Building the STEM OPT Application Packet

Follow the below step-by-step instructions to build your STEM OPT application packet. See the examples and watch the videos for more help assembling your documents.

Remember these Tips for Success when completing your STEM OPT application:

• Always track your own mail when sending documents to USCIS. The tracking number is your confirmation that USCIS received your application.
• Always check the USCIS website for the most up-to-date forms, fees, and filing locations.

When printing and organizing documents:

• Print USCIS forms in black ink.
• Copies may be black and white or color.
• Print single-sided, not front and back.
• When needed, sign with a black pen.
• Do not staple documents together. Use paperclips to attach pages.

Continue working after you submit your STEM OPT Application:

• Students are authorized to continue employment for up to 180 days after the expiration of the post-completion OPT , if they have “ timely and properly ” file d a STEM OPT Extension application with USCIS . (See 8 CFR 214.2(f)(11)(i)(C) )
• Update your I-9 with your employer:
  • You can show your expired EAD and signed STEM OPT I-20. Your employer should enter the following information under List A in Section 2 of the I-9:
    • EAD document title;
    • EAD document number;
    • Date the EAD expired in the expiration date space; and
    • “180-day ext.” in the Additional Information field.

    Resources for you and your employer regarding STEM OPT are found at the STEM OPT HUB .

    Photos

    USCIS requires you to submit 2 passport style photographs with your application for STEM OPT. You should not use the same photos you used when applying for post-completion OPT.

    • Photos should measure 2 inches x 2 inches.
    • Double check your photo measurements against the guidelines in the image.

    On the back of each photo, write:

    • Your name
    • Your date of birth
    • Your SEVIS ID (NXXXXXXXXXX)

    Payment

    There are three different ways you can pay for your OPT application:

    • Credit Card
    • Check
    • Money Order

    NEVER send cash with your application.

    The current fee for OPT applications is $410. Always check the USCIS website for the most up-to-date fees.

    Check

    To pay using a personal check or cashiers/bank check, follow these instructions:

    1. Date the check.
    2. Pay to the order of: U.S. Department of Homeland Security
    3. Write in number the dollar amount of the fee.
    4. Write in words the dollar amount of the fee.
    5. For/Memo: I-765 OPT Application and include your SEVIS ID (NXXXXXXXXXX)
    6. For personal checks, sign the front.

    NEVER sign the back of the check.

    Credit Card

    1. Applicant’s Information- Fill in your Full Legal Name
    2. Credit Card Billing Information- Fill in the name of the credit card holder
       • Fill in the Billing Address for the credit card
       • Don’t forget to sign!
       • Fill in the contact information for the credit card holder
    3. Credit Card Information- Fill in the card number, expiration date, card type, and payment amount .
       • Always double check that your card information is correct.

    If you are paying by credit card, it is advisable that you let your financial institution know about the upcoming payment to USCIS. If the payment is stopped as being fraudulent, USCIS may not be able to process your application.

    G-1145 (Optional)

    The G-1145/e-Notification of Application/Petition Acceptance is a form you can use if you w ant USCIS to send you a text and /or email when they receive your application .

    This form is optional and USCIS may not use it.

    1. Fill in your full legal name
    2. Fill in the email address where you want to receive notification
    3. Fill in the phone number where you want to receive notification

    I-765

    Paper Application

    Before you start, visit the USCIS website to ensure that you have the most up to date version of the I-765.

    The I-765 , Application for Employment Authorization is used for many types of employment authorizations , including OPT and STEM OPT Extension . N ot every question may be applicable to you.

    

    Leave the box at the top of the page blank.

    Start filling out the form where it says, “START HERE.”

    Part 2 . Information About You

    • Select 1 .c . because you are applying for STEM OPT Extension, a renewal of your work authorization.

    Part 2 . Information About You

    • Your Full Legal Name
      • 1 . a . W rite your family name
      • 1 . b . W rite your given name
      • 1 . c . W rite your middle name
      • USCIS wants to know of any other legal names you may have that are written on official documents. Enter those names below. If you do not have any other legal names leave these blank.

      Part 2 . Information About You (continued)

      

