STEM OPT

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.

Who Can Apply

F-1 students who:

have successfully completed a bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree in a STEM field based on the government classification. 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.
are currently authorized for post-completion OPT and have reported your current local US address and primary employer on the OPT reporting form.
have a job with a company enrolled in the government's E-Verify program. Find out if your employer is E-Verify enrolled. Please note, NYU is not an E-Verified employer. Review NYU's policy.
have paid employment that is directly related to the STEM degree and is at least 20 hours per week.
have not exceeded 90 days of unemployment on your current post-completion OPT.
have not previously used STEM OPT more than once. Please note that you cannot have more than one STEM OPT extension based on the same degree.
file an application with the OGS and to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services before the current OPT period ends.

When to Apply

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.

How to Apply

Step 1

Gather and Prepare Your Documents

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.

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Gather and prepare these items for your STEM OPT application:

A check or money order for $410 made payable to the US Department of Homeland Security. If paying by check, be sure that your name and address are pre-printed on it. If you have to hand write in either your name or address on the check then we recommend getting a money order instead. Write your SEVIS ID on the memo line of the check.
A receipt showing you have paid the $100 Maintenance of Status fee. You can pay this fee on our ePayment page. Please note, if you paid this fee when applying for Post Completion OPT, you must again pay this fee when applying for STEM OPT.
A completed Form I-765; Be sure to review our I-765 explained so that you fill out the form correctly. It’s best to type your information into the form, print it, then sign it in blue ink.
A completed Form G-1145.
A completed Form I-983. Only pages 1-4 need to be completed when you apply. This form must be completed and signed by you and your employer. Please note that electronic signatures are not accepted; you and your employer must sign the form in ink. If you have multiple employers, you must work a minimum of 20 hours per week at each employer and submit a Form I-983 for each employer. Be sure to review our Tips for Completing Form I-983. If your employer has questions about the STEM extension or Form I-983, please direct them to the OGS Information for STEM Employers and the US government’s STEM OPT Hub.
Photocopies of all your previously issued I-20s; include I-20s from previous schools if applicable. You will also need to include a photocopy of the new I-20 with the OPT recommendation on it (see Step 4). If you are missing any I-20(s), review these instructions.
A photocopy of your F-1 visa (except for citizens of Canada and Bermuda)
Your printed I-94 record, clearly indicating that you are in F-1 status
A photocopy of your passport identification page, clearly indicating your passport name, nationality, date of birth, and the passport expiration date
Two passport-style photographs (name, date of birth, I-94 card number and SEVIS number written on the back). Photos must be taken within the last 30 days and cannot have previously been used for a passport, visa, or other US government-related application. If you need updated photos, the NYU StudentLink Center offers passport photo services.
Photocopies of any previously-issued Employment Authorization Documents (EAD).
Official transcripts for the degree upon which your STEM OPT extension will be based. E - Transcripts from NYU are not allowed. Only an official paper transcript is accepted.
If your STEM OPT extension application is based on a previous STEM degree, include a transcript from your previous school. If you do not have an I-20 showing the CIP code from that school, you must also include documentation from that school indicating the CIP code for that program.

Step 2

Submit a Request to OGS

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:

receipt showing new payment of the $100 Maintenance of Status Fee
passport photo/biography page
most recent I-94
current EAD card
completed and signed Form I-765
completed and signed (in ink) Form I-983
If your application is based on a previous STEM degree, you will need to provide copies of I-20s and a transcript from that degree.

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.

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.

Step 3

Receive Your New I-20

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.

Step 4

Review and Sign

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.

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• Incomplete or incorrect applications can cause serious delays so go over the checklist one more time and make sure you’ve included everything.

• Make sure to include the original check / money order, original photos and original I-765, and original and official transcripts. Everything else should be a copy.

• Keep a photocopy of your complete OPT application for your records.

Step 5

Send Your Application to the US Government

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.

Step 6

Keep your NYU Email Account Active

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.

Obligations on STEM OPT

Employment requirements

Your employment on STEM OPT must meet the following criteria:

Full-time (at least 20 hrs/week)
Paid
Related to your STEM degree
Employer is e-verified
Submitted to OGS a completed and signed Form I-983.
Have not exceeded the limit for unemployment days.

Notify the OGS

If your information changes, report within 10 days of any of the following:

change in legal name,
change in mailing or residential address,
change in employer (supply name, address, start date and job description of the new employment, as well as the name and end date of previous employment if ended. Students on the 7-month or 24-month STEM OPT extension must also submit an updated Form I-983) - see below.
deciding to depart the US without using the remainder of your OPT,
return to school full time, or
change of status.
By filling out the reporting form you’re letting both OGS and the US Citizenship and Immigration Services know about your employment and/or address.

