How Many Unemployment Days Do You Get on STEM OPT?
Short answer
150 days total across the combined 36 months of initial OPT plus the 24-month STEM extension. Days used during initial OPT count toward the same 150, so the extension does not grant a fresh allowance.
150 Days Across All 36 Months
The STEM OPT extension raises the unemployment limit to 150 days total for the combined period: 12 months of initial post-completion OPT plus the 24-month extension. It is one running count, not two separate allowances.
Days carry over. If you used 60 unemployment days during initial OPT, you enter the extension with 90 of the 150 left. If you used 10, you have 140.
Source: 8 CFR 214.2(f)(10)(ii)(E), OPT unemployment day limits
The 90-Day Limit Still Applies First
During the first 12 months, before the STEM extension begins, the 90-day limit governs. Reaching 90 days during initial OPT is a status violation even if you planned to apply for the extension, so the extra days only exist for students who reach the STEM phase in status.
If you file the STEM application before your current EAD expires, your work authorization continues for up to 180 days while USCIS decides it. The counting rules do not pause during that period: days you work for your E-Verified STEM employer do not count, and days without qualifying employment count toward the 150.
The Counting Rules Do Not Change
Every calendar day without qualifying employment counts, including weekends and federal holidays, and the count never resets when you start a job. On STEM OPT, qualifying employment is paid work directly related to your STEM degree field.
Report employment changes within 10 days, and check your reported employers in the SEVP Portal. The portal shows no running day total, so count the gaps yourself or ask your DSO. The STEM OPT unemployment days guide covers the 150-day rule in full.
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Related Questions
How Many Unemployment Days Are Allowed on OPT?
90 days. Post-completion OPT allows at most 90 days of unemployment across the entire authorization period, counted in calendar days. A 24-month STEM OPT extension raises the combined total to 150 days.
Read answerWhat Happens After 90 Days of Unemployment on OPT?
You fall out of F-1 status. You must stop working, SEVP can terminate your SEVIS record, and the 60-day grace period that normally follows OPT does not apply, because exceeding the limit is a status violation.
Read answerDoes OPT Unemployment Include Weekends?
Yes. Weekends count as unemployment days on post-completion OPT. The 90-day limit is measured in calendar days, so a Saturday or Sunday without qualifying employment counts the same as a Monday.
Read answerDoes the 90-Day OPT Unemployment Rule Reset?
No. The count never resets during an OPT period. Starting a job stops the count where it stands, and it resumes from the same number if you lose your job later. No elapsed period, including 180 days, sets it back to zero. Only a new OPT authorization at a higher degree level comes with a fresh count.
Read answer