OPT STEM 24-Month Extension

You and your OPT STEM employer(s) must meet all requirements listed below in order for you to apply for the 24-month extension:

• You must be an F-1 student on an authorized period of Post-Completion OPT.

• You must have earned a Bachelor's, Master's or Doctoral degree in a STEM degree program or completing your thesis or dissertation for the program. This degree program can be the basis of your current Post-OPT or it can be a STEM degree (Bachelor's and higher) that you earned in the past, as long as you have not already done an OPT STEM Extension based on that degree.

• You can find if your major qualifies for the OPT STEM Extension by looking at the CIP code on Page 1 of your I-20, which is the 6-digit code to the right of the major name under "MAJOR 1". If that code is on the "STEM Designated Degree Program list" on the Study in the States website, then your major is eligible for the OPT STEM Extension.

• You must be in a bonafide employer-employee relationship with your employer. Staffing and employment agencies might be eligible for the OPT STEM Extension under certain circumstances if there is a bonafide employer-employee relationship. Contract work and self employment are not eligible for the OPT STEM Extension. For more information, you can visit the USCIS website.

• Your employer must be registered in the E-Verify program with an E-Verify number at the time you apply for your 24-month extension. All employment during the OPT STEM Extension must be for E-Verify companies.

• The job cannot be voluntary; you must be a paid employee.

• You must work a minimum of 20 hours or more per week for your employer to be considered full-time. The hours must be indicated on the I-983 Training Plan, which you are required to submit for each employer. If you wish to work for multiple employers, you must work a minimum of 20 hours or more per week for each employer.

• You must complete an I-983 Training Plan with your employer (or employers, if you have more than one). Since this Training Plan requires that your employer agree to certain monitoring and reporting requirements, self-employment is not an option for the OPT STEM Extension.

• You cannot do more than two OPT STEM Extensions, and you cannot do more than one at the same degree level.

• USCIS must receive your application for the OPT STEM Extension before your current Post-Completion OPT expires on your EAD card (within 90 days of the end of your Post-OPT, but not before).

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Before we can issue your new I-20 for the OPT STEM Extension, you must submit a fully completed and signed I-983 Training Plan. Ink, digital or electronic signatures are accepted. While you will not need to include a copy of the I-983 when filing your OPT STEM Extension application with USCIS, a copy of the new OPT STEM I-20 is required.

• Download Form I-983 and complete it with your employer.
• Information for completing Page 1:
  • Name of School Reporting STEM OPT: San Diego State University (do not abbreviate)
  • Name of School Where STEM Degree Degree Was Earned: San Diego State University (For most students. If you are uncertain, please contact an ISC advisor).
  • SEVIS School Code of School Recommending STEM OPT: SND214F00142000
  • Designated School Official (DSO) Name and Contact Information: Enter  "Clarissa Fontanilla-Fajardo" for the Name. Enter [email protected] and (619) 594-1982 for the email address and phone number.
  • STEM OPT Requested Period: Begins the day after the Post-OPT end date on your EAD. Ends 2 years from that date. (Example: if the end date on your Post-OPT EAD is 6/25/2024, then your dates will be From 6/26/2024 To 6/25/2026)
  • Qualifying Major and Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) Code: Found on page 1 of your I-20. Include both the Major name and the 6-digit number found underneath "MAJOR 1"
  • Level/Type of Qualifying Degree: Enter your degree level
  • Date Awarded: The date you earned your STEM degree. If you have not graduated, enter the anticipated date that you will earn your degree.
  • Based on Prior Degree?: Check "No" (unless this is based on a degree you earned before your most recent degree program at SDSU)
  • Employment Authorization Number: "USCIS Number" found on your EAD (9 digits)
• Leave Page 5 blank. You will complete the evaluations 12 months and 24 months after your STEM Extension begins, and also at the end of any employment.
• More information on how to complete Form I-983 for you and your employer may be found on the Study in the States STEM OPT Hub.

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You must have the new I-20 before filing the application to avoid denial. Request the new I-20 from the ISC at least three weeks before your Post-OPT ends...but the earlier, the better!

HOW TO REQUEST THE OPT STEM I-20

When your Form I-983 is completed and signed, you may request the OPT STEM I-20 by following these steps:

• Determine your required 6-month participation reporting and annual self-evaluation dates. (Refer to Immigration Reporting Requirements below for more information.)
• Pay the SDSU $200 International Student STEM Optional Practical Training Administrative Processing Fee. You will need to save a screenshot of the payment information or the PDF of your email receipt at completion of the payment process to upload to the I-20 request form. You may use this link to access the payment site.
• Upload the payment receipt and the fully completed and signed I-983 to the ISC's OPT STEM 24-Month Extension I-20 Request Form to request your new I-20.

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While waiting to receive the new OPT STEM I-20 from the ISC, you may prepare your I-765 application. After receiving the new OPT STEM I-20 from the ISC, you can then pay the filing fee to file the application.

Important Filing Reminders:

• Do not pay the filing fee to USCIS--which will officially file your application--until after you receive the new OPT STEM I-20 from the ISC.
• Your application must be filed within the designated filing period, or it will automatically be denied by USCIS without a refund.
  • Begins 90 days before the Post-Completion end date on your EAD
  • Ends on the Post-Completion end date on your EAD
  • Within 60 days of the date your OPT STEM I-20 was issued

Visit the USCIS website to prepare/file your I-765 application online and for filing instructions.

The ISC has created an OPT STEM Extension Online I-765 Application Guide to assist you in preparing your application and documents. Please note that it is ultimately the student's responsibility to ensure that the I-765 application is completed and filed correctly.

