STEM OPT Extension

A 24-month extension of Optional Practical Training is available for students who graduated with a Bachelors, Masters or PhD in a STEM field and who are currently approved for Post-Completion OPT. (See Eligible CIP Codes section below to determine if your major qualifies.)

Students can submit their I-765 application to USCIS up to 90 days before the end date on their EAD for post-completion OPT and it must be received by USCIS before the current EAD expires.

NOTE that you must receive the new I-20 with STEM OPT recommendation from ISSS before filing the application with USCIS. See Application Process below for details.

For the latest and most complete information on the 24-month STEM OPT extension, refer to the Department of Homeland Security STEM OPT HUB and the USCIS STEM OPT Overview.

• Eligibility

  Eligibility for the 24-month extension of OPT is more restrictive than for Post-Completion OPT. Students must confirm that they and their employer qualify. Student must currently be on Post-Completion OPT and must meet the following criteria:

  1. Student education criteria (chose one)
     • Have completed a DU bachelor, master, or doctoral degree in a science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) field OR
     • Have completed all DU course requirements for the degree, excluding any thesis requirement or equivalent OR
     • Have completed a STEM degree in the U.S. within the last 10 years. (See Eligible CIP Codes section below)
  2. Employer criteria (all must apply)
     • Employer must be enrolled in USCIS' E-Verify employment eligibility verification program. AND
     • Employment must be paid work for at least 20 hours per week. AND
     • Employer must complete and sign Form I-983 Training Plan.

  Visit the Study in the States STEM OPT Hub for more detailed information regarding STEM OPT eligibility requirements.

• STEM-Eligible CIP Codes

  Students can determine if their major qualifies for the 24-month extension of OPT by comparing the major printed on their I-20 with the DHS list of eligible CIP Codes. On the I-20, the CIP Code is located on page 1 under Program of Study.

  A minor or concentration of study which is STEM-related does NOT qualify a student for an extension of OPT.

  Every program of study is linked to a specific CIP Code. The most appropriate CIP Code is chosen by the academic departmetn in conjunction with the Office of the Registrar. ISSS is not able to change these codes.

Application Process

• STEP 1: Complete Form I-983

  Complete Form I-983 Training Plan with the assistance of your employer. This form must be completed prior to submitting the ISSS Portal request.  

  See our I-983 guide for assistance in filling out the form.  

  If you are employed by the University of Denver, work with your hiring manager to complete the I-983. ISSS does not complete the I-983 for DU employees. 

  Reminder of STEM OPT Employment Qualifications 

  • Must be paid position 

  • Minimum of 20 hours per week 

  • Position must be related to the STEM-eligible degree 

  • Employer must be enrolled in USCIS' E-Verify program. 

• STEP 2: Request STEM OPT Recommendation from ISSS

  ISSS will need to generate an updated I-20 that adds the STEM OPT Recommendation to your SEVIS record and I-20. ISSS typically processes these requests in 3-5 business days. You will receive an email from ISSS once the I-20 is ready to download. 

  • Log into the ISSS Portal.  

  • Click on the Control Center tab (far right of screen). 

  • Choose the STEM Optional Practical Training request. 

  • Enter the information then click Submit. 

  NOTE that the portal request will not be visible until 100 days before your current OPT EAD expiration date. 

  Tips for Completing ISSS Portal Request 

  • Employer Start Date will be first day of STEM OPT training period even if you began working for the employer prior to this date. 

  • Address - If you are working 100% remote, you must enter the physical address where you will be performing the actual work such as your residential address. 

  • Explanation of how employment is related to course of study – Ensure that the Form I-983, Section 5: Student Role field adequately describes how your job is directly related to your STEM degree since the information listed in the ISSS Portal explanation will be overwritten. 

• STEP 3: Assemble Documents

  After receiving the I-20 with the STEM OPT recommendation from ISSS, you must file Form I-765 with USCIS. ISSS recommends filing online due to its simplicity and lower filing fee. 

  Here is a list of the documents that must be submitted as part of Form I-765 request for STEM Optional Practical Training. [Accurate as of October 2025] 

  Digital Photo (Color) 

  • Do not reuse photos from any previous passport, US visa, or EAD application. 

  • Specific photo requirements are listed in the online form but should follow US Department of State's photo requirements. 

  Form I-94 or Passport 

  • Printout of Electronic I-94 (Do not submit the Travel History) OR 

  • Passport biographical page(s) 

  Employment Authorization Document 

  • Upload a copy of your Employment Authorization document (EAD) (front and back) which was issued for Post-Completion OPT. 

  Form I-20 (Pages 1 & 2) with STEM OPT Recommendation listed on page 2 

  • Print out the I-20. Physically sign the Student Attestation on page 1. Scan and upload. Students must sign in ink; they cannot sign the I-20 electronically. 

  Proof of STEM degree 

  • Copy of your official transcript  OR 

  • Copy of your diploma if it shows your specific field of study i.e. Master of Science in Business Analytics instead of just Master of Science 

  Institution Accreditation 

  Not necessary except in the very rare circumstance where the U.S. STEM degree used as the basis for this request is NOT your most recent degree from the University of Denver. 

