• Seton Hall University
• Office of International Programs
• Our International Students

Eligibility

F-1 students who completed a bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree in select government-designated science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) fields and are currently working with post-completion OPT may apply for the STEM extension of 24 months of additional employment if they have a job or job offer from an E-Verify employer and meet all the required criteria.

You can confirm if your academic program is classified as a STEM field by checking the 6-digit Classification of Instructional Program (CIP) code assigned to your academic program. To find out if you are eligible for STEM OPT, please check the major CIP code that’s listed on your I-20.  If you earned  a previous STEM Degree from an accredited US institution, you may be eligible for the STEM OPT extension.  You can find the CIP code for your previous degree on page 1 of the I-20 from your previous program.  If you have questions about your eligibility, contact OIP.  

Qualifying STEM OPT Employment:

• Full time (work hours at least 20 hours per week)
• Employer must be an E-Verify employer
• Must be compensated
• Related to your STEM degree
• Have not exceeded 90 days of unemployment days under post-completion OPT
• Must complete an I-983 training and submit to OIP
• Self-employment is not permitted under STEM OPT

Application Process

Steps to Request Your STEM Extension OPT I-20 from OIP

1. Complete the Form I-983 Training Plan
   1. For a copy and instructions of I-983, see DHS Study in the States Form I-983 Overview.
   2. OIP’s Tips on how to complete an I-983 with your employer- See Tips for Completing the Training Plan.
   3. OIP is required to keep I-983 on file for each STEM OPT student.
2. Submit I-983 Training Plan and STEM Extension Request to OIP
   1. Submit the  STEM OPT I-20 Request form by logging into the International Student and Scholars Portal.  Once you submit the STEM Extension request and upload I-983 Training Plan through the portal, OIP will review and issue a STEM OPT Request I-20 within 5 business days.
3. Wait for the STEM OPT Recommendation I-20 Before Filing the USCIS I-765 STEM OPT Application
   1. Do not submit your I-765 STEM OPT application to USCIS until you receive the updated I-20 with the STEM OPT recommendation. Submitting without it will result in denial of the application. USCIS must receive your STEM OPT application within 60 days of the date your STEM OPT I-20 was created or before your Post-Completion OPT ends, whichever is earlier.
4. Submit an I-765 STEM OPT Application via the USCIS Portal – see tips here. 
5. While waiting for STEM OPT approval: 
   1. If  OPT ends while STEM OPT application is still pending with USCIS, students can continue to work up to 180 days. To complete a temporary, I-9 with your STEM employer, you can present your current EAD card with your STEM OPT I-20. 
   2. Any changes to STEM OPT employment while STEM OPT application is pending should still be reported to OIP within 10 days of the change. For reporting requirements while on STEM OPT, please see below. 

Reporting Requirements While on STEM OPT

To maintain your F-1 status during the STEM OPT extension, you must regularly check in with our office. This includes verifying that your SEVIS information is accurate and reporting any updates to your training plan. Staying in communication with our office helps ensure your records are up to date and that you remain in compliance with immigration regulations.

Update Personal Address

Students must report within 10 days of the change but not required to submit an updated I-983 Training Plan when change to a new address within the U.S. and when change to a new personal address outside of the U.S. Log into the International Student and Scholar Portal, go to OIP Requests, and complete a F-1 Student Contact Information Update Form.

Students who need to report the following requirements, please log in to the International Student and Scholar Portal, go to OIP Requests, and submit a STEM OPT Reporting Form. 

Every 6 Month-Report Requirements

The Department of Homeland Security requires students to report to OIP on their contact and employment information every 6 months, even if there are no changes.

• 6 Months Validation Reporting »

  6 months from STEM OPT start date, report physical address, confirm current employment, work address, supervisor information.

• 12 Months Annual Evaluation »

  12 months from STEM OPT start date report physical address, confirm current employment, work address, supervisor information and submit p.5 of I-983 Annual Evaluation (top portion of p.5 I-983 Training Plan) 

• 18 Months Validation Reporting »
  18 months from STEM OPT start date, report physical address, confirm current employment, work address, supervisor information. 
• 24 Months Annual Evaluation »
  24 months from STEM OPT start date report physical address, confirm current employment, work address, supervisor information and submit p.5 of I-983 Annual Evaluation (bottom portion of p.5 I-983 Training Plan)

Change STEM OPT Employment While STEM OPT Application is Still Pending

It is possible for students to change STEM employers while STEM OPT applications are still pending. Please complete the following steps below:

Step 1

Log into the International Student and Scholar Portal and submit a STEM OPT Reporting Form to report ending employment.

You will need to provide the following information when completing a STEM OPT Reporting Form:

• Receipt number of your pending STEM OPT application with USCIS
• End date of previous employer
• If you are changing STEM employment before Post-Completion OPT end date, you do not need to submit a Final Evaluation of I-983. If your Post-Completion OPT already ended, you will need to submit a Final Evaluation of I-983 (p 5, bottom portion of I-983)
• A completed and signed Form I-983 for the new employment

OIP will issue a new STEM OPT I-20 with the updated employment in 5 business days and email notify you.

Step 2

Return to the International Student and Scholar Portal to retrieve the updated STEM OPT I-20. Print,  sign and date. Follow the instructions in the notification email to return to the USCIS Portal to update  your STEM OPT application with USCIS. 

Change STEM OPT Employment After STEM OPT is Approved

Within 10 days of change, students must report to OIP and are required to submit a new/updated I-983 for the following material changes:

• New employer
  • Final Evaluation of I-983 (p.5 bottom portion) is required if student is leaving previous employer
• Change in supervisor and/or supervisor contact information
• Employer street address (company/headquarter address)
• Employer site address (physical work location)
• Change to employer’s EIN
  • If there are any changes to the information you provide on the Form I-983, you must complete a new I-983 to reflect those changes and report the update on your STEM OPT.
• Any significant decrease in hours per week that a student engages in a STEM training opportunity
• Changes to the employer’s commitments or student’s learning objectives as documented on the Form I-983
• Company Acquisition/Merger 
• Students must also report any changes to name, immigration status, or if student will forfeit the remainder of STEM OPT, starting a new academic program, and leave the country.