Overview: The STEM extension adds up to 24 additional months of employment authorization on top of standard 12-month Optional Practical Training (OPT)Temporary work authorization that lets eligible F-1 students work in a job directly related to their field of study. It can be used before or after completing a program, for up to 12 months in total at each education level, and students with certain STEM degrees can apply for a 24-month extension. USCIS grants it on Form I-765 after the school's designated school official recommends it.See it in the glossary, but requires a qualifying STEM degree, an E-Verify-enrolled employer, and a formal training plan (Form I-983) with ongoing reporting. A 2026 DHS rule ending Duration of status (D/S)The period of stay for F, J and I nonimmigrants, who are admitted for as long as they maintain their program or activity rather than until a fixed date. It appears as D/S on Form I-94.See it in the glossary would change how the extension is filed but not its 24-month length or the underlying eligibility criteria. A federal court blocked that rule on September 14, 2026, so the existing process continues for now.
Standard OPT recap
Standard post-completion OPT provides up to 12 months of employment authorization tied to the student's field of study, applied for through Form I-765 around the time of graduation.
STEM degree eligibility for the extension
The 24-month STEM extension is available to students whose qualifying degree falls on the Department of Homeland Security's STEM Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code list. This list is reviewed periodically and can change, so a degree that qualified in a prior year should be checked against the current list rather than assumed.
Employer requirements, including E-Verify
The employer sponsoring STEM OPT must be enrolled in E-Verify, and the position must be directly related to the STEM degree and involve a genuine employer-employee relationship with practical training obligations, not simply nominal employment.
The I-983 training plan and reporting obligations
STEM OPT requires Form I-983, a formal training plan describing goals, supervision, and self-assessments, signed by both the student and the employer, and periodically evaluated. Employers and students share reporting obligations to the school's designated school official, including notifying the school of material changes to employment.
What the blocked fixed admission period rule would change
The DHS rule ending duration of status, which was scheduled for September 15, 2026 but was blocked by a federal court on September 14, would not eliminate the STEM OPT extension or shorten its length. What it would change is the filing mechanics: after a transition window running through March 18, 2027, a student applying for STEM OPT would generally need to file Form I-539 for an extension of stay alongside Form I-765, rather than relying on an approved STEM OPT application to implicitly extend lawful status. Existing 180-day automatic employment authorization extensions for timely filed STEM OPT extensions continue to apply. Because of the injunction, USCIS continues to accept the 08/21/25 edition of Form I-765 and the 08/28/24 edition of Form I-539 and is not accepting the 09/15/26 editions.
Timing the extension application
STEM OPT extension applications must generally be filed while the standard 12-month OPT authorization is still valid, before it expires. Students should confirm their I-94The Arrival/Departure Record that U.S. Customs and Border Protection creates when a nonimmigrant is admitted. It shows the class of admission and an Admit Until date, and most are now electronic and available on the CBP I-94 website. USCIS can also issue one when it approves an extension of stay or a change of status.See it in the glossary record, follow their designated school official’s guidance on whether any additional filing is needed, and check the current status of the litigation, since the court’s order is preliminary.
What happens if the employer or job changes during STEM OPT
A change of employer during STEM OPT generally requires a new Form I-983 training plan with the new employer and prompt notification to the school. An employer that is not enrolled in E-Verify, or a role that no longer genuinely relates to the STEM field, can jeopardize continued eligibility regardless of how much time remains on the extension.
Official sources
- ICE: STEM OPT hub
- USCIS: STEM OPT extension
- Study in the States: final rule establishing a fixed time period of admission
Related reading
TR Immigration is an independent immigration information platform. It is not a law firm. Nothing here is legal advice, an eligibility determination, or a prediction about your case. Rules and fees change often, so confirm anything you rely on against the official page it links to.