US Adds New Majors Under STEM OPT for International Students 2023

In a recent announcement, those studying STEM courses in the US will see new additions to the list of majors of STEM OPT, which will prove beneficial for international students. The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have amended the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List by adding 08 fields of study coming under this list of qualifications.

Apart from the already existing 22 fields of study which are eligible for STEM OPT extension, there are eight more added to the list. The 08 Majors that have been added which qualify for STEM OPT extension in the USA are as follows:

• 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
• Demography and Population Studies

This in turn will help students pursue training and academic-related benefits based on their major or course of study. Also, applicants will have to procure Form I-765 which is the Application for Employment Authorization in the US and Form I-983 which is for the Training Plan for STEM OPT Students. However, F-1 visa holders will have more options to choose from with new majors coming in and more and more international students will be able to apply for a 24-month STEM OPT extension and be eligible to work in the USA. Also check: Difference between OPT and CPT.