The 12-month OPT work authorization may be extended for an additional 24 months for graduates of certain Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) programs:
To be approved for the STEM extension, the employment must meet specific requirements, including having a training plan.
Students will need to speak with their employer early about continuing employment on the STEM extension, as the employer must be enrolled in the federal E-Verify program and commit to providing you a training program that directs relates to your STEM degree.
The student and the employer will be required to complete a training plan form to submit when applying for the STEM extension. Review important information here.
You may continue to work for 180 days after your OPT end date if your STEM extension was properly filed within a timely manner. The standard OPT 90-day limit on unemployment will be extended an additional 30 days when your STEM extension is approved.
You must report all name, address, employment, or training plan changes to OISP within 10 days of any changes. While on STEM OPT extension, you will be required to validate this information every 6 months and submit a self-evaluation of your training plan every year to OISP.