Optional Practical Training (OPT)

 

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OPT STEM Extension

Inaccurate I-983 fee - Beginning July 8, 2024 the $100 STEM OPT Case Management Fee must be paid again if you submit an inaccurate form I-983 more than once. See the chart below as an example.

*To avoid the additional fees, work with your employer to submit the I-983 correctly the first time. We have many resources available below to guide you on the process.

First time STEM OPT:

STEM OPT Fees	Before July 8,   2024	On or After July 8, 2024
Submit STEM OPT app	$100	$100
Submit I-983 to ISS and receive a reply requesting edits (1st)	$0	$0
Submit I-983 to ISS and receive a request for edits again (2nd)	$0	$100
Submit I-983 to ISS and receive a request for edits again (3rd)	$0	$100
Total	$100	Example: $300 (ISS requested I-983 edits 3 times)

 

 

Application Requirements:

• UCM I-20
  • OPT STEM Extension I-20 request form - must be submitted to International Student Services.
  • I-983 and ISS fee payment - At the time of submission, the complete I-983 must be submitted to isss@ucmo.edu and the ISS fee must be paid.

• USCIS Request
  
  • I-765, Application for Employment Authorization - Once the OPT STEM Extension I-20 is received, OPT STEM Extension applications must then be submitted to USCIS through the online I-765 application.
  • Accreditation document - USCIS requests proof of UCM accreditation. This linked document can be uploaded to your application.
• OPT STEM Extension Approval
  
  • OPT STEM Extension Approved I-20 request form - must be submitted upon USCIS confirmation that you are approved for OPT STEM Extension.

Students may continue working on OPT for up to 180 days after the original OPT end date while USCIS is processing the submitted OPT STEM Extension application.

Upcoming OPT STEM Extension Live webinars (click the link to register):

• Wednesday, October 23rd 2024 3:00pm CST
• Wednesday, November 20th 2024 3:00pm CST
• Wednesday, December 18th 2024 3:00pm CST

OPT STEM Extension Resources:

• OPT STEM Extension Powerpoint
• OPT STEM Extension video recording
• Sample I-983
• I-983 Guide and I-983 Instructions
• I-765 Guide

Eligibility Criteria:

• Degree complete -  The UCM degree must be awarded by the time that the OPT STEM Extension application is submitted.
  • All outstanding U grades must be complete.
  • Degree awarded must be indicated on the final transcript.
• Degree is STEM eligible - Only students who have completed certain UCM degrees are eligible to apply for the OPT STEM Extension.
  • The following list of UCM degrees are STEM Eligible.
  • If a student's program is not on the list, they may not apply for OPT STEM Extension.
  • Notice: Each school has different STEM eligible programs. One school may have a program that is STEM eligible, but at another school the same program is not STEM eligible.

This is due to the unique CIP Codes assigned to programs at each school.

• Job Offer - The employer must offer a paid position within the student's degree field. The employer must be e-verified and the position must include 20 hours of work per week or more.

Application Period and Deadlines:

• 3 months before - 1 day before approved post-completion OPT end date. Up to 90 days before and 1 day before the last day of post completion OPT approval.

USCIS must not receive the application before or after the application window.

• Within 60 days of OPT STEM Extension I-20 issuance.

USCIS must not receive the application more than 60 days after the issue date found on the OPT STEM Extension I-20.

• If application is not submitted to USCIS within the 60 day period, contact isss@ucmo.edu to request an OPT I-20 cancellation and reissue.
• If a 'rejection notice' is received from USCIS, contact isss@ucmo.edu to request an OPT I-20 cancellation and reissue.
  • This is especially important if resubmission after the rejection notice will near the 60 day period from when the OPT I-20 was issued.

Health Insurance: 

For information regarding enrolling in UCM Health Insurance while on OPT please go back to the forms page and select Health Insurance. 

 

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OPT STEM Employment Updates

Students approved for 24 month OPT are required to update employer details within 10 days each time that they begin working for a new employer.  Please complete the following form and submit a new form I-983 to update 24 Month OPT STEM employment details.

• New/Change of Employer during OPT/ 24 Month STEM Extension

 

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SEVP Portal Assistance

Students who are participating in OPT or the OPT STEM extension will receive an email once their OPT is approved and the OPT start date arrives to set up an SEVP Portal Account. 

• A webinar with more information can be found here: SEVP Portal Webinar. You may view the recorded webinar anytime in the 'Meeting Materials' section of the page.
• To learn about the new portal and its functions, detailed information can be found here: SEVP Portal Help.
• Please submit the following form if you no longer have access to the email account listed in SEVIS and you need to update your email. Please also submit this form if you get locked out of your portal account, or if you did not receive the portal email and you need to request it to be sent to you: SEVIS Portal Update Request.

