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A substantially revised STEM optional practical training (OPT) program will take effect on May 10, 2016. The new program expands OPT to 36 months for F-1 students with a qualifying U.S. STEM degree – 12 months of initial OPT plus a 24-month extension of OPT – but imposes significant new obligations on students, employers and schools.
The new requirements will apply only to those working in or seeking a grant of STEM OPT under the new regulations. The standard 12-month OPT program will remain unchanged. F-1 students granted a 17-month STEM OPT extension before May 10, 2016 will remain subject to the prior STEM rules unless they file for an additional seven months of OPT under the new rules.
Fragomen has prepared preliminary answers to F-1 students’ frequently asked questions about the new STEM OPT program and its transitional rules. In the weeks leading up to May 10, we expect the Department of Homeland Security to issue guidance on how the new program will be implemented. These FAQs will be updated as DHS provides further clarification about the new rule.
If you are an F-1 student with questions about the new STEM OPT program, you and your OPT employer should contact your designated Fragomen professional for assistance. This alert is for informational purposes only.
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