F-1 Student Employment and Training

Curricular practical training (CPT) must be an integral part of an established curriculum.

At CWRU, one of the following academic objectives must be met in order to be eligible for CPT:

• The experience must be required to complete graduation requirements; or
• The experience must be through an institutionally sponsored cooperative education or practicum program.

After gathering all of the information for a complete application and fulfilling the workshop requirement, students will be provided with a link to Terra Dotta where they can upload all of their application materials. An international student advisor in the VISA Office will evaluate the application and determine a student’s eligibility. Authorized students will receive a new I-20 with a CPT endorsement. An authorized student may only work for the employer and at the location during the time listed on the I-20.

Students must complete one academic year (both fall and spring semesters) before becoming eligible for CPT (unless the work is required by the graduate academic program prior to that).

Whether or not a student will be authorized depends on whether their experience aligns with the academic objects of the university and if they submit a timely, complete application to the VISA Office for processing.

Part-time CPT authorization has no impact on a student’s future eligibility for optional practical training (OPT); however, authorization for 12 or more months of full-time (more than 20 hours per week) CPT will result in the loss of OPT eligibility.

Students are required to complete a practical training workshop prior to submitting their request for CPT authorization. For each CPT authorization request, a student must complete a workshop.

Workshops can be completed through either an advisor-led or online format based on the student's preference. 

To attend an advisor-led workshop via Zoom (which is highly recommended), registration is required. Access the full schedule and register for the desired session. 

Advisor-led CPT workshops are scheduled for 60 minutes. Please plan on staying for the entire 60 minutes. 

Online Workshops are accessible from our Prezi website, by using a desktop computer and browser such as Chrome, Firefox, or Edge.

After students complete a required workshop (advisor-led or online), they should access the CPT Application in Terra Dotta to complete the CPT Assessment and upload all of the required materials for a complete CPT application. Remember, your CPT application must be 100% complete when you submit it. Submitting an incomplete application will cause delays in processing the new I-20 that the VISA Office generates for you as part of the CPT process.

Responses to the assessment will be recorded and students must receive a passing score (90%) before the VISA Office will process their application. Students who attempt the CPT Assessment but do not achieve the passing score will be contacted by an advisor.

Please make every effort to complete a workshop as early as possible to prevent any processing delays.

Again, keep in mind that the VISA Office will only accept complete applications from students who have completed a workshop (either in-person or online). Be sure to read all of the application information carefully and prepare everything that's required for processing.

Once the VISA Office has all of the required paperwork, we will create an I-20 in 3-5 business days. We do not expedite applications and therefore recommend applying as far in advance as possible in case further review and documents are required.

You will receive an email notification with instructions for collecting the I-20 when has been prepared. It is your responsibility to check the I-20 for accuracy, particularly page 2 where your authorization recommendation is listed.  If information is incorrect or missing, you need to let the VISA Office know immediately.

No. DHS regulations do not require monetary compensation in order to qualify for CPT. CPT is authorized if a student meets the academic objectives and submits a timely-filed application.

If you are receiving compensation for approved CPT, you will need to have a Social Security Number (SSN). Visit our Employment page for details on how to obtain an SSN if you do not already have one.

It depends. Talk with an advisor during advising hours or schedule an appointment to meet with an advisor to discuss your specific situation.

Part-time CPT authorization has no impact on a student’s future eligibility for OPT; however, authorization for 12 or more months of full-time CPT (more than 20 hours per week) will result in the loss of OPT eligibility. The VISA Office makes efforts to ensure that a student does not use or exceed 12 months of full-time CPT, but it is ultimately the student’s decision whether to submit CPT requests and at the VISA Office's discretion to authorize them.

CPT is meant to serve as an integral part of a student's curriculum and is not available after graduation. 

You must have the CPT I-20 in your possession when you commence work.If you work before you receive a CPT I-20 from the VISA Office you have violated your visa status.

The consequences of violation are very serious and could result in the termination of your visa status.

Optional Practical Training (OPT) is defined as temporary employment directly related to an F-1 student's major area of study. OPT is a continuation of a student's F-1 student visa status. Students must maintain status while authorized for OPT through proper employment and timely reporting.

