Optional Practical Training 17Month STEM Extension

1
Berkeley
INTERNATIONAL
The University of California
OFFICE
Table of Contents
Optional Practical Training 17-Month STEM
Extension
Click on a link below to go to that page.
Eligibility Requirements STEM Majors at UC
Berkeley Application Process
Overview Application Materials Required The
Extension Request Form The I-765 Form
Photo Specifications Mailing the Application
Checklist Review Mailing Delivery Options
USCIS Service Center Addresses The Notice of
Action If Something Goes Wrong Receiving the
EAD Requirements to Maintain Status Address
/ Employer Reports 6-Month Validation Report
Employers Report Employment Regulations
Unemployment Regulations
Application Guide
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Eligibility Requirements To be eligible for the
17-month OPT extension, the following conditions
must be met

• The student must be a recipient of U.S.
  Bachelors, Masters, or Doctoral degree in
  specific majors in science, technology,
  engineering, and mathematics STEM). See the link
  at right for a list of STEM majors at UC
  Berkeley. A degree minor in a STEM field does
  not qualify for the extension.
• The extension must be based on the same degree as
  the post-completion OPT, not on a previous
  degree.
• The student must be authorized for OPT at the
  time of the extension application and have a job
  or job offer related to his or her field of
  study.
• At the time of application for the OPT extension,
  the students employer must be registered with
  and participating in the USCIS E-Verify
  employment verification program.
• The student must not have exceeded 90 days of
  unemployment in the initial 12-month period of
  OPT.

• STEM Majors at UC Berkeley

(Click on link)
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Application Process Overview

• Collect your application materials and request
  OPT Extension I-20.
• Mail your application to the USCIS.
• Receive your extension EAD.
• Report your address and employer information.

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Application Materials Detailed instructions
follow on next pages.
340 Application Fee On top of all the materials
listed below, include a personal check made
payable to The Dept. of Homeland Security
-USCIS.
Photocopy of Your I-20s You will request
an 17-month Extension I-20 from Berkeley
International Officedetails ahead.. Also
attach a copy of your current I-20 showing the
initial 12-month OPT.
Photocopy of Diploma or Official
Transcripts Your diploma copy or transcripts
must show the major and degree level that makes
you eligible for the STEM extension.
2 Photos OPT photos must have certain
specifications. Write your name and I-94 number
on the back of each photo in case they get
separated from your application.
Form I-765 You will download this form from the
USCIS web site.
Photocopy of Your EAD Include a copy of the EAD
you are now using to work on your initial
12-month OPT period. If you still have the
approval notice (form I-797) that came with the
EAD, attach a copy as well.
Photocopy of I-94 This small, white card is
usually stapled into your passport. Include a
copy of both sides of the I-94, even though the
back side may be blank.
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The 17-Month OPT STEMExtension Request Form
This is the form you will use to request your OPT
STEM extension I-20. Download this form (MS
Word)

• This is a fillable form. Save the form to your
  computer to access the fillable function.
• Complete the form, print it and submit it to
  Berkeley International Office. Attach a copy of
  your current OPT EAD
• Your new OPT extension I-20 will be ready to pick
  up in three business days.

Sample
Application Deadline Due to potential technical
delays in processing your new I-20 through SEVIS,
it is recommended that you submit this request at
least 2 weeks before your current OPT EAD
expires. The earliest you may apply is 4 months
before the end date of your EAD OPT Extension
Authorization Dates The start date of your OPT
extension will be automatically set to occur on
the day after the expiration of your current OPT
EAD. The end date of your extension will be 17
months later. These dates will appear on your
new EAD you do not need to indicate them on the
Extension Request Form.
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The OPT STEM Extension I-20
Your new OPT STEM extension I-20 may only change
slightly from your initial 12-month OPT I-20.

Become familiar with the information on page 3 of
your new I-20. You will need to refer to this
when completing the form I-765 (see next pages).

