24-mONTH STEM EXTENSION TUTORIAL

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24-mONTH STEM EXTENSION TUTORIAL

• Effective May 10, 2016
• International Student Scholar Services
• Center for International Studies

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Definition of STEM Extension

• STEM Extension
• an additional 24 months of post-completion
  Optional Practical Training (OPT) granted to
  certain government designated STEM-degree holders
  in the fields of Science, Technology,
  Engineering, and Mathematics

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Eligibility for STEM Extension

• A student can apply for a STEM Extension if
• The student is currently participating in
  post-completion OPT, or in an authorized period
  of 17-month STEM Extension with at least 150 days
  remaining before the end of the students
  17-month OPT end date (on or after October 7,
  2016).
• The student is currently working for a U.S.
  employer in a paid job (at least 20 hours per
  week) directly related to the students major
  area of study.
• The student must have successfully completed a
  bachelors, masters, or doctoral degree in a
  field on the STEM Designated Degree Program List
  from an accredited, SEVP-certified, U.S.
  institution of higher education, or must have
  completed all course requirements but still
  completing his or her thesis, dissertation,
  starred paper, or capstone.
• The students employer must be registered with
  the E-Verify employment verification system and
  have an IRS Employer Identification Number
  (EIN). 
• Under certain circumstances, a student may use a
  prior STEM degree from a currently accredited
  SEVP-certified school. To do so, the student
  must
• Have received their most recent degree (which
  does not need to be a STEM Designated Degree
  Program) from an SEVP-certified school that is
  currently accredited.
• Have received their prior, qualifying STEM degree
  (at the bachelors level or higher) within 10
  years preceding the date of application for the
  STEM OPT extension with USCIS.

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Eligibility for STEM Extension

• A student CANNOT apply for a STEM Extension if
• The student's post-completion OPT period has
  expired.
• The student has not completed all degree
  requirements necessary for degree conferral.
• The student has already received a STEM Extension
  of any duration at the same level of which the
  student is now wanting to apply. A student must
  earn a second qualifying degree for application
  for their second STEM Extension.
• The student has exceeded 90 days of unemployment
  during their post-completion OPT period.

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Application Documents

• STEM Extension Request
• Form I-983 Training Plan
• Original, signed Form I-765
• Form G-1145 (recommended)
• Official Transcript
• Copies of current and all previous forms I-20
  (pages 1 3)
• Two (2) U.S. style passport style photos (for
  information on passport style photos click here)
• Write your I-94 card number on the back
• Photos must be taken within 30 days of filing
  your application
• Please submit the photos in the envelope/folder
  from where they were taken
• Please submit the receipt of purchase (if
  possible)
• I-94 Information Screen (retrieve here)
• COLOR copy of valid passport (biographical and
  extension pages)
• Application fee 380 (cost subject to change
  without notice)
• Money order is recommended, but you may use a
  personal check.
• Make payable to U.S. Department of Homeland
  Security
• COLOR copies of all previous Employment
  Authorization Documents (front and back)
• Letter from your employer
• The letter must include the following

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(No Transcript)
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Form I-983 Training Plan

• Instructions for filling out Form I-983

Item Important Information
Student email address Enter your personal email address
Name of school where STEM Degree was earned Enter St. Cloud State University However, if the STEM application is based on a degree program from a previous SEVIS-certified, accredited school, enter that school name here.
SEVIS School Code of school recommending STEM OPT SCSU Main Campus SPM214F00271000 SCSU Twin Cities Campus SPM214F00271001
Designated School Official (DSO) This will be completed by CIS upon submission
Qualifying Major and Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) Code This can be found on the 1st page on your I-20 under Program of Study or under 5 on the old I-20. CIP code is in this form XX.XXXX
Level/Type of Qualifying Degree Undergraduate, Graduate, or Doctoral
Date Awarded This is the date that your degree was conferred (see your official transcript)
Employment Authorization Number This is the A number on your OPT EAD card.
Section 3 and Section 4 These sections are to be completed by the students employer
Section 5 This section is to be completed by the student and the employer
Section 6 This section is to be completed by the students employer
Evaluation on Student Progress This section is to be completed by the student and employer at the students 12 month date of the STEM Extension
Final Evaluation on Student Progress This section is to be completed by the student and employer at the students 24 month date of the STEM Extension
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Do not write anything here.
Make sure this box is checked.
Be sure to enter (C) (3) (C).
Use YOUR address
Enter the degree level, employer name, and
E-Verify number
Sign in blue ink
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(No Transcript)
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Drop-Off Procedures

• In order to apply for OPT, the student must
  submit the following to the Center for
  International Studies
• STEM Extension Request
• Form I-983 Training Plan
• Original, signed Form I-765
• USCIS uses special scanners to read forms
  submitted during immigration application
  processes.
• Handwritten forms often result in errors as these
  scanners are not able to read them accurately. In
  order to reduce the occurrence of errors, which
  may result delays in processing and adjudication
  of your STEM Extension Application we now require
  that you download form I-765, type in the
  required information, print out the form, and
  sign using blue ink.
• Please note that the scanners will not read
  information that is greyed out, highlighted, or
  corrected using correction fluid or tape.
• Form G-1145 (recommended)
• USCIS uses special scanners to read forms
  submitted during immigration application
  processes.
• Handwritten forms often result in errors as these
  scanners are not able to read them accurately. In
  order to reduce the occurrence of errors, which
  may result delays in processing and adjudication
  of your STEM Extension Application we now require
  that you download form G-1145, type in the
  required information, and print out the form.
• Please note that the scanners will not read
  information that is greyed out, highlighted, or
  corrected using correction fluid or tape.
• Official Transcript
• Letter from your employer
• The letter must include the following
• Employer's name as listed in E-Verify
• Employer's E-Verify company identification number
• Explanation of job responsibilities/duties
• Pay

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Next Steps

• An advisor at the Center for International
  Studies will
• Review the requested forms
• Request the STEM Extension in SEVIS and issue a
  new I-20
• Email the student to notify them that their I-20
  has been issued and that the student should
  gather the rest of the application items for
  delivery to USCIS

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Payment Information

• Requirements
• May be a personal check, money order or bank
  check (380.00)
• If you are using a friends check, write your
  name and I-94 number on the check in the
  "memo/for" section.
• Sign the front of the check only, not the back.

