Students who would like for our office to check SEVIS for any updates based on your H1-B application may submit this form. Please notice that checks may only be done by our office every one to two weeks. You may contact the employer that filed your H1-B for up to date updates on application processing.
Beginning on April 1st, students who are currently on OPT and who are in the process of applying for H1-B status may apply to receive their cap gap I-20 to extend the end date of OPT if their current OPT end date is before September 30. Please also submit the following form to request a Cap Gap I-20:
Please note, that the I-797 registration notice from USCIS for online registration cannot be used to apply the cap-gap to your record. You must be able to present proof of a mailed H-1B change of status filing/application to receive the preliminary cap-gap or full cap-gap.
SEVP has confirmed that the registration notice cannot be used to issue the initial cap-gap extension for students whose OPT/STEM OPT extensions are ending prior to 06/01 and for the cap-gap extension through 09/30. Your employer will need to file the H-1B petition (Form I-129) and submit the form to USCIS.
In order to receive the initial cap-gap through 06/01, your OPT/STEM OPT extension must be expiring prior to 06/01. Please have your employer email a copy of the H-1B petition and the tracking information that they used to file the petition on your behalf to isss@ucmo.edu. Once we have received the documents, we can extend your OPT end date through 06/01.
If you receive the I-797 notifying that USCIS has received or approved your petition,
please submit a copy of that form to isss@ucmo.edu.
Please review the information from USCIS with regards to H-1B Petitions:
International Student ServicesContactInternational Student Services |
Inaccurate I-983 fee - Beginning July 8, 2024 the $100 must be paid again if you submit an inaccurate form I-983 more than once. See the chart below as an example.
*To avoid the additional fees, work with your employer to submit the I-983 correctly the first time. We have many resources available below to guide you on the process.
First time STEM OPT:
STEM OPT Fees | Before July 8, 2024 | On or After July 8, 2024 |
Submit STEM OPT app | $100 | $100 |
Submit I-983 to ISS and receive a reply requesting edits (1st) | $0 | $0 |
Submit I-983 to ISS and receive a request for edits again (2nd) | $0 | $100 |
Submit I-983 to ISS and receive a request for edits again (3rd) | $0 | $100 |
Total | $100 | Example: $300 (ISS requested I-983 edits 3 times) |
Application Requirements:
Students may continue working on OPT for up to 180 days after the original OPT end date while USCIS is processing the submitted OPT STEM Extension application.
Upcoming OPT STEM Extension Live webinars (click the link to register):
OPT STEM Extension Resources:
Eligibility Criteria:
This is due to the unique assigned to programs at each school.
Application Period and Deadlines:
USCIS must not receive the application before or after the application window.
USCIS must not receive the application more than 60 days after the issue date found on the OPT STEM Extension I-20.
Health Insurance:
For information regarding enrolling in UCM Health Insurance while on OPT please go back to the forms page and select Health Insurance.
Students approved for 24 month OPT are required to update employer details within 10 days each time that they begin working for a new employer. Please complete the following form and submit a new form I-983 to update 24 Month OPT STEM employment details.
Students who are participating in OPT or the OPT STEM extension will receive an email once their OPT is approved and the OPT start date arrives to set up an SEVP Portal Account.
Students who participate in OPT are required to report their participation in OPT every 6 months. This reporting requirement is required even if the student has not changed employers or addresses. Failure to report this information in a timely manner will result in failure to maintain valid F-1 visa status.
Please watch our short on STEM OPT Reporting Requirements to ensure that you are meeting all F-1 visa requirements while participating in STEM OPT.
Report requirements for OPT Report Participation are:
Please note that if the information reported does not match what is currently in SEVIS, one or more additional forms may be required in order to update the information in SEVIS. OPT Report Participation cannot happen in SEVIS until all forms are submitted. It is in the best interest of the student to ensure they follow the USCIS mandate and report all changes in address and any changes in employment within 10 business days.
Application Requirements:
Students may begin work only after the following two events:
Students are not required to have the employer updated I-20 in hand to begin work on post-completion OPT.
Upcoming OPT Live webinars (click the link to register):
OPT Resources:
Eligibility Criteria:
OPT Dates and Deadlines
Application Deadlines: 3 months before to 2 months after program completion. Up to 90 days before and 60 days after the Thursday following finals week in the final semester of enrollment.
USCIS must not receive the application before or after the application window.
Start date: Choose a date from one week after finals week to 2 months after program completion.
OPT Dates/Semester | Fall (December completion) | Spring (May completion) | Summer (August completion) |
Application dates | September 20th - February 16th | February 16th - July 13th | May 15th - October 12th |
Start date options | December 20th - February 16th | May 16th - July 13th | August 15th - October 12th |
Within 30 days of OPT I-20 issuance:
USCIS must not receive the application more than 30 days after the issue date found on the OPT I-20.
If application is not submitted to USCIS within the 30-day period, contact isss@ucmo.edu to request an OPT I-20 cancellation and reissue.
If a 'rejection notice' is received from USCIS, contact isss@ucmo.edu to request an OPT I-20 cancellation and reissue.
Health Insurance:
For information regarding enrolling in UCM Health Insurance while on OPT please go back to the forms page and select Health Insurance.
Students approved for OPT are required to update employer details within 10 days each time that they begin working for an employer. This includes the first employer, even if it is the same employer from previous CPT approval. Please complete the following form to update 12 Month OPT employment details.
If you recently changed work site locations or have a new client site and have remained with the same employer, please use the following link to update your work site address information.