STEM OPT Extension: Eligibility, E-Verify and Reporting

Updated 2026-10-214 min readNot legal advice in W X

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The STEM OPT extension gives eligible F-1 students 24 more months of work authorization after post-completion OPT, if they work for an E-Verify employer. For many students, it also means more chances at the H-1B lottery. Here is how eligibility, filing and reporting work as of October 2026.

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Who is eligible

You must be in a valid period of post-completion OPT. Your degree must be in a field on the DHS STEM list.

The degree must be a bachelor's, master's or doctorate.
It must come from a school that is SEVP-certified and accredited by a recognized accreditor.
The degree must be earned within the 10 years before your DSO recommends the extension.
You cannot already have a STEM extension based on that same degree.
Your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify and in good standing.

Which degrees and jobs qualify

Eligibility goes by your degree's CIP code, not its name. Find the code on your Form I-20 and check it against the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List. DHS adds fields from time to time.

The job must be directly related to your STEM degree. You and your employer explain that link in the Form I-983 training plan. A job title alone does not decide it.

The role must be paid and at least 20 hours a week. Self-employment generally does not fit. USCIS says arrangements such as sole proprietorships may not show the required employer-employee relationship.

Staffing and consulting firms can hire you only if they provide your training themselves. They cannot hand it off to a client. Check employers on STEM OPT employers and E-Verify.

Top H-1B sponsors, 2025US Department of Labor data

Employer	H-1B filings	Transfers	Median pay
Amazon.Com Services LLC	14,047	2,382	$155k
Cognizant Technology Solutions US CorpGC frozen	10,209	872	$110k
Ernst & Young U.S. LLP	9,808	269	$143k
Google LLC	7,899	844	$186k
Microsoft CorporationGC frozen	7,840	879	$173k
Tata Consultancy Services LimitedGC frozen	7,287	353	$86k

Every sponsor, with their open jobsSee the list ›

Using an earlier STEM degree

If your current OPT is based on a non-STEM degree, you may use an earlier U.S. STEM degree. That degree cannot have supported a prior STEM extension. Your job must relate directly to it.

Study in the States says USCIS strongly recommends including transcripts when you rely on a prior degree.

A second STEM OPT extension

You may get one more 24-month extension later. It requires a new STEM degree at a higher level than the one used for the first extension.

What the employer must do

Not every employer can hire you on STEM OPT. The employer must meet these conditions:

Be enrolled in E-Verify and remain in good standing.
Have a valid IRS Employer Identification Number.
Have a real employer-employee relationship with you. Volunteer roles do not qualify.
Pay and treat you like similarly situated U.S. workers.
Complete the Form I-983 training plan with you.
Report your termination or departure to your DSO within five business days.

How and when to file

First, complete Form I-983 with your employer and send it to your DSO. The DSO then recommends the extension in SEVIS and issues an updated Form I-20.

Next, file Form I-765 under category (c)(3)(C), online through a USCIS account or on paper. USCIS says you can file up to 90 days before your current OPT expires.

USCIS must receive it within 60 days of the DSO recommendation. It must also arrive no later than your current OPT end date. A late or early filing can be denied.

Under the 2024 fee rule, the fee is $470 online or $520 on paper. Premium processing costs extra, and USCIS then acts within 30 business days. Fees change, so check the USCIS fee schedule first.

Photos must be passport-style, unmounted and unretouched. USCIS warns that edited photos can delay your case. As of October 2026, USCIS says it accepts the 08/21/25 edition of Form I-765.

Working while your extension is pending

If you file on time and your OPT EAD expires while the case is pending, your work permission continues for up to 180 days. It ends sooner if USCIS decides your case.

For Form I-9, your employer accepts your expired EAD together with your Form I-20 endorsed by your DSO for the STEM extension. The employer records a date 180 days after the card's expiration.

If USCIS has not decided by then, you must stop working until the new card arrives. Filing early, or paying for premium processing, lowers that risk.

Unemployment limits

Post-completion OPT allows up to 90 days of unemployment. The STEM extension adds 60 days, for a total of 150 days across the OPT period.

If your SEVIS record has no employer listed, those days count as unemployment.

Reporting duties

Report changes to your name, address, employer or employment status to your DSO within 10 days.
Confirm your details with your DSO every six months, even if nothing changed.
Submit self-evaluations at the 12-month and 24-month marks, and when a job ends.
Submit a new Form I-983 within 10 days of starting with a new employer.
Report material changes to your training plan with an updated Form I-983.

STEM OPT and H-1B

Because the extension runs 24 months, it can cover more than one H-1B registration season. Only E-Verify employers qualify, so check this before you accept an offer. You can browse roles at H-1B filers on /h1b-jobs.

Proposed OPT fees: what is unsettled

On Oct. 8, 2026, DHS published a proposed rule on OPT fees. It is a proposal only and is not in effect as of October 2026.

The DHS summary describes a $70,000 charge per F student for initial OPT. It describes a $30,000 charge for the second year of practical training.

BAL, a law firm, reports that SEVP-certified schools would pay before a DSO could recommend OPT. It notes DHS expects schools may pass costs to students or employers.

Public comments are accepted until Nov. 9, 2026. Summaries differ on exactly how the fee would apply to STEM OPT extensions. Boston University says it will keep recommending STEM OPT until any change takes effect.

Separately, DHS told a U.S. senator in a Jan. 9, 2026 letter that it is re-evaluating the scope and duration of OPT, including STEM OPT. As of October 2026, no proposal to shorten STEM OPT has been published.

This article is general information, not legal advice. Confirm your situation with your DSO or an immigration attorney.

Questions

How long is the STEM OPT extension?

It is 24 months. It starts the day after your current post-completion OPT ends.

Does my employer have to use E-Verify?

Yes. The employer must be enrolled in E-Verify and remain in good standing as determined by USCIS.

How many unemployment days do I get on STEM OPT?

You get 150 days in total across post-completion OPT and the STEM extension. That includes the 90 days allowed on initial OPT.

Is the $70,000 OPT fee in effect?

No. As of October 2026, it is a proposed rule with comments due Nov. 9, 2026. Current OPT rules still apply.

Does my job have to match my degree for STEM OPT?

Yes. The job must be directly related to your qualifying STEM degree, and your Form I-983 training plan must explain how.

How much does the STEM OPT application cost?

Under the 2024 USCIS fee rule, Form I-765 costs $470 online or $520 on paper, and premium processing is extra. Check the USCIS fee schedule before filing, since fees change.

Can I keep working while my STEM OPT extension is pending?

Yes, if you filed on time. You can keep working for up to 180 days after your OPT EAD expires, or until USCIS decides, whichever comes first.

Can I work for a staffing firm or be self-employed on STEM OPT?

A staffing firm can qualify only if it is your real employer, uses E-Verify and provides your training itself. Self-employment generally does not fit, because USCIS says sole proprietorships may not show a bona fide employer-employee relationship.