(Disclaimer- This is not legal advice, just recommendations. Please consult an attorney for any legal advice)
Every international student in the U.S. can seize an excellent opportunity to work part-time (off-campus) in F1 Optional Practical Training (OPT) visa status both during and after the completion of their degree by enrolling for STEM OPT Extension. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has set various rules to regulate the implementation of F1 OPT. Moreover, the country has stringent immigration & labor laws in place to safeguard its economy. Such laws have helped the U.S. to develop the world’s largest economy, with a GDP of around $22.99 trillion.
There is no need to have a job offer before applying for the F1 OPT Employment Authorization Document. Nevertheless, you can apply for F1 OPT visa status after being enrolled full-time for a minimum of 9 months. However, you cannot pursue employment until you receive your (EAD) Employment Authorization Document from USCIS and have completed at least a full academic year.
It’s better to be swift in your actions and start early since USCIS takes up to 3-4 months to process the application. International students must take prior permission to do any work during their stay in the U.S., which is based on maintaining lawful F-1 status.
Increase in the number of International Student enrollments due to OPT
Optional Practical Training (OPT) is a powerful program that enables F1 visa international students to work & earn income during or after their enrollment. It not only helps students to gain considerable work experience but also enhances their educational learning and gives them a platform to retrieve some part of their investment in education.
Reportedly, the total number of international students in the U.S. higher education system has increased by 0.05%. The simultaneous increase in F1 OPT placements majorly drove that inflation in the numbers. In the year 2021-2022, international students contributed US$33.8 billion to the economy of the U.S.
| Academic Year | F1 OPT Visa Students |
| 2021-2022 | 117,301 |
The above table depicts an increase in the number of F1 OPT students, which rose from 203,460 in (2017-18) to 223,085 in (2018-19), which is a percentage increase of 9.6%. A percentage year-over-year increase in F1 OPT had been recorded as 15.8%.
Requisites for Pre-Completion and Post-Completion F1 OPT
F1 OPT is subdivided into two categories for which students need to meet different conditions as given below:
Pre-completion F1 OPT (before completing a degree): As its name suggests, Pre-completion F1 OPT is authorized before you complete your enrollment program. However, it is only available after you have completed one academic year of study. Following are the guidelines for a Pre-completion F1 OPT student:
- The students must enroll in school full-time.
- Students can only work 20 hours a week while school is in session.
- Students can work full-time during the summer break or any other holiday season (until the student returns to school after the break).
- Students may also work full-time after completing all the coursework and make stable progress toward the degree.
Post-completion F1 OPT (after completing a degree): Students apply for this F1 OPT visa once they have finished their program of study. Here are the guidelines for work for Post-completion F1 OPT students:
- After completing the degree, students must do full-time OPT work (40 hours/week).
- Students must receive an application for a post-completion F1 OPT visa from USCIS before completing their degree.
- The authorized period for post-completion practical training is 12 months, so students must use that period within 14 months of completion of their study. Students who want to extend their stay in the U.S. for up to 24 months after an F1 OPT visa can apply for STEM OPT extension only if their course of study falls under the following category:
- Engineering Technologies/ Engineering
- Mathematics
- Physical Sciences
- Life Sciences
- Actuarial Sciences
- Military Technologies
- Computer Science Applications
An overview of STEM OPT Extension
STEM stands for degree education in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. As more industries demand knowledge and training in the STEM disciplines, it broadens the scope of students to get stable jobs with salaries higher than average.
When USCIS grants a STEM OPT extension to a student, it gives an additional 24 months of employment authorization to prosecute on-the-job training in the STEM field.
Based on the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, 3 out of 4 STEM jobs in the U.S. will compete in 2024 and the forthcoming years, as shown below. In comparison, other STEM like life science and engineering will only have a small share of the employment market.
According to a survey conducted by the Pew Research Center, a majority of Americans claimed that there are more benefits to working in STEM fields than the Non-STEM industries.
After analyzing the above chart, one can discern that though STEM jobs provide plenty of perks to employees, like higher pay, more flexibility & great opportunities, they are way more challenging to get into.
