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OPT STEM Tutorial

Updated: March 2024

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This recording and any related materials provided by UMD are intended for the sole use of UMD alumni who participate under a valid UMD-issued I-20.

Any information contained within or linked to from this site is subject to changes and updates. You as the user are responsible to verify the accuracy and sufficiency of any such content. UMD makes reasonable efforts to ensure that any information contained within or linked from this site has been obtained from reliable sources, however all information is provided AS IS. UMD is not responsible for any errors or omissions, for any results obtained, or for resulting decisions made by USCIS on STEM OPT eligibility resulting from the use of this information.

THE STATE OF MARYLAND, UNIVERSITY AND THEIR RESPECTIVE OFFICERS, AGENTS AND EMPLOYEES JOINTLY AND SEVERALLY DISCLAIM ANY AND ALL REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, WRITTEN OR ORAL, IN FACT OR ARISING BY OPERATION OF LAW, REGARDING THE COMPLETENESS, ACCURACY, MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, OR TIMELINESS OF RESULTS OBTAINED. In no event will UMD, or its agents or employees, be liable to you or to anyone else for any decision made or action taken in reliance upon the information contained within or linked from this site.

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Outline

STEM Basics

Filing Options

I-765 Application Form

Tracking the Application Status

STEM OPT Reporting

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STEM Extension

If your program of study is in a recognized STEM field and your employer is E-verified, you may be eligible for a STEM extension

24-month extension (in addition to the 12 months you are allowed on OPT)
60 days of unemployment (in addition to the 90 days you are allowed on OPT)

8 CFR 214.2(f)(10)(ii)(C)

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OPT I-20

Major CIP Code

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STEM Extension Prerequisites

STEM Degree:

https://studyinthestates.dhs.gov/stem-opt-hub/additional-resources/eligible-cip-codes-for-the-stem-opt-extension

E-Verify:

Employer MUST participate in E-verify program
E-Verify is an electronic I-9
List of employers currently enrolled in E-Verify, including federal contractors, is not available on the USCIS website

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STEM Extension Eligibility

Be on active F-1 status in Post-Completion OPT
Not have acquired more than 90 days of unemployment on Post-Completion OPT
Have not had more than two STEM OPT extensions (only two extensions in student’s lifetime)
Have earned your most recent degree in a STEM field specified by ICE or use a previously earned U.S. degree in STEM. Degree must be from a U.S. accredited school and earned within last 10 years
Student agrees to make reports to iTERP within 10 days of any change in employment status or every 6 months if no change has occurred
Have an offer of paid employment from an employer registered in the E-verify program for at least 20 hours per week for each employer
The employer agrees to complete & sign the I-983, review periodic evaluations, and report your departure or termination of employment

MUST be the same entity that employs the student

To be eligible for the STEM extension, you must have maintained your status as an F1 student during post-completion OPT. This means you may not have acquired more than 90-days of unemployment while on OPT. You are also allotted only 2- STEM extensions in your lifetime and your most recent degree must be from a STEM field. Or if you are applying using a previous degree, it must be from a US accredited school and earned within the last 10 years.

As a student sponsored by UMD, you agree to report any changes of employment through iTerp within 10 days of the change occurring; or every 6 months if no change has occurred. For STEM, you must have a paid offer of employment directly related to the degree program that qualifies you for STEM. It must keep you working at least 20 hrs per week for each employer and it must be from an e-verified employer.

The employer should also agree to complete the I-983, which outlines your training plan while on STEM, submit periodic evaluation reviews, and report your departure or termination of employment using this same form. We will review the I-983 in greater detail later in this tutorial; however, something to note now is that the employer who signs your I-983 must be the same entity that employs you.

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STEM Extension Non-Eligibility

Employment that may NOT be permitted on the STEM extension includes:

Sole proprietors
Volunteering
Employment through ‘temp’ agencies
Employment through consulting firm arrangements that provide labor for hire
Other relationships that do not constitute a bona-fide employer-employee relationship

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You must be within the U.S. to file an application

Travel while a STEM OPT application is processing is strongly discouraged!

