The STEM OPT Extension Request will appear as an option in the OISS Portal ONLY if both of the following eligibility conditions are met:
- You have completed a degree listed in the STEM Designated Degree Program List
- It is 100 days or less from the end date of your Post-Completion OPT
- You should not submit the online I-765 application until after obtaining and uploading your I-20 with STEM OPT recommendation. To receive your STEM OPT I-20, submit the STEM OPT request at the OISS Portal.
Please Note
Whether applying online or by paper, you should keep in mind that the I-765 application is your personal application for employment authorization. You are responsible for following all USCIS instructions and making sure that the application is correct and complete. Northwestern University and NU’s OISS will NOT have access to your application and cannot correct, edit, or change any information on your application for you. If you have any issues or questions regarding your I-765 application, you will need to work directly with USCIS. OISS advisors can provide some guidance and help if you do need to contact USCIS; we encourage you to communicate with OISS for assistance.
Step 1: Prepare Your Documents
When you submit the online I-765 application for OPT or OPT STEM Extension, you will need to prepare to enter the following information and upload the following documents. You will enter information and upload photos and documents into myUSCIS once you start your application.
Please review the Online STEM OPT Application Checklist for a list of documents we recommend you include in your online OPT application.
Prepare Your Digital Photos
You must prepare a digital passport-style photo taken within the last thirty days and the photo must follow the US Department of State guidelines. Please review the following resources
Be sure to check that your photo file has an acceptable name that follows USCIS's file name formatting and is saved as either a .jpeg / .jpg or .png file type. The online OPT application has a photo tool you can use to check your photo.
Prepare Digital Copies of Required Documents
Save all documents as .pdf or .jpeg documents and follow USCIS's requirements for file names using English letters, numbers, spaces, periods, hyphens, underscores, and parentheses only.
- Your STEM OPT Extension I-20
- First you must submit the STEM OPT request at the OISS Portal to receive a new I-20 with your STEM OPT recommendation.
- Be sure to sign your new I-20 in ink at the bottom of page 1, in the "Student Attestation" section.
- Confirm your I-20 has your STEM OPT recommendation on page 2.
- If you are applying for your STEM OPT extension based on a previously earned STEM designated degree prior to your degree at Northwestern, include your previous school I-20
Step 2: Create Your myUSCIS Account
Create a myUSCIS Account on uscis.gov
- Set up your myUSCIS account by going to uscis.gov and selecting "Sign In" --> "Create Account"
- You can also create an account from the main USCIS home page at https://www.uscis.gov --> "Sign up”
- Another option is to go to the File Online section of the USCIS web site and clicking on the "Create an Account or Sign In" box
Review USCIS's Tips
Once you create your myUSCIS account, read through USCIS's Tips for Filing Forms Online page. After you have reviewed the information, start your online I-765 application (next step).
Step 3: Prepare and Submit your Online I-765 Application for STEM OPT Extension
Important Notes on Timing
You will be able to save and return to the application at a later time and date, but you should complete all application steps within 60 days of the STEM OPT I-20 issuance date and no later than the last day of your post-completion OPT period.
Completing the Online I-765 for STEM OPT Extension
Section 1: “Getting Started”
- Basis of eligibility: select the correct eligibility code
- (c)(3)(C) Stem Extension for the 24-month STEM Extension of OPT (after post-completion OPT for STEM Designated Programs)
- For the STEM OPT Extension, select “renewal of permission to accept employment”
- Select “yes” to “have you previously filed form I-765?
Section 2: “About You”
- Your name:
- Include any names you have identified as currently or in the past
- Current mailing address: this should be a valid address where you can receive your STEM OPT application materials including the mailed paper receipt notice, approval notice, and EAD card. This should be an address where you can receive mail for approximately 6 months into the future in case of application processing delays.
- If you will move from your current apartment or travel internationally earlier than 6 months into the future, we recommend you include a friend or family member’s address in your I-765. Put their name in the “in care of” field.
