# F-1 Student Visa, OPT, and the STEM Extension: A Guide
> How the F-1 visa, post-completion OPT, and the 24-month STEM OPT extension work in 2026: eligibility, fees, deadlines, and reporting rules.
**URL:** https://migaku.com/blog/language-fun/f-1-student-visa-opt-and-the-stem-extension-a-guide
**Last Updated:** 2026-05-30
**Tags:** resources, deepdive
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The F-1 student visa lets you study full-time at an SEVP-certified U.S. school, and Optional Practical Training (OPT) lets you work in your field of study afterward. If your degree is on the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List, you can apply for a 24-month STEM OPT extension on top of the standard 12 months of post-completion OPT, giving you up to 36 months of work authorization before you need a different visa.
*Last updated: May 30, 2026*
## How the F-1, OPT, and STEM OPT fit together
The F-1 is the academic student visa. While on F-1 status, you can typically work on campus, and with authorization you can do off-campus training tied to your major. There are two off-campus training tracks most students use:
- Curricular Practical Training (CPT): work that is an integral part of your curriculum, authorized by your Designated School Official (DSO) during your program.
- Optional Practical Training (OPT): up to 12 months of work authorization in your field of study, usable before or, more commonly, after graduation. Post-completion OPT requires a USCIS-issued Employment Authorization Document (EAD).
If your degree appears on the DHS STEM list, you can apply for a 24-month STEM OPT extension during your post-completion OPT period. Stacked together, that means 12 months of standard OPT plus 24 months of STEM OPT, for a total of 36 months of work eligibility in F-1 status.
A student may use up to two STEM OPT extensions in a lifetime, but they must be based on two separate qualifying STEM degrees at different (higher) educational levels, for example, one extension after a bachelor's and a second after a later master's.
## Who is eligible for STEM OPT
To qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension, you need to meet all of the following:
- You are in valid F-1 status and currently on approved post-completion OPT.
- Your degree is on the [DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List](https://www.ice.gov/sites/default/files/documents/stem-list.pdf), which is keyed to Department of Education CIP codes. The four core 2-digit series are Engineering (14), Biological and Biomedical Sciences (26), Mathematics and Statistics (27), and Physical Sciences (40). The list was last updated July 23, 2024, with the addition of Environmental/Natural Resource Economics (CIP 03.0204).
- The degree was earned from a U.S. school accredited by a U.S. Department of Education-recognized accrediting agency and certified by SEVP at the time you apply.
- Your employer is enrolled in E-Verify and will provide its E-Verify Company Identification Number on Form I-983.
- You will work at least 20 hours per week in a paid position directly related to your STEM degree.
- You and your employer complete and sign Form I-983 (the training plan).
You can also qualify by using a prior STEM degree (at the bachelor's level or higher) earned within the 10 years before you apply, as long as you are currently on OPT based on a more recent degree from an SEVP-certified school and the prior degree is on the STEM list.
Unpaid internships, volunteer roles, and self-employment do not satisfy STEM OPT requirements. Compensation must be commensurate with similarly situated U.S. workers in duties, hours, and pay. There is no fixed minimum wage figure in the rule, but the employer attests to this on Form I-983.
## Document checklist
Before your DSO can recommend the STEM extension in SEVIS and you file with USCIS, gather:
- A completed and signed Form I-983 training plan from your employer.
- Your current EAD card (post-completion OPT).
- A new Form I-20 with the STEM OPT recommendation from your DSO. The I-20 must have been signed by the DSO within the last 60 days at the time of filing.
- Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, with eligibility category (c)(3)(C).
- Passport biographic page and current F-1 visa stamp (if applicable).
- Most recent I-94 record.
- Copies of all prior EADs and prior I-20s.
- Two passport-style photos (if filing on paper).
- Official transcript or diploma from the STEM degree being used to qualify.
- Proof your employer is enrolled in E-Verify (the company's valid E-Verify number, listed on the I-983).
- Filing fee payment.
## Step-by-step application process
The sequence matters. USCIS will deny applications received more than 60 days after the I-20 was issued, even if you file before your current OPT EAD expires.
1. Confirm your degree is on the STEM list and that your employer is in E-Verify.
2. Work with your employer to complete Form I-983. Both you and an authorized employer official must sign. Keep a copy for your records; you submit the I-983 to your DSO, not to USCIS.
3. Request the STEM OPT recommendation from your DSO. The DSO reviews your I-983 and enters the recommendation in SEVIS, then issues a new Form I-20 noting the STEM recommendation.
4. File Form I-765 with USCIS. You may file up to 90 days before your current post-completion OPT EAD expires, and you must file within 60 days of the date the DSO entered the STEM recommendation in SEVIS. File online or by mail.
5. Continue working while your application is pending. If you filed on time and your post-completion OPT EAD expires while USCIS is still processing, employment authorization is automatically extended for up to 180 days.
6. Receive the new EAD. After approval, USCIS typically produces the card within about two weeks and mails it via USPS Priority Mail.
