International Student and Scholar Services > Student Services > IP Career Services > OPT-CPT > Optional Practical Training > STEM OPT Tutorial

STEM OPT Tutorial

Please note this is a guide and does not constitute legal advice.

Purpose

This section is to apply for the STEM OPT extension, which is for students who are already on their first year of OPT. If you are not currently on OPT, please see the page on applying for OPT.

Please check your I-20 to make sure that your major as listed is STEM eligible.

1. Complete Form I-983

Download Form I-983. You and your prospective employer must work together to complete this form using the Form I-983 instructions.

*Notes for filling out the form:

  • Form I-983 requires the name and contact information of a current Designated School Official (DSO). Their contact details are available on the IP Staff webpage. Our office phone number is 509-335-4508.
  • You must include both the phone number and email address for the Official in Section 5.

2. Request a STEM OPT I-20

Complete the myPassport forms, found under Employment/Internships > STEM OPT Extension forms. The forms will require you to upload your completed I-983. After you submit the forms, an ISSS advisor will issue you a STEM OPT endorsed I-20 within 3-5 business days.

Review the I-20 to ensure its accuracy, then sign and date it.

You will need this new I-20 to apply with USCIS for the STEM OPT extension. 

3. Gather the necessary materials

  1. Digital 2″x2″ color passport photo that meets USCIS specifications
  2. A scan of your passport biographic photograph (photograph) page
  3. A scan of the front and back of any previous EAD cards
  4. A scan of any previous I-20s with CPT or OPT information (if available)
  5. A digital copy of your I-20 with a STEM OPT recommendation
    • You must apply for STEM OPT with this I-20 within 30 days of when it was issued
    • The I-20 must be signed by an ISSS advisor and by you
  6. Your most recent form I-94
  7. A copy of your diploma or official transcript. Graduate students who have not yet earned their degree by the time of STEM extension application will be required to maintain enrollment in at least two defense credits for the entire initial 12-month OPT time to be eligible for a STEM extension recommendation from our office.
  8. A credit card to pay the filing fee
Note

You do NOT need to submit your Form I-983 as part of the STEM OPT application to USCIS.

4. Apply online with USCIS

For detailed instructions on how to apply online, please refer to our How to Complete Form I-765 Online guide. You will need to upload the required documents in your application.

Frequently Asked Questions

You can check the CIP code on your I-20 and compare it to the government’s list of STEM-eligible programs. Or, you can meet with an international student advisor.

You can apply up to 90 days before your OPT ends. Your application must be received by USCIS before your OPT ends.

Yes. You must have a job offer or current job with an E-Verify employer. The job must be related to your STEM degree.

Your STEM OPT extension starts the day after your OPT ends and lasts for two years. For example, if your OPT ends on May 31, 2025, your STEM OPT extension will begin on June 1, 2025, and end on May 31, 2027.

Page one should be signed by the student. Pages two and four should be signed by either your direct supervisor (as indicated on page three) or by someone else in the organization with the authority to sign (HR rep, president, owner, etc.). Electronic signatures are acceptable.

For STEM OPT purposes your employer is the entity that that will be providing the training and on-site supervision. This entity must be E-verified and be willing to attest to the requirements of the I-983. The employer may not be employer “in name only,” and “may not assign, or otherwise delegate its training responsibilities to a non-employer third party.”

WSU’s E-Verify number is 311038.

WSU ISSS reviews STEM OPT requests in accordance with federal regulations and processes them based on the information provided by students and employers in the I-983 training plan. If a student lists a staffing agency (NAICS: 5613) as their employer, they should report their actual work site on page 3 of the I-983 and this information will be reported as submitted. Please note that DHS may conduct site visits to confirm that the employer who signed the Form I-983 is the same entity providing the practical training experience and inaccurate reporting may result in compliance issues for the student and/or employer.

 WSU ISSS strongly encourages students to avoid reporting staffing agencies as their employer.

Most students do not need to fill out anything in the “Additional Information” section. If you have a situation that needs to be addressed in this section, talk to an international student advisor. Some common issues include an expiring passport, differences between your I-94 and travel history, or a change of status while you were in the U.S.

This section is for students applying for the STEM OPT extension based on a previous degree (a degree from before the one used for post-completion OPT). Most students can leave this section empty.

That is okay. As long as USCIS receives your application before your OPT ends, you automatically get a 180-day extension to your employment authorization.