Changing employers while the STEM OPT application is pending is NOT recommended

→In the event that this occurs, you MUST make an appointment with an ISSS advisor

Please Note:

These are some important considerations before students file a STEM application…

You must be within the US to file an application, so you cannot be abroad when an application is filed.
Once you file an application, we also do not recommend that you leave the country. Travel is strongly discouraged during this application process.
When you file for the STEM extension, you indicate the e-verify information on the application to show that you have an employer who is reporting and reviewing your progress on an I-983. Therefore, changing employers while that application is pending is not recommended and could cause delays in your application being processed.

If an employer change occurs for whatever reason, you must make an appointment with an ISSS advisor.
During this appointment the advisor will help you complete the necessary changes to your pending I-765 application with USCIS.

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BREAK: VIDEO/AUDIO 2: REQUIREMENTS

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What is different while you are on OPT STEM Extension?

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STEM Extension Application

If you qualify for the STEM extension, it will require another application to USCIS. The application can be sent in to USCIS within the final 90 days of the original post-completion OPT period.

USCIS must receive your application by the end of your 12 month EAD card

APPLY

90 days before OPT end date

STEM Immediately Follows (i.e. 07/01/24)

EAD End Date

(i.e. 06/30/24)

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Premium Processing Available

F-1 students may now submit applications for premium processing of their OPT/STEM applications.

$1,685 fee (as of February 26, 2024)
USCIS will process in 30 business days or less
Options for Filing:

While completing your I-765 online, in the “Getting Started” section, select “Yes” for “Would you like to request Premium Processing Service?”. You will pay the premium processing fee when you submit the I-765.
After submitting your I-765, File form I-907, Request for Premium Processing with USCIS with your receipt number for your pending I-765.

For more information, see our FAQs on premium processing.

Premium Processing is Available for F1 students to have their STEM I-765 applications expedited. There is an additional fee associated with this option for students and USCIS will process the application within 30 business days or less.

To submit with premium processing, there are two options for filing: 1) While you are completing your application online, in the “Getting Started” section, under “Would you like to request Premium Processing Service?” you would select “Yes”, and you will pay the additional fee when you submit the I-765 application; or 2) You submit your I-765 under regular processing and then later use your Receipt# to file an I-907 Form to then request premium processing on your already pending I-765 application. For more information, please see the frequently asked questions on our website under premium processing

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BREAK: VIDEO/AUDIO 3: TIMELINES & DATES

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What is your status while waiting for the new EAD card to arrive?

You are still in F-1 status while you have a pending application for STEM

You may continue your OPT employment while your extension request is pending for up to 180 days while waiting for the EAD
This 180 day window begins immediately following the expiration date on your 12 month EAD card

You may remain in the U.S. during the entire time you are waiting for your new EAD card

ISSS does not recommend that you travel abroad while waiting for the EAD

You are still on active F-1 student status while awaiting your application decision. Something unique to STEM applications is that you are permitted to work, so continue your employment while the application is pending for up to 180 days. This 180-day window begins immediately after the end date listed on your current EAD card. You will continue working under the assumption that the STEM Extension has been approved while you await the new EAD card to arrive. You should be paid, working 20 hrs/week for each e-verified employer, and report any changes as they occur.

During this time, you may remain in the US the entire time you are waiting for the EAD card to arrive, no matter how long it takes. We do not recommend traveling abroad during this time and we will review a few reasons for this in the next slide.

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Travel Before STEM EAD Arrives

Travelling abroad after submitting your STEM OPT application and before receiving your EAD could be problematic. Travelling during this time should be undertaken with CAUTION

USCIS may send you a Request For Evidence (RFE) while you are away, so you would want to make sure you have provided a correct U.S. address

Also if USCIS approves your STEM OPT application, you will be expected to have your EAD in hand to re-enter the U.S. USCIS can only send the EAD to your U.S. address

ISSS strongly advises students not to travel before receiving their EAD card

If you travel abroad while your application is processing and before your new EAD card arrives, even during that 180-day window, this can be extremely problematic. If USCIS sends you a request for evidence, or RFE, and you fail to provide the additional information by the deadline listed, your application will be terminated. If USCIS approves your STEM application, that's wonderful, but at that point you will be expected to have your new EAD card in hand to re-enter the US, so you could be denied entry at the border. USCIS will only send these documents to a US address and we do not recommend having someone mail these internationally. Postal services are not always secure and if the card is lost in transit, it's another several months of processing time and additional fees to replacement them. Because of these cautions, we recommend that you refrain from international travel before receiving your EAD card.