## Fees and processing time
| Item | Amount (2026) |
|---|---|
| Form I-765 filing fee (online) | $470 |
| Form I-765 filing fee (paper) | $520 |
| Form I-907 Premium Processing | $1,780 (effective March 1, 2026) |
| Total online filing with premium | ~$2,250 |
Premium processing for Form I-765 in the STEM OPT category was first activated in March 2023, and as of April 3, 2023 covers both pending and newly filed applications. With premium processing, USCIS guarantees an adjudicative action (approval, denial, Request for Evidence, or Notice of Intent to Deny) within 30 business days. The fee rose from $1,685 to $1,780 on March 1, 2026, a 5.72% CPI-U inflation adjustment.
Standard processing times vary by service center and caseload. DHS estimates an average of 218,394 Form I-765 receipts per year from the combined OPT and STEM OPT populations. Check the current published time for category (c)(3)(C) at the [USCIS Processing Times tool](https://egov.uscis.gov/processing-times/) before you decide whether to pay for premium processing.
## Reporting and compliance during STEM OPT
STEM OPT comes with stricter reporting obligations than standard OPT. Missing a deadline can put your status at risk.
- Unemployment limit: You may accrue up to 60 additional days of unemployment during the 24-month STEM OPT period, on top of the 90 days allowed during initial post-completion OPT, for a cumulative maximum of 150 days across the full OPT timeline.
- 10-day reports: Report any change to your legal name, residential address, employer name or address, or employment status to your DSO within 10 days.
- Validation reports: You must confirm or update your information at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months from the STEM EAD start date.
- Self-evaluations: Submit a 12-month self-evaluation on Form I-983, and a final self-evaluation at the end of the 24-month period (or earlier if the training ends).
- Material changes to the training plan: A new or amended Form I-983 is required for material changes such as a change of employer or a significant change in duties, hours, or compensation.
- Employer reporting: Your employer must report your termination or departure to the DSO within 5 business days.
- Site visits: Under 8 CFR 214.2(f)(10)(ii)(C)(11), ICE may conduct site visits at the employer's worksite to verify compliance with the training plan. Employers generally receive 48 hours' notice unless the visit is triggered by a complaint.
## Common pitfalls
- Filing too late after I-20 issuance. The 60-day window from the SEVIS recommendation date is firm. A late filing means denial even if your current EAD has not expired.
- Employer not in E-Verify. No E-Verify enrollment, no STEM OPT. Confirm enrollment before your employer signs the I-983.
- Self-employment or volunteering. Neither qualifies as STEM OPT training, regardless of how STEM-related the work is.
- Working less than 20 hours per week. Part-time arrangements below the threshold do not count and accrue as unemployment.
- Treating the I-983 as a one-time form. It is a living training plan. Update it for material changes and complete the required evaluations.
- Missing 10-day address or employer updates. These small lapses are the most common SEVIS compliance issues.
- Assuming OPT extends to dependents. F-2 dependents cannot work, regardless of your STEM OPT status.
- Ignoring the H-1B handoff. STEM OPT is finite. Most students plan an H-1B cap registration during the extension; if the H-1B is not selected or denied, see [what happens if your visa is rejected](https://migaku.com/blog/language-fun/japan-visa-rejected-reasons-and-what-to-do-next) for general guidance on responding to denials and planning next steps.
## Frequently asked questions
Can I travel internationally during STEM OPT?
Yes, but carry your valid passport, F-1 visa, EAD card, recently signed Form I-20 (travel signature within the last 6 months for OPT/STEM OPT), and proof of employment. Reentry can be more difficult if your application is still pending; consult your DSO before travel.
What if my STEM OPT application is still pending when my OPT EAD expires?
If you filed Form I-765 on time, USCIS automatically extends your employment authorization for up to 180 days while the application is pending.
Can I change employers during STEM OPT?
Yes. The new employer must be enrolled in E-Verify, you and the new employer must complete a new Form I-983, and your DSO must update SEVIS. Report the change within 10 days.
Does my STEM OPT clock keep running if I'm laid off?
Yes. The 24-month period continues, and unemployment days count against your 60-day STEM OPT unemployment allowance (and the cumulative 150-day cap across OPT).
Can I do STEM OPT a second time?
You can use up to two STEM OPT extensions in your lifetime, but only if they are based on two different qualifying STEM degrees at progressively higher educational levels.
What happens after STEM OPT ends?
Most students transition to H-1B (cap or cap-exempt), O-1, or employer-sponsored green card paths. Others move abroad and apply for work visas in other countries; for example, those heading to Japan often look at [transitioning to work visas after studies](https://migaku.com/blog/language-fun/japan-engineer-specialist-in-humanities-visa-requirements-explained) or the [Japan Designated Activities Visa overview](https://migaku.com/blog/language-fun/japan-designated-activities-visa-when-and-how-it-applies).
Is there a grace period after STEM OPT ends?
F-1 students typically have a 60-day grace period after the end of authorized OPT (including STEM OPT) to depart the U.S., change status, or transfer to another SEVP-certified program.
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