Optionap Practical Training (OPT) STEM Extension

General Information

Effective April 8, 2008, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) revised its regulations on F-1 Optional Practical Training (OPT). The new rule makes recipients of bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in certain STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) fields eligible for a one-time 17-month extension of post-completion OPT (for a total eligibility of up to 29 months). This rule benefits certain STEM degree holders (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics). To view the full list of STEM-Designated Degree Program List, please click on the link: http://www.ice.gov/sevis/stemlist.htm. OPT STEM Extension is a benefit of an F-1 STEM degree student. It is NOT a type of visa.

Eligibility Requirements

Student must meet all of the following requirements in order to apply for the OPT STEM Extension:

  • The student must be currently participating in a period of post-completion OPT, working for a U.S. employer in a job directly related to the student's major area of study.
  • The student must have successfully completed a bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree in a field on the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) STEM Designated Degree Program List, from CSUN.
  • E-Verified Employer
    • The student must be employed with or have a job offer from an employer registered with the E-Verify employment verification system.
    • Employer shall provide the student with the company's E-Verify number.
    • The employer must agree to report the termination or departure of the student to the DSO or through "any other means or process identified by DHS" within 48 hours of termination of employment. An employer must consider a worker to have departed when the employer knows the student has left employment, or if the student has not reported for work for a period of five consecutive business days without the employer's consent.
    • For more information on E-verify please visit www.dhs.gov/e-verify.
  • The student has not previously received a 17-month OPT extension after earning a STEM degree.

Application Filing Window

Students can apply for the OPT STEM Extension as early as 120 days prior to the expiration of the current OPT Employment Authorization Document (EAD), but no later than the expiration of the current OPT EAD. Please note that the OPT STEM Extension application cannot be filed after the expiration of the current OPT EAD.

In addition, USCIS must receive the OPT application within 30 days of the OPT STEM Extension Recommendation Date (This is the date that the FSA entered the OPT STEM Extension recommendation in SEVIS). Usually, the date that is printed on ITEM #10 of the OPT STEM Extension I-20 is the date that the FSA recommended the OPT. (Please verify the OPT STEM Extension Recommendation Date with the FSA at OPT STEP 2.)

OPT Application Process

STEP 1: Student will drop-off the following documents to IESC: (Students who live outside of California may email these documents to their FSA.)

  • OPT STEM Extension Request Form (form is available at www.csun.edu/international or at IESC)
  • Completed Form I-765. Please download the form at www.uscis.gov.
    • This is an online fillable form. Please type your information.
    • Please check the box that says "Renewal of my permission to accept employment"
    • Item #11:
      Have you ever received an EAD card before? Check the "yes" box.
      Which USCIS Office? Answer "California Service Center." (If you lived outside of California when you first applied for post-completion OPT, your answer may vary. Check with your FSA.)
      Dates? Enter your dates of EAD validity
      Results? Answer "Granted"
    • ITEM #16: Type in the eligibility code ( c) (3) ( C)
    • Item #17: For your "Degree" use what is listed in #5 on your OPT I-20
    • Sign your name using a BLACK ink pen. Make sure your signature stays in between the signature lines and that it does not touch the lines above or below.
    • Make sure that the barcode at the lower left side printed properly. If you do not see a barcode at the bottom of the page, please adjust your printer setting and reprint it.
  • COPY of the most recent I-94 Departure Record Card (Front Side)
  • COPY of the most recent I-94 Departure Record Card (Back Side)
  • COPY of your Passport Identification Page(s)
    • Passport page(s) must show your name, photograph, date of birth, passport expiration and/or renewal date.
    • Passport must be valid at least 6 months into the future.
  • Copy of all previously issued OPT/CPT I-20s if you had OPT or CPT in the past. The student should ask previous schools for copies of I-20 if he/she does not have the originals.
  • Copy of any previously issued EAD(s).

