Visit the STEM OPT Hub on the Study in the States website for a variety of information regarding 24-Month STEM Extension, including FAQs and resources for employers.
You may be eligible if ALL of the following statements are true:
The STEM regulations allow F-1 students to file for a 24-Month STEM Extension based upon a prior degree. This allows students who have earned a STEM degree to pursue a higher level of study in a complementary non-STEM field. For example, a student who has earned a Bachelor's in Information Technology that goes on to earn a Master's in Public Health could be eligible for the 24-month STEM Extension. However, the job which is the basis for the STEM Extension must directly relate to the prior STEM degree.
You may be eligible for the 24-Month STEM Extension based on a prior degree if the prior STEM degree:
Step 1: Determine whether you are eligible
Read through the information in the above section of this website and determine whether you are eligible for STEM Extension. If you are unsure whether you are eligible for STEM Extension or have questions about the application process, please contact ISSS.
Step 2: Complete Form I-983 with your STEM employer (without signatures) and submit a Form I-983 Review Request in the ISSS Portal.
It is very important the Form I-983 is complete and accurate. Submitting the Form I-983 Review Request will ensure the information in the form is accurate prior to having the document signed, so you will not need to go back multiple times to your employer to request updated signatures.
To get an overview of Form I-983 and a step-by-step guide to complete the I-983 form , watch the below I-983 video recording.
Please review the following resources to help you properly complete Form I-983:
For full details on what is required for your STEM Extension application, please visit the
USCIS website. The following list of application materials is provided for your convenience and is not meant to replace the official instructions listed on the
USCIS website. All files must be saved as one of the following acceptable file formats: JPG, JPEG, PDF, TIF, or TIFF and must not exceed the maximum file size of 6MB.
ISSS will not review I-765 applications as you as the applicant are responsible for the completeness and accuracy of your application. These tips are provided for your convenience. They should not be viewed as legal advice and are not meant to replace the official instructions listed on the USCIS website.
Tip Sheet for F-1 students seeking Optional Practical Training
Getting Started
About You
Evidence
Additional Information
Review and Submit
Immediately after submitting your online I-765 application, you should see confirmation on the screen that your I-765 was successfully submitted.
If you filed your 24-Month STEM Extension application in a timely manner, you can continue to work for up to 180 days after the expiration date of your current EAD card, while your application is pending.
To ensure your SEVIS record accurately reflects the status of your USCIS application for STEM Extension, you should upload the following documents in the ISSS Portal.
You can check your case status by logging into your USCIS Account and navigating to the Case Status tab of your I-765 application. ISSS recommends you set your account notifications to receive both text messages and emails and login to your account on a weekly basis to check for updates or action items.
If you change employers while your application is still pending with USCIS, you should submit an OPT/STEM Employer Update Request in the ISSS Portal. ISSS will update your I-20 to reflect your new employer and you can upload your new I-20 your USCIS Account.
While your STEM Extension application is pending, you must report any changes in address to both ISSS and USCIS within 10 days of moving to the new address. It is also important to update USPS with any changes of address to ensure the proper delivery of your EAD card.
If your application has been pending more than 90 days, and you have not received your EAD card, you can call the USCIS Customer Service number listed on your Receipt Notice and ask that they open a service request. You can also submit a case inquiry for Outside Normal Processing Time online.
If the USCIS site shows that your card was delivered, but you have not yet received it, then you should contact your local post office. If you are still unable to locate the card:
Possible reasons for non-delivery:
After you receive your EAD card, you should look it over and make sure everything is correct. If you find any errors on the card, the process of correcting them depends upon the cause of the error:
If you applied for your STEM Extension in a timely fashion, your OPT EAD card is considered automatically extended for 180 days. You can continue to work for up to 180 days after your current EAD card expiration, while your STEM Extension application is pending with USCIS.
Any job you take while on STEM must be:
If you change jobs while on STEM, you must report the change to ISSS within 10 days (see the Reporting Requirements section for further details).
While on STEM Extension, you cannot exceed 150 days of unemployment for the entire 36 months (12 months of OPT + 24 months of STEM). Staying past the 150-day limit may be considered a violation of status by DHS and may result in the termination of your SEVIS record.
"Cap Gap" is a term used to describe the "gap" between the end of OPT/STEM Extension and the beginning of H-1B status with an employer subject to the H-1B "cap".
