1. science
2. engineering

Office of International Programs
Division of Student Affairs
www.sa.utep.edu/oip
The
University
of
Texas
at
El
Paso
500 W University Ave
Union East Bldg. Room 203
Phone: (915) 747-5664
Fax (915) 747-5794
[email protected]
OPT STEM Application for F1 – F3 Students
Name :
8
SEVIS ID# : N00
UTEP ID# :
Email & Phone :
Dates of current OPT authorization on EAD card :
Primary Major :
Second major (if applicable) :
Employer Name :
Employer Address :
CAN YOU APPLY ?
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You are eligible for Optional Practical Training (OPT) extension if you:
Have completed a Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Doctoral degree in a STEM field
Currently participating in post-completion OPT in a position related to the STEM degree you completed prior to your current OPT
Currently working/will soon be working in a paid position at least 20 hours/week for an employer who is registered in the E-Verify
program. Have never received a STEM extension in the past.
Have not accumulated 90 days of unemployment on current OPT authorization.
WHEN TO APPLY :
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The Form I-765, supporting evidence and $380 fee must be received at USCIS before the current OPT expires
USCIS recommends that student file beginning 120 days before the expiration date of the current OPT.
HOW TO APPLY FOR OIP RECOMMENDATION :
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You will need to bring the following to the Office of International Programs:
Complete this application and turn it in to OIP in person OR submit by scan/e-mail to [email protected]
Once application has been processed Pick up your I-20 with OPT recommendation and mail it to USCIS with items listed below.
***Please do not fax OPT documents to OIP. They are not useful for application purposes.***
MAILING YOUR PACKET TO USCIS :
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Once you have picked up your I-20, mail it to USCIS with the following:
Form I-765
Form G-1145 (optional)
Official or unofficial transcript from UTEP (official is recommended); you may also submit a copy of your diploma
Copy of EAD card for current OPT
Copies of current I-20, passport, visa and I-94 (front and back) or print from https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94/request.html
Two passport size photos (2” x 2”), with your name and I-94 # written on the back of each photo
Application fee of $380 (check or money order) to “Department of Homeland Security”
***NOTE: Your application must be received at USCIS within 30 days from the time the new I-20 is signed***
INDICATE BELOW HOW YOU WOULD LIKE TO RECEIVE YOUR OPT I-20 RECOMMENDATION FROM OIP :
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In person
Use University Express Mail Services (Charges apply. See https://study.eshipglobal.com/)
Prepay priority mail online at www.usps.com (you will need to forward the shipping label to the OIP advisor who has your application)
I will send an authorized person, Note: this person must bring a photo ID
First Name: _____________________________________ Last Name: _____________________________________
Student Signature: _____________________________________________
RV. 04/30/15
Office of International Programs
Division of Student Affairs
www.sa.utep.edu/oip
The
University
of
Texas
at
El
Paso
500 W University Ave
Union East Bldg. Room 203
Phone: (915) 747-5664
Fax (915) 747-5794
[email protected]
OPT EXTENSION STATEMENT OF UNDERSTANDING
If I have completed a Bachelor’s, Master’s or doctoral degree in a STEM category, and if currently in a period of post-completion OPT, I
understand that I am eligible to apply for a one-time OPT extension of 17 months. If I am granted the OPT extension, I am to seek employment
related to the degree which I completed immediately prior to my first 12 months of OPT authorization. I should work at least 20 hours or more
each week.
While I am working on OPT, I understand that the U.S. federal government still considers me a student and that the OPT is a work authorization
for practical training which is granted to me through my F-1 / F-3 student visa.
From the beginning of my first 12 months of OPT and until the end of my OPT extension, I am only allowed a maximum of 120 days of
unemployment, accrued cumulatively. If I am unemployed for longer than this, then I realize that I will lose my F-1 / F-3 student status as well as
the remaining portion of my OPT authorization.
I realize that I must report the following change to OIP within 10 days of the change the name of my employer and my employer’s address to the
UTEP Office of International Programs.