Please allow 3-5 business days to review and recommend your OPT STEM Extension in SEVIS. An FSA will email you when the OPT STEM Extension I-20 has been issued and is ready for STEP 2.

STEP 2*: The student will return to IESC with following items:

  • 2 U.S. Passport-Style photographs with small envelope.
    • Photos must meet U.S specifications (not taken in home country).
    • The student must write his/her name and I-94 number on back edge of each photo lightly in pen.
  • Check for $380.00 payable to "Department of Homeland Security"
    • Write "For OPT STEM Extension" on the memo line.
  • Completed Form G-1145 - Please download the form at www.uscis.gov.
    When filing Form I-765 at one of the USCIS Lockbox facilities, you may elect to receive an email and/or text message notifying you that your application has been received. You can complete the Form G-1145 and attach it to the first page of your application.

*At STEP 2, the FSA will assemble the application packet and will immediately hand it over to the student. The original OPT STEM Extension I-20 will also be given to the student. Student will keep the original OPT STEM Extension I-20. Do not mail the original OPT STEM Extension to USCIS. The FSA's responsibilities are limited to reviewing the application packet for accuracy. The student is required to mail the OPT STEM Extension Application Packet to the appropriate USCIS Lockbox based on the address that is printed on the student's Form I-765. For students living in California, please mail your packet to Arizona USCIS Lockbox Facility. For students living outside of California, please refer to the Form I-765 Application Instructions (www.uscis.gov) for the appropriate lockbox location.
Important: IESC does not require ANY fees for the services it provides to international students. No fees, under any circumstances, shall be submitted to IESC.

Duration (Start and End Dates) of OPT STEM Extension

An F-1 student is eligible for a maximum of 17 months of OPT STEM Extension. By default, the start date of the OPT STEM Extension will be the day after the EAD expires. SEVIS will automatically calculate 17 months and use that date as the official end date for the OPT STEM Extension period. If the OPT STEM Extension application is approved, the student will receive the EAD from USCIS via mail. The start and end dates will be printed on the EAD. These dates are the authorized period for OPT STEM Extension.

Students may continue working for up to 180 days with their expired OPT EAD while their OPT STEM Extension application is pending with USCIS or until the final decision is made on the I-765, whichever comes first. Student must stop working if the application is denied.

ß
STUDENT SHOULD
Mail OPT STEM Extension Packet Mark your calendar.
G-1145 Receive an email or text message within 24 hours upon receipt of application from USCIS Lockbox.
Certified Return Receipt Receive Green Postcard within 2-3 weeks.
Notice Receipt (I-797) Receive official notification within 3-4 weeks from time of mailing.
Online Case Status Track the status of the OPT STEM Extension application after receiving I-797.
OPT STEM Extension EAD Receive EAD 90 days from date on I-797. Student will contact a FSA if he has not received the EAD within 90 days from the date shown on the I-797 Notice of Action.

During the OPT Period

F-1 Students must maintain all of the following requirements while on OPT:

  • The student must work in a job that is directly related to his/her major field of study.
  • The student must work for an e-verified company.
  • The job must be a paid position. Students are allowed to volunteer, incidental to their status. This means that volunteer work is allowed but does not count as employment for the purpose of maintaining F-1 status.
  • Students must work full-time (20+ hours per week) during OPT.
  • Change of U.S. Address
    • Students who have submitted their application and are changing their address but have not yet received a receipt should contact Customer Service toll-free at 1-800-375-5283.
    • If the student has a receipt, he/she can report the change of address from www.uscis.gov, using USCIS' Change of Address online. Remember to report the change of address to IESC as well. Address changes must be made within 10 days of the move.
  • OPT Reporting Requirements

    While on OPT, students are responsible for reporting their U.S. address, company name and address, and any periods of unemployment every six months to IESC. Please click on this link to report your personal and OPT employer information: http://studentvoice.com/csun/optemployerreportingform. Your information will be updated automatically. Also, please email a copy of your Employment Authorization Document (EAD) to iesc@csun.edu. Please include your full name and CSUN ID # in the subject line.
    Warning! SEVIS records of students who fail to report their information within the required time will be automatically terminated.

