CSP’s International Student Services (ISS) department offers helpful guides, forms, and information for F-1 students. Scroll through the available resources or select a link to jump to a specific section.
Have questions? Contact us by emailing [email protected] or calling 651-641-8883.
General Information & Resources
Review the available info and resources for F-1 students below.
Driver’s license & State ID
You can choose to get either a driver’s license or state ID, but you do not need both. In Minnesota, both the driver’s license and state ID are legal identifications for financial transactions and age check (alcohol, tobacco, etc.).
We encourage students to read more about Applying for a Driver’s License or State ID Card.
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Drivers with a license from another U.S. state or an International Driver’s Permit (IDP) are allowed to drive in MN per MN Statues: Sec. 171.03. You are not required to change to a MN driver’s license as long as you are a non-resident driver with a valid home-country license.
However, the Minnesota Driver’s License, serves as an official form of identification and may be more commonly recognized by law enforcement e.g. during a traffic stop. We recommend printing and keeping a copy of the statute in your car, if you decide to drive on your International Driver’s Permit (IDP).
If you decide to apply for a MN driver’s license, please note the following:
- For students with a valid driver’s license who are 21+ years old, no test is needed.
- For students with an expired driver’s license or who are under 21 years old, the written knowledge test is required.
- Ensure you learn the MN and US driving laws for the state you are driving in.
- You must purchase car insurance before driving in the US. You must have valid car insurance for the entire time you drive in the US.
If you do not already have a U.S. driver’s license, you will have to take a written knowledge test and road test.
- Study the MN Drivers’ Manual to prepare for the written test.
- Make an appointment to take the written test (or road test) at a Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) Testing Center.
- Take your passport, I-20, I-94, and Social Security card (if you have one) to your appointment.
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To get a MN State ID, bring your passport, I-20, I-94, and Social Security card (if you have one) to a Service Center that issues first-time IDs.
Health Insurance
Health insurance is required for all F-1 international students at Concordia. All F-1 international students will be enrolled in Concordia’s health insurance plan according to the health insurance policy below. Concordia’s health insurance plan is currently through LewerMark Student Insurance.
Students will be enrolled in Concordia’s health insurance plan during required terms. Fall, Spring, and Summer are required terms for graduate students, and graduate students will be enrolled in Concordia’s health insurance plan during these terms. Fall and Spring are required terms for undergraduate students,and undergraduate students will be enrolled in Concordia’s health insurance plan during these terms. Summer is an optional class term for undergraduate students, so undergraduates should contact ISS if they would like to enroll in CSP’s health plan for summer.
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F-1 students who do not submit waiver-eligible health insurance information by noon on the Friday of the first week of classes will be automatically enrolled in health insurance each term. Waivers received after the deadline will be applied to the following term. The cost of health insurance is included in your I-20 estimate and will be billed to your student account each term. If you become waiver-eligible in a future term, you MUST submit your health insurance ID card to confirm. Your waiver will be applied to the following term.
The following F-1 students are eligible for a health insurance waiver. (A waiver means you will not be enrolled in CSP’s plan.)
Waiver-eligible students:
- Saudi Arabian Cultural Mission (SACM) students
- Students with US employer-provided health insurance (from CPT, spouse, or parent)
- Exchange or select partner students
- Student athletes (excludes eSports)
If you are waiver-eligible and do not wish to enroll in CSP’s plan, you must submit a Health Insurance Waiver in the ISS Portal each term you want to waive CSP insurance.
Concordia cannot accept individually purchased plans for the insurance waiver. Students with a visa status other than F-1 are also expected to carry a quality health insurance plan during their time at Concordia. Additional visa types covered under the LewerMark plan include J, Q, M, U, T, R, A, TPS, & DACA Students. If you would like to sign up for the LewerMark plan, please contact ISS.
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CSP partners with LewerMark insurance. The plan includes a wide network of care providers, including the Minute Clinics at CVS and Target stores, which offer no copay for covered services with your health insurance card. Note that the plan includes health coverage but does not include vision or dental coverage. Please contact LewerMark directly if you would like to enroll in vision or dental coverage.
