STEM OPT Extension

Your request for a new I-20 recommending your STEM OPT Extension will be submitted via email to ISS@scu.edu. The email must include:

• Subject Line: STEM OPT Request (Your Student ID#)
• Attach your completed STEM OPT Extension I-20 Request
• Attach your completed I-983 Training Plan
• Attach a copy of your current EAD Card

We will accept verified electronic signatures on all ISS forms (as well as the I-983 Training Plan).

If you opt for the electronic signature, the signature must have a verification mark or be an signature. Typed signatures or signatures with a typed appearance are not accepted. Programs such as DocuSign or Adobe Sign have this feature. Please see below for an example.

Electronic I-20s: While the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) announced that I-20s can be electronically signed, we do not have clear guidance on whether other government agencies which are not within SEVP's jurisdiction, such as Department of State for visa appointments and Customs and Border Protection for entering the U.S., will accept electronic signatures. Therefore, ISS is not issuing I-20s with electronic signatures at this time.

STEM OPT extension applications: Your I-983 training Plan can be either hand signed or we will accept verified electronic signatures. Your STEM OPT I-20 and Form I-765 must be hand signed prior to mailing your STEM OPT extension application to USCIS. 

Once we receive your STEM OPT Extension I-20 Request along with your completed Training Plan (I-983) and the copy of your EAD Card, we will review your request within 10 business days. Business days are Monday to Friday, and do not include university holidays.

If your request is complete, we will issue your new I-20 recommending the STEM OPT Extension.

If your request is missing documents or requires correction, we will contact you to correct and resubmit your request.

Once our team creates your new I-20 showing the STEM OPT extension recommendation on page 2, you will have the following options: receive the electronic I-20 via an SCU alumni email, collect the I-20 from our office during our document pick-up hours, or pay to have the physical I-20 shipped to you.

To file for your online application with USCIS, you must have the new STEM OPT Extension I-20. If you apply without the STEM OPT Extension I-20, the application will be denied and it may be too late to re-apply.

We recommend that you collect all required documents before you log in to the USCIS online system. You can save them in a folder on your computer. Be sure to label the documents clearly and follow the size, format and labeling guidelines below.

During the Online OPT Application Process, you will be asked to upload evidence to support your application, this includes electronic copies of the following documents:

In order to submit your STEM OPT extension application online, you will need to log in to your existing USCIS account. This is the same account that you used to apply for OPT and you should use the same login information.

You can log in to your USCIS account on the USCIS website: https://myaccount.uscis.gov/users/sign_up 

Note: The video says to leave the A-Number blank, however, this an error that we are working on correcting. You will need to include your A-Number, which is listed on your OPT EAD card. This is the same as the USCIS number on the EAD card.

Video Walk-Through of the USCIS Online Filing System

The final step in the online filing system is submitting your filing fee. 

This can be paid via ACH (bank transfer) or via debit/credit card (drawn on a U.S. account).

This does not need to be your personal bank account, debit or credit card (it's okay to use that of a family member or friend).

The money is withdrawn immediately.

Once you submit the payment, you have submitted the application and are not able to go back and edit anything.

When the report is due: within 10 days of any change to your contact information

What you must keep up to date: all contact information, including U.S. residential address, U.S. phone number, foreign phone number, and preferred email address

How to report: log in to Workday and update your contact information

When the report is due: once you get your STEM OPT Extension EAD card in the mail

What you will be asked to report: an uploaded copy of your STEM OPT EAD Card

How to report: visit scu.edu/reportopt to submit all STEM OPT extension reports

Tips: email iss@scu.edu if you find any errors or typos on your card

When the report is due: within 10 days of your change of employment

What you will be asked to report:

• Name of your prior company, the end date of employment, and the “Self-Evaluation and Final Evaluation on Student Progress” from your prior employer
• Name of your new company, the start date of employment, new I-983 Training Plan from your new employer, and a brief description of how the new job is directly related to your SCU degree

How to report: visit scu.edu/reportopt to submit all STEM OPT extension reports

Tips:  

• The Self- Evaluation and Final Evaluation of Student Progress should be submitted from page 5 of your I-983 Training Plan. The Summary Evaluation and Final Evaluation should be completed by you and signed by you and your employer. The dates of your evaluation should cover your time with the employer during your STEM OPT period. Make sure that your summary evaluation dates are the start date of STEM OPT extension employment through your last day of STEM OPT extension employment with that employer only (i.e. do not include OPT employment dates or other dates while you worked with other STEM OPT employers).
• Submit the evaluation page 5 only from your prior employer, not the entire Training Plan.
• Make sure that the new I-983 Training Plan meets all requirements, the most common errors are:
• The form is incomplete or not signed. All text must be legible (readable) and no text cut-off or missing.
• The Other Compensation box on page 2 is blank or missing health insurance. “Standard corporate benefits” or all forms of compensation you are offered (including health insurance) should be listed, even if you do not use the benefit. If you are not offered any benefits, list N/A.
• The site location on page 3 is incomplete or formatted incorrectly. A complete address (including any unit or suite numbers, city, state and zip code) is required and it should be the exact location where you work on a day-to-day basis.
• The Start Date of Employment box on page 2 needs to list the date when you began your STEM OPT training with the employer.

When the report is due: within 10 days of your start date with the second / additional employer

What you will be asked to report:

• Name of your second / additional company, start date of employment, new I-983 Training Plan from your new employer, and a brief description of how the new job is directly related to your SCU degree

How to report: visit scu.edu/reportopt to submit all STEM OPT extension reports

Tips:  

• Make sure that the new I-983 Training Plan meets all requirements, the most common errors are:
• The form is incomplete or not signed. All text must be legible (readable) and no text cut-off or missing.
• The Other Compensation box on page 2 is blank or missing health insurance. “Standard corporate benefits” or all forms of compensation you are offered (including health insurance) should be listed, even if you do not use the benefit. If you are not offered any benefits, list N/A.
• The site location on page 3 is incomplete or formatted incorrectly. A complete address (including any unit or suite numbers, city, state and zip code) is required and it should be the exact location where you work on a day-to-day basis.

When the report is due: within 10 days of the material change

What you will be asked to report: The nature of the material change and an updated I-983 Training Plan

How to report: visit scu.edu/reportopt to submit all STEM OPT extension reports

Tips: Examples of Material Changes include:

• Change of work location on page 3
• Change of Official's information on page 3
• Change of supervisor if the person is listed on your I-983
• Changes to company information on page 2 (i.e., company acquisition, change in EIN)
• Substantial change to training goals, objectives, supervision or assessment
• Substantial changes to salary, hours, or benefits (normal pay raises or promotions are not considered a material change and are not reported)

When the report is due: within 10 days of your last day at work

What you will be asked to report: Name of your prior company, the end date of employment, and a summary evaluation from your prior employer

How to report: visit scu.edu/reportopt to submit all STEM OPT extension reports

Tips

• The Self- Evaluation and Final Evaluation of Student Progress should be submitted from page 5 of your I-983 Training Plan. The Summary Evaluation and Final Evaluation should be completed by you and signed by you and your employer. The dates of your evaluation should cover your time with the employer during your STEM OPT period. Make sure that your summary evaluation dates are the start date of STEM OPT extension employment through your last day of STEM OPT extension employment with that employer only (i.e. do not include OPT employment dates or other dates while you worked with other STEM OPT employers).
• Submit the evaluation page 5 only, not the entire Training Plan.

When the report is due: at the 6 month point of your STEM OPT Extension period

What you will be asked to report:

• Your current U.S. residential address
• The full legal name of your current company
• Your current work location

How to report: visit scu.edu/reportopt to submit all STEM OPT extension reports

Tips

• Your current U.S. residential address should match your Permanent Address in eCampus
• The full legal name of your current company should match your pay-stubs and page 2 of your I-983 Training Plan
• Your work location should be the address where you work, and should match page 3 of your I-983 Training Plan
• If you have a second / additional employer, you will be asked for the same items for each employer

When the report is due: at the 12 month point of your STEM OPT Extension period

What you will be asked to report:

• Your current U.S. residential address
• The full legal name of your current company
• Your current work location
• 12 month evaluation (upload)

