{"id":2068,"date":"2025-12-16T16:26:25","date_gmt":"2025-12-16T21:26:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/isso\/?page_id=2068"},"modified":"2026-07-28T20:57:34","modified_gmt":"2026-07-29T00:57:34","slug":"24-month-stem-opt-extension","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/isso\/international-students\/off-campus-student-employment-training\/24-month-stem-opt-extension\/","title":{"rendered":"24-Month STEM OPT Extension"},"content":{"rendered":"<nav class=\"toc-wrapper\" id=\"toc\" aria-label=\"Page Section Navigation\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"toc-heading toc-nav-toggle\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Toggle Page Contents Navigation\" aria-expanded=\"true\">Page Contents<\/span><\/nav>\n<h2>Qualification for a 24-month STEM OPT Extension<\/h2>\n<p>To qualify you must:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Have earned a degree in a qualifying <a href=\"\/isso\/files\/2026\/07\/BU-STEM-Majors-May-2026.pdf\">BU STEM major<\/a> (check your CIP code on the I-20 against the <a href=\"\/isso\/files\/2025\/12\/stem-list-1.pdf\">DHS list<\/a>).<\/li>\n<li>Be currently on valid post-completion OPT with active F-1 status and SEVIS record.<\/li>\n<li>Have accrued no more than 90 days of unemployment during your initial OPT period.<\/li>\n<li>Work for a U.S. employer in a job directly related to your STEM major.<\/li>\n<li>Your employer must be registered with DHS <a href=\"https:\/\/www.e-verify.gov\/\">E-Verify<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>Be employed at least 20 hours per week, paid commensurately with your degree level.<\/li>\n<li>Complete <a href=\"https:\/\/studyinthestates.dhs.gov\/stem-opt-hub\/additional-resources\/form-i-983-overview\">Form I-983 Training Plan<\/a> with your employer, who must comply with STEM OPT requirements, including possible site visits.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>How to Apply<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Collect all documents for your STEM OPT Application Package.<\/li>\n<li>Log into the <a href=\"https:\/\/issoportal.bu.edu\/_portal\/\">ISSOPortal<\/a> and submit the \u201cSTEM OPT &#8211; Add New\u201d request.<\/li>\n<li>Complete the questionnaire, upload documents, and pay the $200 processing fee by credit card.<\/li>\n<li>Carefully complete all fields \u2014 missing or incomplete information will delay processing.<\/li>\n<li>No appointment is required. The ISSO advisor will review your request within 10 business days and may contact you for clarifications or approval.<\/li>\n<li>Upon approval, download and print your new I-20 with the STEM OPT extension recommendation from the ISSOPortal.<\/li>\n<li>Follow USCIS instructions to apply formally for the STEM OPT extension.<\/li>\n<li>Monitor your USCIS account for updates to your application such as scheduled biometrics appointments or RFEs.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Checking the Status of the Application<strong><br \/>\n<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>You may\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/egov.uscis.gov\/cris\/Dashboard.do\">check the case status online<\/a>. If you still have questions after checking the case status online you should contact the ISSO. It may take\u00a0 90 days or more to reach a decision on the case. If the application takes longer than 90 days from the date on the official receipt notice, students may contact the ISSO to strategize next steps.<\/p>\n<h2>Continued Work Authorization While STEM OPT Application is Pending<\/h2>\n<p>You may stay in the U.S. and work for up to 180 days while your application is pending with USCIS.<\/p>\n<p>During this time, you may only work for the employer listed on your I-765 Application and I-983 Training Plan. To change employers during this period, contact your ISSO advisor beforehand to update your SEVIS record.<\/p>\n<h2>Cancellation of STEM OPT Application<\/h2>\n<p>If extraordinary circumstances warrant it, you can attempt to cancel your STEM OPT application only if the application has not yet been adjudicated (approved) by the USCIS Service Center.<\/p>\n<h2>Approval<\/h2>\n<p>Once the application is approved, USCIS will mail you an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) to the address indicated on the Form I-765. Be sure to submit a copy to the<span>\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/issoportal.bu.edu\/_portal\/\">ISSOPortal<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Qualification for a 24-month STEM OPT Extension To qualify you must: Have earned a degree in a qualifying BU STEM major (check your CIP code on the I-20 against the DHS list). Be currently on valid post-completion OPT with active F-1 status and SEVIS record. Have accrued no more than 90 days of unemployment during [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10133,"featured_media":0,"parent":2031,"menu_order":4,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/isso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2068"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/isso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/isso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/isso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10133"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/isso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2068"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/isso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2068\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4253,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/isso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2068\/revisions\/4253"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/isso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2031"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/isso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2068"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}