STEM OPT Extension Guide: 24 Months, I-983, Fees and Rules

The STEM OPT extension gives F-1 students with an eligible science, technology, engineering or maths degree 24 more months of work authorization after their first 12 months of post-completion OPT. To qualify, your degree must be on the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List, your employer must use E-Verify, and you and your employer must complete a Form I-983 training plan. You can file Form I-765 with USCIS up to 90 days before your current OPT EAD expires, and the filing fee is $470 online or $520 on paper.

Last checked: 19 October 2026.

STEM OPT extension key facts

If you are still deciding between CPT and OPT, or want the basics of regular OPT first, read our CPT vs OPT guide. This page is only about the 24-month STEM extension.

STEM OPT extension eligibility

According to the USCIS Policy Manual chapter on practical training and the Study in the States STEM OPT overview, you need all of the following:

• You are in a valid period of post-completion OPT. You cannot apply during the 60-day grace period after your OPT ends.
• Your degree is on the STEM list. DHS decides by the CIP code of your degree, which is printed next to your major on your I-20. Check it against the official DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List.
• Your school is accredited and SEVP-certified at the time you apply.
• Or a prior STEM degree. If your current degree is not STEM (for example an MBA), you may use an earlier US STEM degree, as long as it was conferred within the 10 years before the DSO’s recommendation and is directly related to the job.
• Your employer is enrolled in E-Verify, has an EIN, and stays in good standing with E-Verify.
• You work at least 20 hours a week for each STEM OPT employer, as a genuine employee.
• You have a signed Form I-983 training plan with that employer.

Study in the States notes that start-ups and small businesses can qualify if they meet all the requirements.

Form I-983: the training plan

Form I-983 is the “Training Plan for STEM OPT Students”. Study in the States explains that you complete Section 1 (your name as in SEVIS, SEVIS ID, school and SEVIS school code, DSO contact, STEM major and CIP code, degree level and date, and the STEM OPT dates you are requesting), and you work with your employer on the remaining sections. These cover the employer’s details, your supervisor, the training goals and how the job relates to your degree.

You give the signed I-983 to your DSO, who keeps it in your record and must confirm it is complete and signed before recommending you in SEVIS. Keep your own copy, because DHS can ask to see it. A new employer means a new I-983 within 10 days of starting.

How to apply for the STEM OPT extension, step by step

1. Confirm your CIP code is on the STEM list and that your employer is in E-Verify (ask HR for the company’s E-Verify number).
2. Complete Form I-983 with your employer and sign it.
3. Send it to your DSO with your school’s STEM OPT request form. The DSO checks eligibility, enters the STEM OPT recommendation in SEVIS and issues a new I-20.
4. Sign the new I-20 and Form I-765.
5. File Form I-765 with USCIS, eligibility category (c)(3)(C), with the fee and the supporting documents listed in the USCIS Form I-765 instructions. Study in the States says USCIS must receive it before your current OPT end date, and within 60 days of the DSO’s recommendation. Forms received on or after the OPT end date are denied.
6. Respond to any Request for Evidence by the deadline on the notice.
7. Receive your new EAD card if approved.

The best time to file is early in the 90-day window. Leaving it to the last week risks the application arriving late, and a late filing cannot be fixed.

Current I-765 filing fee for STEM OPT

The USCIS fee rule that took effect on 1 April 2024 sets the Form I-765 fee at $520 in 8 CFR 106.2, with a $50 discount for forms filed online under 8 CFR 106.1(g). That means $470 if you file online and $520 on paper. There is no separate biometrics fee for category (c)(3)(C).

The USCIS fee increase of 16 October 2026 only changed fees created by the H.R. 1 law (mainly asylum, parole and TPS work permits). It did not change the student OPT or STEM OPT fee. See our USCIS fee increase October 2026 page for that list. Always confirm the amount on the USCIS fee schedule (Form G-1055) or fee calculator on the day you file, because a wrong fee means a rejected application.

Proposed OPT fee, not in force. On 8 October 2026 DHS published a proposed rule that would charge schools $70,000 for a student’s first OPT recommendation and $30,000 for any later one, including STEM OPT. Comments close on 9 November 2026. Nothing changes unless a final rule is published, and it would then take effect 60 days later.

Can you keep working while the application is pending?

Yes, if you filed on time. The USCIS Policy Manual says a student with a timely filed STEM OPT application may continue working until USCIS decides the case, or for up to 180 days after the current OPT EAD expires, whichever comes first. Keep your USCIS receipt notice, your expired EAD and your new I-20 together as proof.

