STEM OPT Guide 2026: The 24-Month Extension, How to Apply, and What's Actually Changing

STEM OPT is the 24-month extension of post-completion OPT for F-1 students with a qualifying STEM degree. It turns one year of work authorization into three — 12 months of initial OPT plus 24 months of STEM OPT — and it gives you up to three H-1B lottery seasons instead of one. This guide covers who qualifies, the I-983 training plan, how to file Form I-765, the 150-day unemployment clock, travel, cap-gap, and the 2026 fee proposal and court cases that are actually changing things. Every fact here comes from an official source, and where a rule is only proposed or blocked, the guide says so plainly.

STEM OPT in 2026 — what is in effect, proposed, or blocked

Three different 2026 developments get mixed up in social media posts about STEM OPT. They are not the same thing, and none of them changes anything for students today. This table is the short version; the detail is in the sections below.

Is STEM OPT now just one year instead of two? No.

The short answer is no. As of November 8, 2026, STEM OPT is still a 24-month extension. In the sources we reviewed, no Federal Register document, no proposed rule, no final rule, no bill and no USCIS or DHS statement proposing a 12-month STEM OPT exists. The 24-month rule is still stated on the USCIS STEM OPT page and the DHS STEM OPT Hub, and the October 8, 2026 OPT fee proposal itself refers throughout to “the 24-month STEM OPT extension.”

The rumor comes from three real things being mixed together. First, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem wrote to Senator Eric Schmitt on January 9, 2026 that DHS is “re-evaluating whether the current regulatory framework — including the scope and duration of practical training — appropriately serves U.S. labor market, tax, and national security interests.” The review is tracked as RIN 1653-AA97, “Practical Training,” in the regulatory agenda — but as of October and November 2026 there is no Federal Register document for it: no proposed rule, no text, no comment period, and no 12-month figure anywhere. A review is not a proposal, and “scope and duration” was never specified as “24 months to 12 months” in any source.

Second, the October 8, 2026 OPT fee proposal was widely reported as OPT “ending” or being gutted. It changes cost, not duration — the full proposal is in the 2026 rules tracker below.

Third, plain category confusion: eligible students may qualify for up to 12 months of post-completion OPT. Only STEM graduates add 24 months on top of it. A non-STEM graduate, or a STEM graduate who misses the STEM OPT requirements — for example, because the employer is not enrolled in E-Verify — indeed has just one year. The same confusion is fed by “1-year master’s” marketing: a one-year STEM master’s still gets 12 plus 24 months. Program length does not change OPT length.

The test for any future claim is simple: a change to STEM OPT duration would normally come through a Federal Register notice of proposed rulemaking, with a comment period, before it could take effect. If you see a claim about a cut and it does not link to a Federal Register document, treat it as a rumor and check with your DSO.

What is STEM OPT and who qualifies

STEM OPT is the 24-month extension of post-completion OPT for F-1 students who earned a qualifying degree in science, technology, engineering or mathematics. It replaced the old 17-month STEM OPT extension on May 10, 2016. The extension is a period of temporary training that must directly relate to your STEM degree, and it runs on top of your 12 months of initial post-completion OPT — 36 months of work authorization in total for a STEM graduate who qualifies.

To qualify, USCIS requires all of the following:

• You have been granted OPT and are currently in a valid period of post-completion OPT.
• You hold a bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree from a school that is both accredited by a U.S. Department of Education-recognized accrediting agency and SEVP-certified, at the time you submit the STEM OPT application.
• Your degree is in a field on the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List.
• You work for an employer that meets the employer requirements in the next sections — enrolled in E-Verify, with a bona fide employer-employee relationship.
• The job is directly related to your STEM degree, for at least 20 hours per week per employer.
• You file Form I-765 inside the filing window below.

