Are F-1 students subject to FICA on OPT/CPT wages?

F-1 students are FICA-exempt during the period they are non-resident aliens (typically the first 5 calendar years per Substantial Presence Test exempt-individual rule). OPT and CPT wages within this window are exempt from Social Security and Medicare tax under IRC §3121(b)(19).

What CIP codes qualify for STEM OPT?

The DHS STEM CIP list is the authoritative source. Schools assign CIP codes; if your degree's CIP is on the list, you qualify. The list includes most STEM majors but some are surprisingly excluded (e.g., business analytics CIPs are mostly not eligible).

Form I-983 is the STEM OPT Training Plan signed by the beneficiary and employer. Documents goals, oversight, performance evaluation, and how the training relates to the STEM field of study. Required at I-765 filing and updated for material changes during STEM OPT.

Can I travel internationally on OPT or CPT?

Travel rules: F-1 visa, valid passport, current I-20 with DSO travel signature within 6 months. OPT requires EAD; CPT requires I-20 CPT endorsement. Carry employer letter and recent pay stubs; CBP can refuse entry if continued employment can't be proven.

What happens if I'm unemployed during OPT?

90-day unemployment cap during OPT is cumulative. SEVP enforces via SEVIS reporting — DSOs must terminate SEVIS records when the cap is exceeded. STEM OPT adds 60 more days (150 total) for STEM extension period.

STEM OPT 2026: 24-Month Extension Eligibility, I-983, E-Verify Employer Rules

What STEM OPT Is

STEM OPT extends post-completion OPT by an additional 24 months for F-1 students with eligible STEM degrees — total work authorization of 36 months (12 OPT + 24 STEM extension). Application via Form I-765 category (c)(3)(C). See SEVP STEM OPT Hub for official guidance.

The 36-month runway often spans 2 H-1B lottery cycles, providing meaningful career-stability for STEM graduates pursuing employer-sponsored long-term status.

STEM Eligibility — DHS CIP List

Eligibility requires the F-1 student's degree to have a Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code on the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List. The list covers most:

11.xxxx — Computer / Information Sciences
14.xxxx — Engineering
26.xxxx — Biological / Biomedical Sciences
27.xxxx — Mathematics / Statistics
40.xxxx — Physical Sciences

The list is updated periodically. Some surprising exclusions exist (e.g., most business analytics CIPs are not on the list). Schools assign CIP codes per academic program.

E-Verify Employer Requirement

STEM OPT requires the employer to be enrolled in E-Verify. The employer must use E-Verify for all new hires, not just the STEM beneficiary. Employer enrollment date must precede or coincide with the I-765 filing.

Most large tech and consulting employers are E-Verify-enrolled. Smaller startups and non-tech employers often are not — beneficiaries should verify enrollment status before accepting offers if STEM extension is critical.

Form I-983 Training Plan

Form I-983 is the STEM OPT Training Plan signed by the beneficiary and employer. It describes goals, oversight structure, performance evaluation, and how the training relates to the STEM field of study. Required at I-765 filing and updated for material changes during STEM OPT.

Material changes (new employer, new role) require an updated I-983 within 10 days. Vague or inconsistent I-983s draw RFEs. The form is the centerpiece document USCIS reviews to determine STEM-OPT eligibility.

Filing Window and Timing

File I-765 STEM extension in the 90-day window before initial OPT EAD expires. Filing earlier (>90 days) results in rejection; filing too late means EAD expires before extension approval.

The 540-day auto-extension under the April 2024 DHS rule applies to timely-filed I-765 STEM renewals — work authorization continues for up to 540 days while the renewal is pending. This eliminates most employment-gap risk.

Reporting Requirements During STEM OPT

SEVIS reporting is more frequent than standard OPT: 6-month, 12-month, 18-month, and 24-month milestone reports plus material-change reports within 10 days. Annual self-evaluations on Form I-983 are required.

Failure to report within deadlines can terminate SEVIS records. The DSO and student share responsibility for keeping the record current.

Cross-Pillar Reading

STEM OPT Extension Application · filing process detail
OPT — Optional Practical Training · the prior-step 12-month period
CPT — Curricular Practical Training · during-studies counterpart
H-1B Lottery · the post-STEM bridge to long-term status
H-4 EAD · alternative work authorization for some F-1 graduates

Bottom line

STEM OPT extends OPT by 24 months for STEM degree holders at E-Verify employers. The 36-month total runway often covers 2+ H-1B lottery cycles. Form I-983 documentation and SEVIS reporting cadence are the operational requirements.

Frequently asked questions

Are F-1 students subject to FICA on OPT/CPT wages?: F-1 students are FICA-exempt during the period they are non-resident aliens (typically the first 5 calendar years per Substantial Presence Test exempt-individual rule). OPT and CPT wages within this window are exempt from Social Security and Medicare tax under IRC §3121(b)(19).
What CIP codes qualify for STEM OPT?: The DHS STEM CIP list is the authoritative source. Schools assign CIP codes; if your degree's CIP is on the list, you qualify. The list includes most STEM majors but some are surprisingly excluded (e.g., business analytics CIPs are mostly not eligible).
What is Form I-983?: Form I-983 is the STEM OPT Training Plan signed by the beneficiary and employer. Documents goals, oversight, performance evaluation, and how the training relates to the STEM field of study. Required at I-765 filing and updated for material changes during STEM OPT.
Can I travel internationally on OPT or CPT?: Travel rules: F-1 visa, valid passport, current I-20 with DSO travel signature within 6 months. OPT requires EAD; CPT requires I-20 CPT endorsement. Carry employer letter and recent pay stubs; CBP can refuse entry if continued employment can't be proven.
What happens if I'm unemployed during OPT?: 90-day unemployment cap during OPT is cumulative. SEVP enforces via SEVIS reporting — DSOs must terminate SEVIS records when the cap is exceeded. STEM OPT adds 60 more days (150 total) for STEM extension period.

STEM OPT 24-Month Extension: Eligible CIP Codes, Form I-983, and E-Verify Employer Rules