VisaPalSTEM OPT extension (24 months)
F-1 students on post-completion OPT whose degree is on DHS's STEM Designated Degree Program List.
Last verified: 2026-09-25
Requirements
- Currently in a valid post-completion OPT period
- Bachelor's, master's or doctorate on the STEM list, from an accredited, SEVP-certified school
- Employer enrolled in E-Verify with an EIN, and a signed Form I-983 training plan
- File I-765 up to 90 days before your OPT EAD expires, and within 60 days of the DSO recommendation
- At least 20 hours a week, with duties and pay like similar U.S. workers
How long you can stay
24 months starting the day after your first OPT ends. You can get up to two STEM extensions in a lifetime, the second for a higher degree. F-1 status continues, plus 60 days after it ends under current rules.
Timeline
Same USCIS queue as OPT: 80% within 5 months (checked Sep 25, 2026). If you file on time and your OPT EAD expires while pending, your work permission is automatically extended up to 180 days. Check current processing times.
Government fees
| Fee | Amount | Who usually pays |
|---|---|---|
| Work permit application (Form I-765) Paper filing $520; online filing $470. | $520 | Applicant |
| Premium processing for STEM OPT (Form I-907) USCIS aims to act within 30 business days. | $1,780 | Applicant |
Typical attorney fees
A public price page cites about $800–$2,000 for help with a STEM OPT extension, reflecting the I-983 training plan work. Government fees are extra.
Spouse & children
F-2 family members keep their status with you but can't work.
Work
You can switch employers, but the new one must use E-Verify. Submit a new I-983 within 10 days and get a new DSO recommendation. USCIS requires a real employer-employee relationship with the company that trains you.
Path to a green card
Options people in similar situations often explore: H-1B (with a cap-gap extension), O-1, EB-2 NIW, or an employer-sponsored green card. Confirm with a licensed attorney.
Key documents
- Signed Form I-983 training plan and later evaluations
- I-20 endorsed by your DSO within the last 60 days
- Employer's E-Verify company ID number
- Current OPT EAD and your I-765 receipt notice
Common pitfalls
- Going over 150 total unemployment days across OPT and STEM OPT combined
- Missing the 6-month validation reports or the 12-month and final I-983 evaluations
- Starting with a new employer without a new I-983 within 10 days
- Working for an employer that isn't in E-Verify
- Not reporting a new address, new employer or job loss within 10 days
Rules in flux
DHS published a final rule on Jul 17, 2026 to end 'duration of status' (D/S) for F and J. Instead, you'd get a fixed stay up to your program length, capped at 4 years. It would also cut the F-1 grace period after study or OPT from 60 to 30 days. It limits school transfers and changes of major or degree level, too. On Sep 14, 2026, a federal court in Massachusetts postponed the rule and barred DHS from implementing it. USCIS says it follows the previous rules for now.
DHS's regulatory agenda lists a 'Practical Training' rule (RIN 1653-AA97) at the proposed-rule stage. DHS says it would address fraud and national security concerns, protect U.S. workers from displacement, and increase SEVP oversight. No proposed rule had been published in the Federal Register as of Sep 25, 2026. The current agenda estimates a proposal in February 2027. Today's OPT and STEM OPT rules stay the same until a rule is finalized and takes effect.
Official sources
- Optional Practical Training Extension for STEM Students (STEM OPT) — USCIS
- F-1 STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT) Extension — SEVIS Help Hub — ICE SEVP
- 8 CFR 214.2 as in effect on Sep 14, 2026 (rules USCIS applies while the F/J fixed-admission rule is postponed) — eCFR
- 8 CFR 274a.12 — Classes of aliens authorized to accept employment — eCFR
- Removal of the Automatic Extension of Employment Authorization Documents (interim final rule, Oct 30, 2025) — Federal Register
- Fee Schedule (Form G-1055), edition 09/09/26 — USCIS
- How Do I Request Premium Processing? — USCIS
- Check Case Processing Times — USCIS
General information, not legal advice. Rules change often. Check the official source and talk to a licensed immigration attorney before you act.