How to check whether your degree qualifies. The list is built on the Department of Education’s CIP (Classification of Instructional Programs) taxonomy. All fields in the four core two-digit series qualify — engineering (14), biological sciences (26), mathematics (27) and physical sciences (40) — plus related fields at specific six-digit CIP codes that DHS has designated. The CIP code on your I-20 and SEVIS record controls, not your degree title. If your degree title sounds like a STEM field but the CIP code is not on the list, it does not qualify. Ask your DSO to confirm the CIP code on your I-20, and check it against the live DHS STEM list before you plan around STEM OPT.

The list has not changed in 2026. It was last updated on July 22, 2024, when Environmental and Natural Resource Economics (CIP 03.0204) was added. The October 8, 2026 OPT fee proposal itself still cites July 2024 as the latest update. Anyone may nominate a CIP code for inclusion by email to SEVP; nominations received by August 1 each year are reviewed, and changes are announced in the Federal Register.

Using a previous STEM degree. If you are on 12 months of post-completion OPT based on a non-STEM degree, you may still qualify for STEM OPT using a previous STEM degree from a U.S. institution — if both degrees are from institutions that are currently accredited and SEVP-certified, you have not already received a STEM OPT extension based on that previous degree, and the job is directly related to the previous STEM degree. The previous degree must have been conferred within 10 years before the DSO recommendation, under 8 CFR 214.2(f)(10)(ii)(C)(3).

You cannot apply during the 60-day grace period after your initial post-completion OPT ends. The STEM OPT application must be filed while you are still in a valid period of post-completion OPT — the filing window in the next section is the hard deadline.

How to apply, step by step

The application has four stages, and the order matters: the I-983 training plan comes first, then the DSO recommendation, then the I-765 filing with USCIS. Do not file the I-765 before your DSO has entered the recommendation in SEVIS.

Step 1 — Get an E-Verify job. Find employment directly related to your STEM degree, at least 20 hours per week, with an employer enrolled in E-Verify. The employer must be the one that provides the training — a staffing agency that only places you cannot be your STEM OPT employer.

Step 2 — Complete Form I-983 with your employer. You and your employer complete the Training Plan for STEM OPT Students together, and you submit it to your DSO before the DSO can recommend the extension. The plan is covered in full in the next section.

Step 3 — Get the DSO recommendation. Your DSO enters the STEM OPT recommendation in SEVIS and issues an updated Form I-20 endorsed for STEM OPT. Keep this I-20: the I-765 filing needs an I-20 endorsed by the DSO within the last 60 days.

Step 4 — File Form I-765, category (c)(3)(C), with USCIS. Key STEM-specific filing information and evidence include: Form I-765 with the correct fee; your employer’s name as listed in E-Verify; your employer’s E-Verify Company ID (or a valid Client Company ID if your employer uses an agent); the Form I-20 endorsed by the DSO within the last 60 days; and a copy of your STEM degree. For the complete evidence requirements, check the current Form I-765 instructions before you file.

File online through a myUSCIS account, or by paper to the USCIS Chicago Lockbox, Attn: I-765 C03, P.O. Box 805373, Chicago, IL 60680-5374 by USPS, or 131 South Dearborn – 3rd Floor, Chicago, IL 60603-5517 by FedEx, UPS or DHL. Paper payment is by Form G-1450 (card) or Form G-1650 (ACH). Check the current USCIS I-765 addresses page before you mail anything — lockbox addresses can change.

The filing window — two clocks, both must be met. You may file up to 90 days before your current OPT employment authorization expires, and within 60 days of the date your DSO enters the recommendation into SEVIS. USCIS must receive your application no later than your current post-completion OPT end date. A late filing loses the benefit. As of late 2026, USCIS was accepting the 08/21/25 edition of Form I-765 and not the 09/15/26 edition — check the current USCIS notice before you file, because the accepted edition can change.

The fees above are from the USCIS Fee Schedule (Form G-1055) and apply to the (c)(3)(A), (c)(3)(B) and (c)(3)(C) categories — pre-completion OPT, post-completion OPT and the STEM OPT extension. Online filing costs $50 less than paper. Premium processing is optional: it costs $1,780 on top of the filing fee. Premium processing requires USCIS to take adjudicative action within 30 business days; it does not guarantee approval or EAD delivery within that period. The premium fee rose from $1,685 to $1,780 on March 1, 2026. The proposed $70,000 and $30,000 OPT fees in the October 2026 proposal are separate from these amounts and are not in effect — see the 2026 rules tracker below.

