F-1 students who completed a bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree in a government-recognized STEM field and are currently engaged in post-completion OPT may apply for the STEM extension of 17 months of additional employment if they have a job or job offer from an E-Verify employer and meet all the required criteria.

If you believe your area of study is classified as a STEM field, contact the OISS via email at intl.students.scholars@nyu.edu . Include your name and NYU ID number and the OISS will verify your eligibility.

To qualify for STEM OPT, you must comply with all the following requirements:

• have successfully completed an NYU bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree in a STEM field based on the government classification
• currently be authorized for post-completion OPT
• the job offer must be with a company enrolled in the government's E-Verify program
• file an application with the OISS before the current OPT period ends
• agree to report updates regarding your name, address, place of employment, and continuation of employment to the OISS every six months
• your employer must agree to notify the OISS upon your termination or departure
• not exceed 120 days of unemployment, based on previous post-completion OPT and STEM OPT

How do I apply?

If you meet all the above requirements, you may complete a STEM OPT request form with the OISS. The timeframe to apply is no earlier than 120 days prior to the end date of your current OPT and no later than 30 days prior to the end date of your current OPT. The OISS advisor will review the application to ensure that you meet all the requirements. If so, then a new I-20 is issued for the extended STEM OPT.

The second step is you file the STEM OPT I-20 with USCIS prior to the end date of the current post-completion OPT. Prepare your STEM OPT application and have an OISS advisor review it prior to filing.

It must include:

• A photocopy of the STEM OPT I-20 (pages 1 and 3)
• I-765 (the form should be signed in blue ink, the citation for question 16 is (c) (3) (C) and question 17 needs to be answered in full with the degree field and level, the employer's name and identification number as used in the E-Verify program
• Photocopy of the NYU STEM degree
• Two passport photographs (name, date of birth, I-94 card number and SEVIS number written on the back)
• Check for $340 made to USCIS
• Photocopy of the I-94 (front and back)
• Photocopy of the visa stamp page and bio page of the passport
• Photocopy of all past I-20s

What happens while my STEM OPT application is pending?

A student who has filed a timely application for the STEM OPT extension may continue to work while the application is pending, until a final decision is made on the application by USCIS or it has been pending 180 days with USCIS, whichever comes first.

When is my STEM OPT authorized and in what form?

The employment authorization for approved STEM OPT begins on the day after the post-completion OPT expires and ends 17 months later, regardless of the date the extension is actually approved by USCIS. The authorization is in the form of an Employment Authorization Document from USCIS.

What do I need to do to maintain status during STEM OPT?

You must do the following to maintain F-1 status:

- report to the OISS every six months from the begin date of the STEM OPT to confirm name, address, employer name, employer address, and that active employment is continuing
- report to the OISS within ten days of any change in:

Legal name
Residential or mailing address
Employee name
Employer address
Loss of employment

Failure on the part of the student to initiate contact with the OISS at the designated timeframes above will result in termination of F-1 status, requiring immediate cessation of employment and departure from the U.S  

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