• Your SEVIS degree name and CIP code
• The authorization dates
• The name and address of your employer

What are CIP Codes? Classification of
Instructional Programs (CIP) codes are published
by the National Center for Education Statistics
(NCES) and are used by SEVIS to designate a
students major. Certain CIP codes have been
designated as STEM degrees.

• Travel Endorsement
• A new travel endorsement from the Berkeley
  International Adviser will be given However,
  traveling while on OPT application is pending is
  not allowed. See our web site regarding
  traveling on OPT for more information.

Adviser Adviser
Please note Your OPT extension application
must be sent to the USCIS no later than 30 days
after the date of 1-20 issuance. If your I-20
is more than 30 days old, see an Adviser in BIO
for instructions.
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Form I-765 Application for Employment
Authorization (and OPT STEM Extension) The I-765
form can be downloaded from USCIS
http//www.uscis.gov/files/form/I-765.pdf Importa
nt! Always use the most current version of the
I-765 available on the USCIS web site. It is best
to download the I-765 right before you mail your
application since the forms are updated
frequently. How to Complete the I-765
Completing the I-765 for OPT is a simple task,
but a few items can be confusing. The next four
pages will cover how to complete those tricky
questions so that you can avoid any delays in
receiving your work authorization. T
Sample
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Completing the I-765 for OPT STEM Extension

• Please note the table at the top of the form
  where it says Do not write in this block. Do
  not complete this area since it is reserved for
  USCIS use only.
• Check the box indicating that you are requesting
  Renewal of my permission to accept employment.

Items 3-11 To get a close-up of items 3-11 click
your mouse. Item 3 Address in the United
StatesThe address you put here is where the EAD
will be mailed. This address must be valid for
at least 3 months, the length of time it may take
to process your OPT application. If you think
you may move in the months after you mail your
application, use a reliable friend or family
members address to receive your EAD. (Click
your mouse again to see how to complete 3 if
you are using an alternative address. C/O
means in care of ) Your application must be
mailed to a specific USCIS Service Center in the
region you indicated on item3 above. USCIS
address information is given at the end of this
Application Guide. Item 10 I-94 NumberOn
this item, you will use your current I-94 number.
This is an 11-digit number found on the top left
corner of your I-94 card (see sample on page 19).
As an F-1, you will not have an Alien
Registration Number. Item 11 Previous
Employment AuthorizationCheck yes. Fill in the
next two lines (at the top of the right
columnshown on next page) with the information
related to your previous EAD. A photocopy of
that EAD must be included with your application
package.
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Completing the I-765 for OPT STEM Extension
Item 11 (contd from previous page)Complete
this information based on your 12-month OPT EAD.
Items 12-16 Item 12 Date of Last Entry into
the U.S.This is the date of your most recent
entry into the U.S. and can be found stamped on
your I-94 card. Item 13 Place of Last Entry
into the U.S.This is the name of the city where
you landed in the U.S. This information is also
on the I-94 (usually as a code like SFR for San
Francisco). If you drove across from Canada or
Mexico, write the name and the city where you
entered in the blank. Item 14 Manner of Last
EntryThis is the status you had upon entering
the U.S. For example, you may have initially
entered with an H-1B work visa or other visa
type. Item15 Current Immigration
StatusYour current status should be F-1 student.
If not, talk to an Adviser in Berkeley
International Office immediately. Item16
Eligibility CategoryUse the following code for
the 17-month extension (c) (3) (C) Item 17
E-VerifySee next page.
C 3 C
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Completing the I-765 for OPT STEM Extension
Item 17 E-Verify Information

• Degree Indicate here the SEVIS degree name as
  it appears on your I-20. Also include the CIP
  code found next to your degree name on page 3 of
  your I-20.
• If you qualify for the STEM extension based on
  a second degree major, you must also include the
  name of this major and its CIP code in this
  blank.
• Please note You cannot qualify for a STEM
  extension based on a degree minor.
• Employers Name as listed in E-Verify Your
  employer should be able to provide you with this
  information.
• Employers E-Verify Company Identification
  Number. Your employer should be able to provide
  you with this information.