MAINTENANCE OF STUDENT STATUS AND ELIGIBILITY DURING OPT :
Report the following Changes to OIP within 10 days of the change :
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Legal name
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Residential address
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Employer, giving the employer name and employer address
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Loss of employment
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Send OIP a validation report every six months stating from the date the OPT Extension stats and until your F-1/F-3 status ends or the OPT
Extension ends, whichever is first. This validation report is called the OPT Notification form and it is available at www.sa.utep.edu/oip
The report must include your :
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Full legal name
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SEV IS identification number of the I-20
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Current residential address
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Name and address of the current employer
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Date the student began working for the current employer
I am aware that the Office of International Programs must enter this information into my record in the SEVIS database and that U.S. immigration
officials will be able to view this information.
I am further aware that every six months, I must check in with the UTEP Office of International Programs to report my current employment.
I am also aware that in order to be given this extension, my employer had to be enrolled in the E-Verify program. This includes enrolling me as an
employee. I understand that as a part of this, if I leave my position, my employer must report it to the federal government via the E-Verify program
within 48 hours.
By my signature, I have read the statement above and understand that these are my obligations for
maintenance of F-1 / F-3 status while on OPT.
Name: ________________________________ (Print Name)
Signature: _____________________________________
Date: ___________________________ (mm/dd/yy)
RV. 04/30/15
Office of International Programs
Division of Student Affairs
www.sa.utep.edu/oip
The
University
of
Texas
at
El
Paso
500 W University Ave
Union East Bldg. Room 203
Phone: (915) 747-5664
Fax (915) 747-5794
[email protected]
STEM LIST OF MAJORS THAT QUALIFY :
03.0104 - Environmental Science, BS, MS
26.0202 - Biochemistry, BS
09.0702 - Multimedia Journalism, BA
11.0101 - Computer Science, BSC, MS
11.0401 - Information Technology, MS
26.0203 - Medical Physics, MS
26.0205 - Cellular & Molecular Biochemistry, BS
26.0502 - Microbiology, BA, BS
11.0701 - Computer Science, PhD
14.0101 - Engineering, MS
14.0801 - Civil Engineering, BSCE, MS, PhD
26.0910 - Biological Sciences Pathobiology, PhD
26.1103 - Bioinformatics, MS
26.1310 - Ecology & Evolutionary Biochemistry, PhD
14.0901 - Computer Engineering, MS, PhD
14.0901 - Electrical and Computer Engineering, PhD
27.0101 - Mathematics, BA, BS, MS
27.0101 - Teaching Mathematics, MAT
14.0903 - Computer Software Engineering, MS
14.1001 - Electrical Engineering, BSEE, MS
14.1401 - Environmental Engineering, MEENE, MSENE
27.0101 - Mathematics, BA, BS, MS
27.0101 - Teaching Mathematics, MAT
27.0301 - Applied Mathematics, BS
14.1401 - Environmental Science and Engineering, PhD
14.1801 - Materials Science and Engineering, PhD
14.1801 - Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, MS
30.3001 - Computational Science, MS, PhD
27.0501 - Statistics, MS
30.1801- MATS- master of Arts in Teaching Science
14.1901 - Manufacturing Engineering - Design Controls, MS
14.1901 - Mechanical Engineering, BSME, MS
40.0501 - Chemistry, BA, BS, MS, PhD
40.0601 - Geological Sciences, BA, BS, MS, PhD
14.2001 - Metallurgical & Materials Engineering, BSMME
14.2701 - Systems Engineering, MS
14.3501 - Industrial Engineering, BS, MS
40.0601 - Earth Science, BS
40.0603 - Geophysics, BA, BS, MS
40.0801 - Physics, BA, BS, MS
14.3601 - Manufacturing Engineering, MS
14.3601 - Manufacturing Engineering – Planning, MS
26.0101 - Biological Sciences, BA, BS, MS, PhD
43.0106 - Forensic Science, BS
42.2704 – Psychology (General Experimental Psychology), MA
51.1005 - Clinical Laboratory Sciences, BS
OFFICE USE ONLY
Degree Awarded: (in SHADEGR)
Graduation Date in BANNER :
SEVIS Status: (in SEVIS)
Major in BANNER:
Previous Authorized OPT Dates:
(in SEVIS)
What date is 120 days prior to
end of current OPT?
Total unemployment days :
Other Notes :
RV. 04/30/15