STEM OPT: Rules, E-Verify Employers and Job Search

Who qualifies

You must be on valid post-completion OPT, and your degree must be a bachelor's, master's or doctorate in a field on the STEM list. The degree must come from an accredited, SEVP-certified school and be earned within the last 10 years.

Eligibility, filing and fees are covered in depth in our STEM OPT extension guide.

What your employer must do

• Be enrolled in E-Verify and stay in good standing. See E-Verify for STEM OPT.
• Have a real employer-employee relationship with you. Volunteer roles do not count.
• Pay you and treat you like similar US workers.
• Sign and follow a Form I-983 training plan.
• Report your termination or departure to your DSO within five business days.
• Accept possible DHS site visits. See RFEs and site visits.

Common questions about the work

You cannot apply without an employer. The I-983 needs your E-Verify employer's details and signatures before your DSO can recommend you.

Part-time work is fine at 20 hours a week or more. Study in the States says STEM OPT employers must provide at least 20 hours of training a week, and the work must be paid.

STEM OPT is not locked to one employer. You can switch, but the new employer must be in E-Verify and you need a new I-983 within 10 days of starting. You do not file a new I-765.

Unemployment and reporting

You get 150 unemployment days in total across OPT and STEM OPT. See OPT unemployment days.

Report changes within 10 days. Confirm your details with your DSO every six months, and submit self-evaluations at 12 and 24 months.

Processing time in 2026

USCIS does not publish a fixed time for STEM OPT. Yale's international office describes recent averages of about 4.5 months without premium processing. Premium processing costs $1,780 and USCIS acts within 30 business days.

If you file on time and your OPT card expires while you wait, you can keep working for up to 180 days.

Finding STEM OPT jobs

Start with employers that already hire STEM OPT workers. ICE counted 165,524 students on STEM OPT in 2024. Browse STEM OPT employers, and check new names against E-Verify employers.

Because H-1B is the usual next step, also look at H1B sponsors. You can match sponsor jobs to your resume to save time.

Be careful with staffing firms. Read staffing agencies on STEM OPT before you sign.

Pending changes as of October 2026

DHS proposed on October 8, 2026 that schools pay $30,000 for each later OPT, including STEM OPT. It is a proposal, not a rule. See proposed OPT fees.

A rule that would have required some STEM OPT applicants to also file Form I-539 was blocked by a federal court on September 14, 2026. The government has appealed.

If your STEM OPT is ending, see STEM OPT running out.

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

Questions

Sources

• USCIS: Optional Practical Training Extension for STEM Students
• Study in the States: F-1 STEM OPT Extension (SEVIS Help Hub)
• Study in the States: Learn About the Types of Practical Training for F-1 Students
• USCIS: How Do I Request Premium Processing?
• Yale OISS: USCIS Processing for STEM OPT
• Study in the States: Read the 2024 SEVIS by the Numbers Report

Guides in this topic

Form I-983 Training Plan: How to Fill It OutSTEM OPT E-Verify Rule: How to Check an EmployerSTEM OPT Ending and No H-1B? Your OptionsSTEM OPT With a Staffing Agency or Consultancy: RulesSTEM OPT RFEs and Site Visits: What to Expect

Read next

What Is OPT? F-1 Work Rules, Limits and Job SearchOPT Unemployment Days: The 90 and 150-Day RulesHow to Find a Job on OPT: Which Employers Hire