The 180-day automatic extension. If you file your STEM OPT extension application on time and your OPT period expires while the application is still pending, USCIS automatically extends your employment authorization for 180 days. The automatic extension ends as soon as USCIS adjudicates your STEM OPT application. Do not confuse this with the up-to-540-day automatic EAD extension that applied to some other categories: STEM OPT students are not eligible for the 540-day rule. The 180-day rule is the one that applies to you.

The 36-month OPT timeline. The filing window: file up to 90 days before your current OPT expires, within 60 days of your DSO’s recommendation in SEVIS, and no later than your current OPT expiration date. Validation reports are due at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months of STEM OPT, with self-evaluations at 12 and 24 months. Cap-gap applies only if a timely cap-subject H-1B petition requesting a change of status is filed while you are on OPT.

The I-983 Training Plan, section by section

The I-983 is the document that makes STEM OPT different from ordinary OPT. It is a formal training plan that must clearly state your learning objectives and affirm your employer’s commitment to helping you achieve them. USCIS does not decide your STEM OPT application on the I-765 alone — the training plan is the substance behind it. You and your employer must complete and sign it before you apply to USCIS, and a new I-983 is required for every new employment or training experience during STEM OPT.

What the plan must contain. How the practical training directly relates to your qualifying STEM degree; the specific goals of the training; how those goals will be achieved, including the knowledge, skills and techniques to be taught; the process for evaluating your performance; the methods of oversight and supervision; that the employer has sufficient resources and personnel and is prepared to carry out the training at the identified locations; that your duties, hours and compensation are commensurate with similarly situated U.S. workers in the area; and the employer’s attestations — that it has sufficient resources, that you will not replace a U.S. worker, and that the training will help you attain your training objectives.

Who fills in what. You complete Section 1 (your name as on the I-20, SEVIS ID, and related details) and sign the student certification in Section 2. Your employer completes Section 3 and signs the certifications in Sections 4 and 6, confirming that it understands the STEM OPT rules and will follow them. You complete Section 5, the training plan itself, together with your employer. Your DSO reviews the form for completeness and checks that it matches your SEVIS record, helps you understand the reporting and evaluation deadlines, and keeps a copy in your file. The DSO does not approve the training plan — that is not the DSO’s role.

Evaluations — 12 months and 24 months. You must conduct a self-evaluation twice: the first, the Evaluation on Student Progress, within 12 months of your STEM OPT start date; the second, the Final Evaluation on Student Progress, at the end of the 24-month period, recapping the whole training. Your employer must review each evaluation and sign it to verify its accuracy, and you must submit it to your DSO no later than 10 days after the end of the reporting period.

If your employment ends before the 24 months are up, a final evaluation is due within 10 days of the end of that employment. Not submitting a final evaluation violates the terms of the I-983 and can jeopardize your status. Treat these as hard deadlines, not paperwork you can catch up on later: missing a validation or an evaluation can jeopardize your F-1 status.

Material changes. Both you and your employer must report material changes to the training plan to your DSO by submitting a modified I-983 at the earliest available opportunity. Examples include a change of employer name or address, job title or duties, supervisor, hours, or a decrease in compensation. The underlying changes themselves must be reported to the DSO within 10 days, as the reporting section below explains.

Employer requirements

Your employer carries most of the compliance burden on STEM OPT. If the employer fails any of these requirements, the extension fails with it — so check them before you accept an offer, not after you file.