You are eligible for a Cap Gap Extension to your STEM employment if:
IMPORTANT: If your H-1B petition was receipted after your STEM EAD card had expired (but before your 60-day grace period ended), then your are eligible for a Cap Gap Extension to your F-1 status, but not to your employment authorization. You can remain in the U.S. in F-1 status, but you cannot work during the "gap" period.
F-1 students who are eligible for Cap Gap and would like a new I-20 printed reflecting the extension of their status/employment should submit a Cap Gap Request in the ISSS Portal.
Your are NOT eligible for a Cap Gap Extension if:
In the STEM Final Rule, Department of Homeland Security states that students currently on STEM Extension (or who have a STEM Extension application pending) may travel abroad and seek reentry in F-1 status. When traveling outside of the US on STEM Extension OPT, ISSS recommends you carry the following documentation upon reentry to the US:
If the travel signature on page 2 of your most recent I-20 has expired, you can request a new signature by completing the Travel Signature Request in the ISSS Portal.
The regulations state that your expired EAD card is essentially extended for 180 days past the end date while your STEM application is pending. When you are traveling, be sure to carry your expired EAD card, along with the items listed above, and anything you have received from USCIS in response to your pending STEM Extension application.
While on STEM Extension OPT, you continue to have requirements to report information to ISSS. Your STEM reporting obligations begin the day after your regular post-completion OPT expires, even if your STEM application is still pending with USCIS.
ALL CHANGES SHOULD BE REPORTED VIA THE ISSS PORTAL .
You should not make any changes to the information in your SEVP Portal. All changes should be reported through your ISSS Portal. You should only use the SEVP Portal to review your current information for accuracy.
If you have been locked out of your SEVP Portal account, click the "Reset Password" link on the SEVP Portal Login page. The SEVP Portal will send you an email with a temporary password, so you can login and create a new password. If you already attempted to reset your password and are still unable to login to the SEVP Portal, please submit an SEVP Portal Account Reset Request .
Event-based Reporting
All Illinois State University F-1 students on STEM Extension must report changes to their contact information via the ISSS Portal.
You should report any updates to your personal contact information by following these steps:
STEP 1: Login to the ISSS Portal by clicking on the Portal Account. Your username is your personal email address and you created your own password. DO NOT LOGIN USING CENTRAL LOGIN. |
STEP 2: From your user homepage, Navigate to 'Personal & Program' tab to review your personal information. |
STEP 3: To update your contact information, Navigate to 'Control Center' tab and submit a Contact Information Update request . |
STEP 4: ISSS will process your personal information changes. Once your request has been processed, you will see the information updated in your ISSS Portal and SEVP Portal. |
You should report a change to your email address by following these steps:
STEP 1: Submit Post-Completion Student Help Ticket with your new email address. |
STEP 2: ISSS will update your email address in the ISSS Portal and you will receive an automatic email with temporary login credentials. |
STEP 3: Click on the link in the email to login to the ISSS Portal. Your new username for the ISSS Portal will be your updated email address and you will create your own password. |
STEP 4: ISSS will update your email address in SEVIS and you will receive an automatic email from SEVP with temporary login credentials. |
STEP 5: Login to the SEVP Portal with your new email address and temporary password. |
If you stop working for your STEM employer, you should report this via the ISSS Portal by submitting a OPT/STEM Employer Update Request and following the instructions shown.
You must have page 5 of your Form I-983 with the "Final Evaluation on Student Progress" completed and signed by your previous employer. This must be done within 10 days of the day you ended your employment.
If you change employers during STEM Extension, you should report this via the ISSS Portal by submitting an OPT/STEM Employer Update Request and following the instructions shown. You must have the following documents:
The I-983 for your new employer must be complete and accurate. Whenever possible, responses should be typed directly into the form. ISSS recommends that you save your Form I-983 as a pdf before printing the document for signature. ALL SIGNATURES MUST BE SIGNED IN INK. ELECTRONIC SIGNATURES WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. We will not accept a Form I-983 that has been digitally altered after having already been signed.
**If any item on the new Form I-983 is incorrect, we will not be able to process your request and will ask you to resubmit the form with new signatures. THIS WILL DELAY THE PROCESSING TIME OF YOUR REQUEST.**
If there is an employer showing on your SEVP Portal account that you believe needs to be deleted, contact ISSS. Remember, the only reason to request that an employer be deleted is if you never worked for that employer.
