STEM Optional Practical Training (STEM OPT) : International Programs Office : UMass Amherst

Some F-1 students on Post-Completion OPT are eligible for an additional 2 years of work authorization under the 24-month STEM OPT Extension.

STEM OPT is a benefit of F-1 status and you will continue to be an F-1 student while on STEM OPT.
You must be eligible and adhere to all STEM OPT application processes and regulations.
UMass Amherst remains your visa sponsor. You do not need additional visa sponsorship while on STEM OPT.

The eligibility, STEM OPT I-20 Request process, USCIS application, and reporting requirements are complex so you are encouraged to review the STEM OPT Workshop and the information below. You can find our STEM OPT workshop dates on our Events page.

USCIS Application Period

STEM OPT I-20 Request Process

Per STEM OPT application instructions, you must be physically in the U.S. at the time you submit your application to USCIS. If you choose to travel after this, please review our STEM OPT Travel information.

ISSS must create a new STEM OPT I-20 for your STEM OPT application. You should NOT submit your application to USCIS until you have completed all the request steps below and received your new STEM OPT I-20.

Step 1: Confirm Eligibility

You must:

be on a period of approved period of Post-Completion OPT to apply for STEM OPT and in active F-1 status
have less than 90-days of unemployment while on Post-Completion OPT
submit your STEM OPT application to USCIS before your Post Completion OPT expires.
have earned a STEM OPT eligible major
- Your STEM OPT eligible major can be a primary or secondary major in SPIRE.
- A previous STEM degree obtained within the last 10 years from a U.S. institution can be the basis of a STEM OPT extension if your current employment is in a STEM field.
- Example: you earned an undergraduate STEM degree at a U.S. institution and then earned a non-STEM Master’s degree. Based on your Master’s degree, you are only eligible for 12-months of OPT, but if working in a demonstrable STEM field, you can apply for a 24-month STEM OPT extension based on your undergraduate STEM degree. This is rare; contact your ISSS advisor.

not have used STEM OPT more than two times
- You are eligible for only two STEM OPT extensions in your academic career, i.e., Bachelors and Masters, Masters and PhD, Bachelors and PhD.
- The degree that serves as the basis for a second lifetime STEM OPT extension must be at a higher educational level than the degree than your first STEM OPT extension.

Your employment must be:

Directly related to your STEM eligible major(s)
20-hours per week or more and PAID.
- Unpaid volunteer or less than 20-hour per week positions are not permitted on STEM OPT.

Demonstrate a bona fide relationship between you and your employer.
- You cannot be self-employed on STEM OPT.
- You are allowed to work at staffing agencies/consulting firms/start-ups as long as all regulatory requirements are met—there is a bona fide relationship between the employer and you as the employee: the employer adheres to the training plan requirements, remains in good standing with E-Verify, will provide compensation similar to U.S. workers, and has the resources to comply with the proposed training plan.
  - If the staffing agency trains and supervises you on-site, they are your employer and need to complete the I-983.

Your employer must:

Be enrolled in E-Verify
Have a Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Agree to the terms of STEM OPT by completing their sections of the Training Plan (Form I-983)
- Your employer will be required to attest:
  - The company has sufficient resources and personnel available to provide appropriate training.
  - The company is not replacing a U.S. worker (full-time or part-time, temporary, or permanent).
  - This employment opportunity will help you in reaching your training goals.

Note: If you have multiple employers, each employer must fulfill the STEM OPT requirements for employment.

Step 2: Complete ISSS STEM OPT I-20 Request

Step 1. Confirm your Physical Address in SPIRE is correct.

Step 2. Review STEM OPT When to Apply above.

Step 3. Pay the ISSS Processing Fee.

The receipt is required as part of the STEM OPT I-20 request to ISSS.

Step 4. Complete Form I-983:

Signed and completed by both you and your employer. Form I-983 Training Plan instructions are available here.

Tips for Completing I-983

Step 5. Obtain evidence of your degree in a STEM Field.

This should be your official transcript and it must state your degree level and your program of study. Not all UMass diplomas include this information. You can request your official transcript from SPIRE.

If your transcript does not indicate your correct major, please use the STEM OPT sub plan letter and have your academic advisor/GPD sign it. For example, your diploma and transcript both say “Psychology,” but your actual major was “Developmental and Child Psychology” per SPIRE. Psychology is not STEM eligible but Developmental and Child Psychology is and USCIS needs this letter to verify your STEM OPT eligibility.