- You can also obtain a Post Office Box to receive your mail from USCIS.
- Mail from USCIS will come from the U.S. Postal Service, or USPS. You can sign up for informed delivery to receive notifications about mail you receive.
- Under “where in the United States do you live” enter your current address even if you will move during your STEM OPT application process.
Section 3: “Evidence”
To complete the online I-765 form, you will need to upload required documents and evidence.
- “2 x 2 photo of you”: follow the guidelines outlined in this section and use the resources provided to ensure your photo is acceptable
- photo must follow the US Department of State Photo Composition Template
- “Form I-94”: Your I-94 entry record
- “Employment Authorization Document”: Upload your passport biographical page here
- Also include your previous EAD card(s).
- If you do not have your previous EAD card, you can upload your approval notice or receipt notice for that period of OPT with a statement explaining your EAD card was lost, your OPT dates, and your program information.
- “Form I-20”: Most recent I-20 with OPT STEM Extension recommendation
- Request a new I-20 with an OPT STEM recommendation at the OISS Portal
- Verify your STEM OPT recommendation at the top of page 2 of your I-20. Be sure to check this STEM OPT recommendation as soon as you receive your new I-20.
- Be sure to print, sign (in ink) and then scan your STEM OPT I-20 before you upload it.
- The STEM OPT I-20 must be uploaded and your complete I-765 application submitted to USCIS within 60 days from the I-20 issue date and BEFORE your current post-completion OPT expires.
- “College Degree”: upload a copy of your STEM Degree and your transcript
- “Institution Accreditation”: this section only applies to students applying for their STEM OPT Extension based on a degree earned previous to your most recent degree at Northwestern.
- Upload your previous school’s form I-20, degree and transcript if you are applying for STEM OPT based on a previously earned degree.
- Any other evidence relevant to your application and your particular circumstances.
Section 4: “Additional Information”
This section is to provide additional explanation or information for your responses in your I-765 or for your uploaded evidence. This section does not allow for uploads.
In this section you can include additional information such as:
- Previous SEVIS ID #s (Section: About You; Page: Your immigration information; Question: What is your SEVIS number?)
- If you have missing I-20s for previously authorized CPT or OPT, include those details in a written explanation here (Section: Evidence, Page: Form I-20, Question: I-20 Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status)
- If you have multiple citizenships and uploaded different passport biographical pages, this is a good place to include the explanation of your dual citizenship while emphasizing which citizenship was used to obtain your F-1 status. (Section: Evidence, Page: Form I-20, Question: I-20 Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status)
- If your degree program was recently changed to a STEM OPT Extension eligible program and your initial I-20 has a different major name or CIP code listed, contact your OISS Advisor to request a letter from the Registrar outlining this change. Write a statement of explanation here and upload the letter under evidence in the college degree section. (Section: Evidence, Page: College degree, Question: College degree)
- If you are applying for the STEM OPT Extension based on a previously obtained degree, include a statement here to explain that this application for STEM OPT is based on your previous degree. (Section: Evidence, Page: College degree, Question: College degree)
Section 5: “Review and Submit”
MyUSCIS will review your application for accuracy and completeness. Correct any errors under the “alerts and warnings” section. If there are no alerts or warnings, your application has been checked for completeness. There is an option to print this page or save your draft I-765 as a .pdf file. It is recommended that you save your draft before submitting.
Submit Payment
- Once your application is complete, the system will direct you to Pay.gov, a US government payment site, to pay the required I-765 application fee.
- There, you will be able to pay the application fee using a US credit / debit card or through an ACH transfer (direct withdrawal) from your US checking account.
- If you pay by direct withdrawal, you will need to provide your bank account number and your bank's ABA routing number
- Look at a copy of a bank check or bank statement from your account for your account number and your bank's ABA routing number or contact your bank for assistance.