Students in F-1 status must be lawfully enrolled in school on a full-time basis for at least one full academic year before they are eligible for OPT. Students who have been authorized for 12 or more months of full-time CPT are ineligible for OPT.

If a student has already been authorized for OPT based on earning a degree (at CWRU or another US institution), the student is eligible for OPT again upon advancing to a higher educational level. For example, a student who earns a bachelor's degree and maintains status through OPT could apply for OPT again after completing a master's degree, assuming that the student has properly maintained status and meets all eligibility requirements. 

Optional practical training is initially limited to a total of 12 months for use during (pre-completion) and after (post-completion) the completion of their program. Students may be authorized for more than one 12-month period as long as they're advancing their education from one educational level to a higher one as they complete their studies. Students who have completed coursework in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) field designated by the Department of Homeland Security are also eligible for the 24-month extension of their OPT if they will work for an employer who participates in the E-Verify Program. Visit the USCIS website for additional information regarding STEM OPT.

Students may choose to pursue pre-completion and/or post-completion OPT. As the regulations governing each type of OPT are quite distinct, it’s imperative that students consider their goals carefully before pursuing authorization.

Pre-completion OPT 

• Full-time enrollment in coursework is required.
• Work up to 20 hours/week while school is in session and student still has coursework to complete. Full-time employment can be requested for pre-completion OPT done during official school breaks and when students have completed all requirements for their degree except for thesis or dissertation.*
• Not subject to the unemployment provisions.
• May receive a program extension.
• May not apply for the STEM extension from a period of pre-completion OPT.
• Would not be eligible for the cap-gap extension of OPT. 

Post-completion OPT

• Must have completed all degree requirements.*
• Must work at least 20 hours/week.
• Is subject to the unemployment provisions.
• May not receive a program extension.
• May apply for the STEM extension if otherwise eligible.
• Eligible for the cap-gap extension.

*Graduate students who have completed all regular coursework and have only thesis/dissertation requirements may apply for post-completion OPT so long as they are certain that they will complete all degree requirements during the time that they are authorized for OPT. Graduate students in STEM fields will maintain their eligibility for the STEM extension. Please consult an international student advisor after you’ve attended a required OPT workshop if you have questions.

To ensure that students are prepared to properly maintain status during an authorized period of OPT and are well-informed about processing times and current procedures regarding OPT, the VISA Office requires all students intending to apply for OPT to complete an OPT workshop.

In order to work pursuant to OPT, a student must have an approved Employment Authorization Document (EAD), which is obtained through USCIS by filing Form I-765. Processing time for employment authorization varies, but it can take up to 6 months. It is therefore in your best interest to complete all requirements with the VISA Office and submit your employment authorization application to USCIS as soon as possible. Preparing early will help position you to receive your authorization in a more timely manner or to better adjust in the event of any unexpected delays. 

Typically students apply for OPT during their final semester by working through the proper procedures established by the VISA Office.

Students are required to complete a workshop and to successfully complete the OPT Assessment hosted in the OPT Application. All required materials and detailed instructions about how to submit them are included in the OPT Application in Terra Dotta. Be sure to read all of the information carefully so that you understand how to request a new OPT I-20 and how to submit your application materials to USCIS for processing.

A non-refundable $100 administrative fee payment is due as part of a complete OPT application. Payment must be made by credit card here. Upon payment of your receipt, be sure to save a PDF/screenshot so that you can upload that to Terra Dotta; proof of payment is a required component of the application.

Keep in mind that the VISA Office will only accept complete application materials from the student applying, and will only issue the newly prepared I-20 and any feedback about the application to the student applying.

The first step in the application process is to attend a practical training workshop during the semester that you plan to apply for OPT. You do not need to have a job offer or any definitive employment plans to complete a workshop or apply for OPT.

OPT workshops are designed to educate students about the application process and their responsibilities to maintain their F-1 status while authorized for OPT. The same information is reinforced through the OPT Assessment, which students must successfully complete.

The VISA Office offers live, advisor-led workshops via Zoom. The VISA Office highly recommends that students attend a live workshop with a VISA Office advisor who is there to guide you through all of the information. Advisor-led workshops are offered at various times throughout the year. Workshop dates are intentionally and strategically planned based on the 90-day application window that USCIS permits and the academic calendar’s graduation dates. Students are informed in a timely manner about scheduled advisor-led workshops each semester through VISA News.

