DHS Expands List of Fields Eligible for STEM OPT

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security added eight fields of study to the latest revision of its STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) Designated Degree Program List on July 12. Among the new fields are landscape architecture; institutional research; mechatronics, robotics, and automation engineering technology/technician; composite materials technology/technician; linguistics and computer science; developmental and adolescent psychology; geospatial intelligence; and demography and population studies. Full descriptions of these fields can be found in the Federal Register notice.

International students who earn degrees in fields on the list qualify for the STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT) program, which allows F-1 students to work in the United States for 3 years instead of the 1 year allowed under the standard OPT program. The STEM OPT list was last expanded in January 2022, when 22 fields were added. Notably, the DHS STEM OPT Designated Degree Program List is an exclusive list: CIP codes that are not on this list are not eligible for STEM OPT.

There is an annual deadline of August 1 for interested parties to nominate additional CIP codes for the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List. The next annual deadline is August 1, 2023.

DOS Provides Opportunity for Additional Academic Training for J-1 College and University Students in STEM Fields

The U.S. Department of State, through the BridgeUSA program, announced an opportunity for certain College and University Student Exchange Visitors in DHS-designated STEM fields to obtain additional Academic Training time.

Eligible Exchange Visitors must be undergraduate and pre-doctoral degree-seeking J-1 College and University Students who are pursuing or recently completed STEM-related studies. The initiative, which will run for the next two academic years (2021-2022 and 2022-2023), will increase the maximum length of Academic Training from 18 months to 36 months.

Academic Training is a limited form of work authorization for J-1 College and University Students which permits practical training opportunities during or immediately after studies that are directly related to the student’s major field of study. Current regulations cap Academic Training for undergraduate and pre-doctoral candidates at 18 months, with a limited exception permitting “additional time for academic training . . . to the extend necessary for the exchange visitor to satisfy the mandatory requirements of his or her degree program in the United States.” 22 CFR 62.23(f)(4)(ii).

The new initiative further supports the Biden Administration’s recent actions to advance predictability and clarity for pathways for international STEM scholars, students, researchers, and experts to contribute to innovation and job creation efforts across America.

Sponsors seeking DOS approval of STEM Academic Training extension requests are reminded they must comply with the regulations at 22 CRR 62.43(c), including submitting extension requests through the Private Sector’s Office of Designation by email, and including the student’s STEM field and corresponding CIP code.