Visit CSP’s LewerMark page to find:
- ID card
- To access your ID card, visit CSP’s LewerMark page. Your username is your CSP L number with a 0 for the L (ex. 000123456). Your password is your date of birth (in format MMDDYYYY). You will then be prompted to set up your account.
- Please contact LewerMark customer service for assistance with login issues.
- Plan coverage information(plan summary and plan brochure)
- Find a provider
- Customer chat
- Submit a claim
- Talk to a nurse
- Talk to a mental health counselor
- Teladoc
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- ID card
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Student-athletes will be waived from the CSP health insurance plan as it does not cover collegiate sports. Please confirm with CSP Athletics if you have questions about the appropriate level of health insurance coverage. Ted Tryzynka ([email protected]) is the Athletics contact for student athlete health insurance requirement questions.
- If you are in need of a plan, the following option may include appropriate collegiate sports coverage and may be purchased individually: PGH Global Basic or Global Plus Plans
- eSports students are excluded from the student athlete waiver as eSports is not under athletics or regulated by the NCAA. eSports students will be enrolled in CSP’s health insurance plan.
Maintaining F-1 Status
Students are responsible for maintaining their immigration status and complying with all visa regulations. If you violate F-1 visa regulations, you could lose your F-1 status.
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- Be registered as a full-time student – Undergraduate (12 credits); Graduate (6 credits); DPT (16 credits)
- Enrollment less than full-time must be approved by an academic advisor and an ISS immigration advisor. Reduced Course Load authorization must appear in SEVIS BEFORE dropping or withdrawing from a class.
- A SEVIS record may be terminated if a student drops below full-time enrollment without approval.
- Only one online course (3 credits) can count toward a full-time enrollment each term. For example, 9 credits of on-campus class and 3 credits of online class meets the full-time enrollment requirement for undergraduate students.
- Attend all in-person classes.
- Report any change to address, phone number, name, immigration status, or off-campus work to ISS within 10 days so that SEVIS can be updated.
- Follow F-1 employment regulations. This means only working on-campus 20 hours/week during the academic year and 40 hours/week during breaks.
- Off-campus CPT and OPT require authorization BEFORE the student may start working.
- Keep current immigration documents, including passport valid for 6 months into the future and valid I-20 with correct dates.
- Receive a new travel signature from an ISS immigration advisor before traveling. The travel signature is valid for 1 year.
- File U.S. tax paperwork each year by April 15, even with no earned income.
- Additional requirements for all international students:
- Maintain health insurance according to CSP’s health insurance policy.
- Pay all tuition, fees, loans, and other bills found on the student account. If you have a balance on your account, a registration hold may prevent you from enrolling for future semesters.
- Be registered as a full-time student – Undergraduate (12 credits); Graduate (6 credits); DPT (16 credits)
Tax Information
Thursday, April 15, 2027 is Tax Day in the U.S. for tax year 2026.
Overview and Forms
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To “file your taxes,” you complete the required tax forms for the previous year (tax year) and mail them to the appropriate address. Be sure to keep a copy for yourself!
Example: By Tax Day in 2027, you will file tax paperwork for 2026. By Tax Day in 2028, you will file tax paperwork for 2027.
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1. If you (and your F-2 dependents) were in the US for at least one day during the tax year, you need to file Form 8843. If you were not in the US in that tax year, you do not need to file this form.
Form 8843: All F-1 students and their F-2 dependents (any age) must file Form 8843, even if you didn’t earn income in the U.S. This is an information form. Mail each Form 8843 in a separate envelope for each family member. If you did not earn income in the U.S. in the tax year, the only tax form you need to file is a Form 8843.
Send your federal Form 8843 to:
Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service Center
Austin, TX 73301-02152. If you earned income in the US in the tax year (January 1 – December 31, 2026), you need to file both Form 8843 and Form 1040NR. You need to file Form M-1 as well.
Form 8843 – Mail together with your Form 1040NR.
