," the USCIS STEM OPT page says at the time you submit your application, and SEVP's FAQ says at the time the student applied. 8 CFR 214.2(f)(10) SEVP FAQ
• The extension is based on the first qualifying degree for which you completed all course requirements (excluding thesis or equivalent). 8 CFR 214.2(f)(10)
• If your degree area changed from non-STEM to STEM in your last semester, the USCIS officer may ask for evidence of the reason. USCIS Policy Manual

Your degree and the STEM list

• The degree must be in a field DHS has designated as STEM. DHS uses Department of Education CIP codes to identify eligible degrees. 8 CFR 214.2(f)(10) ICE
• All CIP codes in four series qualify: Engineering (14), Biological and Biomedical Sciences (26), Mathematics and Statistics (27) and Physical Sciences (40). ICE The list also includes selected six-digit codes from 18 related series. STEM list
• ICE links the list last updated July 22, 2024 as the current STEM list. An update announced in the Federal Register on July 23, 2024 added one field of study. STEM list Federal Register
• When the degree must be on the list. The regulation and the USCIS Policy Manual say at the time the DSO makes the recommendation. SEVP's eligibility pages say at the time you submit your application, not when you received the degree. 8 CFR 214.2(f)(11) USCIS Policy Manual Study in the States

Using a prior STEM degree

• If your current post-completion OPT is based on a non-STEM degree, you may be able to apply using an earlier STEM degree from a U.S. institution. USCIS
• Both degrees must come from institutions that are currently accredited and SEVP-certified. You cannot use a prior degree that was already the basis for a STEM OPT extension, and the training must be directly related to that prior degree. USCIS
• The regulation says the prior degree must be on the current STEM list at the time of the DSO recommendation. 8 CFR 214.2(f)(10) SEVP's pages say the qualifying degree must be on the list when you submit your application. Study in the States
• The 10-year window is measured from different dates. The regulation, the USCIS Policy Manual and the SEVIS Help Hub say the prior degree must have been conferred within the 10 years before the DSO recommendation. Two SEVP pages say within 10 years of applying to USCIS. 8 CFR 214.2(f)(10) USCIS Policy Manual Study in the States Study in the States

Employer requirements

Your STEM OPT employer does not have to be your post-completion OPT employer. Study in the States

• E-Verify. The employer must be enrolled in E-Verify, with a valid E-Verify Company ID or, if it uses an employer agent, a Client Company ID. 8 CFR 214.2(f)(10) It must remain in good standing with E-Verify. USCIS The company ID has four to seven digits and appears on each page of the E-Verify memorandum of understanding. E-Verify E-Verify says that without this number the student cannot complete the application. E-Verify
• Agencies. E-Verify says employment agencies and consulting firms that employ the student must be enrolled, but third parties contracting with them need not be. E-Verify USCIS says staffing, temporary and consulting firms may employ STEM OPT students only if they provide the training themselves and keep a bona fide employer-employee relationship. USCIS
• EIN. The employer must have a valid Employer Identification Number from the IRS. USCIS
• Real employment. The employer must keep a bona fide employer-employee relationship with you. It may not be an employer in name only, and you may not work as a volunteer. The employer that signs Form I-983 must be the one that provides the training. USCIS
• Hours. You may not train for less than 20 hours per week. 8 CFR 214.2(f)(10) SEVP applies this minimum per employer. Study in the States
• Pay and duties. Duties, hours and compensation must be commensurate with those of the employer's similarly situated U.S. workers in the area. 8 CFR 214.2(f)(10) USCIS says alternative compensation may be allowed if you are a bona fide employee and it is commensurate. USCIS Policy Manual
• Training. The employer must run a formal training program and may not hand its training duties to a client or customer. Another F-1 student on OPT or STEM OPT may never be your trainer. USCIS The employer also attests on Form I-983 that you will not replace a U.S. worker. 8 CFR 214.2(f)(10)
• Self-employment and start-ups. You must be a bona fide employee of the employer that signs Form I-983, and you cannot sign for the employer yourself. A start-up can qualify if all requirements are met. Study in the States Study in the States
• Site visits. DHS may visit any STEM OPT employer. It gives 48 hours' notice, except that a visit triggered by a complaint or other evidence of noncompliance may come without notice. ICE employees conduct the visits. 8 CFR 214.2(f)(10) Study in the States

