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.
If you believe your area of study is classified as a STEM field and you don't see it on the NYU STEM programs list, contact us.
If you earned a previous STEM degree from an accredited US institution, you may be eligible for the STEM OPT extension. See the Department of Homeland Security’s STEM Designated Degree Program List. You can find the CIP code for your previous degree on page 1 of the current format I-20 or at the top of page 3 of the old format I-20. If you have questions about your eligibility, contact us.
F-1 students who:
The earliest you can apply is 90 days prior to the end date of your current OPT. The US Citizenship and Immigration Services must receive your STEM OPT application before your current OPT expires.
If you applied for STEM OPT before your current OPT expires, you can continue to work while your STEM OPT application is pending, until a final decision is made on your application or it has been pending 180 days with the US Citizenship and Immigration Services, whichever comes first.
Read all the steps in this process carefully. Make sure you have reported your employer and address information to our OPT reporting form. Then gather and prepare all the items you need for your STEM OPT application. Each document you print for your application should be single sided.
Complete the request for a STEM OPT recommendation I-20. In order to submit your request successfully, you will need to upload scanned copies of your:
Files should be in pdf or jpg format and no larger than 20mb. Learn how to reduce your pdf file size.
Note that the online request form contains several sections. You will need to complete each section of the form in order before moving on to the next section.
If you have any problems submitting the online request, review our troubleshooting tips.
An OGS advisor will review your application and issue your new I-20. This can take up to 10 business days to process. We will email you when your new I-20 is ready.
Pick up your new I-20 at the OGS once you receive an email telling you that your new I-20 is ready. If you requested to have your new I-20 shipped to you, we will ship it via UPS. You will receive further instructions with your new I-20.
Once you have received an updated I-20 with the STEM OPT recommendation, make sure to sign your new I-20, photocopy it, and include the photocopy of your new I-20 with the rest of your STEM OPT application materials (see the list of materials in Step 1), Make any suggested changes to your I-765 application as recommended by an OGS advisor.
Send your application to USCIS by FedEx or UPS. USCIS must receive it within 60 days of the date your I-20 was issued AND before your current OPT expires.
You can use eShipGlobal to get your shipping label at a discounted rate. Learn how to use eShipGlobal. Register with eShipGlobal to get started.
If living in the New York area, mail your application to:
USCIS, Attn: AOS
2501 S. State Hwy. 121 Business, Suite 400
Lewisville, TX 75067
If living outside of New York, mail your application to the address as specified by an OGS advisor.
All important alumni communication from NYU (not only our office) will be through your NYU email account. Find more information about keeping a LifeTime NYU Email account.
Your employment on STEM OPT must meet the following criteria:
You must report any and all updates to your employment, name, status, etc. while on STEM OPT. Review what, when, and how to report updates while on STEM OPT.
You're required to give us an update while you are on STEM OPT within 10 days of any changes in your work, address, or status. Students approved for the 7-month or 24-month STEM OPT extension must submit a new Form I-983 to the OGS within 10 days of any changes in employer or other specifics to their employment information.
Changes in the plan can include (but are not limited to):
We will issue an updated I-20 showing your new employer. Students on the 17-month STEM OPT extension who have not applied for an additional 7-month extension do not need to complete Form I-983.
Students changing employment with a pending 24-month STEM OPT application at USCIS will need to complete the steps below.
Submit the OGS OPT reporting form with the end date of your current employer and the details of the new employment within 10 days of the changes.
Email the following in one single pdf attachment to ogs.brooklyn@nyu.edu for graduates of the NYU Tandon School of Engineering (including NYU-Poly) or CUSP, or ogs@nyu.edu for graduates of all other schools.
OGS will issue a new STEM extension I-20 with the updated employment info.
You will sign and email back a signed copy of your I-20.
OGS will email the service center with the signed new I-20 and I-765 with the request to update your pending STEM OPT application.
Students changing employment with an approved 24-month or 7-month STEM OPT application will need to complete the steps below.
Submit the OGS OPT reporting form with the end date of your current employer and the details of the new employment within 10 days of the changes.
Email the following in one single pdf attachment to ogs.brooklyn@nyu.edu for graduates of the NYU Tandon School of Engineering (including NYU-Poly) or CUSP, or ogs@nyu.edu for graduates of all other schools:
OGS will issue a new STEM extension I-20 with the updated employment information.
Note: Students on the 17-month STEM OPT extension who have not applied for an additional 7-month extension will need to submit the OGS OPT reporting form with the end date of the current employer and the details of the new employment within 10 days of the changes. They do not need to complete Form I-983.
If your current employer has been acquired by another company, please email the following to ogs.brooklyn@nyu.edu for graduates of the NYU Tandon School of Engineering (including NYU-Poly) or CUSP, or ogs@nyu.edu for graduates of all other schools: completed and signed Form I-983 for the new employment and the date that the company was acquired (mm/dd/yyyy).
Review our Alumni Documents to Carry page for information on traveling during your STEM OPT.