The Future of STEM Jobs
When pursuing a degree, students often contemplate the scope of building a career in that field. If you are interested in OPT STEM extension, you should have a good insight into the future of STEM occupations.
The U.S. is considered the global leader in science & technology, a title the country will likely endure for some time. Over the past, U.S. officials have recognized a shortage of STEM majors that prompts a need to attract the world’s top talent.
The government has created new schemes for international students to bridge this gap. Under an F1 visa, recent graduates can apply for the OPT program and work for around 12 months after graduation. However, students with STEM degrees can extend their program for 24 months. By choosing the STEM OPT extension, students get more time to secure employment and permeant residence in the U.S.
Of all the STEM fields, computer occupations contribute 45% of employment. The largest STEM occupations are related to I.T., such as applications software developer, computer user support specialist, Web developer, computer systems analyst, etc. Employment in computer occupations is likely to increase by 12.5% by 2024, substantially more than any other STEM category. U.S. News and other sources have anticipated the number of new computer STEM jobs in the upcoming 10 years, along with their average salaries, as follows:
| STEM Jobs | Median Salary (annual in USD) |
No. of new jobs in the next 10 years |
| Software Developer | $103,000 | 200,000 |
| IT Manager | $142,000 | 46,800 |
| Information Security Analyst | $98,000 | 35,000 |
| Civil Engineer | $86,000 | 20,500 |
| Web Developer | $69,000 | 20,000 |
| Operation Research Analyst | $83,000 | 28,000 |
| Statistics and Analytics | $101,000 | 13,600 |
| Database Administrator | $90,000 | 10,500 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $87,370 | 12,800 |
| System Administrator | $82,000 | 18,000 |
USCIS Guidelines for STEM OPT Extension
USCIS has listed regulations for F1 OPT visa students who want to apply for the STEM extension. So, it is indispensable for all F1 OPT visa students to meet all the requirements before applying.
Eligibility Criteria
A student is eligible for STEM extension under the following conditions:
- The student has been granted an F1 OPT visa;
- A student needs to be currently working in the period of post-completion OPT;
- You must have a bachelor’s or higher degree in any of the STEM fields from a school accredited by a U.S. Department of Education and certified by SEVP when you apply for the STEM extension.
- Have a paid job offer that fulfills the requirements mentioned below:
- The job must be with an employer enrolled in the USCIS E-Verify program. Cross-check with your employer whether they are enrolled in E-Verify or not, as sometimes the USCIS E-Verify database is incorrect.
- The job with a need to work for at least 20 hours per week
- The job which provides formal training & learning objectives directly related to your STEM degree
Documents Required for STEM OPT Extension
To apply for a STEM extension, you have to file these documents:
- Before applying to USCIS for STEM OPT extension, students must download, sign, complete, and submit Form I-983 to their (DSOs) Designated School Officials.
- Form I-765 with the prescribed application fee, Company Identification Number & name of your employer as listed in E-Verify or a valid E-Verify Client Company Identification Number;
- Form I-20 (Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status) as endorsed by your DSO within the last 60 days;
- A copy of your STEM degree.
Things to keep in mind when filling out Form I-983
STEM OPT students must work with their employers to complete Form I-983 as instructed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). This form is an essential document as it depicts the relationship between the STEM OPT opportunity, degree received & learning objectives of an F-1 student. Therefore, the students need to be more considerate while completing this form. All the STEM OPT students and their employers are bound to follow the terms & conditions under the regulation of the 24-month STEM OPT extension and Form I-983 instructions. The students can obtain Form I-983 online, which they must complete, sign & return to their DSO. Further, it is DSO’s responsibility to keep the completed form in the student’s record. However, the STEM OPT employers are also responsible for completing (Section 3-Section 6) of Form I-983. They must provide a signature on the annual self-evaluation of STEM OPT students, as documented on the form.
An employer can utilize the existing training programs to assess a student’s progress while the program meets the requirements of DHS as defined on Form I-983.
Note– Only an E-verified employer who provides actual training relevant to the STEM degree of a student is authorized to complete & sign the form I-983.
STEM students are allowed to participate in entrepreneurial ventures, but they can neither fill Sections 3 to 6 in their respective forms nor act as their own employers to complete the form.