Advisor-led OPT workshops are scheduled for 2 hours. Please plan on staying for the entire 2 hours.

To attend an advisor-led workshop, view the schedule and click on the link to register for your chosen session, Be sure to attend a workshop during the semester that you intend to graduate and apply for OPT. 

The VISA Office also offers an online workshop and this format is available year-round. Completing the online workshop consists of viewing the OPT presentation on your own time and at your own pace.

Identical material is covered in the advisor-led and online workshops and you submit your application materials to the VISA Office through the same process. Complete a workshop in the format that you prefer.

If you complete a workshop--either advisor-led or online--but do not apply for OPT during that semester, you will need to complete another workshop in the semester in which you do apply.

After students complete a required workshop (advisor-led or online), they should access the OPT Application in Terra Dotta to complete the OPT Assessment and upload all of the required materials for a complete OPT application. Remember, your OPT application must be 100% complete when you submit it. Submitting an incomplete application will cause delays in processing the new I-20 that the VISA Office generates for you as part of the OPT process.

Responses to the assessment will be recorded and students must receive a passing score (93%) before the VISA Office will process their application. Students who attempt the OPT Assessment but do not achieve the passing score will be contacted by an advisor.

Ultimately a new I-20 with an OPT endorsement is prepared and must be included as part of the application that students submit to USCIS. Students are notified by email about their new I-20 when it is ready. That email notification will also include detailed next steps for submitting the OPT application and all the required materials to USCIS for processing.

VISA Office staff members review material submitted through Terra Dotta for completeness only. If there are any questions or concerns about submitted materials, advisors will reach out to students. It is the student's responsibility to check all materials and the I-20 for accuracy, specifically page 2 where the OPT recommendation is included. It is also the student's responsibility to follow any additional instructions provided by the advisor. If any corrections need to be made to the I-20 or if information is missing from the I-20, the student must let an advisor know immediately.

If you have questions, speak with a VISA Office advisor during advising hours. Remember, only VISA Office staff can advise you about the procedures for OPT.

Students who have been authorized for OPT based on a prior earned degree are eligible for OPT again if they advance in educational level and otherwise properly maintain their status and meet all eligibility requirements.

Since USCIS requirements and processes are subject to change, you must attend a workshop (and complete all other steps required by the VISA Office) during the semester that you either plan to complete your program or apply for OPT to ensure that you’re well-informed about the current process and your responsibilities as an F-1 student.

Applying for OPT from outside the U.S. is not permissible. Students must submit their current Form I-94 as part of the application for OPT, which proves that they’re physically present in the U.S. at the time that they submit an application.

Applying for OPT from another state is permissible, but keep in mind that VISA Office advisors work closely with students to ensure that their application process is as smooth as possible, and handling this process completely remotely may present some challenges.

You must decide on an OPT start date before the VISA Office can create your I-20. Once the completed I-20 is in your possession and you send your completed application to USCIS, you cannot change your start date.

No. A job offer does not expedite your application through the VISA Office. However, after our office has reviewed your application and created an OPT-requested I-20, you now have the option to request premium processing of your OPT application with USCIS. For more information on premium processing, see the next question. 

Once you have submitted your Form I-765 to USCIS for processing, the only thing left to do is wait. Premium processing of the Form I-765 is now available to students through USCIS. Premium processing is optional for an additional fee. If you choose to pay for premium processing, please note that the expedited processing applies only to the adjudication of your application, not the subsequent shipping of your completed documents to you (i.e. the EAD card). Current instructions and fees are available here, and current processing times are available here. 

USCIS will send a receipt notice for your application to you. All receipt numbers start with three letters (for example, LIN, WAC, or IOE). The USCIS online case status system is one of the best ways to check the status of your application. The VISA Office recommends creating an account on the USCIS website so that students can enter their receipt numbers and "Opt In" to receive auto-updates via email or text (or both) as updates become available.

When USCIS completes processing of your employment authorization application, they will generate your EAD and mail it to the address indicated on your Form I-765. 

