CIP code update 2020; Important concept to get a work visa

Summary: CIP codes have been revised and new CIP codes have been added.
– Current STEM major student? If your major has been in the STEM CIP codes list, go to table 1 in the “What is CIP code?” to check if there are any changes. If your major is related to STEM majors but hasn’t been in the STEM CIP code list, go to table 2 in the “CIP codes update 2020” to see if your major is added.
– New student? If you would like to take advantage of the STEM OPT extension, read the blog carefully to ensure that you apply for the STEM OPT-eligible program.

If you are planning to study in the USA, one of the many reasons might be to have work experiences upon the completion of the study. Many international students choose to apply for OPT (Optional Practical Training) which authorizes them to work legally during or/and after their studies. Student visa holders, who seek to obtain work visa USA, need to go through the process during their initial OPT period which is a year-long program.

However, as you can imagine, it is not easy to make it to a work visa just in a year. In this light, most foreign students prefer studying STEM majors, as STEM OPT program allows students to have an additional 24 months to stay and work in the United States. To be eligible for STEM OPT extension, international students should have a degree in one of the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) majors. Thus, the first important step to get a work visa in the United States is ensuring that your desired major is in the STEM OPT list.

Unfortunately, I have seen many students from abroad who have a brief concept of the 24-month STEM OPT extension. And because of this, there were some cases where students “think” they are in STEM majors but actually they are not. On the other hand, some students don’t realize that they can extend their OPT period because they don’t think their majors are STEM OPT eligible. So how can you make sure that you are in STEM major, therefore, you are eligible to apply for STEM extension? In this blog post, I will touch upon the concept of the CIP code and important changes in 2020 CIP codes.

Contents

• What is CIP code?
• CIP codes update 2020

What is CIP code?

CIP stands for the classification of instructional programs and it is listed by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) at the Department of Education (ED). If you are issued an I-20, you will find the CIP code in your I-20 along with your major. This CIP code is the factor that determines whether you are eligible for a STEM OPT extension or not.

It is worth noting that the school’s program name and CIP Code Title can be different and it is not an issue. For example, as you can see in the table below, each CIP Code has CIP Code Title. Your program might be called something like Agroecology and Agriculture Science, however, your I-20 might say 01.0308 Agroecology and Sustainable Agriculture. Designated School Official (DSO) in your school will cross check the CIP code with your school’s program and will put the most relevant CIP code in your I-20. Therefore, as long as the CIP code in your I-20 can be found in the table below and it is relevant to your major, the wording doesn’t have to be 100% matched.

Below is the table which is known as the STEM Designated Degree Program list. As of today (Late August), 2020 CIP code changes are not reflected in the STEM Designated Degree Program list so I updated manually below. You can search your major by ctrl+F to make sure your major is listed in the STEM program list. If you are a current student and if your major is one of the updated majors, you will receive a new I-20 that shows updates once the SEVIS system reflects the updates. In the next paragraph, you will find the newly added CIP codes in 2020.

CIP code update 2020

According to the Study in the States, the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) at the Department of Education (ED) officially revises its list of programs of study in every ten years. This year, there are several updates as you saw above and new CIP codes have been added as well. Among 496 new CIP codes in the NCES 2020 CIP, 17 of these are qualified for the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program list. Pasted below are new STEM CIP codes that can be found in CIP conversion 2020 page.

Update: The updated DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List was released on February 1, 2021. International students can check this official CIP code list to confirm their STEM OPT eligibility.

All the STEM OPT information and updates that STEM OPT applicants should be aware of for successful STEM OPT filing can be found on the STEM OPT page. To learn COVID impacted F-1 visa information and OPT regulations, click the F-1 visa info page and OPT page respectively.

One thing that Chinese students should be mindful of is that graduate Chinese students who study in the Military civil fusion technology field cannot receive a student visa. For details, click the related blog post below:

Related blog post: Chinese students and researchers visa ban by Trump