STEM OPT
Also called STEM OPT extension · 24-month STEM OPT
Only if the six-digit CIP on the I-20 is on the current DHS list, you are already on post-completion OPT, the employer is on E-Verify, and you file I-765 with Form I-983 in time. Scorecard's four-digit 52.13 row does not decide it. A prior U.S. STEM degree can sometimes support the extension even when the MBA CIP is 52.0201, if the job relates to that earlier STEM degree.
STEM OPT is a 24-month extension of post-completion OPT for F-1 students whose degree CIP is on the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List. It is not a standalone 24-month grant. Together with 12-month OPT it can reach 36 months. CIP 52.0201 is not on the list; 52.1301 often is (USCIS STEM OPT; DHS list).
Does a “STEM MBA” brochure get me 36 months?
Only if the six-digit CIP on the I-20 is on the current DHS list, you are already on post-completion OPT, the employer is on E-Verify, and you file I-765 with Form I-983 in time. Scorecard’s four-digit 52.13 row does not decide it. A prior U.S. STEM degree can sometimes support the extension even when the MBA CIP is 52.0201, if the job relates to that earlier STEM degree.
What the 24 months require
| Rule | STEM OPT | Regular OPT | Source / date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Length | 24-month extension | 12 months per level | USCIS |
| CIP | 6-digit on DHS list | Any major related to the job | DHS list |
| Employer | E-Verify + I-983 | More flexible | USCIS |
| Self-employment | Not allowed | Sometimes allowed | USCIS |
| Unemployment | +60 days (150 combined) | 90 days | USCIS cap-gap page |
| 52.0201 | Not eligible | Eligible if related | DHS list |
File up to 90 days before current OPT expires and within 60 days of the DSO’s SEVIS recommendation. A timely filing automatically extends work 180 days while USCIS decides.
Example: Two May MBAs start 12-month OPT in July. A’s I-20 is 52.0201 — no extension. B’s is 52.1301, on the list, E-Verify employer — B can add 24 months. Both still need H-1B or another status after F-1 work ends.
Common errors
- Advertising 36 months as automatic for every MBA
- Filing after OPT expires
- Using a non-E-Verify employer
- Treating a 52.02 Scorecard row as STEM status
FAQ
Is STEM OPT 24 months or 36?
The extension is 24 months. Total F-1 work is 12 + 24 if the student used a full post-completion OPT grant first.
Does cap-gap replace STEM OPT?
No. Cap-gap bridges selected H-1B petitions to October 1. You may file STEM OPT during cap-gap if still eligible, not after cap-gap ends into the 60-day grace period.
If the school recodes the MBA, do alumni qualify?
STEM OPT follows the CIP of the qualifying degree and the I-20/SEVIS record. Recoding future cohorts does not rewrite prior I-20s.
Can I use a non-STEM MBA plus an old STEM bachelor’s?
Sometimes. USCIS allows a prior U.S. STEM degree to support the extension if you are on OPT and the job relates to that STEM degree. Confirm with the DSO.
Related terms
Sources
- Optional Practical Training Extension for STEM Students (USCIS) 24-month extension; E-Verify employer; I-765 up to 90 days before OPT ends
- Applying for Practical Training (ICE) STEM OPT is a 24-month extension of post-completion OPT
- DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List notice Eligibility is six-digit CIP on the DHS list
