Alumni

Reporting OPT Employment

You are required to report to iss@umhb.edu any changes to your employment within 10 days of that change. The information that must remain up to date on your portal are the following:

• Personal details:
  • Legal name
  • Residential or mailing address
• Employment details:
  • Full-time/Part-time
  • Company name
  • Company EIN number (optional)
  • Company address (if you are at a specific company site out of many, please provide that)
  • Job title
  • Explain how employment is related to your course of study
  • Supervisor Name
  • Supervisor Phone
  • Supervisor Email
  • Start Date
  • End Date

You must report any changes to the above information, including loss of employment, within 10 days of the change.

Proof of Employment

Keep documentation of your OPT employment history for your own records. You might need it for future benefits applications. The immigration regulations do not specify what documents are "proof of employment." Examples of employment documentation could include:

• Offer letter from your employer
• Letter from your supervisor on official letterhead that confirms continued employment (or internship/volunteer service). If the connection between your field of study and your employment/practical training is not obvious, it might be helpful for the letter to explain how your practical training relates to your studies.
• Payment records
• Timesheet/activity log for unpaid practical training experience

Timeline: When to Apply

Students with a STEM degree and currently in the 12-month OPT period:

• USCIS must receive your OPT STEM extension application before your current 12-month OPT expiration date.
• Apply as early as 90 days before your current 12-month OPT expires.

Eligibility

To qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension, you must:

• Be in F-1 status
• Be currently working in a period of post-completion OPT
• Have a bachelor's degree or higher in an eligible STEM field You may be eligible to use a prior STEM degree for this requirement; to use a prior STEM degree, you must:
  • Have received your most recent degree (which does not need to be STEM-related) from a currently accredited Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP)-certified school in the U.S.
  • Have received your prior, qualifying STEM degree within 10 years of applying for the STEM OPT extension.
  • The qualifying STEM degree must be on the Department of Homeland Security's STEM Designated Degree Program List at the time you submit your STEM OPT extension application (rather than at the time you received the degree).
• Have a job offer that meets the following requirements:
  • The job is with an employer enrolled in the USCIS E-Verify program
  • The job offers at least 20 hours of work per week
  • The job will provide formal training and learning objectives directly related to your qualifying STEM degree
• Be able to complete the I-983 Training Plan with your employer
  • Students must obtain the Form I-983 before they request the STEM OPT I-20. The STEM OPT student and their prospective employer must work together to complete this form before the student applies for the STEM OPT extension. The completed I-983 form can be scanned and emailed to dso@semo.edu. A STEM Extension I-20 Request form must also be submitted.
  • Upon receipt of Form I-983 and the STEM Extension I-20 Request Form, the STEM OPT I-20 will be issued and mailed to the student. Please note that your Employment Authorization Number can be found on the back of your EAD card. It is the first line that begins with USA, plus the numbers following.

How to Apply

You may now apply online directly with the USCIS (recommended):

1. Please visit USCIS - Application for Employment Authorization and follow their instructions
2. Please email the completed I-983 form to iss@umhb.edu before requesting the STEM Extension I-20.

STEM Extension OPT, Category C3C – Filing Form I-765

Recommended Steps for Completing the I-765 Application Online:

1. Create your online USCIS account
2. Gather the following documents:
   • Digital 2x2 color passport photo that meets USCIS specifications
   • A scan of your passport photograph page
   • A scan of the front and back of any previous EAD cards
   • A scan of any previous I-20s with CPT or OPT information
   • A digital copy of your I-20 with an OPT recommendation
     • Must be issued within the last 30 days for post-completion OPT and within the last 60 days for STEM extension OPT. You MUST consult with ISS to receive a new I-20 before filing for your OPT online.
     • The I-20 must be signed by an ISS advisor and by you.
   • Your most recent form I-94 (Select "Get Most Recent Form I-94")
   • A credit card with which you can pay the filing fee

Reporting Requirements

During the OPT STEM Extension Period, to maintain legal F-1 status during your 24-month STEM OPT authorization period, you must report the following information to OIES:

Every Six Months

Confirm with ISS through email (iss@umhb.edu) the following:

• Personal details:
  • Legal name
  • Residential or mailing address
• Employment details:
  • Company name
  • Company EIN number
  • Company address (if you are at a specific company site out of many, please provide that)
  • Job title
  • Supervisor Name
  • Supervisor Phone
  • Supervisor Email
  • Start Date
  • End Date

You must report any changes to the above information, including loss of employment, within 10 days of the change.

Every Year

You must submit an annual self-evaluation to iss@umhb.edu about the progress of your training experience. This self-evaluation must be signed by you and your employer in the I-983 Training Plan.

Within 10 Days of the Following Changes

• Material changes to an existing I-983 Training Plan
• Change in employer
• Unemployment