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Overview

  • The length of STEM OPT is 24 months. 

  • Students who completed a degree from the STEM Designated Degree Program List are eligible to apply.

  • Students must have a full time (more than 20 hours per week) paid position with E-Verify employers and complete Form I-983: Training Plan for STEM OPT Students with their employers. 

  • Students must receive a STEM OPT I-20 from their International Student Advisor.

  • Students must file STEM OPT application online to USCIS before their Post-completion OPT expires, but no earlier than 90 days before the expiration date. 

  • Students may continue working with an expired Post-completion OPT EAD for up to 180 days while STEM OPT application is pending with USCIS. 

  • There is an enhanced reporting requirement during STEM OPT. Students must report on their employment and address every six months. 

  • STEM OPT is available again at a higher academic level but limited to only twice in a lifetime.

Self-serve Information

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Application Timeframe and Deadlines
  • Students must apply for STEM OPT before their Post-completion OPT EAD expires. The earliest they can apply online is 90 days before the expiration date on their OPT EAD card.
  • Students must work with their E-Verify Employer and complete Form I-983: Training Plan for STEM OPT Students. 
  • Students must have STEM OPT I-20 issued by an International Student Advisor. Allow 5 business days to have this new I-20 issued.
  • Students may continue to work with an expired Post-completion EAD card for up to 180 days while their STEM OPT application is pending with USCIS. However, certain companies may require students to have a valid EAD card at all time in order to keep their employment. 
  • USCIS takes 90 days or longer to process, so act early! 
Form I-983 & Requesting STEM OPT I-20

See I-983 instruction created by Immigration and Custom Enforcement and a sample Form I-983: I-983 Sample

Once you complete the I-983, request STEM OPT I-20. To request this, log into the ISSS-Portal, navigate to "Student Requests and Documents" section and click on STEM OPT I-20 Request.

NOTE: STEM OPT I-20 Request form will only be visible to students with post-completion OPT expiration date within the next 90 days. 

Allow 5 business days for processing.   

Third Party Placement During STEM OPT

According to the 2016 STEM OPT Final Rule, the following employment types are not eligible for STEM OPT:

  • multiple employer arrangements
  • sole proprietorships
  • employment through "temp agencies"
  • employment through consulting firm arrangements that provide labor for hire, and other relationships that do not constitute a bona fide employer-employee relationship

On August 17, 2018, USCIS made an announcement that they have updated the STEM OPT page and clarified that “STEM OPT participants may engage in a training experience that takes place at a site other than the employer’s principal place of business as long as all of the training obligations are met, including that the employer has and maintains a bona fide employer-employee relationship with the student. DHS will review on a case-by-case basis whether the student will be a bona fide employee of the employer signing the Training Plan, and verify that the employer that signs the Training Plan is the same entity that employs the student and provides the practical training experience.”

In order to minimize the risk of STEM OPT denial or cancellation, we advise students to avoid working for third party placement companies if possible. Consult with an experienced immigration attorney for your case-specific questions. 

U.S. Mailing Address Warning
  • Make sure you write your US mailing address correctly! Or you may not receive your EAD. Please use this USPS Address Look Up Tool. 
  • USCIS will send your I-797C, Notice of Action (NOA) and Employment Authorization Document (EAD) to your U.S. postal mailbox. 
  • Make sure your full name appears on the mailbox of where you currently live. 
  • Thinking about moving within the next 6 months? 
    • U.S. Postal Service will NOT forward government mail, even if you file a forwarding address/ change of address request with USPS.
    • Ask permission from a friend to use their address OR Set up a P.O. Box (available for about $10/month)
  • Sign up for USPS Informed Delivery if available. 
  • Once you graduate, you can no longer update your address in MyUW. Always keep your address up to date in SEVP Portal. 
Application Materials
  • A digital copy U.S. passport style photo (must be new taken less than 6 months ago)
  • A digital copy of  I-94 OR F-1 Approval Notice (I-797)
  •  A digital copy of previously issued EADs (front and back)
  • A digital copy of UWT unofficial transcript showing you have been granted a STEM degree.
  • A digital copy of STEM OPT requested I-20 (make sure it is signed and dated)
  • A digital copy of a valid passport ID page (optional) 
  • A digital copy of most recent F-1 visa (optional)
  • A valid credit card or U.S. bank account information with enough funds to pay the $410 fee
Online Filing

We have created a guide to online filing using Microsoft OneNote. To view this notebook, you need to log in using your UW NetID. STEM OPT Filing Guide for UW Tacoma Graduates

