Students who graduated from a degree program of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields may be eligible to apply for an addition 24 months of OPT.
Beginning in March/April 2023, USCIS implemented premium processing for STEM OPT applications. For $1500, they will adjudicate a decision within 30 days. Other applications will take more than 30 days. Premium processing can done concurrently with the I-765 application, or at some point after applying.
Weill Cornell Medicine students have reported the following times for OPT and STEM OPT. For those who select premum service, approvals have been 2, 4, and 15 calendar days. For those who do not selected this service, approvals have taken between 35 and 60 calendar days.
Please read the following instructions carefully. It is the student's responsibility to prepare the documents and file the application accurately and in a timely manner. We do not process nor approve your STEM OPT application AND we do not have the ability to influence USCIS processing time.
Your STEM OPT Extension application must be received by USCIS BEFORE your 12-month post-completion OPT expires. The earliest you can apply is 90 days before the OPT end date stated on your EAD card.
Use the STEM OPT Timeline Calculator to determine your application and STEM reporting deadline.
If you file your STEM OPT extension application on time and your post-completion OPT period expires while your STEM OPT application is pending, USCIS will automatically extend your employment authorization for 180 days. This automatic 180-day extension ceases once USCIS adjudicates your STEM OPT extension application.
The first step of the STEM OPT application process is to submit the following documents to the DSO for a STEM OPT I-20:
1. Download and complete Form I-983: You and your employer must complete this form before requesting the STEM OPT recommedation I-20 from the DSO.
2. Submit a STEM OPT Recommendation Request e-form.
Students MUST upload a completed and signed Form I-983 with their I-20 request. Note we will not process incomplete requests. Please allow up to 7 business days to process your STEM OPT I-20.
Due to the pandemic, DHS has allowed I-20s to be electronically signed and emailed.
International Student Services recommend e-filing a STEM OPT application via
https://www.uscis.gov/i-765.
For a paper filing, each document you print for your application should be single sided. Make sure you gather and prepare the documents llisted on the "Document Checklist" below to send to USCIS.
It is important that you go over the checklist and your documents to make sure you have signed and included all required documents. Additionally, you are advised to keep a photocopy of the entire OPT application for your records before mailing it to USCIS.
Compile and mail these documents to USCIS in the order listed below. Please note USCIS must receive your application within 60 days of your DSO entering the recommendation for STEM OPT into your SEVIS I-20 record. Refer to the "Date Issued" on page 1 of your I-20.
USCIS must receive your application within 60 days of your DSO entering the recommendation for STEM OPT into your SEVIS I-20 record. Failure to mail your STEM OPT application in a timely manner could result in denial of your STEM OPT application.
USCIS may change the Lockbox address from time to time, please review the Direct Filing Addresses for Form I-765 page to see where you should file your application.
You are still in F-1 student status and your SEVIS record is maintained by WCGS while you are on STEM OPT. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) requires you to comply and fufill additional reporting requirements listed below in order to maintain your lawful F-1 status.
Remember it is your responsibility to stay up-to-date with all immigration regulations and requirements, including STEM OPT reporting and submit all required information and changes to the DSO within the timelines set by the DHS. Failure to comply with these regulations will result in termination of your work authrization and/or F-1 status by the Department of Homeland Security.
You can read the STEM OPT reporting requirements on the DHS Study in the States website.
Students on STEM OPT are required to report the following changes in personal information within 10 days of the change to the DSO at WCGS. Failure to report these changes will jeopardize your F-1 status and work authrization.
As of March 23, 2018, the U.S. government created an online portal for students on OPT and STEM OPT to update certain information directly to DHS. We encourage students on STEM OPT to submit these changes to the DSO at WCGS AND to DHS via the SEVP Portal.
Students who fail to report or enter their information in the SEVP Portal in a timely manner or otherwise fail to comply with their reporting requirements may be deemed to be in violation of their nonimmigrant status.
NOTE:
For students on STEM OPT, you are required to submit a signed and completed self-evaluation (Form I-983, page 5) of your current training if your immigration status has changed. You can upload the evaluation when you complete the F1 Student Information Update e-form.
For instructions on how to use the SEVP Portal, please visit SEVP Portal Help
Once your STEM OPT has been approved, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) requires students to the following changes to your employment within 10 days of occurence.
Students on STEM OPT MUST submit any of the following employment changes to the DSO at WCGS via e-form:
Employment Information (material changes to I-983)
You must report any of the following material changes of your current employment and submit a revised I-983 form:
• Company Name
• Employer Address
• Employer Identification Number (EIN)
• Job Description or Training Plan
• Supervisor
• Decrease or increase in number of work hours per week
Changing Employers
You must submit a self-evaluation (Form I-983, page 5) of your training with your previous employer AND a new Form I-983 of your new employment to the DSO within 10 days of starting the new practical training opportunity.
Adding Additional Employer
You must report additional employment and submit Form I-983 for each new and additional employer.
Unemployment
You must report loss of employement and submit a final self-evaluation of your training (Form I-983, page 5).
You have a 60-day grace period to prepare for departure following the end of your STEM OPT period as long as you are in a valid F-1 status.
If you plan to end your STEM OPT early, depart the U.S., or change to another immigration status before the end date on your STEM OPT EAD, you must complete and submit a final self-evaluation (Form I-983, page 5) of your current training withinn 10 days following the conclusion of the training period.
In order to maintain your legal F-1 student status, a STEM OPT student must regularly check in with the DSO throughout the duration of the extension to validate Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) information and report changes made to your training plan.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) requires each STEM OPT student to complete and submit the following reporting requirements every 6, 12, 18 and 24 months starting from the "Valid From" date on your STEM OPT EAD. Although the DSOs are available to answer any questions you may have, it is the student's responsibility to mark their calendar and set reminders to submit these STEM OPT reports within the timelines described below as soon as you receive your EAD card.
Students on STEM OPT must report and confirm that your personal and employer information in SEVIS accurately reflect your current circumstances. This must be done even if none of your information has changed.
Please make sure you log in to the SEVP Portal to review your name, current address, phone number and employer information BEFORE submitting your STEM OPT Reporting E-Form.
If you are starting a new job, ending your current employment or changing your F-1 status to another status, you are required to submit the self-evaluation report no later than 10 days following the end of any STEM OPT employment.
Please make sure you log in to the SEVP Portal to review your name, current address, phone number and employer information BEFORE submitting your STEM OPT Reporting E-Form.
It is important that you submit the reporting tasks at least ONE week before the due date to ensure that your SEVIS record is updated in a timely manner. Failure to meet these reporting requirements will result in termination of your SEVIS I-20 and work authorization benefits. This means you will be "out of status" and potentially accrue unlawful presence (ULP) in the U.S.
Students on STEM OPT must report and confirm that your personal and employer information in SEVIS accurately reflect your current circumstances. This must be done even if none of your information has changed.
Please make sure you log in to the SEVP Portal to review your name, current address, phone number and employer information BEFORE submitting your STEM OPT Reporting E-Form.
If you are starting a new job, ending your current employment or changing your F-1 status to another status, you are required to submit the self-evaluation report no later than 10 days following the end of any STEM OPT employment.
Please make sure you log in to the SEVP Portal to review your name, current address, phone number and employer information BEFORE submitting your STEM OPT Reporting E-Form.
It is important that you submit the reporting tasks at least ONE week before the due date to ensure that your SEVIS record is updated in a timely manner. Failure to meet these reporting requirements will result in termination of your SEVIS I-20 and work authorization benefits. This means you will be "out of status" and potentially accrue unlawful presence (ULP) in the U.S.