      • Your U.S. Mailing Address
        • 5 . a . If you will not be receiving the mail from USCIS, write the name of the person who will be receiving the receipt notices and EAD card in the mail on your behalf. Do not put your name here.
        • 5.b. Write the street name and number of your mailing address
        • 5.c. Select if you live in an Apt. (apartment), Ste. (suite), or Flr . (floor) and write the number in the blank
        • 5.d. Write the city of your mailing address
        • 5.e. Select the state abbreviation of your mailing address from the drop down menu
        • 5.f. Write the zip code of your mailing address
        • 6. Select Yes if your mailing address is the same as your physical address where you live. Select No if you are having your EAD card mailed to an address where you do not live.
      • U.S. Physical Address
        • If you selected Yes to question 6, leave this blank.
        • If you selected No to question 6:
          • 7.a. Write the street name and number of your mailing address
          • 7.b. Select if you live in an Apt. (apartment), Ste. (suite), or Flr . (floor) and write the number in the blank
          • 7.c. Write the city of your mailing address
          • 7.d. Select the state abbreviation of your mailing address from the drop down menu
          • 7.e. Write the zip code of your mailing address
      • Other Information
        • 8. Write the USCIS Number listed on your OPT EAD card.
        • 9. Fill this in only if you have applied for an USCIS O nline Account .
        • 10. Select your Gender.
        • 11. Select your Marital Status
        • 12. Select yes.
        • 13.a. Select if the Social Security Administration has ever officially issued you a Social Security Number.
        • 13.b. Write your Social Security number
          • Leave this question blank if you selected no in question 13.a.
          • Write your SSN if you selected Y es in question 13.a.
        • 14. If you do not have a Social Security Number, select Yes and go to question 15. If you already have a Social Security Number, select No and go to question 18.a.
          • REMEMBER: If you already have an SSN, you do not need another one.
        • 15. If you answered No to question 14, s elect yes to authorize SSA to review your information and issue you an SSN.
          • If you already have an SSN, you should leave question 15 blank.
          • If you answered yes to questions 14 and 15 , answer questions 16.a. – 17.b.
        • 16.a. Write your father’s last name.
        • 16.b. Write your father’s first name.
        • 17.a. Write your mother’s last name .
        • 17.b . Write your mother’s firs t name.
      • Your Country or Countries ofCitizenship orNationality
        • 18.a. Write your country of Citizenship.
        • 18.b. If you have a second citizenship, w rite your country of additional c itizenship. If you are only a citizen of one country, leave this blank.

      

      Part 2 . Information About You (continued)

      • Place of Birth
        • 19.a. Write your City/ Town/Village of B irth 19.b. Write your State/Province of B irth
        • 19.c. Write your Country of Birth
        • 20. Write your Date of Birth (mm/dd/ yyyy )
        • 21. a. Write your I-94 Arrival-Departure Record found on your most recent I-94.
        • 21.b. Write your most recently issued VALID passport number.
        • 21.c. If you used a travel document (not a passport) to travel to the United States, write the travel document number here. If you entered a passport number in 21.b., leave blank.
        • 21.d. Write the c ountry that issued your passport or travel document
        • 21.e. Write the e xpiration d ate listed in your passport or travel document (mm/dd/ yyyy ).
        • 22. Write the Date of your last Arrival into the United States . You can find it on your I-94.
        • 23. Write the P lace of your last arrival into the United States . You can find it on your I-94. You can w rite the airport code and city name.
        • 24. Write your Immigration Status at your Last Arrival . If you entered last time as F – 1 list “F-1 Student .” I f you last entered in another visa status, such as “ H-4 Dependent” or “ B-2 Visitor , ” list that visa type .
        • 25. Write “F-1 Student . ”
        • 26. Write your SEVIS Number. This number can be found on the top left corner of your I-20.
        • 27. Write (C)( 3)( C) to show you are applying for the STEM OPT Extension.
        • 28.a. Write your degree level, major, and CIP Code found on page 1 of your I-20.
          • Note: You may need to neatly hand write some of your answer in this box.

          

          Part 2 . Information About You (continued)

          • 30.d.-31.b. Leave blank.

          Part 3 . Applicant’s Statement, Contact Inf ormation, Declaration, Certification, and Signature

          • Applicant’s Statement
            • 1.a. C heck here to acknowledge that you can read and understand English unless you are using an interpreter to help you complete the I-765 form.
            • 1.b. Leave Blank unless you are using an interpreter to help you complete the I-765 form.
              • If you are using an interpreter, enter the language used in translation of the I-765.
              • For example: Lawyer
              • 3. Write y our daytime phone number. It can be your cell phone.
              • 4. Write your mobile tel ephone number . If you entered your mobile number in question 3 , leave this blank .
              • 5. Write your email address. It can be any email address that you check regularly.
              • 6. Leave blank.

              

              Part 3 . Applicant’s Statement, Contact Inf ormation, Declaration, Certification, and Signature (continued)

              • Applicant’s Signature
                • 7.a. Sign here in black ink after you complete and print the entire I-765 form. DO NOT sign electronically.
                • 7.b. Enter the date you sign the form. (mm/ dd/ yyyy )

                Part 4 . Interpreter’s Contact Information , Certification, and Signature

                • If an interpreter did not assist you in completing the I-765, leave all of Part 4 blank.
                • Complete this section ONLY if you are using an interpreter to complete the I-765 and you marked number 1.b. in the Applicant’s Statement in Part 3 on Page 4.

                

                Part 5 . Contact Information, Declaration, and Signatur e of the Person Preparing this Application, if O ther T han the Applicant.

                • If no one assisted you in completing the I-765, leave all of Part 5 blank.
                • Complete this section ONLY if you have someone else complete the I-765 and you marked number 2 in the Applicant’s Statement in Part 3 on Page 4.