• STEP 4: Submit Form I-765 to USCIS

  After receiving the I-20 with the STEM OPT recommendation, you must file Form I-765 with USCIS. ISSS recommends filing online due to its simplicity and lower filing fee. 

  Filing Deadlines 

  • USCIS must receive your application within 60 days of the date your STEM OPT recommendation I-20 was issued. 

  • USCIS will deny applications submitted more than 90 days before the current OPT EAD ends.  

  • USCIS must receive your application before your current OPT EAD expires.  

  • USCIS uses Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) to determine electronic filing deadlines which is several hours earlier than US time zones. If submitting an application on the last date of eligibility, it must be filed by 23:59 UTC to be considered 'timely filed.' 

   Create a USCIS online account or sign in to existing account. 

  Click Go to myUSCIS button. 

  Choose File a form online and select I-765 Application for Employment Authorization. 

  Tips for filling out Form I-765 

  Some of the questions on the form may not be clear as to what needs to be provided. The official I-765 Instructions document is the best source of information.  

  We summarize below how to respond to specific fields that students commonly ask about. 

  Eligibility Category:  (c)(3)(C) STEM Extension 

  What is your degree? List your degree level and major (for example, MS in Mathematics) 

  E-Verify company identification number: 4 to 7-digit number that is different from the company’s EIN 

  What is your reason for applying? Choose ‘Renewal of permission to accept employment’ 

  What is your current U.S. mailing address? If you move prior to receiving the EAD, you must update your mailing address in your USCIS online account. Instructions 

  In care of name: Only needed if you will have the EAD mailed to a trusted friend instead of to your personal address. 

  What is your A-Number? Enter the USCIS Number printed on the front of your EAD 

After Submitting STEM OPT Application to USCIS

Download a copy of the Receipt Notice from the Documents tab of your I-765 application.

The USCIS internal processing time calculator within the application portal can be inaccurate. See the USCIS website for a better estimate of processing times. 

Remember to update your address if you move! While on the STEM OPT Extension, you will need to update your address in both your USCIS online account and in My4D.

• Employment eligibility while I-765 is Pending with USCIS

  Students on Post-Completion OPT who have timely filed Form I-765 for STEM OPT with USCIS can continue working for up to 180 days after the expiration date of their current OPT EAD while the request is being processed. 8 CFR 274a.12(b)(6)(iv)

  An employer who needs to re-verify an F-1 student's employment eligibility during this period should review the instructions in the USCIS Handbook for Employers in 7.4.2 F-1 and M-1 Nonimmigrant Students in the section titled F-1 STEM OPT Extension. 

While on Approved STEM OPT Extension

• Unemployment on STEM OPT Extension

  Students granted a 24-month STEM OPT extension cannot have more than 150 days of unemployment including the 90 days of unemployment during the initial post-completion OPT period. This means any unused unemployment days from the initial OPT term can be carried over to the STEM OPT extension.

  Students who accrue more than 150 days of unemployment may be considered out-of-status by the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and ineligible for future F-1 benefits such as transfer of SEVIS record or Cap-Gap Extension.

• Employment Reporting Requirements

  While on STEM OPT, you must continue to meet certain reporting requirements in order to maintain your F-1 status. Failure to report STEM OPT employer details within 10 days of starting a job or changing jobs could result in the termination of your F-1 status by DHS.

  Before reporting a new employer, please ensure that the company meets the DHS criteria listed in the Eligibility section above.

  Per immigration regulations, ISSS cannot update SEVIS without ALL of the following details.

  • Form I-983 Training Plan for new employer
  • E-Verify number for new employer (different from EIN)
  • Last date of employment with previous employer (if applicable)*

  *The I-983 Final Evaluation (page 5) for the previous company should be submitted to ISSS.

  PERIODIC REPORTS AND SELF-EVALUATIONS

  Students on STEM OPT are also required to validate their employment every six months based on the start date of the STEM OPT EAD. 

  To submit the report:

  1. Log into the ISSS Portal.
  2. Click on the Control Center tab (far right of screen).
  3. Choose the STEM OPT 6, 12, 18 & 24 Month Reporting request.
  4. Enter the information requested then click Submit.

  You'll be asked to enter the following:

  • Your full legal name, as it appears on your passport
  • Your SEVIS ID number (found in the upper right hand corner of your I-20)
  • Your E-Verify employer's company name
  • The complete work site address where you are currently employed
  • Provide your current residential address.
  • Self-evaluation on Page 5 of Form I-983 [12-month and 24-month reports only]

   

  While in F-1 status on STEM OPT, it is still necessary to report certain changes within 10 days of their occurrence:

  • Change of residential address including phone number or personal email address
    • Submit your new address in MyDU.
      • Search for "Address". One of the top choices will be "Update your contact information." You will then be able to edit or add a Mailing Address. 
        • Update the MAILING address to your current U.S. residential address. [Do not enter a non-US address even if you are temporarily outside the US.]
        • Update the HOME address only if your permanent international address has changed. [Do not enter an address inside the U.S.]
  • Report the following changes through the ISSS Portal.
    • Change of legal name - submit the Passport Info Update request
    • Change of immigration status -submit the End F1/J1 Status request
    • Permanent departure from the United States - submit the End F1/J1 Status request

  For an overview of what details need to be reported, please refer to the DHS STEM OPT Reporting Requirements handout.