OPT and STEM Applications:
Online I-765 Walkthrough
Last Updated: November 2023
This recording and any related materials provided by UMD are intended for the sole use of UMD alumni who participate
under a valid UMD-issued I-20.
Any information contained within or linked to from this site is subject to changes and updates. You as the user are
responsible to verify the accuracy and sufficiency of any such content. UMD makes reasonable efforts to ensure that
any information contained within or linked from this site has been obtained from reliable sources, however all
information is provided AS IS. UMD is not responsible for any errors or omissions, for any results obtained, or for
resulting decisions made by USCIS on STEM OPT eligibility resulting from the use of this information.
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AND SEVERALLY DISCLAIM ANY AND ALL REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, WRITTEN
OR ORAL, IN FACT OR ARISING BY OPERATION OF LAW, REGARDING THE COMPLETENESS, ACCURACY,
MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, OR TIMELINESS OF RESULTS OBTAINED. In no event
will UMD, or its agents or employees, be liable to you or to anyone else for any decision made or action taken in reliance
upon the information contained within or linked from this site.
Why file online?
The USCIS online form allows
students to easily manage their
OPT application throughout its
life cycle. Through the online
form, students can:
● Reduce mailing costs and
delivery times
● Have fees deducted from
credit cards or bank
account immediately
● Access and respond to
USCIS notices quickly
● Send secure messages to
USCIS or request
corrections
Getting
Prepared to File
Online
Getting Prepared: OPT I-20
Complete the correct iTerp e-form and wait for its
approval. Fill out the following iTerp form based on your
application type:
● Pre-completion - OPT: Request (Pre-Completion)
● Post-Completion - OPT: I-20 Request
● STEM - STEM OPT Request
You will receive your new I-20 with the OPT or STEM
recommendation on the second page.
Do not begin your online application until you have
your I-20 with the OPT/STEM recommendation.
OPT/STEM I-20
● Please note: Your online
application materials must be
submitted to USCIS
within 30
days of the creation of the
OPT I-20 and 60 days of the
creation of the STEM I-20.
● Make sure to sign your I-20 in
blue ink in the Student
Attestation box!
Do this before scanning a copy
for your online submission.
OPT I-20
● For pre- and post-completion
OPT only: Once you apply for
OPT, the dates you requested
as your start and end dates are
written on your new I-20. SEVIS
does not allow these dates to be
changed/updated.
Getting Prepared:
Organize your Files
We suggest making an electronic copy of all
materials and save them as separate files in the
same folder on your computer.
Please check:
● Are your files in the correct format?
● Are they clearly labeled so you can quickly
see which file is which?
● Do the file names meet the standard (no
special characters or foreign language
characters)?
● Are the file sizes less than 6MB each?
Getting Prepared:
Required Materials (all application types)
These are the documents you should save together on
your computer:
● Passport style photograph
○ We recommend https://tsg.phototool.state.gov/photo to create
your photos
● Electronic I-94 record (or hard copy I-94)
● Current passport (biographical page)
● Current F-1 visa (optional)
● New I-20 with OPT recommendation on 2nd page
(make sure to sign it!)
● Copies of any previous I-20s with CPT or OPT
recommendations only
○ Include any copies with CPT or OPT from previous degrees, too!
○ Not required for STEM applications
● If applicable: Copies of any prior EAD card(s)
Getting Prepared:
Required Materials (Pre-completion only)
For Pre-completion OPT
applications only:
● Proof of enrollment
○ Request from TESTUDO using the
Transcript Ordering link
For full-time pre-completion OPT
during the semester only:
● Copy of academic advisor’s letter
certifying that only the
thesis/dissertation remains
Getting Prepared:
Required Materials (
STEM Extension only)
For STEM Extension applications only:
● Copy of your diploma or transcript from your STEM degree
● Evidence that your school is currently accredited by U.S. Department
of Education
○ If you are applying based on a University of Maryland degree, download and save
this accreditation file
or use https://ope.ed.gov/dapip/#/institution-profile/120218
○ If you are applying based on a degree from another school, visit
https://ope.ed.gov/dapip/#/home
to search for your school.
Getting prepared:
Payment methods
Before you begin your online application,
think about how you will pay for the
application and have that information
available. You can pay by:
● Credit card or debit card
● ACH from checking or savings account
(automatic withdrawal from a bank
account)
○ Have bank routing number and account
number available
Important!