Form 1040NR – U.S. Nonresident Alien Income Tax Return. You must file this form to claim a refund of taxes paid.
Form M-1 – Minnesota Tax Return. See instructions for who should file.We recommend you seek assistance in filing the above forms. See FAQs for tax resources and options for filing assistance.
Tax Frequently asked Questions (FAQ)
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In the United States, “Tax Day” is the day on which individual income tax returns are due to be submitted to the federal government. This is usually on or around April 15th each year. The 2026 tax year filing deadline is Thursday, April 15, 2027.
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CSP partners with the nonprofit organization NoRTH to provide free tax assistance for international students. All CSP international students in F-1 status are eligible to become members and utilize the free services.
NoRTH provides free tax software, tools, guides, and video demos that are available on demand 24/7. Individual support though email and remote office hour sessions are also provided. Appointments are generally available through mid-April.
Sprintax is a fee-based nonresident tax preparation service. They also have educational information on their Youtube page.
Study in the States has a Filing Taxes 101 page about requirements for F-1 students and links to the Internal Revenue Service’s (IRS) website on who must file and how to file.
If you have been in the US for 5 calendar years or more, you are likely a Resident Alien for tax purposes. See below in the FAQ for more information.
For other tax forms, such as W-4 and tax treaty forms, please contact your employer’s HR office. Sprintax also offers a service to help with completing these documents.
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Yes. The date and time for the ISS Tax Workshop will be emailed to all currently enrolled CSP international students, as well as those on OPT and STEM OPT.
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Depending on your situation, you may receive a Form W-2, 1098-T, 1099-INT, 1099-DIV, 1099-MISC, or 1095.
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Generally, students will either have an SSN or ITIN for use on tax related documents. Students are eligible for an SSN if they have had paid on or off-campus work. Students who have not been eligible for an SSN in the past may be eligible for an ITIN instead. Talk to a tax professional for more information on ITINs.
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Form 1098-T will be issued to all students with a social security number or ITIN on file with CSP. Students can view this form in CSP Connect. The Form 1098-T is not relevant to tax nonresidents and won’t be needed for tax forms. It is relevant to tax residents.
To view your 1098-T, login to CSP Connect, find the “My Account” card, and select “View Student Tax Forms.” Choose the current tax year from the dropdown menu.
For security reasons, please call the Registrar’s Office at 651-641-8233 with additional questions or to update your social security number or ITIN with the university. Never send your SSN or ITIN by email.
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Scholarship for tuition and related expenses, scholarship received from outside the U.S., money transferred from parents/relatives abroad, income earned in their home country (investments, rent, job before moving to U.S.), and interest on regular savings accounts.
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There is no monetary penalty for not filing the Form 8843. However, F-1 visa laws say students must follow all U.S. laws. Tax laws are US laws. Applicants for H-1B work visas and permanent residency (“green cards”) are frequently asked to show proof of tax filing for previous years in the U.S.
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It will be important to set the record straight in these cases. If you missed a year of filing tax forms, you can back-file, but you can only claim a refund for the previous three years. If you misfiled as a resident, you can submit the Form 1040X – Amended US Individual Income Tax Return.
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It depends on your individual situation. Not everyone will pay taxes to the U.S. government, but all F-1 visa holders are required to file the appropriate paperwork (Form 8843, Form 1040-NR, etc.)
International students may be entitled to a number of benefits and exemptions. In fact, if you paid too much tax throughout the year, you may be entitled to a refund check. -
If you entered the US more than five calendar years ago, you may be treated as a U.S. resident for filing your taxes. You will not be able to use Sprintax or a Form 1040NR. In this case, you can use another online tax prep service or go to a tax preparation store front like H&R Block.
E.g., you entered the U.S. any time (even one day) in 2022 = 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026. You will be a tax resident for the first time in tax year 2026.
You should verify your individual situation with the tax software you use or your tax preparer.
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Students in F-1 status who are nonresident aliens for tax purposes are NOT subject to Social Security and Medicare tax withholding on their wages. You can read more about international student liability for Social Security and Medicare taxes on the IRS website.
