Employment
17-Month OPT Extension
[All information is subject to change without notice.]
On April 8, 2008, the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published a new regulation which changes several key aspects of F-1 Optional Practical Training (OPT). Some UT Dallas graduates holding degrees from certain Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) programs are eligible to apply for a one-time, 17-month extension.
In order to be eligible for an OPT extension you must meet the following criteria:
- You must be currently in a valid period of Optional Practical Training, working for a US employer in a job directly related to your major area of study.
- Your OPT employer must be registered in the US governments’ E-Verify employment authorization system.
- You must have graduated from UT Dallas in one of the STEM fields. Determine your eligibility by checking if the major listed in item 5 of your UT Dallas I-20 matches one of the items on the list below.
UTD I-20 Majors on the STEM Designated Degree Program List
(no other UT Dallas majors are eligible for the
17-month OPT extension at this time)
| I-20 Major Value | CIP Code |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | 11.0101 |
| Computer Engineering, General | 14.0901 |
| Computer Software Engineering (NEW) | 14.0903 |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering | 14.1001 |
| Materials Engineering | 14.1801 |
| Biology/ Biological Sciences, General | 26.0101 |
| Biochemistry | 26.0202 |
| Molecular Biology | 26.0204 |
| Cell/Cellular and Molecular Biology (NEW) | 26.0406 |
| Microbiology, General (NEW) | 26.0502 |
| Neurobiology and Neurophysiology (NEW) | 26.0906 |
| Bioinformatics (NEW) | 26.1103 |
| Biotechnology | 26.1201 |
| Mathematics, General | 27.0101 |
| Applied Mathematics | 27.0301 |
| Statistics, General | 27.0501 |
| Chemistry, General | 40.0501 |
| Geology/Earth Science, General | 40.0601 |
| Physics, General | 40.0801 |
Application Process for OPT Extension
Applying for an OPT extension is similar to when you apply for post-completion OPT; you submit an application to the UT Dallas ISSO, a new I-20 is generated and you mail a copy of that I-20 with other documents to a USCIS Service Center. USCIS must receive your application before your OPT authorization expires.
To obtain an OPT Extension I-20, submit the following documents to the UT Dallas ISSO:
- OPT Extension Request Form
- Completed I-765
- Copy of your current OPT EAD
- OPT Employer Info Verification form (even if you have already previously submitted it)
The processing time for an OPT Extension I-20 is 3 business days. You will be sent an email when the new I-20 is ready and mailing instructions will be supplied with the I-20.
The application packet you mail to the USCIS Service Center must include the following:
- 2 passport photos
- Check for $340, made payable to Department of Homeland Security (Print I-94 number at top. Staple your check in the middle; keep the photos at the left hand top corner.)
- Original I-765 form including: employer name, employer E-verify identification number or a valid E-Verify Client Company Identification Number and your degree as it appears on your current I-20 on #17 of the I-765 form
- Copy of OPT Extension I-20, pages 1 and 3
- Copy of passport ID page showing picture and expiration date
- Copy of I-94, front and back (Include FIN# copy if subject to Special Registration)
- Copy of visa showing expiry date (F-1)
- Copy of current EAD
- Copy of your diploma related to this period of OPT or UT Dallas transcript showing degree conferred
- Copy of your job offer letter
Mailing the Application
Many OPT students will be working outside of the state of Texas when filing for the OPT extension. Because of this, some students will file OPT extension applications at the Texas Service Center and others will file at a Service Center in another state. The Service Center used is determined by the address you put on the I-765. If you reside in Texas or use the UT Dallas office address on the I-765, your application will be processed by the Texas Service Center. If you reside in another state, please check the I-765 mailing instructions at http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis for the appropriate USCIS Service Center. The UT Dallas ISSO address is: c/o Intl Office MC36, 800 W. Campbell Rd., Richardson, TX 75080.
Reporting Requirements
Students must report changes in employment and all periods of unemployment over 10 days to the UT Dallas ISSO during the OPT extension period. A reporting form will be available on the ISSO website for students to download and fax or email to the ISSO to meet this requirement.
Limits on Unemployment
Students who have been approved for a post-completion OPT extension have a limit of unemployment. To maintain their F-1 visa status, students must not exceed a total of 120 days of unemployment, counting from the beginning of the initial OPT period.
For more information about the post-completion OPT extension, contact an international student advisor.
Updated: May 2, 2008
