- Your I-20 must list a CIP code that appears on the ICE/USCIS “STEM list.”
- Your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify.
- You must be in paid employment.
- You must have a bona fide employer-employee relationship; the employer completes the Form I-983 training plan.
- You must work at least 20 hours per week.
- Pay the $100 24-month STEM Extension OPT SEVIS Maintenance Fee (for STEM OPT extension)
- Email PDF copies of required documents to ISS (iss@sc.edu)
- STEM OPT I-20 Request Form (signed)
- Form I-983 (student + employer portions)
- Wait (up to 5 business days) for your ISS advisor to email you the new STEM OPT I-20.
- Prepare the application package for USCIS:
- STEM OPT I-20 (signed and dated copies)
- Passport photo page
- Valid F-1 visa
- Current OPT Employment Authorization Document (EAD)
- I-94 record
- Payment (check or money order)
- Two new passport photos (within last 30 days)
- Official academic transcript
- Copy of diploma (or replacement)
- Submit the application to USCIS (either online or by mail):
- The earliest you can file is 90 days before your current OPT expires.
- USCIS must receive your STEM OPT extension request before your current OPT EAD expires. You cannot file after expiration.
- The STEM extension recommendation in SEVIS by ISS gives you a 60-day window to file after the recommendation.
- While your STEM OPT application is pending, you may continue working under the pending status (if filed on time).
- Typical USCIS processing takes 3-4 months.
- In addition to the 90 days allowed during post-completion OPT, STEM OPT grants an additional 60 days of unemployment, for a total of 150 days permitted.
- All employment must relate to your field of study and match the training plan in Form I-983.
- You may have multiple jobs, but each job must satisfy STEM OPT requirements.
- Every 6 months: confirm and validate your data in the SEVP Portal; submit the STEM OPT Reporting Form.
- At 1 year: complete the “Evaluation of Student Progress” section of Form I-983 (top half, page 5) and submit with your update form.
- At 18 months: validate via portal and submit report; no evaluation required unless changes.
- At the end of STEM OPT: submit final evaluation of student progress (bottom half of page 5 of Form I-983) and complete update form.
- If you change employers or terminate employment:
- Submit final evaluation for previous employment within 10 days.
- Submit a new Form I-983 with the new employer within 10 days of starting.
- “Material changes” (changes in salary, hours, employer EIN, objectives) require a new Form I-983.
Earliest is 90 days before your OPT ends; you cannot apply after your OPT expiration.
Yes, if you submitted your application before your OPT ended.
Yes — but notify ISS and submit a new I-983.
Check the CIP code on your I-20 and compare with the official STEM list.
You must either change visa status or prepare to leave the U.S. ISS cannot advise on other visa types.
Yes, as long as all jobs meet the STEM OPT requirements.