STEM OPT 24-Month Extension: Requirements & I-983 Guide Topical Map

F‑1 students who have completed a degree on DHS's current STEM Designated Degree Program List, are currently on a valid 12‑month post‑completion OPT, and have an employer enrolled in E‑Verify with a bona fide STEM training plan on Form I‑983. The STEM degree must be the most recent qualifying degree and the student must file the STEM OPT I‑765 before their current OPT EAD expires.

Form I‑983 is the Formal Training Plan for STEM OPT that documents the employer's learning objectives, supervision, and evaluation metrics; it must be completed and signed by the student and the employer before the DSO enters the STEM OPT recommendation in SEVIS. The DSO keeps the I‑983 in the student's record and the employer should retain the form and supporting documentation in case of site visits or audits.

You must file Form I‑765 with USCIS before your current post‑completion OPT EAD expires; a DSO must first recommend the STEM extension in SEVIS and the student should have a completed I‑983 on file before filing. If you timely file the I‑765 before your EAD expiration, you can continue working while the STEM application is pending under the automatic extension policy.

Across the full OPT period (initial 12‑month OPT plus the 24‑month STEM extension), students may not exceed a cumulative total of 150 days of unemployment. You should track unemployment days carefully—exceeding the 150‑day limit can lead to automatic termination of F‑1 status and loss of STEM benefits.

Yes—if you timely file the STEM OPT I‑765 before your current OPT EAD expires, you are authorized to continue working for up to 180 days while USCIS adjudicates the extension. Make sure the filing is timely and you retain proof of receipt (Form I‑797C) and copies of the I‑765 package in case of later challenges.

Employers must be enrolled in and remain compliant with E‑Verify, provide a bona fide training plan on the I‑983 with committed supervision and evaluation, and agree to report material changes or termination to the DSO. Employers should also maintain records, cooperate with site visits, and not displace U.S. workers as part of the training plan obligations.

Common RFE/denial reasons include missing or unsigned I‑983 pages, employer not enrolled in E‑Verify at the time of filing, insufficient evidence that the prior degree is a STEM‑designated CIP code, missing or inconsistent dates between I‑20 and I‑765, and inadequate training plan details showing bona fide learning objectives. Early checklisting—complete I‑983 signatures, proof of E‑Verify status, accurate degree/CIP documentation, and consistent dates—reduces RFE risk.

Yes—startups can employ STEM OPT students provided the startup is enrolled in E‑Verify, can demonstrate the ability to provide structured supervision and a bona fide training plan on the I‑983, and meet reporting obligations. Practical evidence (org charts, supervisor bios, equipment lists, project plans) strengthens the I‑983 when the employer is a small or newly formed business.

The student and employer must complete and sign the midpoint (12‑month) and final self‑evaluations on the I‑983, describing progress toward the training goals and any changes to the training plan; the DSO does not sign evaluations but keeps them on file. Evaluations should be specific, show measurable progress, and be retained by both employer and student in case of audits.

Remote work is allowed only if it is consistent with the I‑983 training plan and the employer can provide proper supervision, evaluation, and documentation; working outside the U.S. while the STEM OPT application is pending is risky and can affect adjudication. Any material change in work location or duties must be reported to the DSO and, when required, reflected in an updated I‑983.