STEM OPT Extension

The STEM OPT Extension allows eligible F-1 students with a degree in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math (STEM) to extend their Post-Completion OPT by 24 months.  

Students may receive two lifetime STEM OPT extensions, each based on a different STEM degree. STEM OPT must always follow Post-Completion OPT.  

To qualify for STEM OPT, students must: 

• Maintain valid F-1 status and be on active Post-Completion OPT with no more than 90 days of unemployment. 
• Hold a valid passport and be physically in the U.S. when applying. 
• Have a STEM degree approved by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) (check your I-20 CIP code). 
  • There are two ways students can qualify for the STEM OPT extension: 
    • Based on the Most Recent Degree: 
    • Most students apply for STEM OPT using their current SF State STEM degree, which their Post-Completion OPT is based on. 
    • Example: A student who completed a master’s in Computer Science applies for STEM OPT based on that degree. 
  • Based on a Prior Degree: 
    • Students may also apply for STEM OPT using a previous STEM degree earned from an accredited U.S. institution, as long as they have not already used a STEM extension for that degree. 
    • Example: A student currently on OPT based on an MBA may apply for STEM OPT using a prior bachelor’s in Mathematics, if the job is directly related to Mathematics. 
• Work for an E-Verified employer that: 
  • Meets all STEM OPT reporting and training requirements, and 
  • Provides at least 20 hours/week of paid work directly related to your STEM major. 
• Apply within the STEM OPT filing timeline. 

Types of Employment That Are Allowed 

• Meet all STEM OPT Employer Responsibilities. 
• Be paid and full-time (over 20 hours/week). 
• Be directly related to your major (not your minor). 
• Be with an E-Verified employer. 
• If working for multiple employers, each position must meet all requirements. 

Types of Employment That Are Not Allowed 

• Jobs not related to your STEM major 
• Work with non–E-Verified employers 
• On-campus “student” jobs 
• Volunteer or unpaid positions 
• Self-employment (you cannot supervise yourself; a qualified supervisor must oversee training) 
• Staffing/temporary agency jobs where the Form I-983 employer does not directly train or supervise you (reviewed case by case by DHS) 

OPT allows up to 90 days of unemployment; STEM OPT adds 60 more (total 150 across both). Unemployment counts from the EAD “Valid From” date whenever no job is reported in the SEVP Portal—not from the application date, requested start date, finals, I-20 end date, while pending, or before the EAD start date.  

Any day within your EAD validity without reported employment—including gaps between jobs—counts as unemployment. While on STEM OPT, you must work 20+ hours/week in a job directly related to your major.  

Reaching 90+ days on Post-OPT violates F-1/OPT and makes you ineligible for STEM OPT; reaching 150+ total days violates F-1, triggers SEVP auto-termination (no 60-day grace period), and SEVP will email you about it.  

STEM OPT students must regularly validate employment, complete evaluations, and report any changes using the [SFSU DoIE] STEM OPT Reporting Form. 

Treat reporting deadlines like school assignments — set calendar reminders. SEVP will email reminders 30 days before each due date. Reports must be submitted within 10 days of any due date or change. Failure to report may violate your F-1 status. 

Validating Reports (Every 6 Months) 

Confirm your SEVP Portal information is accurate every 6 months after your STEM OPT EAD start date. You’ll receive reminders from SEVP, not SFSU. 

Required reports: 

• 6-month validation report 
• 12-month validation report 
• 18-month validation report 
• 24-month validation report 

Annual Self-Evaluations 

Submit two evaluations using page 5 of Form I-983 (submit all 5 pages each time): 

• 12-month: “Evaluation on Student Progress” 
• 24-month: “Final Evaluation on Student Progress” 

Change of Employer 

Submit both forms within 10 days: 

•  From previous employer: “Final Evaluation on Student Progress” (Form I-983) 
•  From new employer: New, completed Form I-983 signed by the new employer 

Loss of Employment or Change of Status 

If you end your job or change to another status (e.g., H-1B), complete the “Final Evaluation on Student Progress” (page 5 of Form I-983) within 10 days and submit all 5 pages. 