Key Specifications of Form I-983 that Employers must not Neglect
Since the employers of STEM OPT students are equally responsible for properly completing Form I-983, they cannot afford to make any blunder. So, make sure to include this set of information about your formal training plan in the form:
- How is the practical training directly related to the student’s qualifying STEM degree?
- Specific goals can be achieved through STEM practical training.
- How will students be able to achieve those goals from the work-based learning opportunity with you? Focus on explaining the knowledge, skill set, and techniques that you will impart to the STEM OPT student.
- Methods of oversight & supervision of the STEM OPT students.
- The performance evaluation process you will follow.
The plan documented in Form I-983 must also demonstrate that:
- You have adequate resources and staff available to provide suitable training in connection with the specified opportunity. Also, validate that you can implement the work-based learning opportunity at the identified locations.
- Ratify that a full-time/part-time, temporary/permanent U.S. worker shall not replace the STEM OPT student.
- Your opportunity will help the student accomplish their training goals.
- The working hours, compensation, and duties associated with the position of STEM OPT student are equivalent to other employees working in the same area of employment in the U.S.
Responsibilities of Students during STEM OPT Extension
- Do not exceed more than 150 days of unemployment throughout 26 months of STEM extension and post-completion F1 OPT.
- Work at least 20 hours per week– To maintain your work status, you need to work for at least 20 hours a week in a job that is directly related to your field of study.
- Start your F1 OPT visa employment after receiving EAD paperwork- Apply your (SSN) Social Security Number, if you haven’t received it already, and then investigate your H-1B employment visa option with your employer.
- Do not indulge in any volunteer, unpaid work, or self-employment as it is not permitted under the regulations of STEM OPT extension.
- Prepare for a sustainable financial future in the U.S. by developing a strong credit profile.
- Report your changes in employment, name, and address to OGS- It is your duty to ensure that you report any changes in your legal name, address, employer’s name, and address to the DSO within 10 days of the change. Report to OGS every six months to confirm the listed information, even if there are no changes in your information.
- Keep Documents of all your jobs for the future– It is prudent to keep a track record, and proof of all your employment history during your F1 OPT visa. The documents will act as evidence for each of your job. In case it is uncertain from a job description that the work is related to your field of study, then you should attain a signed letter from your employer’s hiring manager, supervisor, or official to validate the interconnection of the work to your degree and keep it in your personal records.
Checklist of documents that proves an F1 OPT Visa Employment
F1 OPT visa students must keep a copy of these documents during their course of F1 OPT placements,s as it may be requested by USCIS when applying for future immigration benefits.:
- Copies of job offer letters, contracts, or agreements with all your F1 OPT visa employers.
- If you ever worked for a consultancy or agency, keep a record of the projects you worked on.
- Copies of job descriptions having the details of job title, pay rate, location, duties, and working hours per week.
- Maintain copies of pay stubs or pay vouchers for all periods of employment.
- Keep copies of your bank statements that show corresponding deposits from your employers.
Conclusion
International students pursuing a STEM degree will most likely encounter an affluent job market in the United States. Though STEM jobs require much preparation, commitment, and competence, it is worth the hard work. You can expect a favorable outlook for STEM careers in the U.S. for the foreseeable future.
Most in-demand STEM jobs are IT-related, so you must develop exceptional technical skills by enrolling in our skill-enhancement program. Our program will revamp your skills in Java, Hadoop, Machine Learning, and other technologies.
On average, our candidates get hired within 6 weeks after completing the technology upskill program. To enrich your I.T. knowledge and hop on to well-paid jobs, reach out to our experts. We have helped thousands of F1 OPT visa students in building strong careers in various technical domains.
Anytime you want to upgrade your skills and need a helping hand to enter or reenter the tech workforce with high-demand tech skills, reach out to us. Since 2010 we have helped 1000’s of jobseekers succeed in the technology sector. SynergisticIT’s career-oriented training programs guarantee fast-paced, quality tech education, preparing you with top-notch skills for coveted tech roles in the industry. Reach out to us. SynergisticIT– Home of the Best Data Scientists and Software Programmers in the Bay Area!