Degree major(s) listed on I-20 and CIP code(s)
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Finishing the I-765 Your Signature Sign your
name, fill in your telephone number and the date
of your signature at the bottom of the form. In
most cases, the USCIS will not call you at the
telephone number you indicate on this form. If
there is a problem with your application, they
will mail a letter to you describing the problem.

Please note Your signature must fit between the
lines on the form. If your signature is too big,
your application will be returned to you and
delay your work permission. Be conservative and
use a signature smaller than your normal
handwriting.
Your Signature
Your Telephone Number The Date
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Photo Specifications

• 7 Steps to Successful Photos
• 1. Your photo should show your full face, front
  view, eyes open.
• Make sure the photo shows your full head from
  top of hair to bottom of chin height of head
  should measure 1 inch to 1-3/8 inches (25 mm to
  35 mm).
• Your head should be centered head within frame
• 4. Make sure eye height is between 1-1/8 inches
  to 1-3/8 inches (28 mm and 35 mm) from bottom of
  photo
• 5. The background should be plain white or
  off-white.
• 6. There should be no distracting shadows on the
  face or in the background
• 7. Make sure you have a natural expression

The photos you are required to use for the OPT
application must meet the specifications of
U.S.style passport photos. To see a full
description of these specifications, go to the
U.S. Department of State web site. Most places
that take passport photos are already familiar
with the specifications. However, you may want
to print this page, or the pages from the web
site above to take with you when you get your
photo taken. Frequently Asked
Questions What type of paper are the
photographs to be printed on?The photos should
be printed on thin photo-quality paper. Do the
photos have to be in color?Yes, the photos must
be in color. How big must the photos be?The
photos must measure exactly 2 inches by 2
inches. Can hats or religious headgear be worn
for the photo?Unless worn daily for religious
reasons, all hats or headgear should be removed
for the photo. In all cases, no item or attire
should cover or otherwise obscure any part of the
face. Can eyeglasses be worn for the
photo?Eyeglasses worn on a daily basis can be
worn for the photo. However, there should be no
reflections from the eyeglasses that obscures the
eyes.Dark glasses or nonprescription glasses with
tinted lenses are not acceptable unless you need
them for medical reasons.
Write your name and I-94 number lightly on the
back of each photo in case they get separated
from your application.
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Mailing the Application

• Checklist review of application materials
• Mail delivery options / USCIS addresses
• The Notice of Action (receipt)
• Request for Evidence (RFE)

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Application MaterialsChecklist Review

Put the following items in an 8.5 x 11 envelope
and mail them to the USCIS (addresses on the next
page)
q
Check for 340 payable to the U.S.
Department of Homeland Security Form I-765
(original) Photocopy of OPT I-20 (page 1-3),
less than 30-days old. Dont forget to sign
it! Photocopy of 12-month OPT I-20 (pages 1-3)
Photocopy of I-94 card (both sides) Photocopy of
previous EAD and approval notice (if available)
Photocopy of Diploma or original, official
transcripts 2 Passport Photos (with name and
I-94 number printed lightly on back with pencil)
q
q
q
q
q
q
q
Keep a copy of all these items for your own
records.
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Mail Delivery OptionsTracking your application
to the USCIS is critical. We recommend that you
use one of the options below
E-Filing your OPT Application Although it is
available through the USCIS web site, we do not
recommend using E-filing procedures. In most
cases, it will actually slow down the issuance of
your EAD and adds additional steps to the process.

• Express Mail (Federal Express)
• Federal Express is the best, most reliable
  option.