- You cannot change or edit your I-765 application responses after payment has been submitted.
- The fee is non-refundable once payment has been made.
- You can print out an electronic receipt from your myUSCIS portal.
- A paper receipt will follow in the mail a few weeks after the electronic submission
*Do NOT submit your online STEM OPT Extension application without your STEM OPT I-20 with your STEM OPT recommendation. You request this I-20 by submitting the STEM OPT Request at the OISS Portal. *
Step 4: Monitor your Account for Updates and Follow-up
Monitor Your myUSCIS Portal
After you have submitted your STEM OPT application, you are responsible for monitoring your USCIS account for messages and updates. Through your account, you should be able to:
- print an electronic receipt (a paper receipt will also be mailed to you)
- send additional information, in case you receive a request for additional evidence (RFE) from USCIS
- communicate with USCIS about your case
- print a PDF version of your application for your records
It is recommended that you notify your OISS Advisor if USCIS requests any additional information regarding your case, so that we can help to advise you on your options. However, you will have the option of communicating directly with USCIS regarding your case and submitting responses to any requests for additional evidence or information.
Biometrics Appointment
In most cases, F-1 students will NOT be required to schedule a biometrics appointment with USCIS as a part of the I-765 application process. A biometrics appointment involves appearing at a USCIS Application Support Center to have your photographs, fingerprints, and signature taken. If you are asked to do a biometrics appointment, you will receive a notice from USCIS to schedule an appointment.
Change of U.S. Address
While your OPT is processing, we do not recommend you change your mailing address. If you believe you will move during your OPT application process, please use a friend or family member’s address as your mailing address.
If you need to change your US address and need to have your EAD sent to another US mailing address, you should update your address information in your USCIS account portal by following the change of address instructions on USCIS's Tips for Filing Forms Online page.
Remember, it is a requirement of your F-1 status to make address updates within 10 days of any change. Once your OPT is approved, you can make address updates at the SEVP Portal. If you need to update your address while your OPT is pending, email your OISS Advisor with your new address.
If you have any doubts or questions…
OISS Advisors offer general guidance on Optional Practical Training (OPT) and OPT STEM Extension applications as a courtesy to NU students. We make every attempt to ensure that we provide you with the most up to date information available. However, any advice provided to you by our office does not constitute legal advice. You should always independently check all deadlines and all OPT and STEM OPT application documents for accuracy before mailing them or submitting them online to United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
The OPT application is a personal application for which you are responsible. The application preparation and USCIS case decision will vary depending on the facts at issue in your particular case. While OISS exercises best efforts to provide you with the most current guidance, please be aware that USCIS may change its interpretation of applicable policies, procedures, regulations, and eligibility requirements at any time. OISS is not responsible for, and expressly disclaims liability for, any errors or omissions relating to your OPT application and any decisions made by USCIS. For legal advice, students are encouraged to consult with a licensed and experienced immigration attorney at their own expense.
You can schedule an appointment with your OISS advisor or send them an email with specific questions.
Disclaimer Statement
The Northwestern University Office of International Student & Scholar Services (OISS) offers guidance on Optional Practical Training (OPT) and OPT STEM processes as a courtesy to NU students. We make every attempt to ensure that we provide you with the most up to date information available. However, any advice provided to you by our office does not constitute legal advice. You should always independently check all deadlines and all OPT and STEM OPT application documents for accuracy before mailing them or submitting them online to United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The OPT application is a personal application for which you are responsible. The application preparation and USCIS case decision will vary depending on the facts at issue in your particular case. While OISS exercises best efforts to provide you with the most current guidance, please be aware that USCIS may change its interpretation of applicable policies, procedures, regulations, and eligibility requirements at any time. OISS is not responsible for, and expressly disclaims liability for, any errors or omissions relating to your OPT application and any decisions made by USCIS. For legal advice, students are encouraged to consult with a licensed and experienced immigration attorney at their own expense.