If there are material changes to the terms and conditions of the Form I-983 on file with ISSS for your current employer, then you or your employer must update ISSS within 10 days of the change.
Some examples of material changes include a change in the employer's EIN or a significant reduction in hours per week. For more information on what constitutes a "material change", please see the Form I-983 Overview on the Study in the States website.
You should report material changes via the ISSS Portal by submitting an OPT/STEM Employer Update Request and following the instructions shown. You must have the completed and signed Form I-983 for your current employer reflecting the new material changes.
If you are an employer wishing to report a material change to Form I-983, please email arwagon@ilstu.edu.
The new I-983 reflecting the material change must be complete and accurate. Whenever possible, responses should be typed directly into the form. ISSS recommends that you save your Form I-983 as a pdf before printing the document for signature. ALL SIGNATURES MUST BE SIGNED IN INK. ELECTRONIC SIGNATURES WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. We will not accept a Form I-983 that has been digitally altered after having already been signed.
**If any item on the new Form I-983 is incorrect, we will not be able to process your request and will ask you to resubmit the form with new signatures. THIS WILL DELAY THE PROCESSING TIME OF YOUR REQUEST.**
You must report to ISSS
every 6 months
while on STEM Extension. There is a very useful Planning Tool for 24-Month STEM Extension located on the Study in the States website, which can auto-calculate the dates for your periodic reporting. Simply enter your OPT end date in cell D19 and then scroll down to the bottom of the excel to see your reporting dates:
Individuals on STEM Extension OPT must report to ISSS every six months, even if there is no change in information to report. The six months begins counting at the start date of your STEM EAD card and continues every six months following that date. To submit your 6-Month Validation Report, please submit a Report STEM Participation Request in the ISSS Portal.
ISSS recommends that you submit your 6-Month Validation Report no earlier than 30 days prior to your 6-month mark (6 months from your EAD card start date) and no later than 10 days following.
Remember: You have met your reporting deadline based upon the date that you submit your Report STEM Participation Request . ISSS has an additional 21 days after that date to update your SEVIS record.
You must complete a self-evaluation and submit it to ISSS within 12 months of your STEM Extension start date. To submit your 12-Month Evaluation, please submit a Report STEM Participation Request in the ISSS Portal. You must upload page 5 only of your Form I-983 to the request with the Evaluation on Student Progress completed and signed by both you and your current employer.
ISSS recommends that you submit your 12-Month Evaluation no earlier than 30 days prior to your 12-month mark (12 months from your EAD card start date) and no later than 10 days following.
Remember: You have met your reporting deadline based upon the date that you submit your Report STEM Participation Request . ISSS has an additional 21 days after that date to update your SEVIS record.
Individuals on STEM Extension OPT must report to ISSS every six months, even if there is no change in information to report. The six months begins counting at the start date of your STEM EAD card and continues every six months following. To submit your 18-Month Validation Report, please submit a Report STEM Participation Request in the ISSS Portal.
ISSS recommends that you submit your 18-Month Validation Report no earlier than 30 days prior to your 18-month mark (18 months from your EAD card start date) and no later than 10 days following.
Remember: You have met your reporting deadline based upon the date that you submit your Report STEM Participation Request . ISSS has an additional 21 days after that date to update your SEVIS record.
You must complete a final self-evaluation at the end of any job you have while on STEM Extension and submit it to ISSS within 10 days. For example, if you change employers while on STEM, you must submit a Final Evaluation when you stop working for your first employer AND another Final Evaluation at the end of your 24-month STEM period. To submit your Final Evaluation, please submit a Report STEM Participation Request in the ISSS Portal. You must upload page 5 only of your Form I-983 to the request with the Final Evaluation on Student Progress completed and signed by both you and your employer.
ISSS recommends that you submit your Final Evaluation no earlier than 30 days prior to your 24-month mark (your EAD card end date) and no later than 10 days following. If you are submitting the Final Evaluation because you have stopped working for your employer or changed employers, you must submit it within 10 days of the end date of your employment.
Remember: You have met your reporting deadline based upon the date that you submit your Report STEM Participation Request . ISSS has an additional 21 days after that date to update your SEVIS record.
Update ISSS if any major change related to your visa status occurs, such as the following: