STEM OPT application guide

• What is your eligibility category? (c)(3)(C)
• What is your degree? Enter your STEM eligible degree here
• What is your employer's name as listed in E-Verify? Confirm this information with your employer
• What is your employer's E-Verify Company identification number or E-Verify client company identification number? Confirm this information with your employer. This number is not the same as the Employer Identification Number (EIN). 

• What is your reason for applying? Renewal of permission to accept employment
• Have you previously filed Form I-765? As you would have completed the I-765 for your 12 Month OPT Authorization, indicate "Yes"
• Is someone assisting you with completing this application? Only indicate “Yes” if you have used an interpreter or if someone prepared your application for you.

• What is your current legal name? Enter Family Name, Given Name, and Middle Name (If any)
  • If you do not have a Middle Name, you can leave this field blank. Do not put 'N/A' in this field.
  • Your name on the I-765, your most recent I-20, and your passport should be the same. If not, notify OIS.
    
    
• Have you used any other names since birth?: Check “Yes” if you have had previous legal names or names you are commonly called.

• How may we contact you? Enter your U.S. telephone number and email address
  
  
• What is your current U.S. mailing address? This is the address to which your receipt notice and OPT card will be sent. Remember to put an address that will be valid for at least 5 months. Make sure your MyUSCIS account mailing address matches the most recent mailing address you are providing on your I-765. If you move, you may change your mailing address with USCIS.
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• Is your current mailing address the same as your physical address? If your mailing address is different than your physical address, check “no”

• What is your gender? Enter your current legal gender as indicated on your immigration documents
  
  
• What is your marital status? Enter your current legal marital status

• What is your city, town, or village of birth? Enter your city, town, or village of birth
  
  
• What is your state or province of birth? Enter your state or province of birth
  
  
• What is your country of birth? Enter your country of birth
  
  
• What is your date of birth? Enter your date of birth (mm/dd/yyyy format)

• What is your country of citizenship or nationality? Enter your country (or countries) of citizenship
  
  
• What is your I-94 Arrival-Departure Record Number? Enter information from your most recent I-94 document
  • If you have an electronic I-94 document, enter all 11 characters of the Admission (I-94) Record Number.
    • Please look at the sample electronic I-94 on Additional Application Materials, page 11. If your electronic I-94 is missing any of this information or there are other errors, please contact OIS before sending your application.
  • If you have a paper I-94 card, enter all 11 characters of the Departure Number at the top left corner of the card.
  • If you changed status within the U.S. and have only an I-797 Approval Notice confirming your F-1 status, enter all 11 characters of the I-94 number on the bottom right of the I-797.

• When did you last arrive in the United States?
  • Date of arrival: Enter the date you last entered the U.S.
  • Place of arrival: Select the city where you cleared U.S. Customs
  • Status at last arrival: Enter the immigration status you held when you last entered the U.S. and the immigration status you currently hold. If the status you currently hold is not “F-1 - Student” please contact OIS to make an appointment with an International Student Advisor.
    
    
• What is the passport number of your most recently issued passport? Enter your passport number
  
  
• What is your travel document number (if any)? This space should only be completed if you do not have a passport.
  
  
• What is the expiration date of your passport or travel document? Enter the expiration date (mm/dd/yyyy format)
  
  
• What country issued your passport or travel document? Select the country that issued your passport
  
  
• What is your current immigration status or category? Select “F-1 – Student.” If this is not “F-1 - Student” please contact OIS to make an appointment with an International Student Advisor
  
  
• What is your Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) Number? Enter your SEVIS Number. This can be found on your I-20

• What is your A-Number? If you have an A-Number, enter it here. If not, select “I do not have or know my A-Number”
  
  
• What is your USCIS Online Account Number? If you have a USCIS Online Account Number, enter it here. If not, select “I do not have or know my USCIS Online Account Number”
  
  
• Has the Social Security Administration ever officially issued a Social Security card to you?: If you have a Social Security Number, select “Yes”
  • If you do not have a Social Security Number, you will need one to work while on OPT. Get more information about Social Security Numbers.
    
    
• What is your Social Security Number? Enter your Social Security Number
  
  
• Do you want the SSA to issue you a Social Security Card? Select “no” if you have a Social Security Number. Select “yes” if you wish to be issued a Social Security Number
  
  
• Consent For Disclosure: If you have selected “yes” for the SSA to issue you a Social Security Number, select “yes” and provide the requested information

You can get passport-style photos taken at FedEx, the U.S. Post Office, some private shipping companies, and some banks.

• You will need to upload a recent, color photograph of yourself.
• The photos must be in color with a full face, frontal view, on a white to off-white background.
• Your head must be bare unless you are wearing headwear as required by a religious denomination of which you are a member.
• If you need help understanding the requirements, you can use the Department of State’s photo composition tool.

Please do not submit your application before contacting OIS if:

• Your personal information / date of entry / class of information (immigration status) is incorrect in any way, OR
• You are missing the “D/S” notation

Your I-94 may need to be corrected by CBP, and this correction should take place before submitting the OPT application.

(Please note: do not upload the page that appears when you click "Get Travel History")

• Upload a copy of the STEM OPT I-20 provided to you by OIS
  • Be sure to print the electronic STEM OPT I-20, then sign your name and date page one in ink (do not electronically sign)

• Upload a copy of your diploma or transcript for the degree that is the basis of your STEM OPT Extension

• This section is only required to be completed if you are applying for STEM OPT based on a previously-earned STEM degree. If you have not already, please contact OIS if you are applying for OPT based on a previously earned degree. If you are applying for STEM OPT based on your most recently earned STEM degree, you will not need to complete this section.