STEM OPT Jobs: Requirements, Majors & Where to Apply

If you earned a bachelor's, master's or doctoral degree in a field on the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List from an accredited, SEVP-certified US school, you can apply for a 24-month extension of your post-completion OPT (USCIS, checked October 2026). Combined with the initial 12 months, that is up to 36 months of work authorization - which changes how employers see you: you are no longer a 12-month hire.

Not every job that qualified for regular OPT qualifies for STEM OPT. To count, the job must meet all of these:

• The employer must be enrolled in E-Verify and in good standing, with a valid E-Verify company ID number that goes on your Form I-765.
• You and the employer must complete Form I-983, a formal training plan describing how the job builds on your STEM degree, with goals, oversight and evaluations.
• The work must be paid and commensurate with similarly situated US workers in duties, hours and compensation. Volunteering does not qualify.
• There must be a bona fide employer-employee relationship. USCIS states that some arrangements - multiple employer setups, sole proprietorships, employment through temp agencies or consulting firms that provide labor for hire - may not qualify. Be careful with "consultancy bench" offers.
• You must report to your DSO every 6 months, update changes within 10 days, and the employer must report if you leave within 5 business days.

Apply up to 90 days before your current OPT EAD expires and within 60 days of your DSO's recommendation. If you file on time and your OPT expires while the extension is pending, your work authorization extends automatically for up to 180 days while USCIS decides. Unemployment allowance rises to 150 total days (90 from OPT plus 60 more).

Eligibility follows your degree's CIP code, not the job title. The DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List covers engineering, computer science, mathematics, most physical and life sciences, and many quantitative fields such as data science, econometrics and some business analytics programs. Check your I-20's CIP code with your DSO rather than guessing from the major's name. A previous US STEM degree can also qualify you even if your current degree is non-STEM, and a later, higher STEM degree can earn a second 24-month extension.

• Ask directly whether the employer is enrolled in E-Verify; HR will know. Many large employers enroll company-wide.
• University career portals and the ICE SEVP top-OPT-employers list show companies that process I-983 plans routinely.
• On job boards, search the role plus your field; mention "eligible for 36 months of work authorization (OPT + STEM OPT)" in applications where authorization comes up.
• On Ethic Leaf, browse the IT and healthcare sector pages for analyst, engineer, developer and informatics roles - the fields where STEM OPT hires concentrate.

Ethic Leaf lists US jobs in the fields where STEM graduates get hired and offers resume, interview and training services. Ethic Leaf LLC participates in E-Verify, which employers must be enrolled in to employ STEM OPT students. Ethic Leaf is a staffing and career services company, not a law firm or immigration adviser. Immigration rules change, so always confirm your own situation with your designated school official (DSO) or an immigration attorney, and check uscis.gov for current rules and fees. Ethic Leaf does not sponsor visas and no service or guide guarantees a job.

• How long is STEM OPT? 24 months, added to the 12-month post-completion OPT, for up to 36 months total (USCIS).
• Can I do STEM OPT at a startup? Yes, if the startup is enrolled in E-Verify, pays you commensurate wages, and can genuinely provide the training in your Form I-983. Unpaid startup work does not qualify.
• Can staffing or consulting companies employ STEM OPT students? Only when the staffing company itself provides the training and maintains a real employer-employee relationship; labor-for-hire bench arrangements may not qualify (USCIS). Ask exactly who supervises and evaluates you.
• What happens if I change jobs on STEM OPT? The new employer must also be E-Verify enrolled, you file a new Form I-983 through your DSO, and the old employer reports your departure within 5 business days.