1. A onetime only 17 month OPT extension is available to students who meet certain requirements:
   • Is currently participating in a period of standard Post-Completion OPT.
   • Has never received a 17 month extension after receiving a STEM degree.
   • Graduated with a degree in an approved STEM (Science, Technology, Math and Engineering) major.
     • The approved fields are:
     • Actuarial Science, Computer Science applications, Engineering, Engineering Technologies, Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Mathematics and Statistics, Military Technologies, Physical Sciences, Science Technologies, Medical Scientist (MS, PhD).
     • A list of UTA approved degree programs is available on our website at: Approved Degree programs.
   • Must have a job offer from an employer registered with the E-Verify employment verification system.
   • The student is responsible for providing the E-Verify information on line #17 of form I-765.
     
     
2. Applications for the 17 month STEM extension must be filed with OIE no later than 3 weeks prior to the expiration of the current OPT card.
• Students who timely file (prior to expiration of the 12 month OPT) an application for the 17 month OPT extension will be able to continue employment while the extension application is pending, until a final decision on the I-765 is made or for 180 days, whichever comes first.
  
  
3. The employer must agree to report the termination or departure of the student to the Office of International Education or through “any other means or process identified by DHS.”
• An employer must consider a worker to have departed when the employer knows the student has left employment, or if the student has not reported for work for a period of 5 consecutive business days without the employer’s consent.  
  



4. The employment authorization period for the 17 month extension begins on the day after the expiration of the initial Post- Completion OPT and ends 17 months later, regardless of the date the actual extension is approved.

         If you reside outside the DFW metroplex you may refer to the mail-in/mail-out          process.

 

$380

Management and Processing Fee - $150 ( More Details :http://goo.gl/1O0Qi )

I-765 - Application for Employment Authorization

OPT-17 Month Extension Form

OPT Status Maintenance Form