STEM Extension

To be eligible for the STEM OPT Extension a student must:

• Have completed a degree in a qualifying STEM Program.
• • All Syracuse University programs have been assigned a CIP Code via a curriculum process involving the Schools and Colleges and the Registrar’s Office.  The process assures that the appropriate code has been selected based on a U.S. Department of Education available list of codes.  CIP Code assignment is an academic matter, not an immigration matter.  All questions about CIP Codes assigned to Syracuse University programs of study should be addressed to the academic department.
  • The CIP Code assigned to your degree is the number that follows your Major on page 1 of your I-20. The Syracuse University name of your major or degree program may not be the same as the CIP Code Title listed on the STEM-designated degree program list.
  • The STEM-designated degree program list includes all CIP Codes that qualify an F-1 Student for a STEM Extension of OPT.
• Be currently in an approved period of Post-Completion OPT (students on Pre-Completion OPT are not eligible).
• Work for an employer that participates in the E-Verify program and will complete an I-983 Training Plan.
  • Employment on the STEM Extension must be paid.
  • Students cannot qualify for STEM OPT extensions unless they will be employees of the employer signing the Form I-983.
  • Students may not be self-employed on the STEM Extension because students may not provide employer attestations on their own behalf. STEM OPT applicants participating in a start-up or small business should seek competent business immigration counsel to assure that their employment qualifies for the STEM Extension.
  • The employer that signs the Training Plan must be the same entity that employs the student and provides the practical training experience.
• Maintained valid F-1 Status.
• Have not accumulated more than 90 days of unemployment.
• Submit a timely STEM Extension application.
  • USCIS must receive your STEM Extension application no more than 90 days before your OPT expires and no later than the end date of your OPT.

For a student to be eligible for the STEM Extension they must work for an employer that meets the following requirements:

• The employer must participate in USCIS's E-Verify employment eligibility verification program.
• The employer must complete an I-983 Training Plan with the student and agree to the conditions in the employer certification sections, including:
  • The employer must agree to report to the Center for International Services when an F-1 student on a STEM OPT extension terminates or otherwise leaves their employment before the end of the authorized period of STEM OPT. The employer must report this change no later than five business days after the student leaves employment. For more information about employer requirements, please visit the Study in the States Employer Reporting Requirements page.
  • Both the student and employer are obligated to report to the Center for International Services any material changes to or material deviations from the student's formal training plan, Form I-983.
• The employer must remain in good standing with E-Verify and have the resources to comply with the proposed training plan.

Your request for a STEM Extension Recommendation I-20 will require the following documents:

• Your final transcript or diploma for your STEM degree –
  • If you are submitting your Syracuse University transcript, it must indicate the date your degree was awarded in the upper left corner.
  • The Syracuse University name for your major or degree program on your diploma may not match exactly the Major listed on your I-20. You are eligible for the STEM Extension if the CIP code assigned to your major or degree program as indicated on your I-20 is on the STEM-Designated Degree Program
  • If you are a Ph.D. student applying for the STEM Extension OPT, and you have not yet completed your degree, upload a letter from your academic department indicating you have completed all your coursework and are still enrolled while working on your thesis or dissertation.
• Your most recent I-94
• Your I-94 Travel History
• Your completed I-983 Training Plan – Signed by you on page 1 and signed by your employer on pages 2 & 4. You do NOT need to complete the evaluations on page 5 at this time.

• Log in to the International Student and Scholar (ISSS) Portal through MySlice. If you do not have access to the portal please email international@syr.edu with a detailed description of the issue (include screenshots if possible) or visit the Center for International Services during walk-in advising (Monday – Friday from 11am to 3pm).
• Go to the Student Request Center on the right side of the page.
• Go to the STEM Extension Request icon.
• Complete the Questionnaires.
• Upload the Required Documents:
  • Final transcript or diploma
  • Most recent I-94
  • I-94 Travel History
  • Completed I-983 Training Plan, signed by you and your employer
• Read the Next Steps and Confirm.
• Submit Request.

Within 3-5 business days you should receive an email that your STEM Extension Recommendation I-20 has been processed and is available in the ISSS Portal. You must complete steps 3-5 within 60 days of the date your new I-20 was issued.