When to apply for the STEM OPT extension

Sources: 8 CFR 214.2(f)(11) USCIS I-765 instructions SEVIS Help Hub

• SEVP says USCIS will deny a Form I-765 filed before the DSO recommendation or after the 60-day period, and you would have to reapply and pay the fee again. SEVIS Help Hub
• SEVIS automatically cancels a STEM OPT request that stays in "Requested" status for more than 180 days. SEVIS Help Hub
• After OPT expires. No official page found says in one sentence what USCIS does with an application received after the post-completion OPT EAD has expired. The regulation allows filing while in a valid period of post-completion OPT, SEVP says USCIS must receive it by the OPT end date, and the automatic extension requires a timely filing. 8 CFR 214.2(f)(10) SEVIS Help Hub
• Form edition. USCIS accepts the 08/21/25 edition of Form I-765 and is not accepting the 09/15/26 edition. USCIS I-765

How to apply, step by step

1. Complete Form I-983 with your employer. You complete Section 1 and work with the employer on the rest; the employer completes Sections 3 to 6. Study in the States Study in the States The form must be fully completed and signed before your DSO may recommend the extension. 8 CFR 214.2(f)(10) See the Form I-983 guide.
2. Give Form I-983 to your DSO. Submit it to a DSO at the school where you were most recently enrolled. 8 CFR 214.2(f)(10) The DSO confirms it is complete, signed and addresses all program requirements, and may not recommend the extension if the employer has not met the requirements. Study in the States 8 CFR 214.2(f)(11)
3. Get your DSO recommendation and Form I-20. The DSO enters the recommendation in SEVIS and gives you a signed, dated Form I-20 showing it. 8 CFR 214.2(f)(11) You also sign page one of the Form I-20. SEVIS Help Hub
4. Complete Form I-765. Enter category (c)(3)(C) in Part 2, Item 27; only one category is allowed. In Item 28, give your degree level and major, your employer's name as listed in E-Verify and its E-Verify Company ID or Client Company ID. I-765 instructions You must have a U.S. address, and USCIS rejects unsigned forms. I-765 instructions USCIS I-765
5. File online or on paper, within 60 days of the recommendation. Category (c)(3)(C) can be filed online, and USCIS says filing certain forms online costs less. USCIS online filing Paper filings sent by USPS go to USCIS, Attn: I-765 C03, P.O. Box 805373, Chicago, IL 60680-5374; the address page lists separate addresses for couriers and for filing with Form I-907. USCIS addresses
6. Pay the fee. See the fee section below. USCIS G-1055
7. Wait for the decision. USCIS decides based on the DSO recommendation and other eligibility factors and notifies you in writing. A denial cannot be appealed. 8 CFR 214.2(f)(11) USCIS may require an interview or biometrics. I-765 instructions

Whether Form I-983 goes to USCIS. SEVP's student page on the form says students submit it with their STEM OPT application. The regulation says it goes to the DSO, and to ICE or USCIS on request or as the form instructions direct. The USCIS STEM OPT filing list, the I-765 instructions and the USCIS evidence checklist do not list Form I-983. Study in the States 8 CFR 214.2(f)(10) USCIS

STEM OPT extension fee

Source: USCIS fee schedule, Form G-1055, edition 09/09/26. USCIS G-1055 The schedule does not name category (c)(3)(C). The $470 and $520 amounts come from its general line for an initial, replacement or renewal EAD "unless noted below," and no official page found states the STEM OPT fee by category name.

• USCIS rejects filings with an incorrect fee. For mail filings, you can pay by card with Form G-1450 or from a U.S. bank account with Form G-1650. USCIS G-1055
• The premium processing fee rose from $1,685 to $1,780 on March 1, 2026. Federal Register It is paid separately from the filing fee and cannot be waived. USCIS G-1055 USCIS premium processing

Documents required

The USCIS STEM OPT page and the Form I-765 instructions list:

• Form I-765 with the correct fee. USCIS
• Your employer's name as listed in E-Verify and its E-Verify Company ID or Client Company ID number. USCIS I-765 instructions
• A Form I-20 endorsed by your DSO within the last 60 days. The USCIS evidence checklist says a copy signed by the DSO within 60 days before filing. USCIS USCIS checklist
• A copy of your STEM degree. USCIS
• Evidence that your degree is on the current STEM Designated Degree Program List. I-765 instructions

The checklist's general items for all Form I-765 applicants are a copy of your Form I-94 (or passport or travel document), a copy of your last EAD if you had one, two identical passport-style photos, Form G-28 if you have a representative, and a government-issued ID if you never had an EAD. USCIS checklist Photos must be unmounted and unretouched. USCIS