If you used the VISA Office address to receive your EAD, we will notify you by email when it arrives in our office. The email message will include instructions for either picking it up in-person or having it mailed by FedEx to an address of your choosing.

Remember that students are not authorized to work until they have the EAD in their possession and the authorization dates on the EAD are valid. If a student works prior to receiving the EAD or prior to the authorization dates listed on the EAD, this is a violation of visa status and labor law. This is grounds for the termination of the student's visa status and the employer could face serious consequences for having employed someone who is ineligible to work in the United States.

When students are authorized for OPT and intend to work (in the field of study and for at least 20 hours per week), they must report employment-related information within 10 days by logging into their SEVP Portal. The following situations require reporting through the Portal:

• starting a job
• ending a job
• any changes in the employer's name
• any changes in the employer's location

Learn more about reporting requirements while authorized for OPT.

Students gain access to their SEVP Portal after being approved for OPT. They will receive an email notification directly from SEVP with instructions about accessing their portal. This message generally reaches the student 2-4 weeks after being approved. If a student's OPT is approved, but they do not receive an email notification from SEVP regarding their portal, they should email visa@case.edu and an advisor will look into the matter.

Remember, in order to properly maintain status while authorized for OPT, a student must not be unemployed for more than 90 days. Unemployment for more than 90 days is a violation of visa status. USCIS tracks students' employment status based on the information entered in the SEVP Portal. To avoid situations where a government official may determine a student to be out of status, it is essential to comply with reporting requirements in a timely manner.

You are responsible for reporting through your SEVP Portal that you have stopped working.

The regulations allow for 90 calendar days of unemployment while you are authorized for OPT. Exceeding that limit is a violation of your F-1 status and you may be expected to depart the U.S. immediately. It may not be possible for you to change to another status from within the U.S. There is no grace period for a status violation.

When you find a new job that meets OPT criteria, be sure to update your employment information in your SEVP Portal.

In the event a student decides to depart the US and no longer maintain F-1 status through working, they should report that information to the VISA Office at  visa@case.edu and an advisor will take the necessary steps to communicate those plans to SEVP.

When a student has been approved for OPT they must report any changes in their personal contact information, within 10 days of the occurrence, through the SEVP Portal. It is very important that students promptly report this information; students risk violating their visa status if this required information is not updated.

International travel while your OPT/EAD application is pending is allowed, but is not recommended. 

If you have applied for OPT and will return to the U.S. before the program end date listed on the I-20, it should be possible to travel. You are still considered an enrolled student, so having applied for OPT which is still pending has no effect on your travel plans.

If you have applied for OPT and will return to the U.S. after the program end date listed on the I-20, the VISA Office does not recommend traveling. Once your program end date as listed on your I-20 has passed, you are now maintaining your F-1 status by complying with all OPT regulations. Upon re-entry, you must be able to present:

• Valid passport and visa
• Valid I-20 with an OPT recommendation on it and a travel signature not more than 6 months old. If you need to obtain a new one, submit the Travel Signature Request Form.
• Letter of employment stating either your start date or that you’re continuing/resuming your employment after your travels.
• Valid EAD (If your application is still in process when you reenter the U.S., you will be unable to present your EAD and may be denied reentry).

Yes, but you must carry the following documents with you in order to reenter the United States:

• Valid passport and visa
• Valid I-20 with an OPT recommendation on it and a travel signature not more than 6 months old. If you need to obtain a new one, submit the Travel Signature Request Form.
• Letter of employment stating either your start date or that you’re continuing/resuming your employment after your travels.
• Valid EAD

If you need to apply for a new F-1 visa during your authorized period of OPT, the process is very similar to what you did when you applied for your visa to enroll in your academic program. Information about the visa issuance process is also available on our website. You must also demonstrate that you are properly working through your OPT to maintain your F-1 status.

When applying for your visa, you must provide:

• your valid EAD
• a letter from your employer stating confirming your start date and that you will continue/resume your employment when you return to the U.S.

With any visa application, it is always best to check the website of the U.S. Consulate or Embassy at which you will apply for any other specific documentation or steps you must take as part of your application process.

The OPT STEM Extension is 24 months of additional work authorization that qualified F-1 students may choose to pursue if they are currently engaged in post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT) based on a bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree.

