; and (2) indefinitely if the alien remains actively engaged in a STEM field. (b) Application for conditional permanent resident status Every alien applying for a conditional permanent resident status under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary of Homeland Security before the expiration of the alien’s student visa in such form and manner as the Secretary shall prescribe by regulation. (c) Ineligibility for Federal Government assistance An alien granted conditional permanent resident status under this section shall not be eligible, while in such status, for— (1) any unemployment compensation (as defined in section 85(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986); or (2) any Federal means-tested public benefit (as that term is used in section 403 of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 ( 8 U.S.C. 1613 )). (d) Effect on naturalization residency requirement An alien granted conditional permanent resident status under this section shall be deemed to have been lawfully admitted for permanent residence for purposes of meeting the 5-year residency requirement under section 316(a)(1). (e) Removal of condition The Secretary of Homeland Security shall remove the conditional basis of an alien’s conditional permanent resident status under this section on the date that is 5 years after the date such status was granted if the alien maintained his or her eligibility for such status during the entire 5-year period. (f) Definitions In this section: (1) Actively engaged in a STEM field The term actively engaged in a STEM field — (A) means— (i) gainfully employed in a for-profit business or nonprofit organization in the United States in a STEM field; (ii) teaching 1 or more STEM field courses at an institution of higher education; or (iii) employed by a Federal, State, or local government entity