United States: DHS Updates STEM Designated Degree Program List with One New Entry
July 22, 2024

The Department of Homeland Security has added an additional field to the list of academic degrees eligible for the F-1 STEM optional practical training (OPT) program.
The STEM OPT program, which allows F-1 students with a qualifying STEM degree to hold OPT work authorization for up to 36 months – will be expanded to include the following field and Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) codes effective July 23:
Environmental/Natural Resource Economics (CIP 03.0204)
If you have any questions about the STEM OPT program, please contact your designated Fragomen representative.
This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen.
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