If your employer has withheld these taxes in error, follow these steps:
- You must first request a refund of these taxes from your employer. If your employer is able to refund the Social Security and Medicare taxes, then no further action is necessary.
- If your employer is unable to refund these taxes, request a statement outlining their denial of your refund, then you may then file Form 843 and Form 8316 to request a refund from the IRS.
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You may qualify if you meet the requirements. Please see the MN Department of Revenue’s Renter’s Credit page for current requirements and to determine if you are eligible.
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Please contact a tax professional to talk about your individual requirements.
Travel Information
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- For currently enrolled students, a travel signature is valid for one year and must be valid on the day you return to a U.S. port of entry.
- For students on OPT/STEM OPT, a travel signature is valid for 6 months and must be valid on the day you return to a U.S. port of entry.
- Before traveling, renew your I-20 travel signature with an ISS immigration advisor.
- Submit an I-20 Request in the ISS Portal and 3 business days to receive theI-20 with updated travel signature.
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- Your most recent I-20 (with valid travel signature)
- Valid F-1 visa (valid on the day you return to a U.S. port of entry)
- Passport (valid at least 6 months into the future)
- Financial documentation (preferably a bank statement) matching your I-20 financial information
- Unofficial transcript or class schedule as proof of registration
- Students on OPT/STEM OPT should travel with their valid Employment Authorization Document (EAD) and employment verification letter
- Students with pending OPT/STEM OPT may wish to delay travel until receiving the EAD. If you choose to travel while your OPT/STEM OPT application is pending, be sure to travel with your USCIS application receipt as well.
- Note: Before you travel, please ensure that you are not subject to any travel bans or restrictions by the U.S. government.
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- Visit the Study in the States website for more information on F-1 student travel.
- There are some exceptions to travel on an expired F-1 visa through automatic revalidation. Please see your ISS immigration advisor for more information.
- If you have been directed to secondary inspection more than once in secondary inspection upon arriving in the U.S., you can try to correct it. Go to the DHS Trip website and follow the steps outlined for the Travel Redress Inquiry Program.
- If you will be traveling outside the U.S. for longer than 5 months, be sure to meet with your ISS immigration advisor to discuss a Leave of Absence BEFORE withdrawing from classes.
Employment Information
Learn more about employment requirements while attending CSP as an F-1 student.
Curricular Practical Training
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To be eligible for CPT, you must:
- Be in valid F-1 status
- Have completed two consecutive semesters of full-time study
- Have an employment or training offer directly related to program of study
- Be enrolled in a course that involves practical training
You are not eligible for full-time CPT if you have failed a course or received a program extension!
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- For an opportunity to be eligible for CPT, it must be: 1) integral to the established curriculum, 2) required for all students in the academic program, 3) in your academic field, and 4) at your degree level. Your faculty advisor will determine if the CPT opportunity meets these requirements.
- CPT start date:
- Choose a CPT start date that is at least 5 business days in the future from the date you submit your completed CPT request.
- The CPT start date must be entered in SEVIS and CPT I-20 issued BEFORE starting employment.
- It is not possible to backdate the CPT start date in SEVIS.
- CPT can only be authorized for the dates in which you are enrolled in a CPT course, i.e., between the first and last days of the semester. See the academic calendar for specific academic dates.
- Students must be registered full-time while on CPT. Students with a last-term RCL or undergraduate students in the summer term are exempted.
- Full-time CPT (more than 20 hours/week) for 12 months at the same level cancels eligibility for OPT. This includes any full-time CPT done at your level at a school other than Concordia.
- Part-time CPT (20 or fewer hours/week) does not affect eligibility for OPT. Students may be authorized for as much part-time CPT as needed for their program. Please note that working more than 20 hours combined between on-campus employment AND part-time CPT may be viewed as full-time employment by USCIS.
- Unpaid internships still require CPT authorization.
- You must have CPT authorization in SEVIS for each specific job, for the exact length of the employment. If your job ends or changes in any way, you must notify your ISS immigration advisor.
- CPT employers must have a US address. Remote positions will be noted in your SEVIS record.