• Prior STEM degree. Include a copy of that degree and evidence that the school is currently accredited and SEVP-certified. I-765 instructions SEVP says USCIS highly recommends sending transcripts too. SEVIS Help Hub
• The Form I-20 in the instructions. The USCIS STEM OPT page, the checklist and the SEVIS Help Hub all call for the Form I-20. The (c)(3)(C) paragraph of the Form I-765 instructions does not mention it. I-765 instructions SEVIS Help Hub

The 180-day automatic extension

• If you filed your STEM Form I-765 on time and it is pending when your post-completion OPT EAD expires, you remain authorized to work from the expiration date until USCIS's written decision, for no more than 180 days. 8 CFR 274a.12(b)(6)(iv)
• During that time, your expired EAD counts as unexpired when combined with a Form I-20 endorsed by the DSO who recommended the extension. 8 CFR 274a.12(b)(6)(iv)
• The extension depends on a timely and proper Form I-765 filing and a timely and proper request for the DSO recommendation, including a fully executed Form I-983. 8 CFR 214.2(f)(11) SEVP says it applies only if USCIS received the application before your post-completion OPT EAD expired. SEVIS Help Hub
• USCIS says the extension ends once it decides your application, or 180 days after your post-completion OPT expires, whichever is earlier. USCIS USCIS Policy Manual
• If denied. If USCIS denies the application after your OPT EAD expired, work authorization ends on the decision date and F-1 status ends 60 days after the denial. If your OPT EAD is still valid, you stay authorized until it expires. If the denial is for failing to maintain F-1 status, you must leave the United States immediately. USCIS Policy Manual
• Recent rules. The July 2026 rule's preamble says timely STEM OPT applicants still receive the automatic extension. Federal Register An October 30, 2025 interim final rule ended automatic extensions for renewal EADs in certain categories. Its text does not mention STEM or OPT, and eCFR still shows the 180-day provision. Federal Register 8 CFR 274a.12
• Cap-gap. SEVP says a timely filed H-1B change-of-status petition can extend F-1 status and current work authorization until April 1 of the following year. The regulation says until April 1 of the fiscal year of the H-1B request or the petition's validity start date, whichever is earlier. The USCIS Policy Manual says the cap-gap period ends on October 1. Study in the States 8 CFR 214.2(f)(5) USCIS Policy Manual USCIS says filing during a cap-gap extension does not change your STEM OPT start date. USCIS Policy Manual

Processing time and case status

• This guide does not list processing times. Check the official USCIS processing times page for current figures.
• Premium processing is available for (c)(3)(C). USCIS commits to act on the Form I-765 within 30 business days or refund the premium fee. USCIS premium processing
• Action means an approval, denial, Request for Evidence, Notice of Intent to Deny or opening a fraud investigation. A Request for Evidence or Notice of Intent to Deny stops the clock, which restarts when USCIS receives your response. USCIS premium processing
• You can file Form I-907 with Form I-765 or later while it is pending, online or on paper. USCIS online filing USCIS premium processing USCIS may reject both forms if one payment is sent for both. USCIS premium processing
• After approval, USCIS says the EAD card should be produced within 2 weeks and mailed by USPS Priority Mail, and to allow 30 days before asking about it. USCIS I-765

After approval: reporting and evaluations

• 10-day reports. Report changes to your DSO within 10 days. The regulation lists legal name, residential or mailing address, employer name, employer address and loss of employment. 8 CFR 214.2(f)(12) The USCIS STEM OPT page adds email address and does not list loss of employment. USCIS
• Six-month validation. Every six months, confirm to your DSO that this information has not changed, even if nothing changed. 8 CFR 214.2(f)(12) USCIS The regulation says each report is due within 10 business days of the reporting date. 8 CFR 214.2(f)(12) The SEVIS Help Hub lists reports at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months in one place and at 6, 12 and 18 months in another. SEVIS Help Hub
• SEVP Portal. STEM OPT students can use it to update contact and existing employer details, but cannot add a new employer there. Portal users get an email 30 days before a validation report is due. Study in the States Study in the States Study in the States See SEVP Portal & reporting.
• Evaluations. You need a 12-month evaluation and a final evaluation on Form I-983, signed by you and your employer, due to your DSO within 10 days after each period ends. 8 CFR 214.2(f)(10) SEVP says a missing final evaluation may jeopardize your status. Study in the States The Form I-983 guide covers the details.
• Changes and new employers. Material changes need a modified Form I-983. A new employer needs a new Form I-983 within 10 days of starting, and must be enrolled in E-Verify before you begin paid work. 8 CFR 214.2(f)(10) Study in the States
• Unemployment limit. With the extension, you may not have more than 150 days of unemployment in total across your whole OPT period. 8 CFR 214.2(f)(10) SEVP explains this as 90 days during post-completion OPT plus 60 during the extension. Study in the States SEVIS counts you as unemployed if your record has no employer. SEVIS Help Hub Count your days with the calculator.
• Leaving a job. Report the end of your training within 10 days. Study in the States Your employer must report it to your DSO within five business days. 8 CFR 214.2(f)(10)
• OPT authorization ends automatically if you change education level or transfer to another school. I-765 instructions

