--- title: "United States F-1 STEM OPT requirements 2026: 2-year stay" url: https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-states/f1-stem-opt/ lang: en updated: 2026-10-10 --- United States · Work # United States F-1 STEM OPT **First stay:** 2 yrs F-1 STEM OPT 24-month extension First checked against official sources on 10 Oct 2026 [Change log](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/) - **First stay:** 2 yrs (24-month extension of post-completion OPT; a further 24-month extension is possible after a higher-level STEM degree.) - **Who can apply:** Any passport (No nationality restriction.) - **Spouse work:** Can't work (F-2 dependants cannot work.) ## Key facts F-1 STEM OPT is a work route for United States. Checked 2026-10-10 against the official source. - **Government fees:** $520 - **First stay:** 2 yrs ## Cost, time and long term **Government fees: $520** - $520 Form I-765 general filing fee (USD 470 online). **Renewal: Renewable** The STEM extension adds 24 months to post-completion OPT, and a further 24-month extension is possible after a higher-level STEM degree. [U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services](https://www.uscis.gov/working-in-the-united-states/students-and-exchange-visitors/optional-practical-training-extension-for-stem-students-stem-opt) **Citizenship: Time here doesn't count** Naturalisation requires years of lawful permanent resident status (5 years, or 3 if married to a U.S. citizen), so time in this temporary status does not count toward it. [U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services](https://www.uscis.gov/policy-manual/volume-12-part-d-chapter-2) ## Why this route may not fit Check this before you apply. - Time on this route doesn't count toward citizenship - Needs earlier residence or an existing status in United States - Needs a job offer from an employer in United States ### What you'll need #### Who can apply - The applicant is in a valid period of post-completion OPT. - The applicant holds a bachelor's, master's or doctoral STEM degree from an accredited SEVP-certified school. - The employer must be enrolled in E-Verify in good standing and hold an EIN. #### What you must show and pay - **A fee of $520** · Form I-765 general filing fee (USD 470 online). #### Documents - The employer completes Form I-983. #### Steps 1. File up to 90 days before OPT expires and within 60 days of the DSO recommendation. 2. A timely filing extends work authorisation for 180 days while pending. #### After you arrive - Unemployment is capped at 150 days across OPT and the extension. ## When you become tax resident How United States decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records. - **Stay on this route:** **2 years at first, renewable** - **Tax residence:** - **At least 31 days in the current calendar year** Minimum days of presence in the current year. - **At least 183 days in the current year plus two preceding years (weighted 1, 1/3, 1/6)** Weighted days of presence over the three-year period. - **Foreign-source income:** U.S. citizens and resident aliens are taxed on worldwide income at the graduated rates that apply to citizens; non-residents are taxed on U.S.-source income under Form 1040-NR rules. [All tax rules for United States](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-states/tax/) Tax records checked 12 Oct 2026 **Full official text** Additional 24 months of OPT for F-1 students with a qualifying STEM degree, working for an E-Verify employer under a Form I-983 training plan. (sources 1, 2) #### What you must show and pay - A fee of $520 · Form I-765 general filing fee (USD 470 online). (source 2) #### Requirements - The applicant is in a valid period of post-completion OPT. (source 1) - The applicant holds a bachelor's, master's or doctoral STEM degree from an accredited SEVP-certified school. (source 1) - The employer must be enrolled in E-Verify in good standing and hold an EIN. (source 1) - The employer completes Form I-983. (source 1) - File up to 90 days before OPT expires and within 60 days of the DSO recommendation. (source 1) - A timely filing extends work authorisation for 180 days while pending. (source 1) - Unemployment is capped at 150 days across OPT and the extension. (source 1) #### Stay - 24-month extension of post-completion OPT; a further 24-month extension is possible after a higher-level STEM degree. - Initial permitted stay: 24 months. - Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal. #### Nationality No nationality restriction. #### Work Employment authorised with the E-Verify employer for the training plan. #### Family F-2 dependants cannot work. Checked 2026-10-10 ## Official sources 1. [Optional Practical Training Extension for STEM Students (STEM OPT)](https://www.uscis.gov/working-in-the-united-states/students-and-exchange-visitors/optional-practical-training-extension-for-stem-students-stem-opt) · U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services · checked 2026-10-10 2. [Form G-1055, Fee Schedule (edition 10/07/26)](https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/forms/g-1055.pdf) · U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services · checked 2026-10-12 · published 2026-10-07 3. [USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 12, Part D, Chapter 2: Lawful permanent resident admission for naturalization](https://www.uscis.gov/policy-manual/volume-12-part-d-chapter-2) · U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services · checked 2026-10-11 4. [I am married to a U.S. citizen (naturalization)](https://www.uscis.gov/citizenship/learn-about-citizenship/citizenship-and-naturalization/i-am-married-to-a-us-citizen) · U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services · checked 2026-10-11 ## F-1 STEM OPT and its alternatives | Route | Money needed | Stay | Work | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | F-1 STEM OPT | – | 2 yr, renewable | – | | [E-3 Australian specialty](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-states/e3-specialty-occupation-australia/) | – | 2 yr, renewable | – | | [EB-1B Outstanding researcher](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-states/eb1b-outstanding-researcher/) | – | – | – | | [EB-1C Multinational manager](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-states/eb1c-multinational-manager/) | – | – | – | | [EB-2 Advanced degree](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-states/eb2-advanced-degree-exceptional-ability/) | – | – | – | ## Questions people ask ### How much money do I need for the F-1 STEM OPT? A fee of $520. Form I-765 general filing fee (USD 470 online). ### How long can I stay on the F-1 STEM OPT? 24-month extension of post-completion OPT; a further 24-month extension is possible after a higher-level STEM degree. ### Can I work on the F-1 STEM OPT? Employment authorised with the E-Verify employer for the training plan. ### Can I bring my family on the F-1 STEM OPT? F-2 dependants cannot work. ## More in United States [EB-1A Extraordinary ability](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-states/eb1a-extraordinary-ability/) [EB-2 National Interest Waiver](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-states/eb2-niw/) [E-1 Treaty Trader](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-states/e1-treaty-trader/) [Entrepreneur parole (IER)](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-states/international-entrepreneur-parole/) [EB-3 Skilled worker](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-states/eb3-skilled-professional-other/) [H-1B Specialty occupation](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-states/h1b-specialty-occupation/) [H-2A Farm worker](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-states/h2a-agricultural-worker/) [H-2B Seasonal worker](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-states/h2b-nonagricultural-worker/) ## Work visas elsewhere [🇲🇽 Job-offer residence](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/mexico/temporary-resident-job-offer/) [🇨🇴 Internationalisation visa M](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/colombia/m-fomento-internacionalizacion/) [🇨🇷 Scientist/professional permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/costa-rica/temporary-professionals-scientists/) [🇧🇷 Work visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/brazil/vitem-v-work/) [🇨🇦 Express Entry · Skilled Worker](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/canada/express-entry-pr/) [🇵🇦 Friendly Nations residence](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/panama/friendly-nations-permanent/) ≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated. ## How this was checked **Checked on 2026-10-10 against 4 official sources.** Status: verified against the official sources. Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out. 1. [Optional Practical Training Extension for STEM Students (STEM OPT)](https://www.uscis.gov/working-in-the-united-states/students-and-exchange-visitors/optional-practical-training-extension-for-stem-students-stem-opt) · U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services · checked 2026-10-10 2. [Form G-1055, Fee Schedule (edition 10/07/26)](https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/forms/g-1055.pdf) · U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services · checked 2026-10-12 3. [USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 12, Part D, Chapter 2: Lawful permanent resident admission for naturalization](https://www.uscis.gov/policy-manual/volume-12-part-d-chapter-2) · U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services · checked 2026-10-11 4. [I am married to a U.S. citizen (naturalization)](https://www.uscis.gov/citizenship/learn-about-citizenship/citizenship-and-naturalization/i-am-married-to-a-us-citizen) · U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services · checked 2026-10-11 Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the [changes page](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/), and the [methodology page](https://settleanywhere.com/methodology/) explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email [contact@stayglobe.app](mailto:contact@stayglobe.app?subject=Correction) with a link to the official source.