DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED TO APPLY FOR A NEW STEM EXTENSION I-20

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1 All students applying for the 24-month STEM extension should read this information carefully prior to submitting any documentation to the Office of Global Initiatives or USCIS. Contact an international student adviser if you have any questions. ELIGIBILITY Have successfully completed a degree in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics ("STEM") included in the Department of Homeland Security S STEM Designated Degree Program List To check if your program is on the STEM list, see Currently be participating in a 12-month period of approved post-completion OPT based upon a STEM degree. Be working for a U.S. employer in a job directly related to the student's major area of study. Be working for, or accepted employment with, an employer enrolled in USCIS' E-Verify program. E-Verify is a free, internet-based system operated in partnership with the Social Security Administration that helps employers to determine the employment eligibility of newly-hired employees. Be properly maintaining F-1 status. TIMELINE The earliest you can apply: 120 days before the end date listed on your 12-month EAD card. The application MUST BE RECEIVED USCIS within 30 days of the NJIT International Student Adviser s recommendation date reflected on page 2 of the I-20. Applications will be processed in 5-7 business days. There is no rush service so plan accordingly! Failure to submit in a timely manner means no OPT extension! DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED TO APPLY FOR A NEW STEM EXTENSION I-20 1) 24-month STEM OPT Extension Request Form 2) Original I-765. Item#16 should show (c)(3)(c) 3) Original I-983, signed by you and your supervisor 4) Copy of check or money order payable to U. S. Department of Homeland Security for $ ) Money order payable to NJIT in the amount of $200 6) Copy of current EAD card (both sides) 7) Copy of most current I-20 8) Copy of I-94 print-out 9) Copy of employment letter dated within 30 days of the STEM extension application date 1 (VSP16)

2 DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED BY USCIS (TO BE SUBMITTED AFTER YOUR NEW I-20) The following is a list of documents to be sent to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) AFTER your application has been reviewed by NJIT s Office of Global Initiatives. 1. ORIGINAL Form I-765. Previous versions of the form will not be accepted. Use code (c)(3)(c) in item #16. Sign in blue ink. 2. ORIGINAL Form G-1145 (optional) to receive an electronic confirmation that your application was received. 3. Two (2) passport style photographs. 4. Check or money order payable to U. S. Department of Homeland Security for $ Photocopy of the student s degree certificate / diploma reflecting the academic major. 6. Photocopy of current EAD card (both sides). 7. Photocopies of all I-20s, including the I-20 you will receive recommending the 24-month STEM OPT Extension by your NJIT International Student Adviser. 8. Photocopy of passport (photo and expiration date pages only) 9. Photocopy of visa 10. Photocopy of I-94 card print-out PHOTOGRAPHS You must have two (2) photographs taken within thirty (30) days prior to submitting your application for employment authorization. They must be sent with your application. The photographs must be no larger than 2 x 2 inches with the distance between the top of the head to just below the chin about 1 to 1 3/8 inches. They should have a plain white or off-white background, be unmounted, printed on thin paper and glossy. The photographs must show a full color frontal profile of the head. The head should be bare unless you are wearing a headdress required by the religious order to which you belong. Students who wear glasses must take them off for the picture. Make sure that the photograph is a full face, front view color photograph of you with your eyes open. Do not cut the photograph. Lightly write in pencil on the back of the photograph your name and your I-94 number. 2 (VSP16)

3 MAILING YOUR APPLICATION TO USCIS Once you are recommended for Optional Practical Training, please send your documents to the following address: For Express mail and courier deliveries (DHL, FedEx or UPS): USCIS Attn: AOS 2501 S. State Hwy. 121 Business Suite 400 Lewisville, TX For U.S. Postal Service (USPS): USCIS Dallas Lockbox Deliveries: USCIS PO Box Dallas, TX We recommend that you use "UPS, Fedex or DHL" to mail your packet. These services allow you to see an electronic receipt so that you can confirm that your EAD application has been delivered to USCIS. Once I-797 receipt is received use the receipt # to view case status here: IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS It takes up to 5 days for processing your STEM extension I-20. Submit your paperwork in a timely manner so you have enough time to mail it to USCIS. Plan to submit your documention to our office in a timely manner as we cannot rush procesing applications. The 24-month STEM OPT Extension request application MUST reach the USCIS Texas Service Center within 30 days of the NJIT International Student Adviser s recommendation date reflected on page 2 of the I-20. We recommend that you make a copy of all documents you send to USCIS. Keep these copies with your USCIS records. You are REQUIRED to report employment every 6 months through the Pipeline AND submit Form I-983 with your reviews. 3 (VSP16)

4 HOW TO WRITE A CHECK TO USCIS Don t forget, the check should be $ (VSP16)

5 For STEM Applications Be sure to use the MOST RECENT Form I-765 available from USCIS website. Enter First AND Middle name (if applicable) in space provided for First Name. Enter exactly as shown on your Form I-20. Leave Middle Name space blank. If using NJIT s mailing address, enter as shown. Students may use their home mailing address if they wish Enter the Service Center listed on your initial OPT Approval notice, Form I-797A (most likely Vermont Service Center), NOT the location where you mailed your initial OPT application. Enter the dates of your approval, indicated on your EAD card. Code for STEM Applications Enter the CORRECT E- Verify ID Number, obtained from your company Human Resources Department. Sign in BLUE INK. Try not to touch text above or line below when signing document. Leave this BLANK, unless someone else has prepared this document for you.