Date
U. S. Department of Homeland Security
380.00
Three hundred eighty dollars and 00/100
Sign Name Here
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Photographs

• Requirements
• Must be taken within past 30 days
• Cannot be same photo as in passport, visa, or
  current EAD card
• White background
• Must be U.S. passport size, not your home country
  passport size
• Write your name I-94 number on the back of each
  photo in pencil

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Mailing your OPT Application

• The student must sign (in blue ink) their new
  I-20 (keep the original and make a copy to submit
  to USCIS)
• The student is responsible for mailing their own
  application packet to USCIS
• For U.S. Postal Service (USPS)
• USCIS
• P.O. Box 21281
• Phoenix, AZ 85036
• For Express mail and courier service deliveries
• USCIS
• Attn AOS
• 1820 E. Skyharbor Circle S
• Suite 100
• Phoenix, AZ 850
• The student must file their application within 60
  days from when the DSO signed the I-20.

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USCIS Authorization

• The student will receive a receipt notice within
  2-3 weeks status of the application may be
  tracked online at www.uscis.gov by entering the
  students receipt number
• Applications are adjudicated by USCIS within 3-4
  months (current processing times)
• If the student receives a Request for Evidence
  (RFE), the student may ask CIS for guidance in
  submitting the additional required documentation
• If the students STEM Extension is approved, the
  student will be issued a new Employment
  Authorization Document (EAD).
• If the student files a timely STEM Extension
  Application, the student may continue working
  while the STEM Extension Application is pending,
  for up to 180 days beyond the students OPT end
  date. All work during this time will count as
  part of the STEM Extension.
• If the students STEM Extension is still pending
  after 90 days or the STEM Extension has been
  approved but the student hasnt received the new
  EAD card the student must contact USCIS directly
  for more information.

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Maintaining Status While on STEM Extension

• Unemployment
• Students unemployed for 150 days in aggregate
  (OPT and STEM) are no longer in valid F-1 status
  and must depart the U.S. immediately
• Reporting
• The student must submit a new Form I-983 Training
  Plan to CIS within 10 days of working for a new
  employer
• The student must report to CIS if employment ends
  (provide a letter from the employer stating
  termination of employment)
• Every 12 months the student must submit a new
  Form I-983 Training Plan to CIS (once at 12
  months and another at 24 months)
• Travel outside the U.S.
• Students may travel outside of the U.S. while
  authorized for a STEM Extension, however, they
  must be able to provide the following
• Valid passport (at least 6 months in advance)
• Valid F-1 student visa
• Recently signed I-20 (must be signed within 6
  months while on STEM Extension)
• Valid EAD card
• End of STEM Extension
• Students who maintain status during OPT and STEM
  with all reporting requirements and avoiding
  accrual or 150 unemployment days have a 60 grace
  period after the end date listed on their EAD
  card.

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While on STEM Extension, notify CIS

• If you change your address, name, or email
  (within 10 days)
• If you plan to transfer to another degree program
  level or another institution
• If you plan to leave the country and plan not to
  return
• If you change your immigration status (i.e. to
  H-1B).

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STEM Reporting

• At 6, 12, and 18-month intervals students must
  validate that all information is correct and
  up-to-date.
• https//www5.stcloudstate.edu/internationalstudies
  /opt/
• If you do not report your STEM Employment, the
  days will count towards your total of 150 days of
  unemployment. Once SEVIS counts 150 days, your
  SEVIS record will be automatically TERMINATED and
  you will be required to leave the U.S.
  immediately.

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Important Points to Remember

• Students must allow 5 full business days after
  submission of a complete application for the
  Center for International Studies to process their
  request.
• A student may file their STEM Extension packet up
  to 90 days before their post-completion OPT end
  date.   However, the application packet must be
  sent to USCIS within 60 days from when CIS issues
  the new I-20.
• A students graduation from St. Cloud State
  University must be conferred in order to submit
  an application packet to USCIS or the student
  must provide a letter from his or her academic
  advisor explaining why the students degree has
  not yet been conferred.
• A students application packet must be received
  by USCIS before the their post-completion OPT end
  date.
• While the students STEM Extension application is
  pending, the students post-completion OPT is
  automatically extended until the STEM Extension
  is approved or for 180 days, whichever is
  earlier.
• Any change in name, address, employer, or
  employment status is required to be reported to
  CISs within 10 days.
• The student must validate their STEM Employment
  to CIS at 6, 12, and 18-month intervals. Failure
  to do so will result in automatic SEVIS
  termination.
• Students are allowed a maximum of 150 days of
  employment (OPT and STEM Extension).

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QUESTIONS?

• For questions please contact the Center for
  International Studies
• St. Cloud State University
• Lawrence Hall, Room 101
• St. Cloud, MN 56301
• http//www.stcloudstate.edu/internationalstudies/c
  ontact.aspx
• 320-308-4287