OPT STEM Extension Visa for U.S. International Students
International students planning to pursue academics as well as careers in science, engineering, technology, and mathematics disciplines, known as STEM, have traditionally been allowed to work full-time for a total duration of 36 months in the United States. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement permits international students planning to pursue full-time undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in the US to work for up to 36 months once they complete their STEM- designated degrees. The permission is mostly automatic, and as long as you follow the rules and regulations as they relate to the STEM visa, your petition will be approved.
What is a STEM Degree in the US
STEM degrees focus exclusively on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, including physics, chemistry, biology, biotechnology, and many other physical and natural sciences as well as related fields. Some related fields include data science, data analytics, business analytics, economics, project management, and degrees in AI.
How to check if the degree you wish to pursue in the U.S. is STEM-designated?
You can check the course page on your target university’s website. If a STEM designation is not
clearly visible on the course page, you can write directly to the international students' office of the
university you are targeting and ask.
You can go to your favorite AI platform, such as Chat GPT, Perplexity, DeepSeek, Meta, and others,
and ask for the CIP code of a specific degree. The CIP code will clearly indicate if the degree is
STEM-designated or not. For instance, a specialized degree such as biochemistry would be
considered a STEM degree. Similarly, all engineering degree programs are considered STEM
degrees, as is the case with technology degrees such as information technology, food technology,
and manufacturing technology. MBAs are generally not considered STEM degrees unless their
curriculum includes a strong technology component. Please write to the business school and
inquire about the STEM-designated status of the degree you are planning to pursue.
A degree in any branch of mathematics is considered a STEM degree. Unfortunately, most law and
architecture degrees do not fall under the STEM category.
Implications of the STEM Visa for International Students
Once you complete your undergraduate or postgraduate STEM-designated degree as a full-time student in the U.S., you can trigger the Optional Practical Training Visa, also known as OPT, and work for 1+2 years. That is plenty of time for you to get an H-1B visa, which is valid for up to six years, assuming your employer is open to filing H-1 B petitions. Initially, several years ago, you could only work for six months on the OPT visa, and you then had to return to your home country.
More benefits of the STEM Visa
The second major advantage of the STEM visa is that you can safely withdraw 2 months from your 36-month STEM visa quota and apply for paid internships during the summer of your freshman year, immediately after studying at your U.S. university for two consecutive semesters. You will file your visa petition under the CPT Visa Program. You can do so during the summer of your sophomore and junior year too.
Minimal Restrictions on the OPT Visa
There are virtually no restrictions on the type of jobs you are eligible to apply for under the OPT visa as long as the job is full-time, within your field, and is offered by a registered business organization that meets the eligibility standards set forth by Immigration and the U.S. Department of Labor. If you have already arrived in the U.S. and are currently pursuing a STEM degree, please schedule an appointment with your international student office to learn more about the transition.
Concluding Thoughts
The OPT visa and the STEM extension continue to undergo changes and modifications intermittently. Please visit our USA Instagram page, where we post updates regularly. At Alphabet Education, we strive continuously to mentor you effectively so that you gain admission to top-flight universities not only in the U.S. but also to reputed schools around the world. Schedule a Zoom Call with us and receive reliable answers to your questions.