STEM OPT Extension 2026: 24 More Months of Work Authorization, Step by Step

The STEM OPT extension gives F-1 students with a degree on the DHS STEM list 24 more months of work authorization after their initial 12-month OPT. You need an employer enrolled in E-Verify that signs a Form I-983 training plan, and you must file Form I-765 before your current OPT expires. If you file on time, you can keep working for up to 180 days while the case is pending.

Key points

• Eligible degrees: bachelor’s, master’s or doctorate in a field on the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List, from an accredited, SEVP-certified school.
• Employer must use E-Verify and sign Form I-983.
• Filing window: up to 90 days before your OPT EAD expires, and within 60 days of the DSO recommendation.
• Unemployment allowance: 150 days in total across OPT and STEM OPT.
• As of October 2026, the I-765 fee is $520 paper / $470 online. A DHS proposal for new OPT fees, published October 8, 2026, is not in effect.

Who is eligible

According to USCIS, you must:

1. Be an F-1 student currently on a valid period of post-completion OPT.
2. Have a bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree in a field on the STEM Designated Degree Program List, from a school accredited by a US Department of Education-recognized agency and certified by SEVP when you apply.
3. Have a job offer from an employer that meets the STEM OPT employer requirements.

Using an earlier STEM degree

If your current OPT is based on a non-STEM degree (for example, an MBA), you may be able to use an earlier US STEM degree, as long as:

• Both schools are currently accredited and SEVP-certified.
• That earlier degree has not already been used for a STEM OPT extension.
• The job is directly related to the earlier STEM degree.

A second STEM extension

If you later earn a higher-level STEM degree, you may qualify for one more 24-month extension based on that degree. The lifetime maximum is two STEM OPT extensions.

Employer requirements

The employer must:

• Be enrolled in E-Verify with a valid company ID (or client company ID through an employer agent) and remain in good standing.
• Sign Form I-983, attesting that it has enough resources and trained staff to provide the training, that the student will not replace a US worker, and that the training helps the student reach their goals.
• Pay wages and offer terms similar to those of US workers in similar roles.
• Have a real employer-employee relationship with the student. USCIS warns that staffing agencies and consulting arrangements, where the student works at a client site under a third party’s control, often cannot meet these rules.
• Report the student’s termination or departure to the DSO within 5 business days.

The I-983 training plan

Form I-983 is a training plan written for you, not a generic job description. It must:

• Explain how the job relates directly to your STEM degree.
• List your learning objectives and how the employer will help you meet them.
• Describe how your supervisor will oversee and evaluate your training.

You submit the I-983 to your DSO, not to USCIS. You complete a self-evaluation at 12 months and at the end, and the employer must submit a modified I-983 if there is a material change, such as a change in hours or duties.

How to apply step by step

1. Get the job offer from an E-Verify employer.
2. Complete Form I-983 with your employer.
3. Send the I-983 to your DSO, who reviews it and enters the STEM OPT recommendation in SEVIS. You receive a new I-20.
4. File Form I-765 under category (c)(3)(C), online or by mail, within 60 days of the DSO recommendation and no more than 90 days before your current OPT expires.
5. Include: the new I-20 (endorsed within the last 60 days), a copy of your STEM degree, the employer’s name as listed in E-Verify, the E-Verify company ID, your current EAD and the fee.
6. Keep working under the 180-day automatic extension if your OPT expires while the case is pending.
7. Receive the new EAD, valid for 24 months from the day after your initial OPT ends.

Fees

From the G-1055, edition 10/07/26:

Item	Fee
Form I-765 (paper)	$520
Form I-765 (online)	$470
Premium processing (optional)	$1,780 for action within 30 business days

The 180-day automatic extension

If you file the STEM OPT application on time and your current OPT EAD expires while the case is pending, your work authorization is automatically extended for up to 180 days. It ends early if USCIS decides the case.

This is separate from the general EAD rules. On October 30, 2025, DHS ended the 540-day automatic extension for most EAD renewals filed on or after that date, but kept the STEM OPT 180-day extension. Keep your expired EAD, the I-797 receipt notice and your I-20 showing the STEM recommendation together as proof for your employer’s I-9.

Unemployment, reporting and validation

Rule	Requirement
Unemployment	90 days on initial OPT + 60 days with STEM OPT = 150 days total
Hours	At least 20 hours per week with the E-Verify employer
Report changes	Name, address, email, employer name or address within 10 days to your DSO
Validation	Confirm your information with your DSO every 6 months, even if nothing changed
Evaluations	Self-evaluations on the I-983 at 12 months and at the end
Changing employers	New employer must use E-Verify and submit a new I-983 to your DSO within 10 days

Exceeding 150 days of unemployment is a status violation.

Common STEM OPT mistakes

• Filing after the EAD expires. A STEM application filed even one day after your OPT EAD ends is not timely, and you lose the 180-day extension.
• Using the wrong E-Verify details. The employer name and E-Verify company ID on the I-765 must match the employer’s E-Verify record.
• A generic training plan. USCIS and SEVP can review the I-983, and plans that do not connect the job to your degree draw questions.
• Not updating the I-983. Changes in duties, hours, supervisor or pay that are material require a modified plan.
• Working for a client instead of the employer. If the client controls your day-to-day work, the arrangement may not meet the employer-employee requirement.
• Missing the 6-month validation. Confirm your details with your DSO every six months even when nothing has changed.

STEM OPT and the H-1B

The 24 extra months often give students two or three chances in the H-1B lottery. Since FY2027, the lottery is weighted by wage level, so the salary your employer offers affects your odds. See our weighted H-1B lottery guide. If your employer files a timely cap petition and change of status, cap-gap rules can extend your status past the STEM OPT end date while the petition is pending.

Pending proposals and court cases

• OPT fees (proposed, not in effect): On October 8, 2026, DHS proposed charging schools $70,000 for a student’s first OPT period and $30,000 for later periods (DHS). The announcement does not say clearly whether a STEM extension would count as a “later period.” Comments close November 9, 2026. Read more in our F-1 OPT guide.
• Duration of status (blocked): The rule that would have replaced D/S with fixed admission periods was blocked by a federal court on September 14, 2026.

This is general information, not legal advice. If your job is with a staffing firm, at a client site, or not clearly related to your degree, talk to your DSO and a licensed US immigration attorney before filing.

What to do next

• Check your degree’s CIP code against the DHS STEM list.
• Confirm your employer’s E-Verify status and start the I-983 early.
• Put your OPT EAD expiry date in your calendar and count back 90 days.
• Watch for changes to OPT rules on our updates page and the US hub.