• E-Verify. The employer must be enrolled in E-Verify and remain a participant in good standing, with a valid E-Verify Company ID number — or, if it uses an employer agent, a valid Client Company ID. The E-Verify name and number go on your I-765.
• Valid EIN. The employer must have an Employer Identification Number issued by the IRS.
• A bona fide employer-employee relationship. The employer must have and maintain one, and attest to it by signing the I-983. It may not be your employer in name only, and you may not work on a “volunteer” basis.
• The same entity must provide the training. The employer that signs the I-983 must be the entity that provides the practical training. It must have sufficient resources and trained supervisory personnel at the locations in the I-983. Those personnel may be the employer’s own employees or contractors directly retained by the employer — not employees or contractors of the employer’s clients or customers. Another F-1 student on OPT or STEM OPT cannot train you, and the employer may not delegate training to a client or customer.
• Commensurate pay and conditions. Your duties, hours and compensation must be commensurate with similarly situated U.S. workers. You must not replace a full- or part-time, temporary or permanent U.S. worker.
• Reporting. The employer must report material changes by submitting a modified I-983 at the earliest available opportunity, and must report your termination or departure within five business days.
• Site visits. DHS may, at its discretion, conduct a site visit to check that the employer has the ability, personnel and resources to provide the structured, guided work-based learning in the I-983, and that the signing employer is genuinely the training provider.

Staffing and temporary agencies. Staffing agencies, temporary agencies and consulting firms may employ students on STEM OPT — but only if they themselves will provide the practical training experience and maintain a bona fide employer-employee relationship with you. Arrangements involving multiple employers, sole proprietorships, employment through temp agencies and consulting-firm labor-for-hire may not be able to demonstrate that relationship, and DHS decides case by case. A staffing agency that merely places you with a client cannot sign your I-983. If an agency offers you a placement, ask who signs the I-983 and who provides the training — if the answer is the client, the arrangement does not work for STEM OPT.

Start-ups and small businesses. You can work for a start-up or a small business on STEM OPT, as long as every requirement above is met — E-Verify enrollment, commensurate compensation, and the signing employer being the training provider. Size is not the test; the training relationship is.

Unemployment: the 90 + 60 = 150-day clock

On initial post-completion OPT you may be unemployed for up to 90 days. On the STEM OPT extension you get an additional 60 days. That is 150 days in total — and the count is cumulative across the whole OPT period, not a fresh 150 days when STEM OPT starts.

Worked example: if you used 40 days of unemployment before your first job on initial OPT, you have 110 days left for the rest of your OPT — not 150. The days you already used count against the total. A second OPT period after a second degree at a higher level gets a fresh 90 and 150-day allowance for that period.

Exceeding the limit violates your F-1 status and can lead to SEVIS termination. Track your unemployment days yourself — do not rely on your employer or your DSO to count them for you. And if you are outside the United States when you cross the limit, you will not be eligible to re-enter in F-1 status.

Reporting: your compliance calendar

STEM OPT has more reporting than initial OPT, and the deadlines are not suggestions. Missing required reports can jeopardize your status — contact your DSO promptly if you miss one. Put these dates in your calendar on the day your STEM OPT starts.

You can self-report address and phone updates through the SEVP Portal, but the portal cannot add a new employer or change an employer’s start date for a STEM OPT student. A new employer needs a completed Form I-983 given to your DSO, and the DSO updates SEVIS — the DSO has 21 days from a reported change to do so. Only some fields of an existing employer can be changed in the portal. Do not assume a portal update alone closes the loop; confirm with your DSO that SEVIS was updated.

Travel on STEM OPT

You can travel while on STEM OPT, but re-entry is not automatic. U.S. Customs and Border Protection makes the final admission decision at the port of entry, and a visa does not guarantee entry. Carry the full document set every time you travel.

To return to the United States in F-1 status you need:

• A Form I-20 endorsed for travel and signed by your DSO.
• To have been outside the United States for less than five months.
• A passport valid for at least six months after your date of re-entry (or valid through entry, for listed countries including India).
• A valid, current F-1 visa — or travel of under 30 days to a contiguous country or adjacent island for automatic revalidation.
• Financial information showing proof of necessary funds.
• Your EAD in hand, plus your I-20 endorsed for OPT and a letter of employment if you have one. If your OPT is approved, you are expected to have the physical EAD with you to re-enter.

