Federal Government Rules in Favor of OPT Extension for STEM Graduates

In the last edition of our employer newsletter, we reviewed some of the benefits employers gain by hiring employees from the international student population at WPI. Since then, the Federal Government has issued a new ruling that will allow international students on F-1 visas to work for longer periods of time in the United States with the goal of retaining foreign nationals who have pursued Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) degrees at US academic institutions.

Optical Practical Training (OPT) enables undergraduate and graduate students with F-1 status to complement their education by working in the United States for a certain period of time. This allows them to apply their skills to industry and gain valuable work experience after earning their degrees.

On March 11, The Department of Homeland Security published a final ruling regarding this period of authorized employment that significantly changes parameters for STEM graduates. The standard OPT period is 12 months with a 17-month extension for individuals in STEM fields if they work for a company enrolled in E-Verify, a program that allows employers to verify the work authorization and identity of employees. The new ruling extends this period to 24 months, meaning STEM students can now be on OPT for a total of 36 months. This extension will benefit both students and employers, as students will be allowed to work for longer periods of employment before an H-1B visa or other employer-sponsored visa must be secured.

This extension does entail some effort from employers, as they will need to help students formulate training plans for STEM OPT (Form I-983). To learn more about the details of the ruling and how it could affect your organization, visit U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.