 

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6-month Reporting

Students who participate in OPT are required to report their participation in OPT every 6 months. This reporting requirement is required even if the student has not changed employers or addresses. Failure to report this information in a timely manner will result in failure to maintain valid F-1 visa status.

Please watch our short video on STEM OPT Reporting Requirements to ensure that you are meeting all F-1 visa requirements while participating in STEM OPT.

Report requirements for OPT Report Participation are:

1. Full Legal Name
2. Current Mailing and Residential (physical address)
3. Name of Employer
4. Employer Address (this is the address where the student is physically working)
5. Employer Start Date

Please note that if the information reported does not match what is currently in SEVIS, one or more additional forms may be required in order to update the information in SEVIS. OPT Report Participation cannot happen in SEVIS until all forms are submitted. It is in the best interest of the student to ensure they follow the USCIS mandate and report all changes in address and any changes in employment within 10 business days.

• OPT Report Participation Form

 

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Post-completion OPT

Application Requirements:

• UCM I-20
  • OPT I-20 request form - OPT I-20 request must be submitted to International Student Services.
  • ISS fee payment - At the time of submission, the ISS fee must be paid.
• USCIS Request
  • I-765, Application for Employment Authorization - Once the OPT I-20 is received, OPT applications must then be submitted to USCIS through the online I-765 application.

Students may begin work only after the following two events:

1. 1. USCIS issuance of the Employment Authorization Document (EAD approval card)
   2. OPT start date listed on the EAD card has arrived

Students are not required to have the employer updated I-20 in hand to begin work on post-completion OPT.

Upcoming OPT Live  webinars (click the link to register):

• Wednesday, October 16th 2024 3:00pm CST
• Wednesday, November 6th 2024 3:00pm CST
• Wednesday, December 11th 2024 3:00pm CST

OPT Resources:

• OPT Powerpoint
• OPT Presentation video recording
• I-765 Guide

Eligibility Criteria:

• GPA - Meets minimum GPA requirements on the most recent transcript.
• Not currently on academic probation status.
  • Undergraduate/Bachelor's: 2.0+
  • Graduate/Master's: 3.0+
    • If a student does not currently meet minimum GPA requirements, they must wait for grades to be released at the end of the semester to apply for OPT.
• One-year full-time enrollment - Meets minimum full-time enrollment requirement of one year of enrollment within the U.S.
  
  • By the expected OPT start date, the student must have attended full-time for at least a full fall and spring semester.
    • A reduced course load for the final semester approved by International Student Service is acceptable.
  • The student must not have left the U.S. and returned on a new initial I-20 and SEVIS number within the year.
    • Recent travel is okay, as long as the same I-20 and SEVIS ID were held for a year or more.
  • In final semester of enrollment -  Students must be completing all enrollment requirements in the current semester to be eligible to apply for post-completion OPT.
    
    • Students applying for OPT must have already submitted the application for graduation.
    • Job offer not required - Students are not required to have a paid or unpaid job offer to apply for OPT. However, once approved for OPT students must begin working within their degree field within 90 days of the approved OPT start date. Work may be paid or unpaid.

OPT Dates and Deadlines

Application Deadlines: 3 months before to 2 months after program completion. Up to 90 days before and 60 days after the Thursday following finals week in the final semester of enrollment.

USCIS must not receive the application before or after the application window.

Start date: Choose a date from one week after finals week to 2 months after program completion.

OPT Dates/Semester	Fall (December completion)	Spring (May completion)	Summer (August completion)
Application dates	September 20th - February 16th	February 16th - July 13th	May 15th - October 12th
Start date options	December 20th - February 16th	May 16th - July 13th	August 15th - October 12th

 

Within 30 days of OPT I-20 issuance:

USCIS must not receive the application more than 30 days after the issue date found on the OPT I-20.

If application is not submitted to USCIS within the 30-day period, contact isss@ucmo.edu to request an OPT I-20 cancellation and reissue.

If a 'rejection notice' is received from USCIS, contact isss@ucmo.edu to request an OPT I-20 cancellation and reissue.

• This is especially important if resubmission after the rejection notice will near the 30-day period from when the OPT I-20 was issued.

Health Insurance:

For information regarding enrolling in UCM Health Insurance while on OPT please go back to the forms page and select Health Insurance.

 

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12-month OPT Employment Updates

Students approved for OPT are required to update employer details within 10 days each time that they begin working for an employer.  This includes the first employer, even if it is the same employer from previous CPT approval.  Please complete the following form to update 12 Month OPT employment details.

• New/Change of employer during OPT

 

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Change of Worksite

If you recently changed work site locations or have a new client site and have remained with the same employer, please use the following link to update your work site address information.

• OPT/STEM OPT Change of Work Site Address