USA STEM OPT Guide for Nepali Students explains how an eligible F-1 graduate may request a 24-month extension after post-completion OPT, and how the qualifying degree, E-Verify employer, Form I-983 training plan, DSO recommendation, Form I-765 filing, reporting duties and unemployment limits fit together. A STEM degree or employer offer alone does not extend work authorisation.
Information checked on 24 July 2026 using current USCIS and Department of Homeland Security guidance. Forms, fees, filing addresses and government procedures can change, so confirm the live instructions before filing.
STEM OPT requirements at a glance
| STEM OPT requirement | What to verify |
|---|---|
| Current status | Valid F-1 status and current post-completion OPT |
| Qualifying degree | The degree CIP code appears on the DHS STEM list |
| School | The degree came from an eligible accredited, SEVP-certified school |
| Employer | The employer participates in E-Verify |
| Training plan | Student and employer complete and follow Form I-983 |
| Filing | The DSO recommends STEM OPT before timely Form I-765 filing |
| Ongoing compliance | Employment, reporting and unemployment rules are monitored |
Understand the 24-month extension
STEM OPT is an extension of eligible post-completion Optional Practical Training. It can add 24 months of employment authorisation connected to a qualifying science, technology, engineering or mathematics degree.
It is not a separate student visa and it is not granted automatically. The student needs a DSO recommendation and a properly filed Form I-765 that USCIS approves.
Start with current post-completion OPT
The usual applicant is already in an authorised period of post-completion OPT. Check the category and expiration date on the current Employment Authorization Document before planning the extension.
Do not wait until the EAD is about to expire. School review, employer signatures, evidence collection and correction of Form I-983 details take time.
Verify the degree and CIP code
The qualifying bachelor, master or doctoral degree must have a Classification of Instructional Programs code included on the current DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List. The marketing name of a major is not enough.
Compare the CIP code shown in the education record or Form I-20 with the live DHS list. Ask the DSO to resolve any mismatch before an application is submitted.
Check the school requirements
The degree must come from an eligible United States institution that is accredited and certified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program under the applicable rule.
Students relying on a previously earned STEM degree face additional conditions, including timing and school eligibility. Give the DSO the earlier degree, transcript and Form I-20 history for an individual review.
Confirm the employer uses E-Verify
A STEM OPT employer must be enrolled in E-Verify and remain in good standing. Record the correct legal employer name and E-Verify identification information instead of copying an informal brand name.
Confirm which entity will employ, supervise and pay the student. A client worksite does not replace the participating employer’s responsibilities.
Establish a bona fide employment relationship
The employer that signs the training plan must be able to provide and oversee the practical training. The student cannot sign Form I-983 as both employer and employee.
Staffing, consulting and third-party arrangements require careful review because the signing employer must retain a genuine supervisory role and satisfy every training-plan obligation.
Meet the weekly employment standard
Each qualifying STEM OPT employer must provide at least 20 hours of work per week. The position must directly relate to the qualifying STEM degree and follow the objectives in Form I-983.
Keep written duties, hours, supervision, location and compensation details. A title alone does not demonstrate a degree relationship or a compliant training opportunity.
Build an accurate Form I-983
Form I-983 is the formal training plan completed by the student and employer. It describes learning goals, assignments, supervision, assessment methods, compensation and the employer’s attestations.
Use specific duties and measurable objectives. Do not use a generic template that could describe any student, degree or company.
Check compensation and working conditions
The employer attests that the student’s duties, hours and compensation are commensurate with similarly situated United States workers. The opportunity must not displace a full-time or part-time United States worker.
Keep the offer, pay records and the employer’s comparison basis. Questions about wage or labour-law compliance should go to an appropriate professional.
Request the DSO recommendation
Submit the completed Form I-983 and the school’s requested evidence to the DSO. If eligibility is confirmed, the DSO enters the STEM OPT recommendation in SEVIS and issues an updated Form I-20.
Review the employer, degree and requested dates on the new Form I-20. The recommendation does not itself approve the extension.
Use both filing clocks correctly
USCIS permits a properly filed STEM OPT Form I-765 up to 90 days before the current post-completion OPT EAD expires. USCIS must also receive it no more than 60 days after the DSO enters the recommendation in SEVIS.
Both limits matter. Recheck the current form edition, fee, filing method and evidence on the filing date, and retain the complete submission and delivery confirmation.
