OPT STEM扩展

F-1 students in post-completion OPT, who have earned a degree at the bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral 水平s in a science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) field as listed on the I-20 and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) STEM Designated 学位课程列表. Additionally, students must be working for an E-verify employer. It is important to note, not all students in the STEM fields will qualify for the 扩展. The list of qualified majors is very specific and each 扩展 application must be considered on a case-by-case basis.

 OPT STEM扩展s are NOW available twice during your academic career. 例如, if you complete a Master’s degree and are approved for OPT and a STEM OPT Extension, you could get another OPT and STEM OPT Extension at the Doctoral 水平.

 ELIGIBILITY FOR OPT STEM EXTENSION APPLICATION

• 你必须 目前 be on Post-Completion OPT and have not exceeded 90 days of unemployment in a major included in the DHS list of approved STEM field
• If you look on page 1 of your I-20, in the third box, you will find your primary major and CIP code, which must match the STEM List to be eligible
• Application can be for a previous degree, as long as it is in a STEM field and the school the degree came from is 目前 accredited by an agency recognized by the US Department of Education within last 10 years
• MUST BE employed or have offer of employment in field of study from an employer participating 在USCIS电子验证计划中
• Student must also agree with reporting requirements and complete the I-983
• 必须持有有效护照吗

FILING DEADLINES, EMPLOYMENT DATES, AND TIME LIMITS

• STEM OPT Extensions begin the first day after the expiration of the first period of OPT, no exceptions, and end 24 months later
• STEM OPT Extension applications may be filed with USCIS as early as 90 days prior to current EAD expiration; but, will not be accepted after the current EAD expires
• A student who submits their STEM OPT Extension application before the expiration date may continue to work up to 180 days beyond the expiration, pending the outcome of 应用程序
• The OPT STEM扩展 provides as additional 60 days of unemployment, providing a total of 150 days of unemployment for the ENTIRE 36-month period

EMPLOYMENT-SPECIFIC INFORMATION

Student must be working, at least, 20 hours per week for an e - verify系统 employer, in a paid position directly related to the student’s STEM degree. 你一定是有报酬的 job or an accepted job offer to apply for and maintain your F-1 OPT STEM扩展. 

A student may work for multiple employers; but, all employers must be enrolled in e - verify系统. Students are not eligible to volunteer with employers who are NOT enrolled 在e - verify系统. Students are no longer eligible to start their own companies and apply for OPT STEM扩展 signing off on the Form I-983 for themselves.

STUDENT REPORTING REQUIREMENTS ON OPT STEM EXTENSION

All students will continue to report changes of the information below to the Office of International Student and Scholar Services within 10 days:

•  更改名称
• 居住地址
• 更新后的电邮地址
• 电话号码
• Name, address, phone number, and supervisor for employer(s)
• 雇主的EIN
• Any change to the name and address of employer(s)
• Any interruption of employment (e. g. 失业率)

Additionally, students are required to check in with the International Student and 学者服务办公室 每六(6)个月, even if there are no changes to report.

Form I-983 requires 12-month and 24-month evaluations to be reported to the International Student and 学者服务办公室

EMPLOYER REPORTING REQUIREMENTS OF OPT STEM EXTENSION

Employers are responsible for the following:

• Document specific information in the Form I-983  about the company, training schedule, salary of the student, as well as providing the E-verify number of the company/organization
• Certify students are not replacing any US worker as a part of this program
• Evaluate and certify student’s progress as it relates to the Form I-983
• Report termination of departure of student to the International Student and Scholar Services office at The University of Southern Mississippi
• An employer must consider a worker to have departed when the employer knows the student 已经离开雇主了，还是
• Student has not reported for work for a period of five (5) consecutive days without 雇主的同意

TERMINATION OF PRACTICAL TRAINING

Authorization to engage in practical training employment is automatically terminated when you transfer your record to begin study at another school or at another educational 水平.