• Obtain a digital passport-style photograph. 2 X 2 inches, white or light background, no glasses.
• Prepare digital files of:
  • most recent I-94
  • the front and the back of your EAD card
  • final transcript or diploma for your STEM degree
  • If you are applying for a STEM Extension based on a STEM degree you earned prior to the degree your current OPT is based on, evidence that the institution that granted that degree is accredited by the U.S. Department of Education and certified by SEVP. For example, a copy of your I-20 from that school and the school’s accreditation. Most students will not need this.
• Print your STEM Extension Recommendation I-20 from ISSS Portal and sign on the bottom of page 1, scan the newly signed I-20 and save a digital file of it.

• If you already have a USCIS Online Account log in.
  • If you do not have a USCIS Online Account, create one. When creating your account select that you are an applicant or petitioner
• After logging in, click on “File a Form Online” to begin your application process.
• Select “I-765, Application for Employment Authorization.”
  • Instructions for filing the I-765 can be found online here.
• Complete the I-765 form and upload your documents.
  • Your 2 X 2 Photo
  • Your most recent I-94
  • Your EAD
  • Form I-20 – Your SIGNED STEM Extension Recommendation I-20 (you do not need to upload any other I-20s in this section)
  • College Degree - Your final transcript indicating your degree was awarded or diploma for your STEM degree
  • Institution Accreditation - If applying for a STEM Extension based on a STEM degree you earned prior to the degree your current OPT is based (most students will not need this)

Tips for completing the I-765:

• Answer the form questions in order — do not skip ahead. The form has conditional logic that will display the next set of questions according to your answers. Go in order so that you only see the questions you need to complete.
• What is your eligibility category?
  • (c)(3)(C) – STEM Extension
• Would you like to request Premium Processing Service?
  • For an additional cost of $1,500 USCIS will take one of several possible actions (issue an approval notice, a denial notice, a notice of intent to deny, or a request for evidence) on your Form I-765 within 30 days
  • NOTE: This does not guarantee an approval within 30 days
• What is Your Reason for Applying?
  • You should select “Initial permission to accept employment.”
• Have you previously filed Form I-765?
  • Since you are in an approved period of Post-Completion OPT you should answer yes. You will give details about the previous application later in the Additional Information section.
• The system will review it but it will NOT check your answers for accuracy — you must make sure that the data you provided in your application is correct (spelling of name, birth date (MM/DD/YYYY), name of the employer as listed in E-Verify, correct E-Verify Number (not EIN), etc.)
  • An “error” simply means you may have missed something on the application or formatted something incorrectly.
  • If an error is highlighted in red, it must be corrected before you can submit your application.
  • A yellow error calls your attention to something that may need correction. Review it to make sure your information is correct.

• After completing a final review of your Form I-765, sign and submit the application.
• You will be directed to pay the application fee by credit or debit card.
  • Until March 31, 2024:  $410 application fee
  • April 1, 2024 and after:  $470 application fee

After submitting your application to USCIS a receipt notice will appear in the documents section of your USCIS account. The receipt notice will include a receipt number (IOEXXXXXXXXXX) which can be used to check the status of your case. USCIS will also send a receipt notice to you in the mail within 2-3 weeks of receiving your application.

Once you have your application receipt number, you can check the status of your STEM OPT application online on the USCIS Case Status website.

STEM OPT application processing times vary. It is estimated that a typical application will take 1-3 months to process. You may check USCIS Official Processing Times online.

If you file a timely STEM Extension application with USCIS, (USCIS receives it before the expiration of your current Post-Completion OPT EAD card) your OPT is extended for up to 180 days beyond the expiration of your Post-Completion OPT EAD card. If your STEM Extension EAD card is not received within the 180 day period you must stop working until the card is received.

Your employer should extend your I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification Form as instructed in the I-9 Handbook for Employers, Section 6.4.2 F-1 and M-1 Nonimmigrant Students.

If you change employers while your STEM Extension application is pending with USCIS, you must submit an Employment Update with a I-983 Training Plan for the new employer through the ISSS Portal in MySlice.

