OPT & STEM Extension
2025 Update
A practical guide to Optional Practical Training for F-1 students — including how to apply, the STEM OPT extension, employer requirements, and what changed in 2024–2025.
What Is OPT?
Optional Practical Training (OPT) is a work authorization benefit for F-1 students that allows you to work in the United States in a job directly related to your major field of study. There are two types:
- Pre-completion OPT: Work authorization while you are still enrolled in your program. Hours are limited to 20/week during the academic year, full-time during breaks.
- Post-completion OPT: Full-time work authorization after you have graduated. This is the most commonly used type — it's the 12-month period most people mean when they say "OPT."
Standard OPT: Key Facts
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Duration | 12 months (post-completion) |
| Who qualifies | F-1 students who have been enrolled full-time for at least one full academic year |
| Work type | Must be directly related to your major field of study |
| USCIS filing fee | $410 USD (as of 2025) |
| Application window | Up to 90 days before graduation, up to 60 days after graduation |
| Processing time | 3–5 months — apply early. Processing times fluctuate and can exceed this. |
| Unemployment limit | You may not be unemployed for more than 90 days total during OPT — exceed this and your F-1 status terminates |
STEM OPT Extension: 24 Additional Months
If your degree is in a STEM field (Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics), you may be eligible to extend your post-completion OPT by an additional 24 months, for a total of 36 months of work authorization.
Who Qualifies for STEM OPT?
- Your degree program has a designated STEM CIP code (your DSO can confirm)
- You currently have an approved post-completion OPT EAD card
- Your employer is enrolled in E-Verify
- You have a formal training plan (Form I-983) completed with your employer
Key STEM OPT Requirements
- E-Verify: Your employer must be registered with the federal E-Verify employment verification system. This is a hard requirement — if your employer is not enrolled, you cannot get STEM OPT.
- I-983 Training Plan: You and your employer must complete Form I-983, a formal training plan that describes how your job is related to your degree and what skills you'll develop. This must be updated every 6 months.
- Evaluation Reports: Your employer must submit formal evaluations of your progress every 6 months to your DSO.
- Self-employment: In most cases, you cannot sponsor your own STEM OPT — you need a qualifying employer.
How to Apply for Post-Completion OPT
Step 1: Request an updated I-20 with OPT recommendation from your DSO (Designated School Official) at your International Students Office. Do this 3–4 months before your intended start date.
Step 2: Complete Form I-765 (Application for Employment Authorization) online via the USCIS portal or by mail.
Step 3: Pay the $410 filing fee and submit your application with: signed I-20 with OPT recommendation, copy of your F-1 visa and passport bio page, two passport photos, and proof of current enrollment or graduation.
Step 4: Wait for your EAD (Employment Authorization Document) card to arrive by mail. You cannot start working until you have the physical card in hand and your OPT start date has arrived.
Step 5: Report your employment (or unemployment) to your DSO within 10 days of any change — this is a legal requirement under SEVIS rules.
What Changed in 2024–2025
- Fee increase: USCIS increased the I-765 filing fee from $410 to $520 in April 2024 for most applicants. Verify the current fee at uscis.gov before submitting.
- STEM OPT review targeting: USCIS has increased scrutiny on STEM OPT Training Plans (I-983). Ensure your training plan is specific, detailed, and signed by an authorized company representative — not a generic template.
- Cap-gap extension: Students who have filed an H-1B petition and are selected in the H-1B lottery are eligible for automatic cap-gap extension of their F-1 status and OPT through September 30. This provision remains in effect as of 2025.
- Premium processing not available for I-765: OPT applications cannot be expedited via premium processing. The only way to avoid delays is to apply early.
After OPT: What Are Your Options?
- H-1B Lottery: The most common path to long-term US work authorization. Requires employer sponsorship; the annual lottery is held in April for October 1 start. Only 85,000 visas are issued annually — the lottery is highly competitive (~20–30% selection rate).
- EB-2 or EB-3 Green Card: Employer-sponsored permanent residence. Long wait times for most nationalities (not Jordan — Jordan has relatively short queues). Requires labor certification (PERM process).
- O-1 Visa: For individuals with extraordinary ability. More attainable than it sounds for PhD graduates with publications and awards.
- Return home: Many JANA alumni complete OPT and return to Jordan with significant international work experience — a major career advantage in the Jordanian market.