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BREAK: VIDEO/AUDIO 4: APP PENDING- STATUS & TRAVEL

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Beginning Documents

I-983 & I-20

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STEM Extension & I-983

The employer and student will need to complete the I-983 and submit it to iTerp at the time of the STEM Extension application

The I-983 is NOT mailed to USCIS- please upload it to iTerp!

Need help completing the I-983? ISSS has a I-983 Student Completion Guide and links to a Employer Tutorial on the ISSS STEM Extension webpage

Here is an example of the I-983 form, basically an agreement between the student and the employer about your employment responsibilities & continued progress while on STEM. The I-983 is critical to the STEM extension and requires updates on a regular basis. The employer and student complete this document together and the student submits it to iTerp in preparation of the STEM extension application. In order to request your STEM endorsed I-20, you must first submit your initial I-983 including your employer’s information and signature to ISSS. Please keep in mind this document is not mailed to USCIS, but instead uploaded and updated through iTerp.

Should you or your employer have questions about filling out this document, please refer to our STEM Extension webpage. There are 2 documents that will further assist you: a new student completion guide; and an employer tutorial link.

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Section 1: I-983

The next few slides will review frequently asked questions on some of the sections of the I-983. Section 1 is the student information section, so we will review additional details you may need here:

The University of Maryland College Park’s SEVIS School Code is shown here on the screen, beginning with BAL 214.

Feel free to pause the video to write down or photograph the details.

For the Designated School Official (DSO), this may be any of the advisors in ISSS.

Please review your most recently approved I-20 for the advisor name listed under the signature section and our main contact information is shared here on the screen as well.

The STEM OPT Requested Period is the 24-month window immediately following your regular OPT period.

The STEM From Date is the date immediately following your current EAD card end date.

The Major and Classification of Instructional Programs is your CIP code.

This CIP code can be found on your I-20, under under the Program of Study section. Please list this exactly as seen on your I-20.

The ‘Based on Prior Degree’ question is asking if you are applying for STEM OPT based on your most recent degree from UMD or based on a previously earned STEM degree.

Only select ‘Yes’ here if you are applying with a STEM eligible degree that you earned previously

The Employment Authorization Number can be found on your EAD card, listed as the USCIS or ‘A’ number.

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Section 3: I-983

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Section 5: I-983

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12 Month and Final Evaluations: I-983

The evaluations are NOT due at the time you apply for the STEM extension and should be left blank when you first apply.

They are only due at the 12 month mark and any time when you are ending an employment on the STEM extension (including at the end of your 24 months).

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STEM I-983 Submissions

An I-983 should be submitted to iTerp upon your initial STEM start & if any changes occur to the information.

This also includes the STEM reporting periods at the 12-month anniversary of employment & the final/termination evaluation.

An I-983 is completed for EVERY employer you work for during the 2-year STEM period.

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Apply for your STEM I-20 on iTerp

Step 1:

Sign into iTerp at iterp.umd.edu

Step 2:

Select “OPT/STEM Services” on the left hand menu

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Apply for your STEM I-20 on iTerp

Step 3:

Select the “STEM OPT Request”

Complete the Request e-form for a new I-20

Do not begin your I-765 application until you have your approved I-20 with the STEM OPT recommendation.

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Apply for your STEM I-20 on iTerp

Step 4:

Upload a Completed and Signed I-983

(for each employer)

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Apply for your STEM I-20 on iTerp

Final Steps:

Once you complete and submit all 4 steps of the e-forms, the status of your I-20 request will change to “Pending”�

You will receive the confirmation email, “STEM I-20 Request Submitted”

�An ISSS advisor will review your I-20 Request and issue a signed I-20 with the STEM Recommendation listed

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Electronic I-20s

ISSS has been authorized to send I-20s to students electronically

When you receive an I-20 via email please:

Print the document
Sign in blue ink on the ‘Student Attestation’ line

This becomes your original I-20 document

Only give USCIS a COPY if mailing

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Filing Options:

Online or Via Mail

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Filing Options

File Online

Reduce fees, mailing costs and delivery times
Upload evidence
Have fees deducted from credit cards or bank account immediately
Access and respond to USCIS notices quickly
Send secure messages to USCIS or request corrections
Add additional documents to your application after you submit (if necessary)

File by Mail

More payment options; however, increased fees are also associated with this filing option as of 04/01/2024
Must complete I-765 form correctly
All evidence must be printed
Harder to make corrections
Please schedule an appointment with an ISSS advisor for filing by mail.