• Must fulfil the STEM OPT Employer Report Requirements listed at Study in the States STEM OPT Hub page. See link >>.   
• Must complete and sign Form I-983 (Training Plan for STEM OPT Students), confirming that they:  
  • Have sufficient resources and personnel to provide proper training.  
  • Offer a training opportunity comparable to U.S. workers in duties, hours, and pay. 
  • Clearly define learning objectives and support the student in achieving them. 
• Both the employer and student must sign Form I-983. 
• Must be enrolled in E-Verify. 
• Must have a valid Employer Identification Number (EIN) for tax purposes. 
• Must maintain a bona fide employer-employee relationship with the student. 
• Must recognize that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) may conduct site visits to verify compliance. 
•  Students must submit an updated Form I-983 to f1@sfsu.edu for any material changes during the STEM OPT period. 

Below is a general overview of the typical STEM OPT process from the time an F-1 student begins their request through approval and beyond. 

Please note that processing times may vary and are not guaranteed by the F-1 advisors. 

Phase 1: During Post-Completion OPT 

• Review STEM OPT resources. 
• Download and complete the STEM OPT Request Form and Form I-983 (Training Plan). 
• Email Form I-983 to your qualifying employer for completion. 
• Receive the signed Form I-983 from your employer. 

Phase 2: Up to 90 Days Before OPT End Date 

• Email your signed STEM OPT Request Form and Form I-983 to f1@sfsu.edu. 
• Begin preparing your STEM OPT application while waiting for your new I-20. 
• F-1 Advisors issue your STEM OPT Requested I-20 within 5 business days. 
• File your STEM OPT application online with USCIS. 

After filing with USCIS: 

• A digital receipt notice, I-797C, Notice of Action, will be available immediately.  
• Check status online at https://egov.uscis.gov/  
• The Employment Authorization Document (EAD) arrives about 2–3 weeks after approval. 
• You may continue working while your STEM OPT application is pending. 

Phase 3: After STEM OPT/EAD Start Date 

• Continue employment under STEM OPT authorization. 
• Continue reporting responsibilities 

Phase 4: After STEM OPT Ends 

• After your STEM OPT end date, you enter a 60-day grace period. 
• During this time, you may: 
• Prepare to depart the U.S., or 
• Transfer your SEVIS record to another U.S. institution. 
• Your F-1 status at SFSU will be considered completed at the end of this grace period. 

• Review the STEM OPT resources above carefully and understand your STEM OPT responsibilities. 
• Review your current 12-month post-completion OPT employment information in the SEVP Portal 
  • You are required to report on your current employment in the SEVP Portal. 
  • Log in to SEVP Portal NOW to ensure all employment information is accurate and up to date, as incomplete information may delay our office's ability to issue an I-20 with the STEM OPT recommendation. 
• Complete the mandatory STEM OPT quiz 
  • The purpose of the quiz is to test applicants’ knowledge of STEM OPT and their responsibilities.  
  • There is no minimum score requirement. 
• Note the date you complete the quiz to fill STEM OPT Extension Authorization Request Form. 

• Download and fill out the STEM OPT Extension Request Form (PDF, 139KB). 
  • Digital signatures, scanned copies, and clear photos are accepted. 
• Download Form I-983 from the DHS website and complete it with your employer (type your information). 
  • SEVIS School Code: on your I-20, begins with SFR 
  • Email: f1@sfsu.edu | School: San Francisco State University 
    Address: 1600 Holloway Ave, San Francisco, CA 94132 
  • SEVIS ID: on your I-20, begins with N 
  • Requested Period: starts the day after your OPT ends and lasts 24 months 
    (Example: OPT ends June 3, 2025 → STEM OPT: June 4, 2025 – June 3, 2027) 
  • Qualifying Major/CIP Code: listed on your I-20 (format: XX.XXXX) 
  • Degree Level: e.g., Bachelor of Science or Master of Science 
  • Based on Prior Degree: select “No” (for most students) 
  • Page 5 should remain blank when applying. 