Unemployment days: the 150-day limit

During regular post-completion OPT you may be unemployed for up to 90 days. The STEM extension adds 60 more, for a total of 150 days across both periods. The days are cumulative, not reset. SEVIS counts them for you, and the count stops once your DSO enters a qualifying employer start date. If you go over the limit you are out of status, so report every new job quickly.

Reporting requirements during STEM OPT

• Within 10 days: report changes to your legal name, address, employer name or address, or loss of a job.
• Every 6 months: validation report to your DSO confirming your details, even if nothing changed, within 10 business days of each reporting date.
• Self-evaluation at 12 months: due within 12 months of the STEM OPT start date, signed by your employer.
• Final evaluation: within 10 days after the training ends or you leave the employer.
• New employer: new Form I-983 within 10 days of starting.
• Material changes to the training plan: you and your employer submit a modified I-983.
• Employer duty: the employer must tell your DSO within five business days if you leave early.

Ask your DSO how your school wants these reports sent. Missing the final evaluation, Study in the States warns, breaches the I-983 terms and can put your status at risk. For general status rules, see our guide to maintaining F-1 status.

What Nepali students should plan for

• Choose your course with the CIP code in mind. Two programs both called “Data Analytics” can have different CIP codes, and only one may be on the STEM list. Ask the university for the CIP code before you accept the offer.
• Ask employers about E-Verify in the interview. A job offer from a company that is not in E-Verify cannot support STEM OPT.
• Be careful with travel to Nepal. Study in the States advises against leaving the US while a practical training application is pending, and you need your EAD in hand to re-enter once it is approved.
• Budget in rupees. At the 17 October 2026 NRB selling rate, the online fee is about Rs 71,553. Use our student visa money calculator.

Duration of status rule: blocked for now

A DHS final rule published on 17 July 2026 would have replaced “duration of status” with fixed admission periods and required students starting OPT or STEM OPT to also file an extension of stay with USCIS. A federal court blocked the rule nationwide on 14 September 2026, and the government appealed on 30 September. Until that changes, the STEM OPT process above is the one that applies. Watch for updates from your DSO.

Common mistakes

• Filing after the OPT EAD has expired. It will be denied.
• Filing more than 60 days after the DSO’s recommendation.
• Starting with an employer that is not in E-Verify.
• Forgetting the 6-month validation report because “nothing changed”.
• Not counting unemployment days carried over from regular OPT.

Frequently asked questions

When can I apply for the STEM OPT extension?
Up to 90 days before your current OPT EAD expires, and within 60 days after your DSO enters the STEM OPT recommendation in SEVIS. USCIS must receive the application before your OPT ends.

How much is the STEM OPT filing fee in 2026?
$470 if you file Form I-765 online and $520 on paper, with no separate biometrics fee for (c)(3)(C). Check the USCIS fee calculator before you pay.

How many unemployment days are allowed on STEM OPT?
150 days in total: 90 during regular OPT plus 60 during the STEM extension.

Does my employer need E-Verify for STEM OPT?
Yes. The employer must be enrolled in E-Verify and remain in good standing.

Can I work while my STEM OPT application is pending?
Yes, if you filed on time: up to 180 days after your OPT EAD expires, or until USCIS decides, whichever comes first.

Can I get STEM OPT twice?
Yes, once each for two qualifying degrees at different levels (for example a STEM bachelor’s and later a STEM master’s), for a lifetime maximum of two extensions.

Related guides

• Form I-20 Explained: What Nepali F-1 Students Must Check
• F-1 Port of Entry Guide: Your First Arrival in the USA
• F-1 SEVIS Transfer: How to Move to Another US University
• DS-160 Form Guide for F-1 Students from Nepal (2026)
• SEVIS I-901 Fee Payment from Nepal: $350 Step-by-Step Guide

Sources

• USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 2, Part F, Chapter 5: Practical Training
• STEM OPT Extension Overview – Study in the States
• Applying for practical training – Study in the States
• Students and the Form I-983 – Study in the States
• DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List – ICE
• 8 CFR 106.2, USCIS fees (Form I-765) – Legal Information Institute
• 8 CFR 106.1(g), online filing discount – Legal Information Institute
• USCIS Fee Schedule, Form G-1055
• Optional Practical Training Fees, proposed rule – Federal Register, 8 October 2026
• Fixed time period of admission final rule – Federal Register, 17 July 2026

Last checked: 19 October 2026. This is general information, not legal or immigration advice. Confirm fees with USCIS and your plan with your DSO before you file.