STEM OPT 24 Month Extension

F-1 students who are currently authorized for OPT employment based on completion of a Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Ph.D. degree in a Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math (STEM) field, as defined by DHS, may be eligible for a 24-month extension of OPT. You must fit the following criteria:

• You must currently have a valid OPT based on a STEM-eligible degree. You can check if your major’s CIP code appears on the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List. You can find your major's CIP code on your I-20, right next to where the major is listed. It must match a number on the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List exactly for you to be eligible to apply.
• You have not exceeded 90 days of unemployment while on OPT.
• Your employer is registered in the E-Verify employment verification system

There is a lifetime limit of two periods of 24-month STEM OPT; each occurring after a higher degree level has been obtained.  A STEM degree obtained at a U.S. university prior to your current degree may be the basis for a STEM extension under certain circumstances. While the STEM OPT I-765 is pending with USCIS, you may continue to work for up to 180 days.

The earliest you can send your application to USCIS is up to 90 days before your original EAD card expires. The latest you can send your application to USCIS is the day your original EAD card expires.

Important Notes:

• Do not start your application with USCIS before you receive your STEM OPT I-20 and sign it at the bottom of the first page. 
• You must submit your application to USCIS within 60 days of being issued a STEM OPT I-20.
• The final deadline to submit the I-765 is the last day of your OPT period.
• We highly recommend you file the I-765 online - not by mail. 
• This is a general guide to apply for STEM OPT extension. 
• It is your responsibility to submit all the documents correctly and on time. 
• Following this guide does not guarantee approval of your STEM OPT extension by USCIS and should not be construed as legal advice. 

Step 1: Request a STEM OPT I-20

Before you submit anything, you must receive a STEM OPT I-20 from the Office of International Programs.

Provide the following to the Office of International Programs via email several weeks before your current EAD card ends:

• Completed and signed STEM OPT Extension Request.
• A work description written by you. This is your opportunity to explain to the Department of Homeland Security how your job directly relates to your degree program. Your statement will be copied and pasted directly into SEVIS. You are limited to 1,000 characters (approximately one paragraph). Be prepared to provide government agents with additional justification for your job if requested. Do not work in any position that is not directly related to your degree field or is not commensurate with your academic degree level. Please be sure to include the following in your paragraph:
  • Job title
  • Job description
  • List of MSU courses that connect to your job description
• Completed and signed I-983 Form. Please note that in order to request a STEM OPT I-20, you only need to complete pages 1 to 4 of the I-983 Form with your employer. Be sure to keep a copy of your filled-out form with you for your record, as you will need to complete the last page of the I-983 Form at your 12-month check-in and your 24-month check-in. Be sure to go through the Instructions for the Form I-983 if you have any questions.

Step 2: Complete the USCIS Application for STEM OPT Extension

Once you have received your STEM OPT I-20, you may begin your application with USCIS online. You must submit your application to USCIS within 60 days of receiving your STEM OPT I-20. Please note that you can apply with USCIS up to 90 days before your original OPT EAD card expires, but not after it expires.

• Login to your USCIS account. Use the same login you used when you first applied for OPT.
• Click "Go to myUSCIS"
• Click "File a form online". Be sure to select the I-765 form and make sure you select the (c)(3)(C) STEM Extension option. 
• Go through the application and answer all questions accurately.
• Make sure to indicate that you are applying for a renewal and that you have previously filed a Form I-765.
• In the About You section, be sure to fill out everything accurately. Include a secure mailing address where they will send your new EAD card.
• Access your most recent I-94 to provide the Arrival-Departure Record Number and other necessary information.
• You should have an A-Number written on your current EAD card. It is a 9-digit number often starting with A.
• In the Evidence section, you will need to provide the following:
  • Photo: As of December 12, 2025, USCIS accepts only photographs taken at an Application Support Center (ASC) during a Biometrics Services Appointment (BSA), or by other USCIS-authorized entities. If your submitted photo does not meet their requirements, you may receive a request to attend a BSA at your closest ASC.
  • Form I-94: Print your I-94 and your Travel History as a PDF. If you do not have an I-94, then you must upload a photo/scan of the biographical page of your passport. 
  • EAD Card: Provide a photo/scan of all your EAD cards that you have held in the past. 
  • Form I-20: This is where you would upload your STEM OPT I-20. Be sure you have signed it at the bottom of the first page before scanning and uploading. Make sure your STEM OPT Extension request is listed on the second page of the I-20. Please remember to keep a record of all the I-20s you have received. 
  • College Degree: Upload your diploma or transcript showing your STEM degree. An unofficial transcript from Campus Connection is acceptable.
  • Institution Accreditation: Print the following pages as a PDF and upload them to this section.
    • MSU HLC Accreditation 
    • MSU Study in the States
• If you need to provide any additional details regarding a previous answer in the I-765, you may provide that information in the Additional Information section.
• Review your application.
• Complete the required statement and signature. 
• Pay the USCIS Fee. This is the final step in the application. Do not pay the application fee if you are not ready to submit your application.