Certified Mail / Return Receipt Certified Mail /
Return Receipt service is available through the
U.S. Postal Service (USPS). Request this service
at the post office and pay a minimal fee. With
certified mail, you will get a receipt showing
what date the USCIS got your application.
However, it may take up to 10 days for the USCIS
to receive it. Then, it may take about 2 weeks
to get the return receipt from the USPS.
Joe Kwon 123 Main Street Berkeley, CA 94720
Where to Mail Your Application Use one of the
four addresses in the USCIS Service Center
region where you want to receive your EAD. You
should have indicated your preferred mailing
address to receive the EAD on Item3 of the form
I-765. For example, if you live in Berkeley CA,
you will use the California Service Center.
See the next page for USCIS Service Center
address information to determine where to send
your application.
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USCIS Service Centers


If you live in
Mail your application to

For both U.S. Postal Service and express
deliveries   USCIS Vermont Service Center ATTN
I-765 75 Lower Welden Street St. Albans, VT
05479-0001
Connecticut Delaware Maine Maryland Massachusett
s New Hampshire
New Jersey New York Pennsylvania Puerto
Rico Rhode Island U.S. Virgin Islands
Vermont Virginia Washington, D.C. West Virginia
U.S.P.S. deliveries   USCIS California Service
Center P.O. Box 10765 Laguna Niguel, CA
92607-1076
Express deliveries   USCIS California Service
Center 24000 Avila Road 2nd Floor, Room 2312
Laguna Niguel, CA 92677
Arizona California Guam Nevada Hawaii

U.S.P.S. deliveries   USCIS Service Center
Texas Service Center P.O. Box 851041 Mesquite,
TX 75185-1041
Express deliveries   USCIS Texas Service Center
4141 N St. Augustine Rd Dallas, TX 75227
Alabama Arkansas Florida Georgia Kentucky
Louisiana Mississippi New Mexico North Carolina
Oklahoma South Carolina Tennessee Texas
Alaska Colorado Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas

Michigan Minnesota Missouri Montana Nebraska North
Dakota Ohio
Oregon South Dakota Utah Washington Wisconsin Wyo
ming
U.S.P.S. deliveries   USCIS Service
Center Nebraska Service Center P.O. Box
87765 Lincoln, NE 68501-7765
Express deliveries   USCIS Nebraska Service
Center 850 S. Street Lincoln, NE 68508-1225
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The Notice of Action

This is your OPT application receipt from USCIS.
It normally takes about 2 to 4 weeks to get it in
the mail. The Notice of Action is a very
important document. You will need it to inquire
about the status of your OPT application and for
travel outside the U.S. If you lose the receipt,
there is no way to replace it. Click your mouse
to zoom in
The Receipt NumberThis is your case number
at the USCIS. You can check the status of your
case online through the USCIS web site at
www.uscis.gov under Case Status Online. If you
do not get your Notice of Action within 6 weeks
after mailing your application to the USCIS,
contact an Adviser in Berkeley International
Office for instructions The Received DateThis
is the date when the USCIS begins processing your
application. It may not be the actual date they
received your application but it is when your
case was entered into the system. The Notice
DateThis is the date your Notice of Action was
produced. .
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If something is wrong with your application
If there is a problem with your application, the
USCIS will send you a notice by mail called the
Request for Evidence (RFE). An RFE does not
mean that your application has been rejected it
simply means that you need to send in additional
documents before your EAD can be issued.
Getting an RFE will delay the processing of your
application for OPT usually by about one month.
For this reason, it is important to make sure
that you have completed the I-765 correctly and
sent the proper documents to the USCIS.
In some cases, if too many items are missing from
your application, the USCIS will return the
entire application to you. If this happens, you
must make the corrections and send the
application before the end date of your 12-month
EAD.
To avoid delays, make sure to review your
application materials for completeness and sign
all the forms before mailing to the USCIS.
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Receiving Your EAD
Your EAD will arrive in the mail approximately 3
months after you have sent the application to the
USCIS. While you are waiting, keep these things
in mind