Students may benefit from two lifetime STEM OPT periods, if the degree that serves as the basis for a second STEM OPT Extension is at a higher educational level than the degree that served as the basis for the first authorization.

Learn more about the STEM Extension and the application process.

You may qualify for a STEM extension if:

• Your most recently conferred degree (bachelor, master, or doctorate level) as listed on your current I-20 is in a DHS STEM-Designated Degree Program; or, if your most recent degree is not in a STEM field, you have a prior degree (at the bachelor, master, or doctorate level) in a DHS STEM-Designated program that was conferred within the last 10 years from a SEVP certified school and will be pursuing employment that is directly related to the prior degree’s field of study; 
• You are currently in a valid period of post-completion OPT (i.e., your EAD has not yet expired); 
• You work for an employer which participates in the E-Verify program and meets the other requirements listed below; and
• You submit a Form I-765 no earlier than 90 days before your current OPT expires, and no later than 60 days after the date the VISA Office issues your STEM OPT I-20. You must file Form I-765 BEFORE your OPT EAD expires. 

Additional requirements for STEM OPT include:

• The student's employer must be enrolled in E-Verify and create a bona fide employer-employee relationship with the student.
• A complete Form I-983 must be on file with the VISA Office and the student and employer must agree to report to the VISA Office when the student is terminated or leaves employment.

There are several employment reporting requirements to maintain F-1 status while authorized for a STEM Extension. Please read on for more information about the I-983 and its requirements.

• 20 or more hours of work per week in a paid position directly related to the STEM field of study and designated as an allowable employment arrangement that demonstrates a bona fide employer-employee relationship.
• The term "bona fide employer-employee relationship" is not expressly defined by the regulations, however, the Department of Homeland Security notes that "students cannot qualify for STEM OPT extensions unless they will be bona fide employees of the employer signing the Training Plan, and the employer that signs the Training Plan must be the same entity that employs the student and provides the practical training experience."
• Based on this interpretation, certain types of employment arrangements would NOT qualify for a STEM Extension, including:
  • Employment through a temporary staffing agency
  • Employment through consulting firm
  • Employment as an independent contractor or work for hire
  • Employment through sole proprietorship (i.e. you cannot be your own boss/supervisor/run your own company).

If you are employed through one of these arrangements and apply for a STEM Extension, your application may be denied. Please consult with the VISA Office if you have questions. Please also visit the USCIS web page on STEM OPT.

Students must apply for the STEM OPT Extension within the 90 days before their initial post-completion OPT expires. STEM Extension applications received after the expiration of the current OPT, even if during the student's grace period, will be denied.

VISA Office processing of STEM Extension requests, which includes submission of a completed Form I-983 and generation of a new Form I-20, takes 5-10 business days. Students are encouraged to apply earlier rather than later; waiting too long to apply may result in the denial of the extension.

Please direct all questions about the STEM Extension to the VISA Office.

The following documents must be submitted to USCIS, preferably through e-filing. 

• A complete Form I-765
• Current USCIS filing fee
• Two (2) identical passport-style photos taken within the last 30 days with the student’s name printed on the back of each. 
• Copies of ALL I-20s, arranged from newest to oldest, that show prior OPT and or CPT endorsements. If the I-20 does not show an OPT and or CPT endorsement, you do not have to include it.
• Copy of current Form I-94
• Copy of biographical page from valid passport
• Copy of current or previously issued EAD (front and back)
• Evidence of the degree that is the basis for the STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT) extension and is currently listed on the STEM Designated Degree Program List;
• Your Form I-20 endorsed for STEM OPT, issued by the VISA Office within 60 days before filing your Form I-765; and
• If you are seeking a STEM OPT extension based on a previously earned STEM degree, you must also provide evidence that the institution is currently accredited by the U.S. Department of Education and certified by SEVP.

In addition to these documents, a complete Form I-983 Training Plan is required for the 24-month STEM OPT Extension. This document is not filed  with USCIS, but must be submitted to the VISA Office in order to obtain a STEM OPT I-20. For more information about the Form I-983, please see below.

Learn more about the STEM Extension and the application process.

