24-Month STEM Extension
Optional Practical Training (OPT) Tutorial
Application Process: Part I
Most students on OPT no longer live in the Wichita-metro area and cannot be present to assemble the application materials in an in-person meeting with an advisor. Therefore, the following procedure has been developed for all applicants:
1. Thoroughly review the information contained in the extension tutorial.
2. Review and complete the 24-month STEM OPT Student Memorandum of Understanding.
3. Have your employer review and complete the 24-month STEM OPT Employer Memorandum of Understanding. The employer can submit the form directly to us or through you.
4. Coordinating with your employer, complete the Form I-983* Training Plan for STEM OPT Students:
a) Section 1: Student Information – You complete the Student Name, Student Email Address, and Student SEVIS ID No. boxes. OIE will complete the remaining Section 1 boxes.
b) Section 2: Student Certification – You will need to complete this section and print and sign it in ink.
c) Section3: Employer Information, Section 4: Employer Certification, and Section 6: Employer Official Certification – these three sections should be completed by your employer
d) Section 5: Training Plan for STEM OPT Students – this section should be completed by you and your employer. If you and your employer wish to answer these questions by attaching a separate statement, the statement must be signed and dated by the same “employer official with signatory authority” that is signing in Section 6, Page 4.
e) Page 5, Evaluation on Student Progress and Final Evaluation on Student Progress, should be left blank at this time. You will complete these sections in the future as part of your annual self-evaluation.
For assistance completing Form I-983*, please visit https://studyinthestates.dhs.gov/form-i-983-overview
5. Email the aforementioned documents to iss@wichita.edu, subject line “24-month STEM OPT Documents”
6. Upon receipt, the International Student Advisor will review the documents. As long as they are acceptable and you are determined to meet the eligibility requirements, the advisor will create a new I-20 with 24-month STEM OPT extension recommendation and email you to ask how you want the I-20 delivered to you.
7. Upon receiving the new I-20, be sure to sign it on page 1 in the box marked "Student Attestation.” Please email a scanned copy of the signed I-20 to IE at iss@wichita.edu for your file. You will keep the original I-20 for your records and mail a copy to the USCIS service center along with your other extension application materials.
*This copy of the I-983 includes hints to help students and employers complete the form more easily. They can be viewed if you first download the pdf and then open it in Adobe Acrobat Reader.