Documents Required for I-765:

• Copies of pages 1 and 2 of new OPT STEM I-20, signed/dated with pen
• 2x2 passport photo (taken within the past 6 months and not previously used)
• Copy of most recent I-94
• Copies of both sides of EAD for Post-Completion OPT
• Copy of passport used for most recent entry to U.S.
• If applicable: Copy of passport issued in the U.S. (applies only if you renewed your passport in the U.S. and have not departed the U.S. since renewal)
• Copy of most recent Post-Completion OPT I-20
• If you graduated, a copy of your diploma (copy of SDSU official or unofficial transcript is acceptable if you have not yet received the diploma); or if you have not yet graduated, a copy of your SDSU official or unofficial transcript
  • For students in the MBA in Information Systems program, include a copy of your diploma and the transcript (unofficial transcript is acceptable)
• Institute Accreditation is not required for most students. This is only required if your STEM degree was earned at another school

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Processing time and Extension of work authorization

Your approval for the OPT STEM Extension comes from USCIS in the form of a new EAD card. As with your application for Post-OPT, the average processing time by USCIS is 2-3 months.

The OPT STEM Extension begins on the day after the end date on your EAD card for Post-Completion OPT and ends 24 months later, regardless of the date your OPT STEM Extension is officially approved by USCIS.

While your OPT STEM Extension application is pending, you are allowed to continue working for up to 180 days after your Post-OPT end date on the EAD card. If your employer requires proof of this automatic extension, you can refer them to the USCIS STEM OPT webpage under the section "Applying for a STEM OPT Extension".

Check the status of your application

After your filing fee is accepted by USCIS, you can click on "Go to my cases" to get your I-797 receipt notice. In the "Tracking Your Case" screen, click on the "Documents" tab to download a copy of your receipt notice.

Check your receipt notice immediately to confirm that your name and address are correct. If there is an error made by USCIS, contact them immediately through your online account with the correct information. It is important that your information is accurate to avoid an error on your EAD card and/or approval notice, or in receiving hard copies of your documents.

USCIS will post all notices about your application in the "Documents" tab, such as: Receipt Notice, Request for Evidence (RFE), PDF of completed application, and the Decision Letter. USCIS will also mail a hard copy of all documents to your U.S. Mailing Address.

To view the current status of your application, click on the "Case Status" tab in your online USCIS account.

To track your application, click on the "Case History" tab in your online USCIS account.

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Students on the 24-month STEM OPT Extension are limited to a cumulative total of 150 days of unemployment for the 3 years of OPT (from the start of Post-Completion OPT through the end of the STEM OPT Extension). You must report any period of unemployment using the ISC's OPT Update Form.

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You are required to report all changes to your employment information and your personal address/phone number/email address within 10 days of the change. You can update your personal U.S. address and phone number in your SEVP Portal; all other changes must be reported to the ISC's OPT Update Form. Failure to report this information and the required participation and evaluations within the deadlines are a violation of your F-1 status and could have a negative impact to any future applications for U.S. benefits and/or U.S. visas.

Problems with your SEVP Portal Account

If you have problems with your SEVP Portal Account, please visit the DHS Portal Help.

If your SEVP Portal Account is locked, please complete the ISC's OPT Update Form to request it to be reset.

6-Month Participation Reporting

You must report your participation every 6 months from the start of your OPT STEM Extension. Although SEVP will send you a reminder email to "contact the DSO" at your school to report your participation, the ISC requires our students to report participation to our OPT Update Form, where you will confirm your employment and personal information (personal U.S. address, phone number, and email address).

Annual Self Evaluations

You must submit an evaluation every 12 months from the start of your OPT STEM Extension. The evaluations are on Page 5 of the I-983 training plan and must be signed by you and your employer. Use the top part for the first evaluation and the bottom part for the final evaluation. You will upload the completed and signed evaluation (Page 5 only) to our OPT Update Form when you report your 12-month participation and 24-month participation.

Employment Changes

If you end employment, please submit the final evaluation to the OPT Update Form. If you have a new employer, you can also submit the new I-983 for the new employer at the same time or separately.

In addition, you are required to submit a new I-983 Training Plan if there are any material changes to, or material deviations from, your previously submitted I-983 trainng plan. This should also be submitted to the OPT Update Form.

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Ending your OPT STEM Extension

If you plan to return home permanently before your OPT STEM Extension ends, (you won't return to the U.S. to finish your OPT STEM Extension), you will need to complete the Completion/Termination Immigration Status Form with your date of departure and upload the final evaluation within 10 days of your last day of employment.

Changing Status

If you changed or will change your immigration status from F-1 to another status (whether it is inside the U.S. through a Change of Status application to USCIS or outside the U.S. by obtaining a new visa and entering with that visa), you will need to complete the Completion/Termination Immigration Status Form and upload the final evaluation and other requirement documents within 10 days of the date your status changed.

Transferring to Another Institution

If you wish to transfer to another institution during the 60-day grace period after completing your OPT STEM Extension, in addition to your participation and evaluation requirement stated above, you will need to complete the ISC's Transfer Out Request Form. This online form can be found on the the ISC's Forms webpage, where you will also need to upload the acceptance letter to the new school. This needs to be done at least 10 business days before the date you want your SEVIS record (I-20) to be transferred or before your grace period ends, whichever comes first.

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Students on the OPT STEM Extension are not eligible to purchase the JCB Insurance Solutions policy that is offered through the ISC. You may instead utilize the health insurance plan available from your employer or find and purchase an individual health insurance plan.

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