On March 31, 2008, ICE submitted to OMB for review an interim final rule titled "Extending Period for Optional Practical Training for 17 Months for Qualified F-1 Students."

In general, OMB has up to 90 days to review such initiatives and either approve them for publication in the Federal Register, send them back for revision, or reject them.

OMB approved the proposal on April 3, 2008.

On April 8, OMB published the interim final rule, making it effective.

The new rule allows certain majors, commonly known as STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics) to extend their OPT for 17 months for a total of 29 months.