Fill out Form I-765 for the STEM OPT extension
The 24-month STEM extension needs a second Form I-765, filed under category (c)(3)(C). It asks for your employer’s E-Verify number, and it is separate from the Form I-983 you give your school.
This tool isn’t ready yet.
Everything on this page is accurate and worth reading now. The I-983 is the form we’ve built first, and it’s the one most people need.
F-1 students on post-completion OPT extending for 24 months on a qualifying STEM degree. You need both this and a completed Form I-983 — they go to two different places.
- Your employer’s E-Verify company ID number
- Your updated I-20 with the STEM OPT recommendation
- Your current EAD card, front and back
- Your qualifying degree and its CIP code
- Your passport biographic page and most recent Form I-94
About Form I-765
How is this different from the I-983?
They go to different places. The I-983 is your training plan and goes to your school’s DSO. This form is your work permit application and goes to USCIS. You need both for the STEM extension.
When do I file it?
You can file up to about 90 days before your current OPT EAD expires, and you must file before it expires. Filing on time also extends your work authorization while USCIS decides. Confirm your dates with your DSO.
Where do I find the E-Verify company ID?
Your employer’s HR team or E-Verify administrator has it. It is not published anywhere, so we cannot look it up for you — but we can check whether your employer appears on the public DHS list of E-Verify participants.
What if my degree is not on the STEM list?
Eligibility depends on the CIP code of your qualifying degree being on the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List. We check your CIP code against that published list and tell you what we found. Whether you qualify is your DSO’s determination, not ours.