To file your I-765 application with USCIS, you have two options: Online or By Mail.

When completing an Online application, benefits include a reduced application fee, mailing costs, and delivery times by accessing and responding to USCIS notices quickly. You are able to upload your evidence files and pay by credit card or bank account deduction. This option also allows you to send secure messages to USCIS or request corrections. For example, if you forget to include a document, you can upload the additional document to your application packet after the original submission.
Filing by mail is the other option available. There are more ways to pay when submitting this way (check, money order, or credit card); however, increased fees are also associated with sending a paper application. It is very important that you complete all sections of the paper application correctly and include all printed or copied evidence with the mailed submission. Because corrections are harder to make and there are more considerations around this filing option, we ask that you make an appointment with an ISSS advisor to review any paper application before mailing.

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STEM OPT Filing Guides

Online:

By Mail:

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Since you have previously filed an OPT application with USCIS, we recommend that you update your address before beginning your STEM OPT application!

Change of Address

File the E-COA with USCIS before you file for your STEM OPT

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Getting Prepared!

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Getting Prepared:

Organize your Files

We suggest making an electronic copy of all materials and save them as separate files in the same folder on your computer.

Please check:

Are your files in the correct format?
Are they clearly labeled so you can quickly see which file is which?
Do the file names meet the standard (no special characters or foreign language characters)?
Are the file sizes less than 6MB each?

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Getting Prepared:

Required Materials (STEM Extension)

These are the documents you should save together on your computer:

Passport style photograph

We recommend https://tsg.phototool.state.gov/photo to create your photos

Electronic I-94 record (or hard copy I-94)
Current Passport (biographical page)
Current F-1 visa (optional)
New I-20 with STEM OPT recommendation on 2nd page (make sure to sign it!)
Copies of any previous EAD card(s)

This includes a copy of your current OPT EAD!

E-verify information (Item 28.c. on I-765)
Not included in USCIS application but submitted to iTerp: I-983

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Getting Prepared:

Required Materials (STEM Extension)

Copy of your diploma or transcript from your STEM degree
Evidence that your school is currently accredited by U.S. Department of Education

If you are applying based on a University of Maryland degree, download and save this accreditation file or use https://ope.ed.gov/dapip/#/institution-profile/120218
If you are applying based on a degree from another school, visit https://ope.ed.gov/dapip/#/home to search for your school.

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Photos: Submit recent photos

Have two color, U.S. passport-style photographs, taken within 30 days prior to your I-765 application submission

Use State Department’s Photo-tool to make sure your pictures meet their specifications and format https://tsg.phototool.state.gov/photo

Write your full name and SEVIS number on the back of your photos (if mailing)!

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I-94

Copy of I-94 front and back of hard copy card or electronic I-94 from www.cbp.gov/travel/international-visitors/I-94

Only the main page of your record detailing your latest entry into the U.S. is needed!

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Passport

Copy of Passport

Must be valid at least 6 months into the future!

Black and white or color

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Visa

Copy of F-1 Visa

Only a copy of your most recent visa, even if it is in an old/expired passport

Black and white or color

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STEM I-20

Please note: Your online application materials must be submitted to USCIS within 60 days of the creation of the STEM I-20.

Make sure to sign your I-20 in blue ink in the Student Attestation box!

Do this before scanning a copy for your online submission.

