ICE Expands STEM-designated Fields for F-1 Students

Written By Lauren Jo

On July 12, 2023 U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced they are amending the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List by adding eight new fields of study. International students on F-1 visas studying in these STEM fields qualify for an addition 24-month extension of Optional Practical Training (OPT). Traditional OPT permits 12 months of practical training after graduation.

The newly designated fields of study are:

  • 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

Lauren Jo
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