Maintaining Your Status while on STEM OPT Extension

All employment must be related to your major area of study. In your employment report, you will explain your regular job duties and the connection between those duties and the degree you earned.  

• Volunteer positions: Volunteer positions do not qualify for STEM OPT Extension.  
• Self-employment: Self-employment is generally not allowed for STEM OPT Extension.  
• Remote work: Currently, the regulations allow you to work remotely inside the U.S. Your employer should approve and know your remote work location. You need to make sure you appropriately report your employer’s address and your working (site) location in your employment report and on your I-983.  
• Multiple employers: You can work for multiple employers, however, each employment position must meet the STEM OPT Extension requirements.  

You must work minimum 20 hours per week. If you work for multiple employers, you must work a minimum of 20 hours per week with each employer. There is no maximum limit to hours worked per week. 

Note: 

• Employment of 20 hours per week or less is considered part-time.   
• Employment of more than 20 hours per week is considered full-time.   

The employer must:  

• be E-verified 
• have a valid EIN (Employer Identification Number)   
• complete and sign your form I-983 training plan 

Refer to the Optional Practical Training Extension for STEM Students (STEM OPT) webpage, published by USCIS, for the full list of employer requirements and responsibilities. 

Once your STEM OPT Extension is approved, you will be allotted an extra 60 days of unemployment. This is in addition to any remaining unemployment days not used during the initial period of post-completion OPT.     

You cannot start a new degree program or study full-time while you are participating in STEM OPT Extension. Enrollment in avocational or recreational coursework is allowed.  

Yes. The new employment must meet all STEM OPT Extension employment requirements. Refer to the Reporting Requirements below on how to report the changes in your employment. 

Your visa requires that you submit all reports within 10 days of the event/change. 

• Address updates 
• Employment changes (new employment, completion of employment, change in full-time/part-time employment status, employer address change) 
• STEM OPT Data Validation (check-in) reports  
• Material changes of the current form I-983 
• Legal name change as reflected in your Passport 

ISSS requires that you submit the following reports within 10 days of the event/change. 

• OPT/STEM OPT EAD Card Submission  

Reminder: Your visa requires that you submit all reports within 10 days of the event/change. 

• PAWS: Address updates 
  • Log into PAWS and update your Mailing Address in the “Mailing” field; this information will be pulled into ISSS Connect and SEVIS will be updated in about one week.   
  • Your U.S. physical address must always be listed in PAWS under the “Mailing” field.   
  • Your home country address must always be listed in PAWS under the “Home” field. 
• ISSS Connect Portal Reports:  
  • OPT/STEM OPT EAD Card Submission 
  • Report New OPT/STEM OPT Employment   
  • Report Completion of a Job  
  • Updated I-20: Legal Name Change  
  • STEM OPT Data Validation (Check-In) Report  
    • Check-in required every 6 months 
    • Annual self-evaluation to describe the progress of the training experience is required with the 12- and 24-month check-ins 
  • Report Material Changes to Current OPT/STEM OPT Employment Information 

For more detailed information regarding reporting requirements for students who are on STEM OPT extension, please visit this site.  

Every six months from the start date of your STEM OPT Extension, you must complete the validation report to verify the following information:  

• Name 
• Residential or mailing address 
• Employer name and address 
• Status of current employment 

In your 12- and 24-month check-ins, an annual self-evaluation (page 5 of your I-983) must be completed to describe the progress of the training experience.  

STEM OPT Data validation reports can be submitted a maximum of 30 days before the due date, but no later than 10 days after the due date. 

Report the completion of the old employment with your I-983 final evaluation in your ISSS Connect Portal within 10 days of employment completion.  

You must complete a new I-983 for the new employment and report your new employment in your ISSS Connect Portal within 10 days of beginning the employment. 

REMINDER: Your Data Validation (Check-In) Report due dates do not change with the change of your employment. You must still complete the required reports every six months from the start date of your STEM OPT Extension.

We recommend postponing international travel until you have your approved STEM OPT Extension EAD card to support your request for reentry to the U.S. The officer at the U.S. border has the discretion to determine if you are eligible for reentry to the U.S. 

Your STEM OPT Extension recommended I-20 will not be signed for travel. If you decide to travel internationally while your STEM OPT Extension is pending, you must submit a Travel Endorsement request through your ISSS Connect Portal.   

After your STEM OPT Extension is approved and you have submitted the “OPT/STEM OPT EAD Card Submission” in your ISSS Connect portal, you will receive an updated I-20 with a travel endorsement.   If that travel endorsement expires and you need a new travel endorsement, you can request that through your ISSS Connect Portal. 

Reminder: Travel endorsements are valid for six months from the date signed for students on approved STEM OPT authorization.   

When traveling, you should make sure to carry with you:  

• Updated I-20 with travel endorsement that lists the STEM OPT Extension approval and employment    
• STEM OPT Extension EAD card    
• Employment offer letter    
• Valid passport    
• Valid F-1 visa   
• Most recent I-94 (for travel within the U.S.) 

Additional information is available on the travel recommendations webpage.