Travel signature. Universities advise that the DSO travel signature on the I-20 is valid for six months while you are on OPT or STEM OPT, compared with twelve months while you are still enrolled. Get a fresh signature before you travel if yours is close to that limit.

Do not travel on a pending application if you can avoid it. USCIS may send a Request for Evidence while you are away, and your EAD is mailed only to a U.S. address — you need the physical card in hand to re-enter after approval. If you exceed your unemployment limit while outside the United States, you will not be eligible to re-enter in F-1 status at all.

Cap-gap travel warning. If you are in cap-gap waiting on an H-1B petition, traveling abroad before USCIS approves the change-of-status petition means the change-of-status request is treated as abandoned. See the cap-gap section below.

What is NOT allowed on STEM OPT

The rules here are stricter than on initial OPT, and the commonest mistakes all come from treating STEM OPT like an open work permit. It is not. Every one of these is a condition of the extension itself.

• Self-employment is not allowed. You cannot be self-employed on STEM OPT, because you cannot provide the employer attestations on your own behalf. The employer signing the I-983 must be a separate entity that employs you.
• Unpaid or volunteer work is not allowed. Your employer may not be your employer in name only, and you may not work on a volunteer basis. All STEM OPT work must be paid, and paid at a rate commensurate with similarly situated U.S. workers.
• Staffing-agency placements without a real training plan. Only the E-Verify employer that actually provides the training may sign the I-983. An agency that merely places you with a client cannot sign it, and labor-for-hire and multiple-employer arrangements may not be able to show a bona fide employer-employee relationship.
• Working for a non-E-Verify employer. E-Verify enrollment in good standing is a condition of eligibility. A new employer or a new hiring site must be enrolled in E-Verify before you begin employment there.
• Work unrelated to your degree, or under 20 hours a week. The job must directly relate to your STEM degree and be at least 20 hours per week with each employer.
• Replacing a U.S. worker, or delegating your training. You must not replace a full- or part-time U.S. worker, and your training may not be delegated to a client or customer. Another F-1 student on OPT cannot be your trainer.

A second STEM OPT extension

Yes — you can get one additional 24-month STEM OPT extension, if you earn another qualifying STEM degree at a higher educational level and are in a valid period of post-completion OPT based on that degree. For example, a STEM OPT extension based on a bachelor’s degree, then a second one based on a master’s degree.

The second extension needs a fresh filing every time: a new I-983, a new DSO recommendation, and a new Form I-765 in the same 90-day and 60-day window. A second degree at the same level does not support another STEM OPT extension — the new degree must be at a higher level than the one the first extension was based on. And do not confuse this with the previous-degree route above: using an earlier STEM degree while on OPT from a non-STEM degree is a different rule, with its own 10-year limit.

STEM OPT to H-1B: cap-gap and the lottery

STEM OPT’s biggest strategic advantage is time. Initial OPT gives you one H-1B registration season. STEM OPT gives you up to three — one per year of OPT and STEM OPT. That is the difference between a single lottery draw and three draws, and it is the main reason the extension matters for students who want an H-1B.

What cap-gap is. Cap-gap is the bridge between the end of your F-1 status or OPT and the start of your H-1B status on October 1. If you are the beneficiary of a timely filed, cap-subject H-1B petition that requests a change of status — not consular processing — and you are in an authorized period of post-completion OPT, including a STEM OPT extension, on the filing date, then both your F-1 status and your OPT employment authorization are automatically extended. Cap-exempt petitions do not get a cap-gap extension. No new EAD is issued for cap-gap; your proof is an updated Form I-20 from your DSO with a cap-gap notation.

