[Intl-stu] OPT Extension Update

[International Students]

Subject:  Update on majors eligible for OPT Extension

 

OPT extension to 29 months for STEM students: The 12-month limit on F-1
Optional Practical Training (OPT) will be extended by 17 months, for a
total of 29 months, for certain STEM degreeholders (Science, Technology,
Engineering, Mathematics) in the following fields: 

	*	Actuarial Science. CIP Code 52.1304. 
	*	Computer Science Applications: 

		*	CIP Codes 11.xxxx (except Data
Entry/Microcomputer Applications, which are CIP Codes 11.06xx) 

	*	Engineering. CIP Codes 14.xxxx. 
	*	Engineering Technologies. CIP Codes 15.xxxx. 
	*	Biological and Biomedical Sciences. CIP Codes 26.xxxx. 
	*	Mathematics and Statistics. CIP Codes 27.xxxx. 
	*	Military Technologies. CIP Codes 29.xxxx. 
	*	Physical Sciences. CIP Codes 40.xxxx. 
	*	Science Technologies. CIP Codes 41.xxxx. 
	*	Medical Scientist (MS, PhD). CIP Code 51.1401 

Specifically excluded from the above codes, however, are all CIP codes
ending in xx99, which are "catch-all" categories usually designated by
"Other" in the CIP lists. Degrees associated with CIP codes ending in
xx99 are not eligible for the 17-month extension.

I have included a link below that will provide the details of the majors
and codes listed above.  Click on "List CIP codes by 2-digit series,"
click on the information to find the codes (example:  14.xxx is code
14), and click "Go."   Many of you have called specifically to ask if
Management Science is an eligible major.  I am sorry to inform you that
a degree in Management Science is not eligible for the extension.
Please read the information under the codings carefully as some majors
may be listed under one code, and then referred to another code.    

 

We are also waiting for information related to the application process.
It is our understanding that the forms, information required, and the
steps to the process will change.  Please be patient as we verify this
information and update our website accordingly.  USCIS has informed us
they will be providing more information We will try to provide you more
information by Friday, April 11, 2008.  Thanks

 

http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2002/cip2000/

 

 

John Mark Jones, Director

International Student Services

Texas A&M University- Commerce

PO Box 3011

Commerce, TX 75429

Phone: (903) 886-5097

Fax: (903) 468-3200

 

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://mailman.tamuc.edu/pipermail/intl-stu/attachments/20080409/5b221ec3/attachment.htm