Every 6 months, respond to email from the OGS requesting verification

We will email your NYU address every 6 months to verify your STEM OPT employer information. In addition to reporting any update to us, you must also verify your information when we contact you.

Submit an annual evaluation from the I-983 to the OGS

Students on the 24-month STEM OPT extension must submit an Evaluation on Student Progress 12 months after beginning the STEM extension and a Final Evaluation on Student Progress 24 months after beginning the STEM extension. Both evaluations are on page 5 of Form I-983. We will email your NYU address to remind you of these due dates. You and your employer must complete and sign this evaluation, and you must submit it to the OGS through the STEM OPT Extension Evaluation form.

Please note that evaluations are required for all students who are approved for the 24-month STEM extension or for the 7-month STEM extension, even if the start date on the 7-month EAD is in the future. Evaluations are due to OGS no later than 10 days following the conclusion of the reporting period.

Students on the 17-month STEM OPT extension who have not applied for an additional 7-month extension do not need to complete an annual report.

Keep track of your days

You must not be unemployed for more than 150 days in total during STEM OPT (this 150 days also includes any unemployment you may have accrued during your post-completion OPT). If you are on the previous 17-month STEM OPT extension and have not been approved for a 7-month extension, unemployment is limited to 120 days. In order to be considered “employed” while on STEM OPT you need to work an average of 20 hours per week at an E-Verified employer.

Students on the 17-month STEM OPT extension who have not applied for an additional 7-month extension may count volunteer or unpaid positions as employment for STEM OPT as long as the position is in your major field of study and your employer is E-Verified.

Students on the 24-month STEM OPT extension may not be employed in unpaid or volunteer positions, nor may they be self employed. See our STEM OPT FAQs for more information.

Keep a record

Keep a record of any and all OPT activity, including the position held, dates of the position, supervisor name, organization name and location, number of hours you work per week, and description of activity for your own records. For students on the 24-month STEM OPT extension, you should save copies of all Forms I-983, including annual evaluations.

Changing Employment 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):

any change of Employer Identification Number resulting from a corporate restructuring,
any reduction in compensation from the amount previously submitted on the Form I‐983, “Training Plan for STEM OPT Students,” that is not tied to a reduction in hours worked,
any significant decrease in hours per week that a student engages in a STEM training opportunity, and
any decrease in hours below the 20‐hours‐per‐week minimum required under this rule,
changes to the employer’s commitments or student’s learning objectives as documented on the Form I-983.

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.

Changing employers with a pending STEM OPT application

Students changing employment with a pending 24-month STEM OPT application at USCIS will need to complete the steps below.

Step 1

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.

Step 2

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.

Receipt number of your application with USCIS
a completed and signed Form I-983,
a copy of a new I-765 with new employer details and at the top write “AMENDED -Pending STEM OPT application, New Employer”, and
if you plan to have someone else pick up your I-20 or have us mail your I-20, also include the FERPA form and shipping payment receipt (if applicable).

Step 3

OGS will issue a new STEM extension I-20 with the updated employment info.

Step 4

You will sign and email back a signed copy of your I-20.

Step 5

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.

Changing employers with an approved STEM OPT application

Students changing employment with an approved 24-month or 7-month STEM OPT application will need to complete the steps below.

Step 1

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.

Step 2

Completed and signed “Final Evaluation of Student Progress” page of the I-983 based on the ended employment
Completed and signed Form I-983 for the new employment
If you plan to authorize someone to pick up or have OGS mail your I-20, also include FERPA form documents and shipping payment receipt (if applicable)

Step 3

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.

Has your employer been acquired by another company?

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).

Travel while on STEM OPT

Review our Alumni Documents to Carry page for information on traveling during your STEM OPT.

STEM OPT

See NYU STEM Programs

Who Can Apply

When to Apply

How to Apply

Step 1

Gather and Prepare Your Documents

Gather and prepare these items for your STEM OPT application:

Step 2

Submit a Request to OGS

Step 3

Receive Your New I-20

Step 4

Review and Sign

Step 5

Send Your Application to the US Government

Step 6

Keep your NYU Email Account Active

Obligations on STEM OPT

Employment requirements

Notify the OGS

Report STEM OPT and Address Updates to the OGS

If your information changes, report within 10 days of any of the following:

Every 6 months, respond to email from the OGS requesting verification

Submit an annual evaluation from the I-983 to the OGS

Keep track of your days

Keep a record

Changing Employment on STEM OPT

Changing employers with a pending STEM OPT application

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Step 4

Step 5

Changing employers with an approved STEM OPT application

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Has your employer been acquired by another company?

Travel while on STEM OPT

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