Common questions

Official sources

Every fact on this page comes from these official pages. Dates are the "last updated" or "last reviewed" dates the pages showed when checked on September 28, 2026.

1. USCIS: Optional Practical Training Extension for STEM Students (STEM OPT)Last reviewed/updated 01/30/2026
2. USCIS: Form I-765, Application for Employment AuthorizationLast reviewed/updated 09/15/2026
3. USCIS: Instructions for Form I-765Edition 08/21/25
4. USCIS: Checklist of required initial evidence for Form I-765Last reviewed/updated 05/15/2025
5. USCIS: Direct filing addresses for Form I-765Last reviewed/updated 03/03/2026
6. USCIS: Forms available to file onlineLast reviewed/updated 07/24/2026
7. USCIS: G-1055 fee scheduleLast reviewed/updated 09/09/2026
8. USCIS: Form G-1055 fee schedule (PDF)Edition 09/09/26
9. USCIS: How do I request premium processing?Last reviewed/updated 03/23/2026
10. USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 2, Part F, Chapter 5Current as of September 23, 2026
11. USCIS: Processing timesCould not be checked by automated request on September 28, 2026
12. Study in the States: STEM OPT Extension OverviewLast updated April 28, 2025
13. Study in the States: Students, Determining STEM OPT Extension EligibilityLast updated March 25, 2026
14. Study in the States: Students, STEM OPT Reporting RequirementsLast updated July 6, 2026
15. Study in the States: DSOs, Recommending Students for the STEM OPT ExtensionLast updated July 18, 2024
16. Study in the States: DSOs, STEM OPT Reporting RequirementsLast updated May 25, 2023
17. Study in the States: Employers, STEM OPT Reporting RequirementsLast updated September 18, 2023
18. Study in the States: Students and the Form I-983Last updated November 26, 2024
19. Study in the States: Form I-983 OverviewLast updated October 2, 2025
20. Study in the States: Employer Site VisitsLast updated May 25, 2023
21. Study in the States: STEM OPT Frequently Asked QuestionsLast updated April 28, 2025
22. Study in the States: SEVIS Help Hub, F-1 STEM OPT ExtensionLast updated July 27, 2026
23. Study in the States: SEVP Portal OverviewLast updated May 25, 2023
24. Study in the States: Update Employer InformationLast updated May 25, 2023
25. Study in the States: Final Rule Quick FactsLast updated September 10, 2026
26. ICE SEVP: Schools and Programs (STEM list and CIP codes)Updated 10/16/2025
27. ICE: DHS STEM Designated Degree Program ListLast updated July 22, 2024
28. E-Verify: Required to participate to hire STEM OPT students?Last reviewed/updated 05/04/2023
29. E-Verify: How do I find the company ID number?Last reviewed/updated 08/17/2023
30. E-Verify: Releasing the company ID number for a STEM OPT applicationLast reviewed/updated 08/18/2023
31. 8 CFR 214.2 on eCFRPoint-in-time text of 2026-09-24
32. 8 CFR 274a.12 on eCFRPoint-in-time text of 2026-09-24
33. Federal Register: 91 FR 44976, Establishing a Fixed Time Period of Admission (July 17, 2026)Published 07/17/2026
34. Federal Register: 89 FR 59748, Update to the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program ListPublished 07/23/2024
35. Federal Register: 91 FR 1059, Adjustment to Premium Processing FeesPublished 01/12/2026; effective 03/01/2026
36. Federal Register: 90 FR 48799, Removal of the Automatic Extension of EADsPublished 10/30/2025

This page summarizes official information. It is not legal, immigration or tax advice. Confirm your situation with your DSO or a qualified immigration attorney. Last updated September 28, 2026.

More guides

• Form I-983 guideThe training plan, signatures and evaluations
• How to apply for OPTDSO recommendation, Form I-765 and fees
• SEVP Portal & reportingAccess, logging in and what to report
• OPT unemployment days calculatorCount days against the 90- and 150-day limits