Students with existing 17-month STEM OPT EADs may no longer apply to transition their EAD to the 24-month STEM OPT EAD.  If you are a current 17-month STEM OPT participant who applied for the additional seven months by the August 8, 2016 deadline and have questions about the status of your application, please contact U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). 

If you are an F-1 student currently participating in your initial period of optional practical training (OPT) and want to apply for the Science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) OPT extension, be sure to file your application with the U.S. Customs and Immigration Services (USCIS) before your current OPT work authorization expires.

OPT participants may remain in the United States for up to 60 days after their work authorization expires. However, F-1 students are not eligible to apply for the STEM OPT extension once they enter this 60 day grace period.  

As a reminder, USCIS will adjudicate 17-month STEM OPT extension applications through May 9, 2016. On May 10, 2016, USCIS will transition to adjudicating applications based on the new 24-month STEM OPT extension regulations.

This means that if your initial period of OPT is set to expire on or before May 9, 2016, you must file for a 17-month STEM OPT extension.  After that time, you should follow the respective transition plan procedures that apply to you.

Please visit our Transition page on the STEM OPT Hub for more information.  There, you can find information about who the transition plan covers, and who it doesn’t cover along with a detailed overview of the steps students need to take during this transitional period.

Do you have additional questions about the STEM OPT extension? Visit the STEM OPT Hub or contact the SEVP Response Center.