To be eligible for STEM OPT, you must:

• Be approved for Optional Practical Training (OPT) based on a bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree in a STEM field that appears on the DHS STEM-Designated Degree Program List.  To see if your Bentley degree is STEM-designated, check your most current Form I-20 under "Major" in the Program of Study box to find the CIP code and then compare it to the DHS list. The Bentley major name may not necessarily be the same as noted on the DHS List, but the CIP code will be the indicator of STEM eligibility.

• You must have a job or a job offer from a qualifying employer. (See below "STEM OPT Employer Eligibility" section for details on employer requirements.)

  Self-employment is not allowed. All employment must be supervised, and the employer must maintain a "bona fide employer-employee" relationship with the student employee. This means that third-party or contracting arrangements may be problematic. See the USCIS website for complete information on employer requirements

To be eligible for STEM OPT, your employer must:

• Be an E-Verify employer. This can be the same employer as during your standard 12-month OPT or a different employer.  The employer must be registered and be in good standing with the E-Verify program.
• Agree to complete and monitor a STEM training plan (Form I-983) and sign periodic evaluations.
• Agree to report to the CISS within 48 hours when you are terminated or leave your employment.
• Have a valid Employer Identification Number (EIN).
• Hire you for at least 20 hours per week. 

Please note that the CISS cannot confirm the eligibility of a STEM employer. You should review the STEM employer requirements from USCIS with your employer to confirm eligibility. 

• You are eligible to submit your application for STEM OPT to USCIS as early as 90 days before your OPT end date
• Your STEM OPT application must be received by USCIS before your OPT end date.

If your STEM OPT application is filed on time (before your OPT end date), you can continue to work for up to 180 days beyond your standard OPT expiration date while your STEM OPT application is pending. You can confirm this here on the USCIS website.

For Form I-9 purposes, employers can use your STEM recommendation Form I-20, which is issued to you by CISS, as well as your expired EAD card as proof of your continued employment authorization. Reference to this is located in the I-9 Employer Handbook.

STEP 1: Read the information on this page carefully and attend a STEM OPT Information Session to understand the complete STEM OPT application process. 

STEP 2: Complete a Form I-983 Training Plan with your employer.  (Refer to this Form I-983 sample and the government Form I-983 instructions for guidance.) This document must be complete and signed by both you and your employer. 

STEP 3: Submit the STEM OPT Request in the CISS Portal to request a STEM OPT recommendation Form I-20. Log in to the CISS Portal and navigate to the "Control Center." Click on the "STEM OPT Request" icon. You will need to upload a copy of your completed Form I-983 Training Plan.  

STEP 4:  Obtain the STEM OPT Recommendation Form I-20 from CISS. You will receive an email from CISS within 5-7 business days notifying you that your Form I-20 STEM OPT recommendation is ready and can be accessed in the CISS Portal.   Print out the form and review the form to verify that the information is correct. Sign and date the Form I-20 at the bottom of page 1. Your requested STEM OPT dates will be listed on page 2 of the Form I-20. 

DO NOT SUBMIT YOUR OPT APPLICATION TO USCIS WITHOUT THE OPT RECOMMENDATION FORM I-20, AS IT WILL BE DENIED. YOU MUST BE PHYSICALLY PRESENT IN THE U.S TO APPLY FOR OPT. 

STEP 5:   Prepare your documents and file your STEM OPT application online with USCIS.  For additional guidance, please review our Tips for Filing your STEM OPT Application.
 

Expediting your STEM Application- Premium Processing 

Applying for Premium Processing allows you to expedite your STEM OPT application for a fee. The United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) has stated that the expected processing timeline for Premium Processing cases is 30 calendar days. USCIS will accept requests for Premium Processing filed with a STEM OPT application.

You can apply for Premium Processing with Form I-907 for a $1,685 fee. This is in addition to the $470 Form I-765 application fee.

Effective March 1, 2026, the fee for Premium Processing with Form I-907 will increase to $1,780.

Students are encouraged to apply for  STEM OPT early within their 90-day application window and to check the  USCIS Form I-765 processing times prior to submitting a Premium Processing request.

