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<p class=MsoNormal><strong><b><u><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>Subject: Update on
majors eligible for OPT Extension<o:p></o:p></span></font></u></b></strong></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><strong><b><u><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'><o:p><span
style='text-decoration:none'> </span></o:p></span></font></u></b></strong></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><strong><b><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>OPT extension to 29
months for STEM students</span></font></b></strong><font size=2 color=black
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>: 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: </span></font><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<ul type=disc>
<ul type=circle>
<li class=MsoNormal style='color:black;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:
auto;mso-list:l0 level2 lfo1;background:white'><font size=2 color=black
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Actuarial
Science. CIP Code 52.1304. <o:p></o:p></span></font></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='color:black;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:
auto;mso-list:l0 level2 lfo1;background:white'><font size=2 color=black
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Computer
Science Applications: <o:p></o:p></span></font></li>
<ul type=square>
<li class=MsoNormal style='color:black;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:
auto;mso-list:l0 level3 lfo1;background:white'><font size=2 color=black
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>CIP Codes
11.xxxx (<em><i><font face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial'>except</span></font></i></em>
Data Entry/Microcomputer Applications, which are CIP Codes 11.06xx) <o:p></o:p></span></font></li>
</ul>
<li class=MsoNormal style='color:black;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:
auto;mso-list:l0 level2 lfo1;background:white'><font size=2 color=black
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Engineering.
CIP Codes 14.xxxx. <o:p></o:p></span></font></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='color:black;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:
auto;mso-list:l0 level2 lfo1;background:white'><font size=2 color=black
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Engineering
Technologies. CIP Codes 15.xxxx. <o:p></o:p></span></font></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='color:black;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:
auto;mso-list:l0 level2 lfo1;background:white'><font size=2 color=black
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Biological
and Biomedical Sciences. CIP Codes 26.xxxx. <o:p></o:p></span></font></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='color:black;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:
auto;mso-list:l0 level2 lfo1;background:white'><font size=2 color=black
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Mathematics
and Statistics. CIP Codes 27.xxxx. <o:p></o:p></span></font></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='color:black;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:
auto;mso-list:l0 level2 lfo1;background:white'><font size=2 color=black
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Military
Technologies. CIP Codes 29.xxxx. <o:p></o:p></span></font></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='color:black;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:
auto;mso-list:l0 level2 lfo1;background:white'><font size=2 color=black
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Physical
Sciences. CIP Codes 40.xxxx. <o:p></o:p></span></font></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='color:black;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:
auto;mso-list:l0 level2 lfo1;background:white'><font size=2 color=black
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Science
Technologies. CIP Codes 41.xxxx. <o:p></o:p></span></font></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='color:black;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:
auto;mso-list:l0 level2 lfo1;background:white'><font size=2 color=black
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Medical
Scientist (MS, PhD). CIP Code 51.1401 <o:p></o:p></span></font></li>
</ul>
</ul>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
background:white'><b><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black;font-weight:bold'>Specifically
<em><i><font face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial'>excluded</span></font></i></em><i><span
style='font-style:italic'> 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 </span></i><em><i><font face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial;
font-style:normal'>not</span></font></i></em><i><span style='font-style:italic'>
eligible for the 17-month extension.<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>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.” <b><i><u><span
style='font-weight:bold;font-style:italic'>Many of you have called specifically
to ask if Management Science is an eligible major.</span></u></i></b> I
am sorry to inform you that a degree in Management Science is not eligible for
the extension. <b><i><u><span style='font-weight:bold;font-style:italic'>Please
read the information under the codings carefully as some majors may be listed
under one code, and then referred to another code.</span></u></i></b> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>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. <b><i><u><span
style='font-weight:bold;font-style:italic'>Please be patient as we verify this
information and update our website accordingly.</span></u></i></b> USCIS
has informed us they will be providing more information We will try to provide
you more information by Friday, April 11, 2008. Thanks<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><a href="http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2002/cip2000/">http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2002/cip2000/</a><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>John Mark Jones, Director</span></font><font face=Arial><span
style='font-family:Arial'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>International Student Services</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on"><font size=2
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Texas</span></font></st1:PlaceName><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'> <st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">A&M</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">University-</st1:PlaceType></span></font></st1:place><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'> Commerce</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:address w:st="on"><st1:Street w:st="on"><font size=2
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>PO Box</span></font></st1:Street><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'> 3011</span></font></st1:address><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on"><font size=2
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Commerce</span></font></st1:City><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>, <st1:State
w:st="on">TX</st1:State> <st1:PostalCode w:st="on">75429</st1:PostalCode></span></font></st1:place><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Phone: (903) 886-5097</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Fax: (903) 468-3200</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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