Students must request the STEM Extension I-20 from the VISA Office within the 90 days prior to the expiration of their current OPT. Students make the request by accessing the Quick Link on the homepage called "Request a STEM Extension." Step-by-step instructions and information about what students can expect from the VISA Office during the review process are all provided. Keep in mind that the VISA Office will only process I-20s based on complete applications. Your application is not considered complete until all materials, including proof of having paid the non-refundable $175 administrative fee, are uploaded properly. Pay administrative fees. 

Processing for STEM Extension I-20s takes 5 to 10 business days so students are encouraged to apply earlier rather than later. Waiting too long to apply may result in the denial of the extension. 

When the new I-20 is ready, the VISA Office will contact students by email with instructions about how to collect it. The email will include information about how to organize the application materials, where to send it for processing by USCIS, and when to comply with required reporting requirements.

It is the student's responsibility to check the I-20 for accuracy, specifically page 2 where the STEM OPT recommendation is included. The recommendation is based on information provided by the student. If any corrections need to be made to the I-20 or if information is missing from the I-20, the student must let an advisor know immediately.

The Form I-983 Training Plan is required for the 24-month STEM OPT Extension, and must be submitted to the VISA Office to obtain a STEM Extension I-20.

The student and the employer complete a Form I-983 Training Plan, and the student submits the completed plan to the VISA Office as part of the application process for the STEM Extension. The VISA Office reviews the Form I-983 submitted by the student, and determines that it is "complete, signed, and addresses all program requirements."

The VISA Office is not responsible for determining the accuracy or correctness of the information provided on the I-983. The student and employer are responsible for providing accurate and true information and abiding by the terms and conditions of the Form I-983 as set forth in the regulations and on the Form I-983 and Form I-983 instructions.

Form I-983 consists of seven pages:

Here are some resources that we hope will be helpful when completing the Form I-983 Training Plan:

• Form I-983
• Form I-983 Instructions (PDF)

SEVIS Help Hub resources:

• Form I-983 overview
• Form I-983 tutorial
• DSOs and the Form I-983
• Students and the Form I-983
• Employers and the Form I-983

The VISA Office has generated a chart to help students better understand the reporting requirements. There are reporting requirements that require validation every six months as well as some that require an update when the change occurs.

The VISA Office has also created a reporting tool to help students identify when their six-month validations are due so that they can better prepare to promptly report the required information to the VISA Office through the appropriate STEM OPT Update reporting tool.

Below are some key reminders for students and their employers:

• The required six-month validation report occurs during months 6, 12, 18, and 24 of the student's authorization period and must be submitted to the VISA Office within 10 business days of each six-month validation due date.
  After receiving the student's validation report, the VISA Office must update SEVIS no sooner than 15 days before and no later than 31 days after each 6-month reporting due date.
• Any changes to the following must be submitted to the VISA Office within 10 days of the change:
  • student's legal name
  • mailing and physical addresses
  • When the student stops working for an employer
  • When the student starts working for a new qualifying employer
• The VISA Office will update SEVIS within 21 days of receiving notification of the above changes from the student.
• Required self-evaluations must be submitted no later than 10 days following the end of any employment opportunity, in addition to the 12- and 24-month marks from the start of the authorized STEM Extension period.
• A material change to the training plan described on the Form I-983 requires submission of a modified Form I-983 to the VISA Office as soon as possible.
  The VISA Office retains students’ self evaluations and versions of Form I-983 for a period of 3 years following the completion of each STEM Extension authorization.

The employer must report to the VISA Office:

• When a student is terminated or leaves employment, within 5 business days of the termination or departure.
  The VISA Office will update SEVIS when required within 21 days of receiving notification of these changes.
• When there has been a material change to the training plan described on the Form I-983 on file with the DSO, by submitting a modified Form I-983 to the VISA Office "at the earliest available opportunity." This is a shared obligation with the student.
   

Material changes or deviations to Form I-983 may include, but are not limited to:

• Any change of the employer’s Federal Employer Identification Number, resulting from a change in the employer’s ownership or structure, such as a corporate restructuring.
• Any reduction in student compensation that is not tied to a reduction in hours worked.
• Any significant decrease in the number of hours of work per week specified on the Form I-983.
• Any decrease in hours of work that would reduce the student's total hours with that employer to less than 20 hours per week.
• Changes to the employer’s commitments or student’s learning objectives as documented on the Form I-983.