Request for Further Evidence (RFE):

• In some cases, USCIS may request additional documentation from you by sending a Request for Further Evidence (RFE). You will also receive an RFE if your application is not complete.
• If you receive an RFE, please read the letter thoroughly. USCIS will explain why you are receiving the RFE and what documentation you need to provide. You must reply to the RFE immediately to ensure that your OPT Application is still adjudicated.
• Receiving an RFE will delay the processing time.

Rejections or Denials:

• If your STEM OPT application is denied or rejected by USCIS, please contact CISS at  GA_CISS@Bentley.edu as soon as possible and attach a copy of your rejection letter or denial notice.
• If your STEM OPT application is denied, the duration of your legal F-1 status reverts to being defined as lasting through the Form I-20 program end date plus 60 days of grace period. If you are still within the grace period, you may stay in the U.S. for the remainder of the 60 days, and you may have the opportunity to submit a new STEM OPT application.

• You will receive an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) once you have been approved for STEM OPT.   
• This card will contain your personal information and STEM OPT employment authorization dates.
• Make sure that your card contains accurate information, including your full legal name.
• You will use this card, along with your F-1 visa and STEM OPT Form I-20, to prove your eligibility to work to work in the U.S. 

Contact the CISS for assistance if your EAD contains incorrect information, or is lost, damaged or stolen.

When your STEM OPT is approved, you will receive an email from SEVP on or around your STEM OPT start date that will instruct you to set up your SEVP Portal. You must follow these instructions and set up your SEVP portal to report your address and employment information. 

STEM OPT reporting requirements are more extensive than OPT reporting requirements. These requirements must be met by the student, the employer, and the CISS. 

1.) Mandatory 6-month Validation Reports (submitted every six months)
Beginning from the start date of your STEM OPT Extension, you are required to submit a "STEM OPT Validation Report" in the CISS Portal every 6 months. This form will be used to validate your status and submit your Self-Evaluation and your Final Evaluation while you are on STEM OPT. We recommend that you calculate the 6-month dates at the start of your OPT employment and set reminders in your calendar of when you need to submit the reports. There is also a reminder chart available to you in your SEVP Portal.

• 6 Months- No Form I-983 Needed
• 12 Months/Self-Evaluation-Upload page 5 of Form I-983
• 18 Months- No Form I-983 Needed
• 24 Months/Final Evaluation- Upload page 5 of Form I-983

Please note that you may receive automatic emails from the SEVIS system about this reporting requirement. You cannot complete validation requirements yourself and must submit the above form to have a CISS advisor validate your record for you.  

2.) Material Changes 
If there are any material changes to the information on the Form I-983 training plan, you must submit an "OPT Employer Update" request in the CISS Portal.  Material changes include but are not limited to changes to your work site, supervisor, role at your company, or the company name. Please see the Department of Homeland Security's STEM OPT Hub to learn about "material changes" to the Form I-983 training plan.

3.) Changes in Information or Address
Report any changes in residential or mailing address, legal name, citizenship, or visa status to the CISS by sending an email to GA_CISS@bentley.edu within 10 days of the change. 

You can change employers during the STEM OPT extension if the new employer meets STEM requirements (see the above section on Employer Eligibility). 

If you change employers, you must submit "STEM OPT Validation Report" in the CISS Portal. 

• Upload a Final Evaluation (page 5 of the Form I-983 Training Plan) from your previous employer.
• Upload a completed new Form I-983 (pages 1-4 of the Form I-983) from your new employer.

Using both of these documents, the CISS will update your employer information in SEVIS, and issue you a new Form I-20. 

*Please note that if your STEM OPT application is still pending with USCIS, there are additional steps to update the service center processing your application. Please email the CISS at GA_CISS@bentley.edu for assistance.

Pending STEM OPT 

Traveling while your STEM OPT application is pending should be undertaken with some caution for the following reasons: 

• USCIS may send you a Request for Further Evidence (RFE) on your STEM OPT application while you are away.
• If your STEM OPT application is approved while you are out of the U.S., you will be expected to have your EAD in hand to re-enter the United States.  USCIS will send the EAD to the U.S. address indicated in your application. 