How to report: visit scu.edu/reportopt to submit all STEM OPT extension reports

Tips

• Your current U.S. residential address should match your Permanent Address in eCampus
• The full legal name of your current company should match your pay-stubs and page 2 of your I-983 Training Plan
• Your work location should be the address where you work, and should match page 3 of your I-983 Training Plan
• The 12 month Evaluation should be submitted using the top "Evaluation of Student Progress" section on page 5 of your I-983 Training Plan. This self-evaluation should be completed by you and signed by you and your employer. The "From Date" should be your start date with your current employer during your 24 month STEM OPT period. The "To Date" should be the 12 month mark of your STEM OPT period.
• Submit the evaluation page 5 only, not the entire Training Plan.
• If you have a second / additional employer, you will be asked for the same items for each employer

When the report is due: at the 18 month point of your STEM OPT Extension period

What you will be asked to report:

• Your current U.S. residential address
• The full legal name of your current company
• Your current work location

How to report: visit scu.edu/reportopt to submit all STEM OPT extension reports

Tips

• Your current U.S. residential address should match your Permanent Address in eCampus
• The full legal name of your current company should match your pay-stubs and page 2 of your I-983 Training Plan
• Your work location should be the address where you work, and should match page 3 of your I-983 Training Plan
• If you have a second / additional employer, you will be asked for the same items for each employer

When the report is due: at the 24 month point of your STEM OPT Extension period

What you will be asked to report:

• Your current U.S. residential address
• The full legal name of your current company
• Your current work location
• 24 month / Final Evaluation (upload)

How to report: visit scu.edu/reportopt to submit all STEM OPT extension reports

Tips

• Your current U.S. residential address should match your Permanent Address in eCampus
• The full legal name of your current company should match your pay-stubs and page 2 of your I-983 Training Plan
• Your work location should be the address where you work, and should match page 3 of your I-983 Training Plan
• The 24 month / Final Evaluation should be submitted using the bottom "Final Evaluation of Student Progress" section on page 5 of your I-983 Training Plan. This self-evaluation should be completed by you and signed by you and your employer. The "From Date" should be the 12 month mark of your 24 month STEM OPT period or your start date with your current employer, whichever is later. The "To Date" should be the last day of your STEM OPT period.
• Submit the evaluation page 5 only, not the entire Training Plan.
• If you have a second / additional employer, you will be asked for the same items for each employer

When the report is due: within 10 days of when you are ending your STEM OPT

What you will be asked to report: why you are ending your STEM OPT before the end date on your EAD card and the applicable items below

1. If your change of status to H-1B filing is approved: a copy of your I-797 approval notice, Self-Evaluation and Final Evaluation of Student Progress (upload)
2. If you are no longer in F-1 status: your new status, a copy of your I-797 approval notice (if you filed a change of status and have not yet gone for visa stamping), a copy of your new visa and a copy of your most recent I-94 (if you have re-entered the U.S. in a different status), Self-Evaluation and Final Evaluation of Student Progress (upload)
3. If you are transferring your SEVIS record to another school: the full legal name of your current/most recent company, last day of work, Self-Evaluation and Final Evaluation of Student Progress (upload)
4. If you are starting a new degree program at SCU: the full legal name of your current company (or most recent company if you are unemployed), last day of work, Self-Evaluation and Final Evaluation of Student Progress (upload)
5. If you have decided to end your employment and depart the U.S.: the full legal name of your current/most recent company, last day of work, Self-Evaluation and Final Evaluation of Student Progress (upload), departure date

How to report: visit scu.edu/reportopt to submit all STEM OPT extension reports

Tips

• For H-1B or another status, the I-797 approval notice must be a copy of the official notice that you receive in the mail (emails or other types of notification are not acceptable)
• The full legal name of your current company should match your pay-stubs and page 2 of your I-983 Training Plan
• Your work location should be the address where you work, and should match page 3 of your I-983 Training Plan

• The Self-Evaluation and Final Evaluation of Student Progress should be submitted from page 5 of your I-983 Training Plan. The Summary Evaluation and Final Evaluation should be completed by you and signed by you and your employer. The dates of your evaluation should cover your time with the employer during your STEM OPT period. Make sure that your summary evaluation dates are the start date of STEM OPT extension employment through your last day of STEM OPT extension employment with that employer only (i.e. do not include OPT employment dates or other dates while you worked with other STEM OPT employers). Submit the evaluation page 5 only from your prior employer, not the entire Training Plan.