- If you plan to enroll in your CPT employer’s health insurance plan, reach out to ISS to confirm your eligibility for a CSP health insurance waiver.
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CPT must be integral to the established curriculum and required of all students in the academic program. Students must receive credit for a CPT opportunity.
You must confirm with your academic advisor that you are registered for the appropriate CPT course before requesting CPT.
You must keep a copy of the syllabus for your CPT course. This may be requested in the future if you apply for an immigration benefit, change of status, etc.
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Step 1: Get an offer letter from your CPT site stating title, duties, hours per week, start date of employment, and address of employment.
Step 2: To submit a request, please log in with SSO at iss.csp.edu using your CSP credentials. Then, click the Start New Request button and select/submit the CPT Request.
Step 3: Upon faculty approval, ISS will authorize CPT in SEVIS and issue your CPT I-20. CPT must be authorized in SEVIS before you start. You must sign the Student Attestation section on your I-20.
Step 4: If you do not already have a Social Security Number (SSN), you will use your CPT I-20 to apply for one.
On-Campus Employment
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Students with valid F-1 status are permitted to work on-campus without additional authorization.
On-campus work is not required to relate to your major or program.Students may find a job by consulting the CSP Employment Opportunities job board. All on-campus jobs are posted under “Student Employment”.
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- Students must observe HR limits for the number of hours worked per week: 19 hours per week during semester, 29 hours per week during breaks.
- Students may work more than 19 hours per week when classes are not in session (during breaks between semesters).
- Undergraduate students may work more than 19 hours per week in the summer, as this is considered a vacation term.
- Graduate students may not work over 19 hours per week in the summer, as this is a required term.
- On-campus work eligibility ends on the day a student completes all degree requirements.
Optional Practical Training (OPT)
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- To be eligible to apply for OPT, you must:
- Be in valid F-1 status.
- Have completed at least one academic year (two consecutive semesters) of full-time study in the U.S.
- Pursue a job directly related to your program of study.
- You are not eligible if:
- You have been authorized for 12 or more months of full-time CPT (more than 20 hours/week) at your current degree level. This includes full-time CPT done at your level at a school other than Concordia.
- You were previously authorized for OPT at the same or higher degree level.
- You have departed the U.S. after your Program End Date. You must be physically in the U.S. to apply for OPT, and departing the U.S. after the conclusion of your program results in the loss of the rest of your grace period.
- To be eligible to apply for OPT, you must:
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- You can apply for OPT up to 90 days before your Program End Date and up to 30 days after. Late applications will be denied.
- If the last time you entered the U.S. was after Sept 15, 2026, you will have to apply for an Extension of Stay (EOS) in addition to applying for OPT application with USCIS.
- OPT can be work, an internship, or volunteering. It must be related to your major or program.
- OPT must be full-time (more than 20 hours per week).
- OPT must end no later than 14 months after the Program End Date on your I-20.
- The OPT start date must be within 30 days of your Program End Date. You choose your OPT start date.
- OPT is authorized for the dates on your EAD. Your requested OPT start date is not guaranteed.
- USCIS processing times vary. Apply early!
- You are allowed 90 days of unemployment during your USCIS-approved post-completion OPT period.
- You are eligible for the 30-day grace period at the end of OPT. This time may be used to transfer to a new school or depart the US.
- An additional grace period is not allowed after the denial of an OPT application (post-completion or STEM Extension).
- If your OPT employer does not provide health insurance, you may purchase your own plan. CSP does not enroll OPT students in the CSP health insurance plan.
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- There is an ISS processing fee and a USCIS fee. For more information about USCIS fees, see the USCIS Fees website.
- Before submitting your online application with USCIS, you may download your draft I-765 Form and send it to your ISS immigration advisor for review.
- The code for post-completion OPT is (c)(3)(B).
- You will need the following documents for your application:
- A signed I-20 with OPT recommendation (no older than 30 days from the day you received the OPT I-20!)
- Most recent Form I-94. (Click “Your Recent I-94/I-95.”)