Understand the automatic employment extension
If Form I-765 is timely and properly filed, employment authorisation may continue for up to 180 days after the current EAD expires while USCIS decides the STEM OPT request, ending earlier if USCIS issues its written decision.
A rejected, late or otherwise improper filing may not provide that protection. Use the receipt notice and current USCIS guidance when completing employment verification.
Respond carefully to USCIS
Track the receipt number, mailing address, online account and any request for evidence. Respond accurately by the stated deadline and preserve a copy of everything sent.
No agent or employer can guarantee approval. Avoid anyone offering invented experience, altered documents or a hidden payment for a compliant-looking training plan.
Complete six-month validation
During STEM OPT, the student must regularly confirm required information with the DSO. DHS describes a six-month validation cycle for the student’s legal name, address, employer name and address, and current employment status.
Follow the school’s process even when nothing changed. Save the confirmation because a missed validation can create an inaccurate SEVIS record.
Report material changes promptly
Required changes to employment or student information must be reported through the DSO within the applicable timeframe. A new employer requires a new Form I-983 and DSO action before the new practical training is treated as compliant.
Material changes can include substantial duty, hour, compensation, worksite or supervision changes. Discuss them before implementation rather than trying to repair the record later.
Submit the 12-month and final evaluations
Form I-983 contains a first evaluation covering the initial 12 months and a final evaluation covering the full training period. DHS says the student submits each evaluation to the DSO no later than 10 days after the relevant reporting period concludes.
An early departure from an employer also requires the appropriate concluding evaluation. Keep signed copies with the training record.
Track the 150-day unemployment limit
A student with approved STEM OPT may not accrue more than 150 aggregate days of unemployment across the initial post-completion OPT and the following STEM extension.
Track every gap from the EAD timeline and retain proof of qualifying employment. International travel does not pause unemployment counting merely because the student is outside the country.
Prepare for a DHS site visit
DHS may conduct a site visit to verify that the employer has the resources, supervision and training described in Form I-983. The employer should keep the plan and responsible personnel accessible.
A visit should reveal the real arrangement described to the DSO, not a paper role created only for immigration records.
Plan travel during STEM OPT
Travel can require a valid passport, valid visa when required, a properly endorsed Form I-20, the EAD and employment evidence. A pending extension or employer change can add practical risk.
Ask the DSO to review the SEVIS record and documents before booking. Admission is decided by Customs and Border Protection at the port of entry.
STEM OPT warning signs
- The major sounds technical, but its CIP code is not verified
- The employer is not an active E-Verify participant
- A third party controls all work and supervision
- Form I-983 contains generic or invented duties
- Form I-765 is filed outside either filing clock
- A job change occurs without a new training plan
- Validation, evaluations or unemployment days are ignored
STEM OPT application workflow
- Verify the degree. Match the CIP code to the current DHS STEM list.
- Verify the employer. Confirm E-Verify participation and real supervision.
- Complete Form I-983. Document the specific training arrangement.
- Request DSO action. Obtain the STEM OPT recommendation and new Form I-20.
- File Form I-765. Meet both filing clocks with current evidence and fee.
- Track the case. Preserve the receipt and answer USCIS accurately.
- Maintain compliance. Report changes, validations, evaluations and unemployment.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the STEM OPT extension?
An approved STEM OPT extension adds 24 months to eligible post-completion OPT.
Does every science degree qualify?
No. The degree’s CIP code must appear on the current DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List and all other conditions must be met.
Must the employer use E-Verify?
Yes. A qualifying STEM OPT employer must participate in E-Verify and meet the training-plan responsibilities.
Can work continue while Form I-765 is pending?
A timely, properly filed STEM OPT application can extend employment authorisation for up to 180 days after the current EAD expires, ending earlier upon the USCIS decision.
How many unemployment days are allowed?
The aggregate maximum is 150 days across post-completion OPT and the 24-month STEM OPT extension.
Official sources
- USCIS: practical training and STEM OPT
- USCIS: Form I-765
- DHS: STEM OPT Hub
- DHS: Form I-983 overview
- ICE: practical training
STEM OPT planning support in Nepal
For a visible review of the United States study pathway, Form I-20 details, degree selection and questions to take to the DSO, use MKS Education study in the USA guidance. For GRE, GMAT, SAT, IELTS or PTE preparation linked to a future degree plan, compare current classes and practice support at MKS Prep. The DSO, employer and USCIS remain responsible for the official STEM OPT process.