OPT STEM students are required to report new employment or changes to employment within 10 days of the change to maintain F-1 status reporting requirements. Below you will find information about how to to update employment during your OPT STEM period. You will upload all required updates here.
Employment Requirements
- Work for more than 20 hours per week
- Paid work (unpaid employment is not permitted on OPT STEM)
- Employment is directly related to the STEM-eligible field of study
- Employer must be enrolled in E-Verify
- Employer must have and maintain a bona fide employer-employee relationship with the student
- Employment must be outlined on Form I-983
- The employer agrees to comply with the OPT STEM Employer Requirements and Responsibilities, as outlined on the USCIS website
OPT STEM employment may include:
- Multiple employers. You may change employers during OPT STEM, and/or work for more than one employer simultaneously, but all employment must meet the criteria of qualifying OPT STEM employment as outlined above.
- Self-employment / business ownership. You cannot qualify for an OPT STEM extension unless you will be a bona fide employee of the employer signing the Form I-983.
- You may not provide the employer attestation (i.e., signatures) on your own behalf nor provide your own training. The employer that signs the Form I-983 must be the same entity that employs you and provides the practical training experience.
Additional Information
- OPT STEM 24-Month extension available twice: The OPT STEM extension is available to you (F-1) student at two non-consecutive periods during your lifetime. (For example: a student may apply for Post-OPT after their master’s, apply for OPT STEM based on their master’s, start and complete a doctorate program, and apply for Post-OPT, and then STEM OPT for a second time.)
- If you are seeking additional information on applying for the 24-month extension based on a prior degree, more information is available here.
- Work authorization while OPT STEM application is pending: If you successfully file the application for STEM OPT with USCIS during the final 90 days of post-completion OPT, then you may continue employment even if your Post-Completion EAD card is expired. This automatic extension of post-completion OPT is valid until your OPT STEM application is adjudicated or until 180 days has passed from the expiration date of your post-completion EAD card, whichever is sooner.
- Unemployment on OPT STEM: During OPT STEM you are allowed a maximum of 150 days of unemployment time, which is a cumulative amount that includes any unemployment time accrued during both OPT STEM plus the preceding post-completion OPT period.
- Volunteer work or uncompensated activity: This is not permitted by the Department of Homeland Security during the 24-Month OPT STEM extension period.
- Ending OPT Early: If you are ending your OPT before your EAD end date, you must report this to the International Center.
How to Report Employment
You are required to report new employment or changes to employment within 10 days of the change to maintain F-1 status reporting requirements. Below you will find and what items are required to update employment during your OPT STEM period.
All of the updates below will require a detailed description of how your employment relates to your major/field of study. Select the update you will be making and upload the corresponding forms through the International Center website.
| Timeframe/Changes | Required Forms |
|---|---|
| 6-Month Reporting | • OPT STEM Employment Update Form |
| 12-Month Reporting | • OPT STEM Employment Update Form • I-983 STEM OPT Training Plan with Progress Report. |
| 18-Month Reporting | • OPT STEM Employment Update Form |
| 24-Month Reporting | • OPT STEM Employment Update Form • I-983 STEM OPT Training Plan with Final Evaluation |
| Changing Employers | • OPT STEM Employment Update Form • I-983 STEM OPT Training Plan with Final Evaluation for ending employment with previous employer, • New, Completed I-983 STEM OPT Training Plan for new/current employer |
| Additional Employer | • OPT STEM Employment Update Form • New I-983 STEM OPT Training Plan |
| Employment Ended | • OPT STEM Employment Update Form • I-983 STEM OPT Training Plan with Final Evaluation for ending OPT STEM employment |
| Departing the U.S. or; Changing Visa Status | • OPT STEM Employment Update Form • I-983 STEM OPT Training Plan with Final Evaluation for ending OPT STEM employment • Student Check-Out Form |
| I-983 Changes | • OPT STEM Employment Update Form (include with updated I-983) • Employer name and address • Increase or decrease in compensation • Change in hour worked • Employer’s EIN • Termination of employment • Supervisor Information Change • Change in Position/Role |