{"id":644,"date":"2015-09-30T16:05:45","date_gmt":"2015-09-30T16:05:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/columbiagradunion.org\/?page_id=644"},"modified":"2020-08-04T16:12:23","modified_gmt":"2020-08-04T16:12:23","slug":"opt-stem-extension","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/columbiagradunion.org\/opt-stem-extension\/","title":{"rendered":"OPT STEM Extension"},"content":{"rendered":"

Optional Practical Training (OPT) is the program that provides temporary work authorization in the US for international graduates before other work authorization is obtained (such as a H1-B visa). On August 14 of 2015, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) received a court mandate to stop the post-completion 17-month Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) OPT extension by February 2016, which was established in 2008 in addition to the standard 12-month OPT for all international graduates that was previously available because the agencies had not followed the proper procedures when they began the extension. This could affect employment opportunities for thousands of STEM graduate workers and students at Columbia, and at universities across the country. Read more about this ruling at the National Law Review<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Read the latest updates on the OPT STEM extension here:
\nNovember 19, 2015 Union\u2019s comments submitted for enhancing OPT rules<\/a>
\nNovember 11, 2015 Proposed Increase to OPT STEM Extension<\/a>
\nOctober 4, 2015 OPT Info Session Follow-up<\/a>
\nAugust 19, 2015 OPT Information Session and Q&A \u2013 Attn: International STEM Students<\/a><\/p>\n

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On October\u00a018th, USCIS \u00a0introduced new rules<\/a> to the OPT STEM extension program and we worked with international student workers to publicly comment on the changes. Read the comments here<\/a>.<\/p>\n