How long cap-gap lasts. Until April 1 of the fiscal year for which H-1B status is requested, or the validity start date of the approved petition, whichever is earlier. This is the H-1B modernization rule, 89 FR 103054, effective January 17, 2025 — previously the extension ended on October 1. Note that the USCIS Policy Manual still describes the old October 1 end date in places; the April 1 date in the regulation is the one that governs. The extension ends automatically if the petition is denied, withdrawn, revoked or rejected, or if the change-of-status request is denied or withdrawn.

Travel warning. Traveling abroad before USCIS approves the H-1B change-of-status petition means the change-of-status request is treated as abandoned. Travel and readmission are generally possible only after approval and before H-1B employment begins, with a valid signed I-20 and an F-1 visa. For the full change-of-status process, see our H-1B change of status guide, and for how the lottery itself works, see our H-1B lottery guide.

2026 rules tracker — what is proposed, blocked, or in effect

Three 2026 developments matter for STEM OPT students. Only one of them is a real proposal, one is blocked in court, and one is only a review with no published text. Keep them separate.

The OPT fee proposal — proposed only. On October 8, 2026, ICE published a notice of proposed rulemaking, 91 FR 64566, Docket ICEB-2026-0100, that would charge $70,000 for an initial OPT recommendation and $30,000 for any subsequent OPT recommendation, including a STEM OPT extension. A student who uses initial OPT plus a STEM OPT extension would trigger $100,000 in total under the proposal as written.

The fee would be paid by the SEVP-certified school, before the DSO recommends the student for OPT in SEVIS — USCIS would not approve the EAD if the fee had not been paid. Reporting on the proposal notes that DHS acknowledges schools may pass the cost on to students. It is not a fee you pay directly to USCIS, and it is separate from the I-765 filing fee.

Comments on the proposed rule are due November 9, 2026, and comments on the related information collection are due December 7, 2026. No final rule exists and no effective date exists. The proposal would take effect 60 days after a final rule is published, and would apply only to OPT recommendations issued on or after that date — recommendations made before it are not charged. It covers OPT only, not CPT. Nothing is owed today. And it does not change OPT or STEM OPT eligibility, duration, unemployment limits, or the E-Verify and I-983 requirements.

Do not confuse this with the separate $100,000 H-1B proclamation payment for certain new H-1B petitions — a different measure, with its own status. See our $100,000 H-1B fee status page for that one.

The Duration of Status rule — blocked. On July 17, 2026, DHS published a final rule, 91 FR 44976, that would have replaced admission for duration of status (D/S) for F, J and most I nonimmigrants with a fixed period of admission — the program end date on the I-20, capped at four years, plus 30 days to depart — and cut the post-completion departure window from 60 days to 30 days. Students whose program and OPT ran past the fixed date would have needed an extension of stay on Form I-539 with USCIS instead of a DSO I-20 extension.

It did not take effect. On September 14, 2026 — the day before its September 15 effective date — Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV of the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts issued a nationwide preliminary injunction postponing the rule in Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration v. DHS, No. 1:26-cv-13799. Duration of Status still applies, the 60-day grace period still applies, and no I-539 extension of stay is currently required for OPT or STEM OPT. The government has appealed to the First Circuit. Everything in the paragraph above is hypothetical while the injunction stands — but it could revive on short notice if the injunction is lifted, so watch your DSO’s updates.

The DHS review of OPT — no proposal yet. The January 9, 2026 letter from Secretary Noem and the regulatory-agenda entry RIN 1653-AA97, “Practical Training,” mean DHS is reviewing OPT and STEM OPT. As of November 2026 there is no proposed rule, no text and no comment period. Until a notice of proposed rulemaking appears in the Federal Register, there is nothing to comment on and nothing to comply with.

The STEM degree list — unchanged. No additions or removals in 2026. The list was last updated in July 2024.

