The following items must be submitted to our office in order to apply for STEM OPT:

• STEM request form and responsibilities form
• Signed I-765 form
• Completed I-983 Training Form (pages 1-4). Page 5: Evaluation page must be submitted to us later after 12 & 24 months of STEM OPT.
• Copies of all I-20s ever issued to you by ODU and any other school
• Biographical information page from your passport (if the picture and/or expiration date are on different pages, include those as well)
• Most recent visa stamp
• I-94 arrival record OR I-94 card (from a pre-May 2013 entry)
• Any previous EADs (front & back sides)
• Two 2 x 2 passport-style photos
• Personal check for $410 made out to US Department of Homeland Security OR Form G-1450 for credit card payment of $410
• Copy of your diploma
• Official or Unofficial transcripts with degree conferral date
• Complete G-1145 form (E-notification for application/petition acceptance)—optional

Please note that copies should be submitted on 8.5 x 11 paper and documents should be copied in actual size and centered on the page. The only exception to this is your diploma, which must be reduced in size to fit on 8.5 x 11 paper.

USCIS announced that Optional Practical Training applications (Regular and STEM OPT) can be submitted online via myaccount.uscis.gov.

You will receive the receipt notice immediately; however, the processing time for EAD cards will not change. USCIS will continue to receive and process paper OPT and STEM OPT applications.

NOTE:

• You will still be required email your application to our office at intlstu@odu.edu to review and generate the OPT I-20. You will have to save/download a completed I-765 form to send to our office for review.
• SUBMITTING AN OPT /STEM OPT APPLICATION WITHOUT AN I-20 FROM ODU WILL RESULT IN APPLICATION REJECTION OR DENIAL.
• The online filing requires the same documentation—it will be uploaded to the USCIS portal. The OPT I-20 will have to be signed, scanned and uploaded. Electronic signatures on I-20s are not accepted.

Application Checklist:

• STEM OPT Request Form and responsibilities sheet (submitted to the VISA office but not to USCIS)
• Online I-765 form AFTER creating myaccount.uscis.gov and select FILE A FORM ONLINE.
• Completed I-983 Training Form (pages 1-4). Page 5: Evaluation page must be submitted to us later after 12 & 24 months of STEM OPT.
• STEM OPT I-20 issued by ODU, signed with ink. No electronic signatures.
• Copies of ALL I-20s EVER issued to and used by you from ODU and any other school
• Copies of biographical information page(s) from your passport
• Copy of most recent visa stamp
• I-94 arrival record OR I-94 card (from a pre-May 2013 entry)
• Copies of any previous EADs (both sides)
• Copy of your diploma
• Official or Unofficial transcripts with degree conferral date
• Two passport-style photos. Photos must be JPG, JPEG or PNG.
• Payment Options: credit/debit/online checking account. You will know when you payment is accepted immediately.