The kinds of changes that will require a modified Form I-983 are not limited to the above list. Reporting material changes to the training plan keeps students and employers accountable to the original Form I-983 and ensures that the VISA Office and DHS have access to accurate information about STEM OPT students.

The VISA Office has generated a chart to help students better understand the reporting requirements.

Study in the States also offers a chart that helps explain the many requirements that students must address and when.

If there are material changes to or deviations from the training plan as described in the Form I-983 that the VISA Office has on file during the course of the 24-month STEM OPT Extension period, the student and employer must complete and sign a modified training plan reflecting the those changes. The student and employer are then jointly responsible for submitting the modified Form I-983 to ISS as soon as possible.

It is the student's responsibility to provide information regarding changes to the VISA Office. Failure to do so would constitute a violation of the student's F-1 status.

Students can report material changes to the VISA Office by submitting an update to Terra Dotta.

VISA Office staff members receive notifications when students submit updates. Staff members will only contact students regarding their update if they have questions or concerns. 

If a new I-20 is prepared as the result of any submitted updates, students will be notified by email when that new I-20 is ready. It generally takes 5-7 business days for a new I-20 to be prepared.

When USCIS receives the application, you will receive an email or automatic confirmation. A paper receipt (I-797) will follow. A student in possession of the receipt notice from USCIS can check the application status on the USCIS website. All receipt numbers start with three letters (for example, WAC or IOE).

The online system provides the same information that can be obtained by using the Service Center phone numbers and is updated whenever there is a change to the application's status. The VISA Office recommends creating an account on the USCIS website so that students can enter their receipt numbers and "Opt In" to receive auto-updates via email or text (or both) as updates become available.

As with your OPT application, you will eventually receive an EAD issued by USCIS if you are authorized for a STEM Extension.

Yes. USCIS regulations allow students who have properly filed a STEM Extension application to continue working for up to 180 days while the application is pending with USCIS.

You are responsible for reporting through Terra Dotta that you have stopped working.

The regulations allow for 90 calendar days of unemployment while you are authorized for 12 months of OPT and an additional 60 days when you're authorized for a STEM extension, for a total of 150 calendar days. Exceeding this limit means you have violated your F-1 status and you will be expected to depart the US immediately. There is no grace period after a status violation.

Upon finding a new job and employer that both meet the STEM OPT eligibility criteria, you must file a new Form I-983 with the VISA Office through Terra Dotta prior to starting the new job.

The VISA Office does not recommend that students travel abroad while their applications are being processed. In order to reenter the U.S. after foreign travel, students must be able to present their:

• Current passport valid for at least six months;
• Valid I-20 with STEM OPT recommendation and a travel signature less than six months old;
• Valid F-1 visa;
• Letter from employer stating either the start date or that the student will be continuing/resuming employment upon returning to the U.S.; and
• EAD card.

If a student's STEM Extension application is still pending when they seek reentry to the US, the student will not be able to present the required EAD and may be denied reentry.

If a student must travel abroad and cannot produce all the above items, please consult with the VISA Office before departing.

Yes, but you must carry the following documents with you in order to reenter the United States:

• Valid passport and visa;
• Valid I-20 with STEM OPT recommendation on it and a travel signature not more than 6 months old (If you need to obtain a new travel signature, submit the Travel Signature Request Form.);
• Letter of employment stating either your start date or that you’re continuing/resuming your employment upon returning to the U.S.; and
• Valid EAD

If you need to apply for a new F-1 visa during your authorized period of STEM OPT, the process is very similar to what you did when you applied for your visa to enroll in your academic program. Information about the visa issuance process is also available on our website. You must also demonstrate that you are properly working through your STEM OPT to maintain your F-1 status.

When applying for your visa, you must provide:

• your valid EAD
• a letter from your employer stating confirming your start date and that you will continue/resume your employment when you return to the U.S.

With any visa application, it is always best to check the website of the U.S. Consulate or Embassy at which you will apply for any other specific documentation or steps you must take as part of your application process.