Please note that the online application may have changed since this website was updated. Not all of the above documents may be required. Please follow the instructions in the online application, and it will indicate which documents need to be included.

Step 3: After Submission

• You should receive a digital receipt notice from USCIS within 24 hours of submitting your application. A paper receipt notice will be mailed to you.
• You are allowed to continue working for 180 days after your Post-Completion OPT EAD expires, as long as your STEM OPT I-765 is pending.
• If you need to change your mailing address after submitting your application, you must submit an official change of address to USCIS.
• If you need to attach additional evidence to your I-765, you can do so as unsolicited evidence.
• If you receive a Request for Evidence (RFE) or Request for Information (RFI), please notify the Office of International Programs immediately.
• If approved, USCIS will provide you with a digital and paper approval notice. Your EAD card will arrive in the mail.

While on your 24-month STEM OPT, there are significantly more reporting requirements compared to your 12-month OPT period.

Any changes made to the following information must be reported to the Office of International Programs within 10 days:

• Your residential address
• Your phone and email address
• Employer's name
• Employer's address
• Job Title(s)
• Explanation of how your job(s) relate to your degree from Minot State University
• Start and/or end dates of employment
• Any periods of unemployment
• Material Changes to your I-983
• Validation Reports every 6 months
• 12-Month Evaluation I-983
• Final Evaluation I-983 at the end of each employment period
• 24-Month Final Evaluation I-983
• Date of exiting the U.S. (You must provide the date of exit if you decide to exit the U.S and complete your OPT status prior to the end date of your OPT)
• If your visa status changes while on OPT

Be advised that SEVIS might automatically terminate your F-1 record if you fail to submit these required updates to the Office of International Programs.

You should complete the following Validation Reports no more than 15 days before and no later than 10 days after it is due. For students on a regular 24-Month STEM Extension, the 6 and 12-month clock begins on the start date of your STEM EAD.

• Every 6 months (from the start date of the STEM EAD), students must "check in" by sending an email to the Office of International Programs with the following information:
  • Your current mailing address
  • Your employer’s name and address
    
    
• At 12-months, students must submit an "Annual Evaluation," which is the top of page 5 of the I-983 Form. This is to update/confirm your employment information in SEVIS. Submit the I-983 form signed by your current employer via email to the Office of International Programs.
  
  
• 24-month Validation Report: at the end of the STEM OPT period, students must submit their 24-month Validation Report and upload their Final Evaluation, which is the bottom of page 5 of the I-983 Form.

If you change employers during your 24-month STEM OPT period, send an email to the Office of International Programs with the following information and documentation:

1. Confirm your current address/phone/email.
2. Special OPT hire letter written by your employer. You will need to provide this list to your employer so that they can include all of the following in your letter. Most hire letters do not automatically contain all of this information, so you will need to request it specifically.
   • Employer name
   • Employer EIN (usually available from Human Resources)
   • Job Title
   • Start Date
   • End Date
   • Hours per week (full-time is defined as 20 or more hours per week)
   • Compensation (hourly wage and yearly salary)
   • Address where work will take place
   • Supervisor Name
   • Supervisor Telephone Number
   • Supervisor Email Address
     
     
3. A work description written by you. This is your opportunity to explain to the Department of Homeland Security how your job directly relates to your degree program. Your statement will be copied and pasted directly into SEVIS. You are limited to 1,000 characters (approximately one paragraph). Be prepared to provide government agents with additional justification for your job if requested. Do not work in any position that is not directly related to your degree field or is not commensurate with your academic degree level. Please be sure to include the following in your paragraph:
   • Job title
   • Job description
   • List of MSU courses that connect to your job description
4. A new I-983 form from the new employer.
5. Final Evaluation I-983 page 5 from previous employer.
6. End date of previous job.
7. Copy of your STEM EAD - back and front (if we don’t have it already).