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EAD Card

Copy of EAD card (front and back)

Black and white or color

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Diploma/Transcripts

Copy of most recent diploma in a STEM field or official transcripts

Official transcripts are requested through the Registrar’s office

Request from TESTUDO using the Transcript Ordering link

If you prefer to send a copy of your diploma, this can be formatted to a different size paper

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Accreditation File

Evidence that your school is currently accredited by U.S. Department of Education

If you are applying based on a University of Maryland degree, download and save this accreditation file or use https://ope.ed.gov/dapip/#/institution-profile/120218

If you are applying based on a degree from another school, visit https://ope.ed.gov/dapip/#/home to search for your school

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Getting Prepared:

Payment Methods

For online applications you can pay by:

Credit card or debit card
ACH from checking or savings account (automatic withdrawal from a bank account)

Have bank routing number and account number available

* Credit/debit card or bank accounts MUST be associated with a U.S. address

For mailed applications you can pay by:

Personal check

Do not use a starter check!

Money order

You can purchase these at the post office and grocery stores

* For checks and money orders, make them payable to the “U.S. Department of Homeland Security”

Credit card

Please use the G-1450 form; this form must be typed and printed out
Be cautious with the G-1450!

Finally, we will discuss payment methods in more detail. As mentioned earlier, these differ between the online application and the mailed application.

For online applications, you can pay using:

A credit card
A debit card, or
An ACH which is an automatic withdrawal from a checkings or savings account.

All of these options must be associated with a US address.

For mailed applications, there are a few more ways to pay; however, the cost to send a paper application is also more than the online application option. You can pay for mailed applications by using:

A personal check (which does not have to be yours, so a friend or family member can assist, but it cannot be a starter check which are issued when you first open a bank account)
A money order (which can be purchased at a post office or grocery store service counter by bringing cash to cover the mailed application and money order fees)

Please make any checks and money orders payable to the US Department of Homeland Security.

A credit card (which must be typed and printed on the G-1450 form)

Please be very cautious because the mailed application is not instantly received by USCIS and there is a possibility of the card getting lost, stolen, or information changing before it is received
Should this occur you will need to retract your application to include the new payment information.

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BREAK: VIDEO/AUDIO 8: PREPARATIONS

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The I-765 Application

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What to know about the I-765 Application?

The I-765 is the application to request the OPT/STEM work authorizations. Before we review some frequently asked questions, let’s take a look at the I-765 and how to complete it.

Access the online application form: https://www.uscis.gov/i-765

Review the official USCIS instructions: https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/forms/i-765instr.pdf

The USCIS online option has an application wizard to assist you step-by-step through the entire process.

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STEM Extension I-765

Frequently Asked Questions

Part 1 item 1:

Check the “Renewal of my permission to accept employment” option

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I-765 Continued, Page 2

The mailing address you list should be an address where you can receive mail for the next 2-5 months.

The mailing address is where all correspondence, including your EAD card, will be sent.

If you are using a friend or family member’s U.S. address, put their name in the “In Care of Name” box

Your physical address is where you currently live, which should be the address SEVIS has on file for you

If you do not have an Alien Registration number or a USCIS Online Account Number, please leave these sections blank

You can find your USCIS Online Account Number if you previously filed an application online with USCIS (review your portal information)

Second, in the Mailing Address section, please provide an address at which you can receive mail for the next 2-5 months. This is critical because all correspondence from USCIS, including the new EAD card, will be sent to that address.

If you will be moving between this 2-5 month timeframe, it may be best to include someone else's name in the “In-care of name” box and their address. This allows the person listed to receive your USCIS mail and EAD card on your behalf.

Under the Other Information section, there are two number fields: the Alien Registration Number and the USCIS Online Account Number. Most students are not familiar with their alien registration number, so you may leave this field blank.

If you filed your post-completion OPT last year using the online application, then your USCIS online account number can be found under your profile tab in the USCIS portal account.

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I-765 Continued, Page 3

Item 27. Insert Code (c)(3)(C) for STEM Extension

Item 28.a. List your degree level and degree, e.g., “PhD in Physics”

Item 28.b. List your employer’s name as it appears in the E-verify database. The employer’s HR department will clarify this for you, if needed.

Item 28.c. List the employer’s E-Verify number, e.g., “E-Verify Number: 123456”

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Final Reminders Before You File

Once you start the online form, it will be saved for 30 days, or from the last time you worked on the form.