- Copy of passport bio page and F-1 visa
- After submitting your application, you will receive a notice to attend a biometric appointment at a USCIS Application Service Center. Do not miss this pre-scheduled appointment!
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Step 1: Pay the $60 ISS OPT processing fee.
Step 2: To submit a request, please log in with SSO at iss.csp.edu using your CSP credentials. Then, click the Start New Request button and select/submit the OPT Request.
Step 3: File all USCIS application items with USCIS within 30 days from the day your OPT I-20 is processed.
- Contact ISS for a new OPT I-20 if you cannot meet this timeline.
- You must sign the Student Attestation section of your I-20.
- Start your online application on the USCIS portal site.
Step 4: Follow all other OPT reporting requirements (listed below) to maintain your F-1 status.
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Requirement 1: Check the email listed in your SEVIS record and activate your SEVP Portal account.
SEVP will send an email to activate your SEVP Portal account before or on your OPT start date.
You must open this email and follow the link to activate your SEVP Portal within 14 days.
Requirement 2: Report OPT employment information and changes to your address or phone number in the SEVP Portal within 10 business days.
ISS does not update these for post-completion OPT students.
You may request an updated I-20 in the ISS Portal if you change employer information.
Requirement 3: Review your EAD for accuracy. If you notice any errors, contact ISS.
Requirement 4: Accumulate fewer than 90 days of unemployment during your post-completion OPT period. If you accumulate more than 90 days of unemployment, you must depart the U.S. immediately.
STEM OPT Extension
Optional Practical Training (OPT) is an off-campus training benefit available to F-1 students after program completion. Students in eligible STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) programs can apply for a 24-month OPT extension.
STEM OPT ELIGIBILITY AND GENERAL INFORMATION
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- You are eligible if you have completed a STEM-qualifying degree, are in a valid period of post-completion OPT, and have an offer of paid employment for more than 20 hours per week from an employer enrolled in E-Verify.
- Your DSO determines that the degree program that will serve as the basis of the STEM OPT extension is on the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List.
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- You may request the STEM OPT I-20 as early as 90 days before the end of your 12-month OPT period. Applying with USCIS before the 90-day period may result in STEM OPT denial.
- Be aware of potentially fraudulent employers. Find information on what you should look out for here.
- You must apply for STEM OPT before your post-completion OPT End Date.
- A student who has timely filed an application for a 24-month STEM OPT extension with USCIS may work for the STEM OPT employer while the STEM extension application is pending, for up to 180 days beyond the expiration of their prior post-completion OPT EAD.
- Time spent during this 180-day period while the application is pending counts towards the 24-month extension.
- If the STEM OPT application is still pending with USCIS beyond 180 days, the student must stop working until USCIS approves the STEM OPT application.
- A student who has timely filed an application for a 24-month STEM OPT extension with USCIS may work for the STEM OPT employer while the STEM extension application is pending, for up to 180 days beyond the expiration of their prior post-completion OPT EAD.
- Unemployment and Grace Periods:
- Students with 24-month STEM extensions may have up to 150 days of unemployment during the total OPT period including the initial 12-month (90 days) and 24-month (60 days) STEM OPT period.
- Students are eligible for a grace period at the end of OPT. This time may be used to transfer to a new school or depart the US.
- Students do not receive an additional grace period after the denial of an OPT application (post-completion or STEM).
- Students may work for two employers at the same time. Each employer must fully comply with STEM OPT requirements, and the student must be employed for no less than 20 hours per week with each employer.
- After submitting your STEM OPT application to USCIS, a biometrics appointment will be scheduled for you. Appointment information will be added to your myUSCIS account. Rescheduling the biometrics appointment may not be possible.
APPLYING FOR STEM OPT
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Step 1: Pay the $120 STEM OPT processing fee here.
Step 2: To submit a request, please log in with SSO at iss.csp.edu using your CSP credentials. Then, click the Start New Request button and select/submit the STEM OPT Request.
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- Together, you and your employer complete a Form I-983 Training Plan. (View a step-by-step I-983 Sample Form.)