Graduate Students: If you have not finished your dissertation or thesis yet, use the STEM OPT Degree Completion Confirmation Letter to confirm your degree level, program of study, that you have finished all coursework, only need to complete your thesis/dissertation, and indicate what date you anticipate finishing. You will need to include this in your application to USCIS as well as provide it to ISSS in lieu of a transcript. This letter must be on UMass letterhead and signed by your GPD.

Step 6. Submit the Following Documents in the STEM OPT I-20 Request E-Form. If you encounter an E-Form access issue and have tried accessing the E-Form in multiple web browsers and have cleared your cache to no avail, please email @email.

I-983 Form (all sections completed and signed by you/employer)
Transcript (unofficial is fine for ISSS but USCIS must have the official transcript) or one of the letters noted above.
QuikPay receipt

It will take ISSS approximately 10 business days to process/review your STEM OPT materials once they are properly submitted. If there is an error, your request will be reset and will delay your STEM OPT I-20.

Step 7. Receive new STEM OPT I-20 From ISSS

You should not apply for STEM OPT with USCIS without the new STEM OPT I-20 from ISSS.

STEM OPT approval emails occasionally go into your Spam/Junk folder. Please check your spam folder if 10+ business days have passed, and you have not received the approval email yet.

Step 8. Submit your STEM OPT Application to USCIS.

Step 3: Submit STEM OPT Application to USCIS

Per I-765 instructions, you must be physically in the U.S. at the time you submit your application to USCIS. If you choose to travel after this, please review our OPT Travel information.

USCIS processing times can be viewed here (choose Form: I-765, Form Category: Based on a request by a qualified F-1 academic student, Field Office: Potomac). These times are an average; most STEM OPT cases take more than 3 months since your work authorization is automatically extended as long your application was received by the 12-month OPT expiration date.

Step 1. Receive the new STEM OPT I-20 from ISSS by following the STEM OPT I-20 Request Process. Remember that you must submit your application to USCIS within 59 days of receiving your new STEM OPT I-20 from ISSS and before your OPT expires.

Step 2. Prepare your application documents to upload to the USCIS Portal. The I-765 application will be submitted entirely online—there is no separate application or need to upload a paper version of the I-765.

**You should NOT upload your I-983 to your STEM OPT application with USCIS.** This is for you, your employer, and ISSS only. If USCIS wants it, they will request it.

Document	Instructions
Passport-style photograph	Photo size instructions.
New STEM OPT I-20 from ISSS	Print and sign your new STEM OPT I-20 with a real pen before submitting it to USCIS. Students are not permitted to sign I-20s digitally or electronically.
Copy of your OPT EAD	Upload Scans of the Front and Back of your EAD.
Biographical page of your passport	It’s ok if your passport is expired. You can upload the new passport to the USCIS portal once you have it.
Official Transcript from UMass	You can request your transcript from SPIRE. You must also upload your GPD letter if you had a subplan or did not graduate yet.
I-94	Click here to learn how to access your most recent electronic I-94.
Application Fee	Review current USCIS fees as they frequently change. USCIS’ fee website can be reviewed here. Once the USCIS fee is submitted online, you have applied for OPT and no changes can be made to your application. DO NOT PAY THE FEE UNTIL YOU HAVE THE NEW STEM OPT I-20 FROM ISSS.
Optional I-907 Premium Processing	You can add Form I-907 to your I-765 application in the portal if you want premium processing. The Premium Processing Fee is considerable and in addition to the regular STEM OPT application fee. Premium Processing can be added to your STEM OPT application at the time of submission to USCIS or after submission. Premium Processing guarantees a review of your STEM OPT application within 30 business days. It does not guarantee you will be approved within 30 business days. EAD Processing and Mailing is NOT part of the 30-business day period. **Remember that your OPT work authorization is automatically extended for 180 days as long as you apply before your OPT expires. Premium Processing may not be necessary for your STEM OPT application.

Biometrics are NOT required for STEM OPT applications.

Step 3. Log in to your USCIS account online. You can use the same account you used for your OPT application or create a new one. If you use the same account, remember to review your profile information and update it as needed.

Step 4. Apply for STEM OPT using USCIS’ online application within 59 days of receiving your new STEM OPT I-20.

*Any technical questions regarding the online application should be directed to USCIS.