• Your status will automatically be extended for up
  to 180 days while the OPT extension application
  is pending. You can continue working during this
  time.
• If your EAD has expired, travel while your
  17-month extension application is pending is NOT
  allowed.
• A change of employers is allowed while the STEM
  extension application is pending or after the EAD
  is approved as long as the employer is an
  E-Verify employer. Report the change in
  employment to Berkeley International Office at
  http//ssu.berkeley.edu/
• You must work at least 20 hours per week to
  maintain valid F-1 status while on OPT.
• If you decide to go back to school as a full-time
  student, you must requests a transfer to another
  school or a change of level to continue at the
  same school before the end of your 60-month grace
  period following the expiration date of your
  EAD.

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Requirements to Maintain Status

• Students Address and Employer Information
  Reports
• 6-Month Validation Report
• Employers Reporting Requirements
• Employment Regulations
• Unemployment Regulations

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Address and Employer Information Reports

The following information must be reported to
Berkeley International Office at
http//ssu.berkeley.edu/ during the OPT period of
authorization. You are required to update this
information within 10 working days of any
changes.
Report changes to http//ssu.berkeley.edu

• Your Name
• Your Street Address (no P.O. boxes allowed)
• Your Phone and Email Address
• Employer Name
• Employer Address
• Start Date of Employment
• More than 10 days of Unemployment
• Date of Departure from U.S. (if you decide leave
  prior to the end date of your OPT)

Print out the web site page showing your updated
information and keep copies of all changes for
your records.
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6-Month Validation Report
In addition to reporting within 10 days of any
change in the address or employer information,
students who have been granted the 17-month
extension must also submit a Validation Report
every six months starting from the date the
extension starts and ending when the students
F-1 status ends or the extension ends, whichever
is first. The validation report must include
the address and employer information as listed on
the previous page. The 6-month validation report
should be submitted through http//ssu.berkeley.ed
u/. Instructions are available on the OPT
Employment page of that web site. Failure to
submit the validation report will result in the
termination of your F-1 status.
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.

Employers Reporting Requirement
When your employment is terminated for any
reason, the employer is required to provide the
following information to Berkeley International
Office

• Student-employees name
• SEVIS ID number (if available)
• The start and end dates of the OPT employment

Reporting Instructions Inform your employer of
the reporting requirements at the end of your
employment. Ask them to email Berkeley
International Office at InternationalOffice_at_berkel
ey.edu with the following text in the subject
line of the email OPT Employment Termination

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.

Employment Regulations
Students on a 17-month STEM extension

• must work at least 20 hours per week for an
  E-Verify employer in a position directly related
  to the STEM degree.
• may work multiple jobs, but all the employers
  must be enrolled in E-Verify.
• are allowed to volunteer, incidental to their
  status. This means that volunteer work is allowed
  but does not count as employment for the purpose
  of maintaining F-1 status.

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.

Unemployment Regulations on the 17-month STEM
Extension

• Unemployment AllowanceStudents who receive a
  17-month STEM OPT extension are given an
  additional 30 days of unemployment for a total of
  120 days over their entire post-completion OPT
  period.
• Periods of unemployment prior to April 8,
  2008.Time unemployed prior to April 8, 2008,
  will not be counted. For students who started
  post-completion OPT prior to April 8, 2008,
  unemployment time will accrue only for time spent
  unemployed after April 8, 2008.
• What counts as time unemployed?Each day during
  the period when OPT authorization begins and ends
  that the student does not have qualifying
  employment counts as a day of unemployment. The
  only exception is that periods of up to 10 days
  between the end of one job and the beginning of
  the next job will not be included in the
  calculation for time spent unemployed.
• Travel Outside the United States and
  UnemploymentIf the student whose approved period
  of OPT has started travels outside of the United
  States while unemployed, the time spent outside
  the United States will count as unemployment
  against the 90/120-day limits.If a student
  travels while employed either during a period of
  leave authorized by an employer or as part of
  their employment, the time spent outside the
  United States will not count as unemployment.

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