Important Reminders Before Submitting Application
  • Make sure the new STEM OPT requested I-20 has accurate information, signed and dated by your international student advisor and by you.
  • Submit your application within 60 days of the new I-20 issuance or as soon as possible.
What to Expect After Filing
  • Receipt number will be issued immediately after online filing.
  • Students should then expect to receive a Form I-797C, Notice of Action (NOA) through the mail within 8 weeks of the receipt of filing. Students should email a copy of the NOA to uwtiss@uw.edu. 
  • Students should follow the progress of their application by visiting Case Status Online, and entering the receipt number for their case. Students can also create an online USCIS account to track their case and receive automatic status updates by email or text message. 
  • Current processing times for I-765 being adjudicated at USCIS service centers and field offices are also reported on the USCIS website. 
  • If a student's application is pending longer than the processing time listed, contact USCIS online or by calling the USCIS National Customer Service Hotline 1-800-375-5283. If students see no progress on their case status 2 weeks after they contacted USCIS, they should contact their International Student Advisor.
  • Once you receive, Employment Authorization Document (EAD), make sure the information printed is correct. Email a copy of front and back to uwtiss@uw.edu. 
F-1 status maintenance during and after STEM OPT

Reporting Requirement: 

  • There are enhanced reporting requirement during STEM OPT. ISSS won't remind students to report. See the table below for different scenarios and what students need to do:
Scenarios Student Actions to Take Time Frame
Contact info changes (address & phone number) Login to SEVP Portal and make updates directly Within 10 days of change
Have a new or additional employer Prepare a new I-983, log into the  ISSS Portal and submit "New OPT Employer Reporting" within 10 days from the first day of the new job
Ended a job Fill out page 5 of I-983 (bottom half Final Evaluation on Student Progress section only), log in to the  ISSS Portal and submit: "STEM OPT Participation/ Completion/ Training Plan Update" within 10 days from the last day of the previous job
There are significant material changes to the Form I-983. See examples listed here   Update I-983, log in to the  ISSS Portal and submit: "STEM OPT Participation/ Completion/ Training Plan Update" Within 10 days from the material changes.
6 months continuous STEM participation reporting Log in to the  ISSS Portal and submit: "STEM OPT Participation/ Completion/ Training Plan Update" 6 months from the beginning of STEM OPT
12 months continuous STEM participation reporting and evaluation on student progress Fill out page 5 of I-983 (top half Evaluation on Student Progress section only), log in to the  ISSS Portal and submit: "STEM OPT Participation/ Completion/ Training Plan Update" 12 months from the beginning of STEM OPT
18 months continuous STEM participation reporting Log in to the  ISSS Portal and submit: "STEM OPT Participation/ Completion/ Training Plan Update" 18 months from the beginning of STE M OPT
24 months STEM reporting and final evaluation on student progress Fill out page 5 of I-983 (bottom half Final Evaluation on Student Progress section only), log in to the  ISSS Portal and submit: "STEM OPT Participation/ Completion/ Training Plan Update" 24 months from the beginning of STEM OPT

 

Unemployment:  

  • During post-completion OPT, students are allowed to accrue 90 calendar days of unemployment. After STEM OPT approval, students are allowed an additional 60 calendar days of unemployment for a total of up to 150 days. 

After Completion of STEM OPT:

  • Students who successfully complete their STEM OPT have a 60 day grace period.
  • During the grace period, students can do the following:
    • Depart from the U.S.
    • Change to different immigration status.
    • Be admitted to a new program of study and request SEVIS Record Transfer. To request this, log in to the ISSS portal and submit "Transfer Out" form. 
International travel during STEM OPT

Students should not depart from the U.S. once their post-completion OPT EAD expires and while their STEM OPT application is pending with USCIS. This can be considered as an abandonment of their STEM OPT application and they may not be readmitted into the U.S.

Once STEM OPT application is approved, students may travel outside the U.S. and seek readmission into the U.S. with the following documents:

  • Passport valid for at least 6 months into the future:
    • Countries listed here have a special agreement with the U.S. that allows their citizens' passports to be valid for reentry purpose up to the date of expiration.  
  • F-1 Student Visa:
    • Check the expiration date and the number of allowed entries on your visa. Most visas have "M" (multiple) printed under entries. This means there is no limit on the number of entries for which you can use your visa. If your visa is expired or if you have already used the number of entries you are allowed, you will need to renew your F-1 student visa at the U.S. Consulate/Embassy office outside of the U.S. (preferably in your home country).
    • If you are seeking re-entry to the U.S. after traveling back from a contiguous country (Canada, Mexico, or adjacent islands) for less than 30 days, you may be permitted to reenter with an expired F-1 visa. This is called Automatic Visa Revalidation. 
  • Form I-20, endorsed for travel by DSO:
    • I-20s need to be authorized for travel on page 2 by an International Student Advisor.
    • For students engaged in STEM OPT, the signature is valid for six months. To request a travel signature, log into the ISSS Portal and fill out "I-20 Update Travel Authorization" form. 
    • We recommend student's I-20 to be up to date showing, "STEM OPT Approved" and their employer's name and location printed. 
  • EAD (Employment Authorization Document) Card   
  • An employment offer letter or letter of employment from your employer, internship, or volunteering site (optional).
  • Evidence of Financial Resources (optional)