- Form I-983 instructions can be found here, and employer instructions can be found here.
- For STEM OPT applicants, your Alien Registration Number is the USCIS # listed on your post-completion EAD.
- The STEM OPT start date is the day after your post-completion OPT ends. The end date is 24 months, minus one day, after the start date (e.g., 02/04/2026 – 02/03/2028).
- Concordia University, St. Paul’s school code is SPM214F00284000.
- The employer that signs the Form I-983 must be the same entity that employs the student and provides the practical training experience.
- Students may engage in a training experience that takes place at a site other than the employer’s principal place of business as long as all of the training obligations are met, including that the employer has and maintains a bona fide employer-employee relationship with the student.
- The employer that signs the Training Plan is the same entity that employs the student and provides the practical training experience.
- For more information on using staffing agencies and the I-983, visit the Study in the States website.
- You will be asked to enter the “Site Address” and “Employer’s Address.” The site address should be the location you will perform your work each day. The employer’s address will be the employer’s main address even if it is not your daily work site.
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- Information about Fees
- Form I-765 (form instructions are here)
- Check “Initial permission to accept employment” unless you already applied for STEM OPT in the past
- Include your employer’s name as listed in E-Verify and the company’s E-Verify number
- The Alien Registration Number is the USCIS# listed on your EAD
- Enter category (c)(3)(C) for STEM OPT extension
- Copy of signed I-20 with STEM OPT recommendation
- You must file with USCIS within 60 days from the day your STEM OPT I-20 is processed
- Official transcript (recommended) and copy of diploma as documentation of the STEM degree. USCIS will want to see your graduation date, level, and major between the two documents.
- Copy of your current EAD (front and back)
- A passport photo (not the same as your current passport or visa.)
- Most recent Form I-94
- Start your online application in your myUSCIS account.
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- Report changes in employment through the STEM-Change of Employer Information Request in the ISS Portal.
- Report changes to personal information, including address and phone number, through the SEVP Portal within 10 days.
- Changes that require a new/updated I-983 include:
- New employer
- Change in supervisor and/or supervisor contact information
- Employer street address (company/headquarters address)
- Employer site address (physical work location)
- Change to employer’s EIN
- Any reduction in student compensation that is not tied to a reduction in hours worked
- Any significant decrease in hours per week that a student engages in a STEM training opportunity
- Changes to the employer’s commitments or student’s learning objectives as documented on the Form I-983
- Company acquisition
- If you change your visa status (to H-1B, etc.) while on STEM OPT, you must submit the 24-Month (final) Self-Evaluation Report found at the bottom of page 5 of the I-983.
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- Submit a STEM OPT – Employment Authorization Document (EAD) request in the ISS Portal.
- Submit a STEM Validation and Reports request in the ISS Portal (LINK) at 6 months, 12 months, 18 months, and 24 months of the STEM OPT extension, even if there have been no changes.
- SEVP Portal users will receive a reminder via email 30 days before any validation report is due.
- As part of this reporting, you will confirm the following information:
- Legal name
- Residential or mailing address
- Employer site address
- Status of current employment
Social Security Number
As an F-1 student, you are eligible for a Social Security Number once you have an offer letter for paid employment. To obtain a Social Security Number, you must call to make an appointment before going to the Social Security Administration (SSA) Card Center located in Minneapolis.
We encourage you to memorize your Social Security Number and to keep your Social Security card with other important documents, such as your I-20 and passport. Do not carry your Social Security card in your wallet.
You will receive your Social Security card in the mail in approximately two weeks.
Log into the ISS Portal and search for the “Letter Request” request. Complete the request.
What to take to the Social Security Administration (SSA) office:
You will receive your Social Security card in the mail. Once you receive your Social Security card, take it to the Human Resources office to complete your hiring paperwork. You may not begin working until your card has been received by Human Resources.
What to take to the Social Security Administration (SSA) office:
Website
Phone
Call to make an appointment (required): 1-800-772-1213
Address
1811 Chicago Ave. S.
Minneapolis, MN 55404