To pay by credit, debit or ACH
withdrawal from a bank account, the
credit/debit card or bank account
needs to be associated with a US
address. It does not need to be your
own account or credit card.
Final
Reminders
Before You
File Online
● Once you start the online form, it will be saved
for 30 days, or from the last time you worked on
the form.
○ Remember to file your application within 30
days of the OPT I-20 issuance and within 60
days of the STEM I-20 issuance. Contact an
ISSS advisor before filing online if you have
exceeded these dates.
● This is a personal application. You are solely
responsible for the content of your I-765
application, accuracy of information, and
submission of all required materials.
Creating the
USCIS Online
Account and
Filing Online
Create or Sign into USCIS account
Visit https://myaccount.uscis.gov/ to
create a new account or sign in to an
existing account.
Helpful tip! The email address you use
for this account does not need to be the
same email address you have on
TESTUDO and SEVIS. Use an email
address that you will continue to check
after your graduation from UMD.
Start I-765 Application
Once you are logged in, in the My Account section, select File a form online.
Start I-765 Application
Select Application for
Employment Authorization
(I-765) from the list of
application types.
Getting Started: Basis of Eligibility
Select your Eligibility Category from
the dropdown menu:
● (c)(3)(A): Pre-completion OPT
● (c)(3)(B): Post completion OPT
● (c)(3)(C): STEM Extension OPT
Please note: other categories are not
eligible to file online.
Double-check before you continue: Did
you select the correct eligibility category
for your application?
Getting Started: Premium Processing
As of March 6, 2023, F-1 students may now submit applications for
premium processing of their OPT/STEM applications.
● $1,500 fee (through February 25, 2024)
● $1,685 fee (starting February 26, 2024)
● Form I-907
● USCIS will process in 30 calendar days or less
● Beginning April 3, 2023 applications for premium processing can be
filed concurrently with I-765
● Make sure to check USCIS Processing Times first!
For more information, see our FAQs on premium processing
. Schedule
an appointment with an advisor
if you are interested in filing with
premium processing.
Getting Started: Premium Processing
● Select “Yes” or “No”
● If you select Yes, you
will be directed to
Form I-907
(application for
Premium Processing)
directly after you sign
Form I-765
Getting Started: Reason for Applying
Select:
● ‘Initial permission…’ if it is your
first time applying for OPT on
your current degree level
● ‘Renewal of permission’ if you
have had OPT previously on your
current degree level
Getting Started: Preparer and Interpreter
Information
● Mark ‘No’ for the question on
whether someone is assisting you
● Please enter your legal name. If your
name does not fit in the boxes
allotted, enter it on the ‘Additional
Information’ page at the end
● If you do not have a first, middle, or
last name, please leave the text box
blank
● Proceed to the demographic
questions
About You: Your Name
More pop-up boxes
appear if select “Yes”
About You: Your Contact
Information
● Please enter your phone number
and email address
● Use an email address that you will
not lose access to after you
graduate
● Please enter your U.S. mailing address. This
address is where your EAD will be sent.
If you might move in the next 1-5 months,
please use a friend’s or family member’s
address.
● If your mailing address is not the same as
your address of residence in the U.S., mark
‘No’ and enter your U.S. address of residence.
Your EAD card will NOT be sent to this
address
About You: Your Contact
Information
About You: Describe
Yourself
● Select your gender and marital
status
About You: When and
Where you were born
● Enter your city, town, or village of
birth
● State or province of birth
● Country of birth
● Date of birth
○ Month/Day/Year
○ Ex: December 31, 1999
○ 12/31/1999
About You: Your Immigration Information
● Select your country of citizenship or
nationality
● Please enter your I-94 information
○ Electronic records can be found here:
https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov
■ You can find the last ‘place of arrival’
by selecting ‘View Complete Travel
History’
○ If you have a paper card, please record the
requested information
● You will be uploading your I-94 later!
Please have your I-94 record
downloaded/scanned and ready to
upload.
About You: Immigration
Information (Continued)
● Enter passport number of your
most recently issued passport
● If you enter a passport number,
leave the travel document
number blank
● Expiration date of passport
● Country that issued your passport
About You: Immigration
Information (Continued)
● For current immigration status or
category, select “F1 - Student,
Academic, or Language Program”
● Enter your SEVIS Number (at the
top of your I-20)
● If you have had different SEVIS
numbers in the past, add them in
the “Additional Information”
section at the end of the
application
About You: Other Information
● If you have had an EAD card in the past, enter
your A-Number
○ The A number can be found on prior EAD
cards listed as the USCIS#.
