What is the F-1 OPT STEM extension?

The F-1 OPT STEM Extension is a program offered to international students who are studying in the United States on an F-1 visa. The program allows students who have completed a degree in a STEM field (science, technology, engineering, or mathematics) to extend their period of Optional Practical Training (OPT) for an additional 24 months. This extended period of OPT allows students to gain additional experience in the field they studied while they are in the United States. The additional experience may be beneficial to the student in their future career. In Virginia, students who are eligible for the F-1 OPT STEM Extension must meet the following criteria: They must have earned a degree from an accredited college or university in the United States in a STEM field, they must be currently employed for at least 20 hours per week in a job related to their studies, and they must have completed 12 months of the standard period of OPT. To apply for the F-1 OPT STEM Extension, students must submit an application to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The F-1 OPT STEM Extension is a great opportunity for international students in Virginia to gain additional experience in their field of study, which can help them find more successful employment opportunities once they complete their studies in the United States.

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La extensión OPT STEM F-1 es una extensión introducida por el Servicio de Ciudadanía e Inmigración de los Estados Unidos como una extensión de la autorización de trabajo de los estudiantes de programas de educación superior bajo el programa de visado F-1. Esta extensión permite a los estudiantes que obtienen un grado avanzado en ciencias, tecnología, ingeniería o matemáticas (STEM, por sus siglas en inglés) recibir una extensión adicional de la Autorización de Trabajo de Prácticas (OPT), pasando de 12 a 24 meses. Esto significa que los estudiantes con un grado avanzado en estos campos tienen más tiempo para buscar empleo relacionado con esta área de estudio en Virginia y en los Estados Unidos. La extensión STEM F-1 OPT también ofrece el beneficio adicional de aplicar para renovar el visado de estudiante F-1 sin regresar a su país de origen y en los Estados Unidos se les brindará la consideración de estatus legal al aplicar para la residencia permanente. Esta extensión es una gran ventaja para los estudiantes de programas de educación superior en Virginia que buscan una mayor estabilidad y mejores oportunidades de empleo.

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