  • 120 Days Unemployment Rule

    Effective April 8, 2008, F-1 status is dependent on employment while the student is on OPT. Students may not accrue an aggregate of 120 days of unemployment during their OPT and OPT STEM Extension period. Students who accrue more than 120 days of unemployment will be considered out of F1 status. Students must notify their FSA if they are nearing their 120th day of unemployment to discuss their future plans to remain in correct immigration status. Otherwise, students will need to depart the U.S.

Additional Information

  • If the student changes his employer while the OPT STEM Extension application is pending, the student will contact USCIS for specific instructions and also notify FSA to request a revised OPT STEM Extension I-20. The new employer must also be e-verified.
  • If the student loses a valid EAD, he/she must re-apply to USCIS with all the required documents as well as the application fee. The student will contact the Foreign Student Advisor for current information.

Travelling Outside the U.S.

The student must use the new OPT STEM Extension I-20 for all purposes including travel. Travel risks –Please note that the EAD states "Not valid for re-entry to the United States." F-1 students must have the following documents to re-enter the U.S.:

With a pending OPT STEM Extension application, the student will need:
  • A Travel signature – each signature is valid for 6 months at a time
  • Valid passport- Must be valid at least 6 months into the future
  • Valid F-1 visa- students with an expired F1 visa must contact the U.S. Consulate or Embassy in their home country to renew their F1 visa prior to their return to the U.S.
  • The I-797 Notice of Action (payment receipt) from USCIS
  • An offer of employment or verification of employment on company letterhead.
  • Valid OPT EAD*

    *IMPORTANT: If your OPT EAD has expired, you may not travel outside the U.S. You will need to wait to receive the new EAD for the OPT STEM Extension.

With an approved OPT, the student will need:
  • A travel signature – each signature is valid for 6 months at a time
  • Valid passport- Must be valid at least 6 months into the future
  • Valid F-1 visa- students with an expired F1 visa must contact the U.S. Consulate or Embassy in their home country to renew their F1 visa prior to their return to the U.S.
  • Valid Employment Authorization Document (EAD) for OPT STEM Extension
  • An offer of employment or verification of employment on company letterhead.

Options After OPT STEM Extension

At the end of OPT STEM Extension period, the student can select ONE of the following options: (must be done within 60 days of the EAD expiration date).

  • Return to home country
  • Apply to CSUN for a higher degree (CSUN issues a new I-20)
  • Transfer out to another school (New school issues a new I-20. Note: If the student transfers the SEVIS record to another program prior to the expiration of OPT, he/she will forfeit the remaining period.)
  • Change Status within the U.S. (The best option here is to consult with an immigration attorney).

H-1B Cap Gap Extension

  • Duration of F-1 status and work authorization will be extended for a student on OPT STEM Extension who is the beneficiary of a timely-filed H-1B petition requesting an employment start date of October 1 of the following federal fiscal year (October through September). This would apply to all students on OPT, not just STEM students.
  • The student must submit proof of a filed or waitlisted petition to his/her FSA and request that the OPT STEM Extension and/or F1 status be extended accordingly.
  • The extension of duration of status and work authorization would automatically terminate upon the rejection, denial, or revocation of the H-1B petition filed on the student's behalf.

Please contact IESC at (818) 677-3053 or email a Foreign Student Advisor (FSA) for questions and/or clarifications.

COLLEGE FSA EMAIL
Engineering and Computer Science Brenda Acosta brenda.acosta@csun.edu
Business and Economics Patricia Marquez patricia.marquez@csun.edu
Art, Media, & Communication Social and Behavioral Science Education Liat Tamsut liat.tamsut@csun.edu
Health and Human Development Science and Math College of Humanities Hanna Lee hanna.lee@csun.edu

Rev 02/26/2013 PM

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