○ If this is your first time applying for OPT,
check “I do not have or know my A-
Number”
● If you have filed an application with USCIS
before, enter your USCIS Online Account
Number.
○ The USCIS Online Account number can be
found on your user profile page of USCIS’
portal.
○ If this is your first time filing with USCIS,
check “I do not have or know my USCIS
Online Account Number”
About You: Other
Information (Continued)
● If you have an SSN number please
mark ‘yes’ and enter it here
o An SSN is good for life; you do not need to
request another
● If you do not have an SSN number
please mark ‘no’ and answer the
following question as to whether you
would like a Social Security card to be
issued to you
○ Complete the requested information
● Upload your most recent I-94
record and most recent
passport here
● If you have an electronic copy:
○ You only need to include the
main page of your I-94 record
● If you have a paper card:
○ You must scan and upload both
sides of the card
Evidence: Form I-94
or Passport
● If you have previously had OPT,
please upload a copy of your EAD
card
● If you have not previously had an
EAD card, upload a copy of a
government-issued identity
document such as your Passport
or F-1 visa
Evidence: Employment Authorization
Document
● Upload a copy of any I-20s you
had previously with CPT or OPT.
If you do not have prior i20s with
CPT/OPT you may skip this step!
○ Go past the warning message
● This does NOT include your
new OPT/STEM I-20 - you will
upload that in the next step.
Evidence: Previously Authorized CPT or OPT
Note: this screen is available on pre- and
post-completion OPT applications only.
STEM applicants are not required to
upload copies of past CPT or OPT I-20s.
● Please upload your I-20 with the
new OPT/STEM recommendation
(make sure you signed it!)
○ You must upload your I-20 with the
OPT recommendation from ISSS
within 30 days of receiving it
● Pay attention to file size and title
Evidence: Form I-20
● Use this section to add any
explanations or additional
information to previous sections
○ Example: Name Issues, I-20 Issues
Explanations
● If you have had an alternate SEVIS
number in the past, please provide it
here.
○ Choose Section: About You
○ Page: Your Immigration Information
○ Question: What is your SEVIS #?
○ Additional Info: Put your previous
SEVIS numbers here!
Additional Information
● For Pre-Completion only:
○ Use the Proof of Enrollment
Section to upload your transcript.
■ Reminder: Request this
document from TESTUDO
using
the Transcript Ordering link
○ If you are requesting full-time pre-
completion OPT during the semester,
you may also upload the advisor’s
letter here.
Evidence: Proof of Enrollment
Pre-Completion Only
● For STEM Extension only:
○ Use the College Degree
section to upload your
transcript or copy of your
diploma from the STEM-
eligible degree.
Evidence: College Degree
STEM Extension Only
● For STEM Extension only:
○ Use the Institution Accreditation
section to upload evidence that the
school you earned your STEM-
eligible degree is accredited.
● Reminder:
○ If you are applying based on a University of
Maryland degree,
download and save this
accreditation file
or use
https://ope.ed.gov/dapip/#/institution-
profile/120218
○ If you are applying based on a degree from
another school, visit
https://ope.ed.gov/dapip/#/home to search for
your school.
Evidence: Institution Accreditation
STEM Extension Only
Review and Submit
● Please review your application
before submitting
○ You cannot make further changes
once you submit your application!
● If Alerts/Warnings are present,
you must address them before
moving forward with your
application
Remember to use an account associated with a US address!
Warning - this is the final step before submitting! You cannot modify your
application after hitting continue.
After You File
the Online I-765
Print or view the draft
snapshot and save a copy
for your records. We would
suggest saving it in the same
folder with the files you
uploaded.
Download and Save
Your Application
View/Save Your Receipt Notice
You can immediately view your receipt
notice and any future documentation
about your case.
Note: All documentation will be mailed
to the address you provided; however,
you can log in to this portal to view and
download any notices in advance.
Questions?
If you have questions about your OPT application or materials, please contact ISSS.
It is recommended that you contact ISSS before uploading additional documentation
to your USCIS application or making any correction requests.
We are here to support you during the application and while you are on OPT/STEM.
Good luck with your OPT/STEM application!
How to contact us:
Schedule an appointment
Chat with ISSS
E-mail an ISSS advisor