Remember to file your application within 60 days of the STEM I-20 issuance. Contact an ISSS advisor before filing if you have exceeded these dates.

Make a copy of all application materials for your records. This may be helpful in case there are any questions while your application is in process (original OPT I-20s should not be mailed)

This is a personal application. You are solely responsible for the content of your I-765 application, accuracy of information, and submission of all required materials.

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STEM OPT: Tracking the Application Status

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USCIS Receipt Notice

After filing your application to USCIS, you will receive a Receipt Notice within 5 weeks. Track the status of your case using the “Receipt Number” at https://egov.uscis.gov/

If you do not receive the Receipt Notice within 5 weeks of filing, contact the USCIS National Customer Service Center at 1 (800) 375-5283

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View/Save Your Receipt Notice

You can immediately view your receipt notice and any future documentation about your case.

Note: All documentation will be mailed to the address you provided; however, you can log in to this portal to view and download any notices in advance.

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Linking a Mailed Application to a USCIS Online Account

Did you know that if you mail your application, you can still connect the application to your USCIS online account?

Create a USCIS account at https://myaccount.uscis.gov/ and then add your paper filed case. You can then view notices and other information about your case online!

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For both applications submitted online and via mail, track the status of your application by going to:

egov.uscis.gov/casestatus

Case Status

Tracker

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STEM OPT Reporting

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Your Responsibilities while on STEM OPT

All employment on STEM OPT should:

Be within your field of study
Be within the U.S.
Keep you working at least 20 hours/week for each employer

You should not exceed 60 days of unemployment + any remaining unemployment days from your 12-month regular OPT while on the STEM Extension (150 days maximum)

You must complete certain reporting requirements to keep your information up-to-date with ISSS

Contact Verification every 6 months
I-983 Progress Reports every year

The type of job that you can accept on your STEM extension has a few requirements with less flexibility than regular OPT had:

It must be paid employment within your field of study, so the program major listed on your I-20 and STEM Application
It must be completed within the US; and
It must keep you working 20 hours per week for each e-verified employer to maintain your status and avoid accruing unemployment.

If on regular OPT, you have been working with multiple employers, please keep these requirements in mind as you transition to the STEM extension.

Similar to regular post-completion OPT, unemployment tracking starts from the start date listed on your EAD card. For STEM, you are allotted 60 days of unemployment, plus any remaining unemployment days that were not used during post-completion OPT. Unemployment reflects any time you do not have a job and your EAD card is active. If you accrue or exceed the 150 days of total unemployment, at that time you are considered out-of-status.

There are also additional reporting requirements while on STEM, which we will review in greater detail in a moment, but to highlight timeframes and crossover of these, contact information must be confirmed every 6-months while progress reports must be completed annually, so at your work anniversary dates, both will be needed.

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Limited Services Access for iTerp

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Limited Services Access for iTerp

Select “I Have Not Setup My UMD Directory ID or it is Inactive”

Enter your UID number, Date of Birth, and iTerp Pin

If you don’t know your PIN, select “E-mail me my Limited Access Pin”

These credentials will enable you to access iTerp to report employment and submit requests

Logging into iTerp

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iTerp Reporting:

Report any new employment or changes to employment information within 10 days

“OPT/STEM: Report New Employer Information” e-form & New I-983 Agreement for new information
“OPT/STEM: Update Existing Employer Information” e-form for changes in information previously reported employment (if ending employment, Final I-983 needed)

Submit any changes to contact information (e-mail, phone number, address change) using iTerp

“Address update while on OPT” e-form

Submit a copy of your updated EAD card to ISSS

with “OPT/STEM: Report New Employer Information”
“Misc Document Submissions” e-form on iTerp

Even if no changes to employment or contacts, confirm information every 6 months

with “STEM: 6-Month Validation Reporting” eform

OPT/STEM Reporting Requirements Webpage

Now that we are logged into iTerp, let’s discuss some of those reporting changes mentioned earlier! Similar to post-completion OPT, new employment or changes in employment must be reported within 10 days; however, on STEM there are now a few more forms needed for each of these:

Any new employment must be submitted using the appropriate eform in bold here on the screen with the initial signed I-983 agreement attached.
For any changes in employment, the eform with the updated I-983 must be submitted

If the change is reporting an end date to the employment, a final I-983 must be signed and attached to the eform.

