The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced updated policy guidelines for international students’ eligibility for Optional Practical Training (OPT) in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields.
The revised guidelines, effective from August 27, provide clarity on rules related to online study, school transfer, grace period and study abroad programmes. These will apply to all pending and future requests.
OPT duration extended for STEM students
According to USCIS, international students in STEM will now get up to three years of OPT, while students in non-STEM fields will get one year of OPT. This will give students the opportunity to gain more work experience in the country.
Online Study Allowances
Eligible students will now be able to count up to one class per academic session or a maximum of three credits across their entire course of study, without violating F1 visa conditions. It should be noted that the class is taken online or via distance learning, which means it does not require any physical attendance.
School Transfer
The new policy now allows eligible students to transfer between U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)-certified Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) schools at the same academic level or even switch between different academic levels.
Post Completion OPT
The new guidelines state that students who have completed associate, bachelor, master or doctoral degree programmes are now eligible for OPT after completion.
OPT Extension
Students will now be able to apply for a STEM OPT extension up to 90 days before their current employment authorization expires.
To be eligible for the 24-month STEM OPT extension, they will need a valid post-completion OPT period; a qualifying STEM degree from an accredited institution; and be working with an employer enrolled in E-Verify.
60-day grace period
Once they complete their OPT, students receive a 60-day grace period. During this time, they remain eligible to change their educational level, consider transferring to another SEVP-certified school, or apply for a change to another nonimmigrant or immigrant status.
During this period, employers can also sponsor the student’s H-1B visa.
Clarification on application period
The revised manual corrects the timeframe during which students can apply for STEM OPT extensions, as well as other technical adjustments to ensure that students can submit their applications.
Guidelines for Study Abroad Program
Students enrolled at SEVP-certified schools will be able to maintain active status in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) during study abroad programs if the duration is less than five months. For longer programs, they will need a new Form I-20.
Students who receive a STEM OPT extension must report any changes to their legal name, address or employment details to the DSO within 10 days. Even if there are no changes, they must still confirm their information every six months.