Please review ISSS’ tips for applying for STEM OPT online using USCIS’ portal.

There are two addresses on the I-765:
- Physical Address is where you actually live at the time of the application. You must change your physical address in SPIRE if you move.
- Mailing Address on your I-765 should be valid and able to receive your mail for 3-5 months after you submit your application to USCIS.
  - You should not change your mailing address with USCIS at any point in the application process. This will result in numerous delays, missing employment authorization document (EADs), etc.
  - USPS will NOT forward your mail to your new address.
  - If you are not sure where you will live, use ISSS’ mailing address. See the ISSS Info Sheet for the address format.
    - Once we have your EAD, we will contact you and coordinate with you to get your EAD. Choose your mailing address carefully.

Step 5. Receive I-797 Receipt Notice for Your Pending STEM OPT Application

Your I-797 pending receipt will be created almost automatically and uploaded to the “Documents” tab of your online account. Once you have the I-797 receipt number, your USCIS application is considered pending.

Check your USCIS case status in your USCIS online portal account or here.

If you receive a Request for Evidence or are Denied, contact your ISSS advisor immediately.

Step 6. STEM OPT Approval

You will receive an I-797 approval notice and your employment authorization document (EAD) once approved. Both items will be sent to your mailing address on your I-765. These are typically received within 1-2 weeks of approval but may be longer depending on USPS delivery times.

If you used ISSS’ address: you will receive an email notification from us once we have all your approval documents. Please be mindful that while tracking may say it is delivered, that does not mean ISSS has it in our possession yet. Please wait until we contact you with next steps.

If your STEM OPT was approved and you have not received your EAD within 30 days of approval, review our EAD Issues page.

Step 7. STEM OPT Reporting and Life After STEM OPT

Report your STEM OPT employment changes and submit your validation reports by reviewing the STEM OPT Reporting Requirements. Review the Life after STEM OPT information for additional information.

Reporting Requirements

Students on STEM OPT have specific reporting requirements. Failure to report these in a timely manner could impact your long-term immigration future in the U.S.

ISSS will extend your access to UMass Amherst systems for 1-3 years after graduation. This will permit you to access SPIRE to update your address and UMass VIP to report your employment, apply for STEM OPT, etc. If you have issues or need to reset your NetID passport, please see the UMass IT website guides.

You must update your physical address in SPIRE within 10 days of moving.
You must update your employment information if you have a:
- Material Change in your current employment
- Loss of employment
- Change of employers
- End of employment

You must complete the Validation process every 6 months even if nothing has changed. To review your deadlines, use the STEM OPT Reporting Calculator (this will open an excel sheet).

Unemployment

Employment Changes

Use the STEM OPT Extension Employer Reporting E-Form to report changes to your employment within 10 days of the update:

New Employer
Additional Employer
Material Changes
Employment Ended or New Employment Started

Change of Employers while on pending or approved STEM OPT: We do not require your job offer letter. You will report the information directly in the reporting form.

Documentation needed when changing employers:

I-983 with final evaluation completed for prior employer: Turn in all 5 pages of your prior employer’s I-983 and complete the Final Evaluation on the bottom of page 5. Note: you do not need to redo pages 1-4 if nothing has changed; you need to complete the bottom portion of page 5 and then upload all 5 pages of the I-983.
If your STEM OPT has not officially started (i.e., you are technically still on OPT with a pending STEM OPT application, the final evaluation is not required as you have not started STEM OPT yet).
New I-983 completed for new employer

Material Changes to your I-983: A Material Change is when something on your I-983 is updated.

Material Changes include but are not limited to:

Any change to the employer's IRS Employer Identification Number (EIN - the company's Federal Tax ID number) resulting from a change in the employer's ownership or structure, such as a corporate restructuring
Any reduction in student compensation that is not tied to a reduction in hours worked
Any significant decrease in the number of hours of work per week
Any decrease in hours of work that would reduce the student's total hours with that employer to less than 20 hours per week
Changes to the employer's commitments or student's learning objectives as documented on the Form I-983

Confirm with your ISSS advisor if you are unsure if an updated I-983 due to a material change is necessary.

Validations

Need an I-20 Reprint?

Use the I-20 Reprint E-Form to request a reprint of your I-20. If you need to report updated employment information, use the appropriate reporting form, and request an I-20 there.

I-20 Reprint E-Form