For help, review: 

• Form I-983 Instructions 
• Tips for Completing I-983 

• Once the student has received their I-983 form filled by their employer, and signed the STEM OPT Extension Authorization Request form, email the forms to f1@sfsu.edu (within 90 days of their OPT end date)
• An F-1 international student advisor will review then student's request. If eligible, they will be issued a "STEM OPT Extension Requested I-20" within 5 business days via email.
• While a student is waiting for their "STEM OPT Extension Requested I-20", they should begin to prepare the Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization and additional documents.

USCIS has authorized students to file for STEM OPT Extension (C)(3)(C) online.

See the Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization Instructions (link to Google Slides)

Additional Resources

• USCIS Form I-765
• How to create a USCIS online account
• Tips for filing online

• You can check status online at https://egov.uscis.gov/ 
• If USCIS needs more information, they will issue a Request for Evidence (RFE). This does not mean your Form I-765 is denied. It just requires additional documents. Submit your response electronically through your USCIS online account. You must respond by the USCIS deadline, or your application will be denied. Receiving an RFE may delay processing. 
• If your Form I-765 is rejected, it means it was not filed properly and does not establish a filing date. Contact us immediately for guidance. 
•  If your Form I-765 is denied, it means your OPT has not been approved. Contact us immediately for next steps. 

Students who have pending I-765 must enter the U.S. with “PENDING” remark for STEM OPT.  Do not leave the U.S. if current 12 -month post-completion OPT has ended, and the STEM OPT extension application is still pending. 

Continue to report any change of employment by submitting updated Form I-983 at [SFSU DoIE] STEM OPT Reporting Form 

Keep your personal contact information current at SEVP portal.   

SEVP sent regular reminders to F-1 students on OPT.  It is essential for you to keep your email address up to date.  To change your email address for SEVP portal: 

• Step 1: In your Student Center, change your Preferred Email to a personal email. Advisors will update your email in SEVIS within 24 hours. 
• Step 2: SEVP will lock your old portal account and send an email from do-not-reply.sevp@ice.dhs.gov to your new email address with a temporary password. 
• Step 3: Log in with your new email and temporary password, then reset your password.

Students on STEM OPT extension must enter the U.S. with “APPROVED” remark for STEM OPT.

See "Travel While on OPT or STEM OPT" section at Travel for more information.  

Students can receive free tax assistance (Only if their total income is below $54,000). See "Taxes in the U.S."

If you do not exceed 150 days of unemployment, you have a 60-day grace period after the “Valid Until” date on your EAD. During this period, you must leave the U.S. or transfer to another school to continue your F-1 status.  

You will lose access to the SEVP Portal shortly after your EAD end date. We recommend taking screenshots and saving records of your employment history and SEVP reporting for your own reference. 

See Change Degree Level: Bachelors to Masters if they plan to pursue another program of study at SF State.

If students wish to pursue study at a different U.S. institution, follow the I-20 Transfer Procedures and request their SEVIS record/I-20 to be transferred to their new school.

Students can continue to work up to 180 days after their current EAD end date if USCIS has received their STEM OPT extension application before their current EAD end date.

Yes, if students are currently on STEM OPT.  Submit a modified Form I-983 signed by their new employer to the Division of International Education for review. We discourage students from changing STEM OPT employers while their STEM OPT application is pending.

While on Post-Completion OPT or STEM OPT Extension, students may take only recreational or personal enrichment classes (e.g., yoga, cooking, wine tasting, etc.).  

If you plan to begin a new academic program, you must end your OPT by transferring your SEVIS record to the new school and enrolling full time in that program.