Common filing, reporting and travel risks

Most STEM OPT problems are not bad luck. They are missed deadlines and misunderstood rules. These are the ones that cause the most trouble:

• Missing the 60-day window. Filing after your DSO recommendation is more than 60 days old, or after your OPT end date, loses the extension. File early.
• Missing a 6-month validation report. The reports are due at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months even if nothing changed. Missing required reports can jeopardize your status; contact your DSO promptly.
• Exceeding 150 days of unemployment. The count is cumulative across initial OPT and STEM OPT. Track it yourself.
• Traveling on a pending I-765. USCIS may send a Request for Evidence while you are away, and your EAD is mailed only to a U.S. address. Re-entry documents depend on whether your STEM OPT application is pending or approved. Confirm the required documents with your DSO before traveling; approval while abroad may mean you need the new EAD before returning.
• Working for a non-E-Verify employer, or on a volunteer basis. Neither is qualifying STEM OPT employment, and either can put your F-1 status at risk.
• Letting an agency that only places you sign the I-983. Only the employer that actually provides your training may sign it — a staffing agency can sign only if it is your real employer, provides the training, and maintains the employer-employee relationship. A placement-only agency cannot.
• Acting on a rumor. A claim about STEM OPT ending or being cut that does not link to a Federal Register document is not a rule. Check with your DSO before you change your plans.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is STEM OPT now just one year instead of two?

No. STEM OPT is still a 24-month extension, and we found no rule, proposal or bill to cut it to 12 months as of November 8, 2026. The section above explains where the rumor came from — a DHS review letter, a misread fee proposal, and confusion with 12-month non-STEM OPT.

How long is STEM OPT?

24 months, on top of 12 months of initial post-completion OPT — 36 months of work authorization in total for a STEM graduate who qualifies. It replaced the old 17-month STEM OPT extension in May 2016.

Who qualifies for STEM OPT?

An F-1 student in a valid period of post-completion OPT who holds a bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree in a field on the DHS STEM list, from an accredited and SEVP-certified school, working at least 20 hours a week in a job directly related to the degree, for an E-Verify employer. Students on OPT from a non-STEM degree may qualify using a previous STEM degree from a U.S. institution, if it was conferred within 10 years of the DSO recommendation and they have not already used a STEM OPT extension on it.

When can I apply for STEM OPT?

Up to 90 days before your current OPT employment authorization expires, and within 60 days of the date your DSO enters the recommendation into SEVIS. USCIS must receive your Form I-765 no later than your current post-completion OPT end date. You cannot apply during the 60-day grace period after OPT ends.

How much does STEM OPT cost?

Form I-765 costs $470 if you file online and $520 if you file on paper, from the USCIS Fee Schedule. Premium processing (Form I-907) is an optional $1,780, and USCIS must take adjudicative action within 30 business days — it does not guarantee approval or EAD delivery within that period. The proposed $70,000 OPT fee is covered in the question below.

What is the I-983 training plan?

A formal training plan you complete with your employer before your DSO can recommend the extension. It states your learning objectives, how the training will achieve them, how your performance will be evaluated, and your employer’s attestations. You complete Section 1 and sign the student certification in Section 2, and your employer completes Section 3 and signs the certifications in Sections 4 and 6; Section 5, the training plan itself, is completed by you and your employer together. Your DSO reviews it for completeness but does not approve it. The full breakdown, including the 12- and 24-month evaluations and the new-employer rule, is in the I-983 Training Plan section above.

Can I be self-employed on STEM OPT?

No. You cannot be self-employed on STEM OPT, and you cannot work on a volunteer or unpaid basis. The employer signing the I-983 must be a separate entity that employs you and provides the training. You can work for a start-up or small business if all the requirements are met.

How many days of unemployment am I allowed on STEM OPT?

150 days in total across your whole OPT period — 90 days on initial OPT plus 60 more on STEM OPT, counted cumulatively. If you used 40 days before your first job, you have 110 left, not 150. Exceeding the limit violates your F-1 status.

Can I travel on STEM OPT?

Yes, with your EAD in hand, an I-20 endorsed for travel and signed by your DSO, a valid passport and a valid F-1 visa. Universities advise the travel signature is valid for six months on OPT or STEM OPT. Avoid traveling while your I-765 is pending, and never travel while a change-of-status petition is pending — that abandons the change of status.