 You must carry the usual immigration documents with you, including: 

• Passport valid for at least 6 months into the future
• Unexpired F-1 visa
• Most recent Form I-20 signed for travel in the past 6 months
• OPT EAD
• Proof of employment
• Form I-797 STEM OPT Receipt Notice 

Approved STEM OPT 

If your STEM OPT has been approved, you can travel outside of the U.S. and return. You must carry the usual immigration documents with you, including: 

• Passport valid for at least 6 months into the future
• Unexpired F-1 visa
• Most recent Form I-20 updated with STEM OPT Approval and signed for travel in the past 6 months*
• STEM OPT EAD
• Proof of employment 

*Please note that Form I-20 travel signatures are only valid for 6 months during OPT. 

The H-1B status allows U.S. employers to temporarily employ foreign workers in occupations that require the theoretical and practical application of a body of highly specialized knowledge and a bachelor’s degree or higher in a directly related specific specialty (or its equivalent) 

Each year, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security allocates a specific number of H-1B visas in a weighted lottery selection process for a start date of October 1^st. This lottery is completed electronically after a virtual pre-registration process. Once the selection process is complete and the maximum cap is met, selected registrants are eligible to submit their H-1B applications for government adjudication. 

If you are a student who is graduating in the Spring, your F-1 grace period or OPT may end before the October 1st start date of your requested H-1B. To "bridge the gap" between H-1B filing in April and the October start date of your H-1B status, USCIS may authorize a "cap-gap" extension of your F-1 status until September 30^th if you are eligible. 

To be eligible for a cap-gap extension, students must have a pending or approved H-1B petition requesting a change of status, and the petition must be filed before the end of their F-1 status or OPT/STEM OPT period.  

The Cap-Gap extension is available to students whose H-1B was granted as a Change of Status and is on: 

• Approved F-1 OPT
• Approved STEM OPT
• 60-day grace period and have a pending or approved change-of-status for an H-1B petition with USCIS, which was filed before the expiration of their OPT/STEM or 60-day grace period.  

Please be advised that if the employer filed your H-1B (change of status) petition and it is received by USCIS after your post-completion OPT/STEM OPT expires but during your 60-day grace period following OPT, your F-1 status and permission to remain in the U.S. are extended, but you are not eligible to work.

How to Get a “Cap-Gap” Extension

If you are eligible for a cap-gap extension, you do not need to apply for the extension.  The extension should be automatically authorized and reflected in your F-1 SEVIS record once your H1B application is pending with USCIS. SEVIS records are generally updated with Cap Gap Extensions in mid to late April. Once your SEVIS record has been updated, you can complete a Form I-20 Reprint in the CISS Portal, and we will issue you an updated Form I-20 that shows your Cap-Gap extension.

If Your SEVIS Record Does Not Automatically Update

On rare occasions, a SEVIS record may not automatically update.  If it does not automatically update, we will request a copy of your H-1B Receipt Notice so that we can request a correction to your SEVIS record. You will need to obtain this document from your employer or attorney if it has not already been sent directly to you. Generally, updates are made within a few days. After your record has been updated, you can complete a Form I-20 Reprint in the CISS Portal, and we will issue you an updated Form I-20 that shows your Cap-Gap extension.

Additional Considerations

Consult with your H-1B employer/attorney for additional guidance regarding your application or any travel outside of the U.S. Cap-Gap extensions usually end on September 30th, and your F-1 status (with any associated work authorization) will automatically end on this date. If you are the beneficiary of an H-1B application that has not been approved by this date, please refer to your employer or immigration attorney for advice. 

If your H-1B petition is denied, withdrawn, or revoked, you will be given the standard 60-day grace period from the date of the notice to depart the U.S., complete a SEVIS transfer to a school, or apply for a change of status. In this case, please contact your employer or legal counsel for further guidance. 

For additional information on the Cap Gap Extension, go to the Department of Homeland Security, Study in the States SEVIS HELP HUB page for F-1 Cap Gap Extension.