Lost OPT

D

Daler

New Member
Hi All,

I recently graduated from Master's degree (non-STEM), and received an OPT tied to that degree. However, I decided to go for my second Master's degree (STEM).

First OPT is 12 months, and I understand that it is lost. I'm also aware that only 1 OPT is given per degree level.
STEM OPT gives you right to work in US for additional 17 months.

1.Will I be able to at least recover those 17 months when I graduate from STEM Master's in two years?


2. Has anyone ever been able to cancel their OPT that was approved if the date the card becomes valid hasn't come yet?

3. my second masters ends in May 2010. does that mean that I will have to leave the country if the I won't be able to find a company who is ready to apply for H1-b visa by April deadline? even if I receive an offer after April 2010?

Thanks
 
Last edited by a moderator:
After you finish your STEM degree, you will get a 12 month OPT. If all the other conditions for OPT are satisfied (e-verified employer etc.) then you can apply for 17month extension afterwords.
 
kabkaba said:
After you finish your STEM degree, you will get a 12 month OPT. If all the other conditions for OPT are satisfied (e-verified employer etc.) then you can apply for 17month extension afterwords.
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the thing is I already have my OPT issued based on non-STEM Master's major. It is lost even though I am not going to use it. I am planning on enrollingin second master's and OPT is given only once per degree. So, assuming I lost 12 months OPT tied to 1st Master's, will I be able to get 17 months after I finish 2nd master's?

thanks
 
Daler said:
the thing is I already have my OPT issued based on non-STEM Master's major. It is lost even though I am not going to use it. I am planning on enrollingin second master's and OPT is given only once per degree. So, assuming I lost 12 months OPT tied to 1st Master's, will I be able to get 17 months after I finish 2nd master's?

thanks
Click to expand...

I read on one DSO site that you could cut up your EAD card, mail it back to the processing center and request a cancellation, but that's one DSO. You should go back to your school DSO and ask what you should do.

If you current non-STEM Master level OPT is not canceled, you will lose it. Because you will not be eligible for another Master level OPT, Stem or not, you will also not be eligible for the 17 months extension. See:

http://www.uscis.gov/files/article/OPT_FAQ_4apr08.pdf

I draw my conclusion based on P.3 of the pdf that specifies that the student must apply for the extension on time (at least 90 days before the CURRENT post-completion OPT expires.) That implies that you must be on the original 12 month OPT already in order to get the extension.
 
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