STEM OPT 24-Month Extension
Eligible students currently on 12-Month OPT may qualify to apply for a 24-Month STEM OPTExtension to receive an additional 2 years of employment authorization directly related to their STEM degree program. Detailed information for students and employers can also be found on the DHS webpage Study in the States OPT STEM Hub
UC Berkeley Departments hiring F-1 students on STEM OPT Extension should review the Hiring Scholars on F-1 OPT webpage.
Please consult with Berkeley International Office if you need help determining whether your employment qualifies as on-campus.
How to apply for STEM OPT
Eligible students may apply for a 24-Month STEM OPT Extension up to 90 days prior to the expiration of their OPT EAD.
- Fully review the Berkeley International Office (BIO) 24-Month STEM Extension Tutorial for detailed instructions on both the BIO application process and submission to USCIS. Pay careful attention to the tutorial as it contains specific information as to how to complete the I-983. It is required that you view the tutorial prior to applying.
- Log in to the Student SEVIS Update (SSU) system to submit your STEM application to BIO. (Follow all steps carefully as most processing delays are due to failure to update all new required fields in SSU.) You must:
- Update all current & previous OPT employment
- Update your current address/email/phone
- Upload a copy of your OPT EAD
- Click the "Apply for STEM OPT Extension" link to at the bottom of the SSU Hub homepage to start your application. You will be asked to identify your STEM employer, provide additional information and upload a copy of form I-983 Training Plan.
- Also in your SSU Hub, submit your $530 Post-Completion Services Fee to BIO. Credit/Debit Card: Make your payment in your SSU Hub by clicking the "Submit STEM OPT Post-Completion Fee Payment" link at the bottom of the SSU Hub homepage.
- BIO will issue you a new OPT I-20 with a 24-Month Extension recommendation. You will provide your delivery method for the I-20 in your SSU Hub form.
- Submit a 24-Month Extension request to USCIS. (Detailed instructions available in the STEM tutorial)
STEM Extension Criteria
The 2016 STEM Extension rule institutes includes the following criteria for the 24-Month F-1 STEM OPT Extension, including:
Duration | Effective May 10, 2016 the STEM OPT Extension will be for 24 months. (Prior to May 10, 2016 the STEM Extension only provided a 17 month extension.) |
STEM Application Period | STEM applications may only be submitted up to 90 days prior to the initial 12-Month OPT EAD expiration. |
Eligibility for 2nd STEM Extension | 24-Month STEM OPT Extension regulations allow a total of 2 lifetime STEM Extensions, the 2nd after earning a new STEM-eligible degree at a higher level and obtaining a new, higher level of 12-Month OPT |
Eligible Based on Previously Earned Degree | May be based on a previously earned STEM Degree |
STEM Definition and CIP Categories | Not all areas of study can qualify for the 24-Month STEM OPT Extension. See STEM Definition and CIP Categories for the definition of STEM fields and eligible Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) codes, |
Required Training Plan and Form I-983 | Requires significant responsibility of the employer to provide a training plan related to the field of study, and attestations to wages and compensation being commensurate with "similarly situated U.S. workers" |
Obligations for Students, Schools, and Employers | 6 Month validation reports, annual evaluations, and submission of a new I-983 in case of material changes to the original I-983 are required. Employers must agree to Department of Homeland Security site visits, as well as provide attestations to wages and working conditions |
Types of Employment Allowed |
Volunteer/Unpaid positions and self employment are NOT allowed by the 24-Month STEM OPT Extension.
STEM-eligible employers must have e-Verify & EIN numbers and the student must have a "bona fide employer-employee relationship". To establish a bona fide relationship, the employer may not be the student’s “employer” in name only.
Note: Cannabis Industry- be aware that use and sale of cannabis is illegal at the federal level, although it may be legal in some U.S. states. To avoid possible deportation or inadmissibility form the US, students should avoid positions related to federally illegal substances.
According to USCIS updates August 2018:
Temp/Staffing Agencies, 3rd Party Worksites
|
Unemployment | Students with 24-Month STEM OPT Extensions may have up to 150 days of unemployment during the total OPT period including initial 12-Month and 24-Month STEM OPT Extension period. |
STEM Reporting Requirements & Address/Employment Updates
There are significantly more reporting requirements while on STEM OPT Extension. Please see our OPT Reporting page for more information regarding your obligations during the STEM OPT Extension. This includes updating your personal or employment information, as well as how to comply with with special STEM 6-Month validation and Annual Evaluation requirements.
Changing Employers While on STEM
Please see our OPT Reporting page for more information regarding how to change your employer while on STEM OPT.
Travel while on STEM OPT
Please see our OPT Travel page for more information regarding what you need to travel with while on STEM OPT.
Additional STEM OPT Extension Documents
In some special STEM OPT Extension cases, you may need to submit additional documentation to USCIS with your STEM application. Review below to see if you will require additional documentation.
Concurrent H-1B & STEM Applications
Filing an H-1B and a STEM applications concurrently can sometimes cause complications in your SEVIS record. You should only apply for an OPT STEM Extension before your OPT EAD expires, even if you have received a H1-B Cap Gap Extension of your I-20 until Sept 30. (If your company has applied for an H1B on your behalf via consular processing, you will not be eligible for a cap gap, so you will not need either of letters.) If you are planning to file for an H-1B and STEM at the same time, BIO recommends including one of the following letters with your STEM Extension application to USCIS:
- STEM/Cap-Gap Letter: Include this letter if a Cap-Gap Extension appears on your STEM OPT I-20 on page 2. Example:
- STEM/H1B Letter: Include this letter if NO Cap-Gap Extension currently appears on your I-20, but your employer has already filed a USCIS change of status H-1B for you AND your OPT expires before 9/30. (Does NOT apply to consular processing H1-Bs.)
CIP Code/Major Name Mismatch
In some cases, your UC Berkeley Major Name on your transcript/diploma and does not match the CIP Code name listed on page 1 of your I-20. BIO recommends that students in these “CIP Code/Major Name Mismatch” programs submit a letter of explanation with the STEM application to avoid any confusion by USCIS. If you are in one of the following programs or majors, please print the letter for your program and include it with your STEM application to USCIS.
- Agricultural and Resource Economics
- Applied Science and Technology
- Architecture MS and PhD (Building Science, Technology and Sustainability subplan only)
- Data Science BA
- Development Practice
- Economics
- Environmental Economics & Policy
- Geography
- Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning PhD
- Landscape Architecture MLA
- Logic and the Methodology of Science
- Master of Advanced Architectural Design (MAAD)
- Master of Architecture (M.Arch)
- Master of Business Administration (MBA)
- Master of City Planning (MCP)
- Master of Financial Engineering (MFE) Financial Mathematics
- Master of Journalism
- Master of Real Estate Development + Design (MRED+D)
- Master of Translational Medicine (MTM)
- Master of Urban Design (MUD)
- Psychology
- Society and Environment