Can I get a second STEM OPT extension?

Yes, if you earn another qualifying STEM degree at a higher educational level and are in a valid period of post-completion OPT based on that degree. Each extension needs a fresh I-983, a fresh DSO recommendation and a fresh Form I-765. A second degree at the same level does not qualify.

What happens to my STEM OPT if my H-1B petition is picked in the lottery?

If your employer files a timely cap-subject H-1B petition requesting a change of status while you are on OPT or STEM OPT, cap-gap automatically extends your F-1 status and your work authorization until April 1 of the fiscal year, or the validity start date of the approved petition, whichever is earlier. No new EAD is issued — your proof is an updated I-20 with a cap-gap notation. Do not travel abroad before the change-of-status petition is approved.

Does the proposed $70,000 OPT fee apply to me now?

No. It is only a proposal, published October 8, 2026, with comments due November 9, 2026 — there is no final rule, no effective date, and nothing is owed today. If it ever takes effect, the school would pay it before recommending you, not you. The full proposal is in the 2026 rules tracker above.

Sources

All facts in this guide were checked against the official sources below on November 8, 2026. Immigration rules change often — check the official pages and your DSO before you file.

• USCIS — Optional Practical Training Extension for STEM Students (STEM OPT) — eligibility, how to apply, filing window, 180-day automatic extension, reporting, unemployment limits, and employer responsibilities.
• USCIS — Optional Practical Training (OPT) for F-1 Students — initial OPT rules and the cap-gap description.
• USCIS — Fee Schedule (Form G-1055) — Form I-765 fees ($470 online, $520 paper) and premium processing ($1,780).
• USCIS — Application for Employment Authorization (Form I-765) — the form page, including the current Form I-765 instructions with the complete evidence requirements by category.
• USCIS — Direct Filing Addresses for Form I-765 — Chicago Lockbox addresses for paper filings.
• USCIS — Automatic Employment Authorization Document (EAD) Extension — STEM OPT students are not eligible for the up-to-540-day automatic extension.
• USCIS — Handbook for Employers (M-274) — cap-gap extension to April 1 under the H-1B modernization rule.
• DHS Study in the States — STEM OPT Hub — the hub for STEM OPT resources for students, employers and school officials.
• DHS Study in the States — STEM OPT Extension Overview — the 24-month extension, qualifications, the STEM list, unemployment, and cap-gap.
• DHS Study in the States — Form I-983 Overview — what the training plan must contain and who completes each part.
• DHS Study in the States — SEVIS Help Hub, F-1 STEM OPT Extension — DSO procedures, validation windows, and the I-983 requirement before recommendation.
• DHS Study in the States — Understanding the Form I-983 — the December 2025 SEVP guide to the training plan.
• DHS Study in the States — H-1B Status and the Cap Gap Extension — cap-gap eligibility and the travel warning.
• ICE SEVP — Travel — re-entry document requirements for F-1 students on OPT.
• ICE — DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List — the current list, last updated July 22, 2024.
• Federal Register — Optional Practical Training Fees, 91 FR 64566 (October 8, 2026) — the proposed $70,000 and $30,000 OPT fees; proposed only, comments due November 9, 2026.
• Federal Register — Establishing a Fixed Time Period of Admission, 91 FR 44976 (July 17, 2026) — the Duration of Status final rule, blocked by injunction on September 14, 2026.
• eCFR — 8 CFR 214.2(f) — the regulation governing F-1 status, OPT, STEM OPT and cap-gap.
• USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 2, Part F, Chapter 5 — cap-gap guidance; note that parts of this chapter still describe the old October 1 end date.
• MIT International Students Office — Duration of Status Final Rule — the September 14, 2026 nationwide injunction in Presidents’ Alliance v. DHS, No. 1:26-cv-13799.

Published: November 8, 2026. Status last checked: November 8, 2026. Fees, rules, and court orders change — confirm them on the linked USCIS and DHS pages before filing. Not legal advice — consult an immigration attorney for your case.