Maintaining Status while on STEM OPT

Maintaining lawful F-1 status requirements while engaged in STEM OPT:

• You cannot accrue more than 150 days of unemployment throughout the total 36 months of post-completion and STEM extension OPT. The unemployment clock starts on the first day of your work authorization, as indicated on your EAD and will end the day you begin employment. 
• You must report all employment within 10 days of any change. You can only work for employers that are e-verified and you have to submit an I-983 for each employer. 
• You must report any change in employment, address, name, or immigration status through the Highlander Pipeline. You are also required to report every 6 months regardless of whether there have been any changes. 
• Send a copy of your EAD to global@njit.edu so we can check your SEVIS record and make sure the dates match. 

Working while 24 month STEM extension of OPT application is still pending:

A student who has timely filed an application for a 24-month STEM OPT extension with USCIS may work for the STEM OPT employer while the STEM extension application is pending, for up to 180 days beyond the expiration of his or her prior post-completion OPT EAD.

If a STEM OPT application is still pending more than 180 days beyond the expiration of the student's regular or cap-gap OPT, the student must stop working. Employment after day 180 is not authorized under 8 CFR 274a.12(b)(6)(iv) if USCIS has not adjudicated the STEM OPT application by day 180.

If you require an updated copy of your I-20 with the new employment information: 

• You may request a reprint via the Google Request Form after your information has been updated, and you have received the automated email indicating your employment has been updated. 
  • All document requests to the OGI may take up to 7 business days for processing. 
  • If you request an updated I-20 before you have received the automated email confirmation that your information was updated, then your reprinted I-20 will not include your most recent employment changes.

Students engaged in STEM OPT employment must ensure that their employment meets the following criteria:

• Be employed or have an offer for a paid position which is directly related to their NJIT field of study.
• Be employment with an employer registered in E-verify.
• Must be employed FULL TIME at more than 20 hours per week. There is no limit on the maximum hours students may work.
• Students may not be self employed while engaged in STEM OPT.

Students may be employed with multiple employers, but, all employment must be related to their NJIT program of study, all employers must be registered in E-Verify, all employment must be reported in the Highlander Pipeline as per OPT reporting instructions, and the total hours of employment, for all employers, must be more than 20 hours per week.

If you require an updated copy of your I-20 with the new employment information: 

• You may request a reprint via the Google Request Form after your information has been updated, and you have received the automated email indicating your employment has been updated. 
  • All document requests to the OGI may take up to 7 business days for processing. 
  • If you request an updated I-20 before you have received the automated email confirmation that your information was updated, then your reprinted I-20 will not include your most recent employment changes.

Students engaged in STEM OPT employment are required by federal regulations to report their employment, and any changes in employment (end of employment, new job, change of supervisors, etc) within 10 days of the change occurring.

Additionally, students engaged in STEM OPT employment must submit a report every 6 months following the start of their STEM OPT period, regardless of whether changes have occurred during this time or not.

Students with 24-month STEM OPT Extension authorization must use the NJIT HIGHLANDER PIPELINE to report their employment changes, and submit 6-month reports.

All changes in employment must be accompanied with an updated I983, which can be emailed directly to Global@njit.edu

STEM Extension students may not use the SEVP Portal to report changes in their STEM employment.

ALL STUDENTS must continue to report changes of address, phone numbers, and email addresses in the Highlander Pipeline so the university has up to date contact information for you; however, you may report this information directly in your SEVP portal as well.

Students must follow the instructions for OPT reporting HERE in order to comply with federal STEM OPT employment requirements.

If you require an updated copy of your I-20 with the new employment information: 

• You may request a reprint via the Google Request Form after your information has been updated, and you have received the automated email indicating your employment has been updated. 
  • All document requests to the OGI may take up to 7 business days for processing. 
  • If you request an updated I-20 before you have received the automated email confirmation that your information was updated, then your reprinted I-20 will not include your most recent employment changes.

OGI recommends avoiding travel while your OPT/STEM OPT is pending, especially if your current OPT period has expired, as it might be more difficult to reenter with an expired document.

Additionally, USCIS might send you a Request for Further Evidence (RFE) while you are abroad to your U.S. address which requires answering as soon as possible. If your STEM OPT is approved while you are outside the U.S. you will be required to have your EAD in hand to reenter the country. USCIS cannot mail your EAD outside of the U.S.

In order to reenter the US after travel abroad, you must have:

• STEM OPT EAD in hand
•  I-20 with a valid travel signature
• Valid passport
• Valid F-1 visa
• Letter or proof of employment.

*Travel signatures are only valid for 6 months while on OPT/STEM OPT.

If you exceed your 150 days of unemployment while outside the U.S., CBP can deny your reentry at the border, even if you have all of the documents listed above.

OPT employment authorization is automatically terminated when student begins study at another educational level, regardless of the approved dates listed on the EAD card.

Students MAY NOT continue employment, in any capacity, after starting coursework for a new program, unless they receive prior authorization to do so. 

Additionally, OPT employment authorization is automatically terminated the day a student's SEVIS record is transferred to another institution. if you will be transferring to another school, plan your SEVIS transfer release date accordingly with your employer and new institution in order to avoid status violations.

Recreational and avocational classes are permissible. Recreational and avocational classes are those done to pursue a hobby or personal interest, but will not lead to another degree at any level.