Any changes to your contact information (that includes email, phone, or mailing address) must be reported using the “Address Update while on OPT” eform
Once you receive your new EAD card, please upload a copy by either including it with the “New Employer” uploads or under the “Miscellaneous Document Submission” eform
Validation Reports are a new eform specific to the STEM Extension and must be completed every 6 months, even if no changes have occurred since the last validation report.

Our website is a great resource to review as a reminder, so the link on the screen will help bookmark the page for easy access later.

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I-983 Agreement Updates

Updates to the I-983 are submitted via iTerp

Upload options include:

STEM I-983 Employment Update
STEM I-983 for 12 and 24 Month Evaluations
STEM I-983 Final Evaluation

An I-983 is completed for EVERY STEM employer you work for

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Reporting Requirements while on STEM

You MUST report any new employment, changes in employment, or changes to contact information within 10 days of the changes occurring

If no changes occur, you MUST complete validation reports every 6 months

Failure to report can result in students accruing all of their unemployment days and losing their F-1 status

Exceeding unemployment limits can negatively affect future benefit requests filed with USCIS

8 CFR 214.2(f)(12)(i)

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OPT

STEM Extension

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STEM Reporting & Unemployment Tracking

Once you are on STEM OPT, you must report your employer information, work start date, addresses (work and personal), as well as other information through the iTerp database system

If any changes occur (changing jobs, moving, etc.) please update the information through iTerp

This is how USCIS tracks your unemployment. Remember, YOU are responsible for keeping track of your unemployment days

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Post Reporting Information while on STEM-OPT

After you submit new (or updated) employment information, ISSS has 21 days to report this information in SEVIS

It is not mandatory to get a new I-20 after your reporting e-forms are approved

ISSS does not recommend changing employers or updating your employment while your STEM extension application with USCIS is pending.

If there are changes, you should reach out to an ISSS advisor as soon as possible

8 CFR 214.2(f)(12)(i)

Please be aware that while students must report new or updated information within 10 days of the change occurring, ISSS has 21 days from that to report the information to SEVIS. Please trust that our office is diligent with these updates and you will receive auto-responses from the system to confirm both receipt of the information and confirmation that SEVIS has been reported. Another factor to keep in mind, is that a new I-20 is not mandatory after your reporting submission is approved/confirmed. If your employer is requesting this of you, please submit the “I-20 Reprint Request” in iTerp to facilitate this type of request.

As a reminder from earlier in this presentation, we do not recommend changing employers or updating your employment information while your STEM I-765 application is pending. If there are any changes, you must make an appointment with an ISSS advisor as soon as you are aware.

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BREAK: VIDEO/AUDIO 11: REPORTING & UNEMPLOYMENT

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Basic Travel Information

REMINDER: You are on F-1 status THROUGHOUT your employment in the U.S. on OPT. This means you are on a non-immigrant visa. Remember this when travelling abroad!

If you have an H-1B visa application pending, it is unlikely that you will be able to renew your F visa. Please consult with your employer’s immigration attorney regarding any travel plans while an H-1B application is pending.

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Ending STEM OPT Earlier than the Authorized End Date

Please notify ISSS if, during any period of authorized OPT/STEM, you will:

Begin a new degree program
Change to a new visa status
Decide to end the OPT early and depart the U.S.

Note: any of the above will result in early termination of your OPT/STEM authorization. Please discuss any concerns you have about the end of your STEM employment with your ISSS advisor

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Ending STEM OPT Earlier than the Authorized End Date

If you are:

Beginning a new degree program

Use Transfer Out e-form to transfer your SEVIS record to a new school

Change to a new visa status

Use the Exit Plan e-form to report your new status

Decide to end the STEM OPT early and depart the U.S.

Use the Exit Plan e-form to report your departure

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What happens after I complete my authorized period of STEM OPT?

You have a 60-day grace period at the end of STEM OPT

You may not work or study during this time

Any travel outside the U.S. during the grace period will mark the end of your F-1 status and that grace period

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Any remaining questions?

Please contact ISSS via:

Good luck with your STEM OPT application!