The Center for International Services will update your employment information and issue a new I-20 if your Post-Completion OPT EAD card has expired. If Post-Completion OPT EAD is not expired then your employer should complete your I-9 following the instructions above. If your Post-Completion OPT EAD card expires and your STEM Extension is not yet approved email international@syr.edu to request a new I-20 with your new employer’s name on it for the purpose of extending your I-9.

Your Employment Authorization Document (EAD) card will be mailed to the mailing address that you put on your I-765. If your mailing address changes after you have submitted your I-765 it is possible to notify USCIS of your new mailing address through your USCIS account or by completing their change of address form. You must do this as soon as possible, however there is no guarantee that USCIS will match up your request to change your address with your application in time for your card to be mailed to your new address.

If your application has been approved by USCIS, you should receive your Employment Authorization Document (EAD) card in the mail. You must stop working by the end date on your EAD card.

Once you have received your EAD card email a picture of the front and the back of your EAD card to international@syr.edu.

If, after checking the normal processing times for I-765 based on a request by a qualified F-1 academic student, you find that your case is beyond the normal processing times, you can submit an inquiry to USCIS about your Form I-765 through their case inquiry form, case outside normal processing time.

The criteria and process for requesting an expedited case can be found online here. Requests to expedite are considered on a case-by-case basis, but the criteria are difficult to meet, and it is unlikely an I-765 application would be expedited.

For an additional cost you may file a request for premium processing of your application by filing form I-907 with USCIS. Within 30 days of receiving a request for premium processing, USCIS will take one of several possible actions (issue an approval notice, a denial notice, a notice of intent to deny, or a request for evidence) on your Form I-765.   NOTE: This does not guarantee an approval within 30 days.

Premium Processing Filing Fee:

• February 26, 2024 and after:  $1685

If you would like to request premium processing, follow instructions for form I-907.

To reenter the U.S. you must have the following documents:

• Most recent I-20 with a travel signature no more than six months old on the day you plan to reenter the U.S.
• Your OPT EAD card
• Documentation that you are entering the U.S. to resume employment (e.g. a letter from your employer, a recent paystub, etc.)
• Your USCIS receipt notice for your pending STEM Extension Application
• Valid passport
• Valid* F-1 U.S. visa

*If you are returning to the U.S. from Canada, Mexico or an adjacent island, you may not need a valid visa to reenter the U.S. if you:

• Have a valid travel signature (no more than six months old on the day you plan to reenter the U.S.)

• Carry the necessary immigration travel documents listed above; and
• Meet the criteria for Automatic Visa Revalidation:
  • Your trip is less than 30 days
  • Your trip is solely to Canada, Mexico, or the adjacent islands
  • You do not apply for a U.S. Visa while there

You are not a citizen of Iran, Syria, Sudan, or North Korea

It is recommended that you not travel outside of the U.S. if your OPT has expired and your STEM Extension application is pending with USCIS.

If you choose to travel outside the U.S. after your OPT has expired and your STEM Extension is approved while you are outside the U.S. you should try to make arrangements to have your STEM EAD card with you when you are entering the U.S. If your STEM EAD card is not available carry the Approval Notice.

While on the OPT STEM Extension you are still in F-1 status. In order to enter the U.S. while on STEM OPT you must have the following documents:

• Most recent I-20 with a travel signature no more than six months old on the day you plan to reenter the U.S.
• Your EAD card
• Documentation that you are entering the U.S. to resume employment (e.g. a letter from your employer, a recent paystub, etc.)
• Valid passport
• Valid* F-1 U.S. visa

*If you are returning to the U.S. from Canada, Mexico or an adjacent island, you may not need a valid visa to reenter the U.S. if you:

• Have a valid travel signature (no more than six months old on the day you plan to reenter the U.S.

• Carry the necessary immigration travel documents listed above; and
• Meet the criteria for Automatic Visa Revalidation:
  • Your trip is less than 30 days
  • Your trip is solely to Canada, Mexico, or the adjacent islands
  • You do not apply for a U.S. Visa while there
  • You are not a citizen of Iran, Syria, Sudan, or North Korea