After OPT

What happens after my OPT or STEM OPT ends?

If you successfully complete your OPT or STEM OPT period, you are give a 60-day grace period. The grace period begins the day after your OPT/STEM OPT ends, which is indicated on your EAD card.

You must take one of the following actions during your grace period:

1. Depart the United States before your grace period ends.
2. If you have received admission to a new degree program, you will need to complete all required paperwork and transfer your I-20 to to your new school.
3. If you have received admissions to a new degree program at UWB, you will need to talk with ISS so that we can update your I-20 before your grace period ends. You will be required to show current financial documents that show funds to support your first year of study in your new program at UWB.
4. Change to another type of non-immigration/immigration status to remain lawfully in the United States.

H-1B Application is Approved / I-20 Cap-Gap Extension

If your H-1B application has been approved, your employer may ask you to provide a Cap-Gap extension I-20, The Cap-Gap extension I-20 documents that you are eligible to continue to work after your current OPT/STEM OPT expires and before your H-1B work authorization begins.

Contact International Student Services and visit ISS Portal to request this I-20.

Looking for a Job or Internship in Your Home Country? UW Can Help!

This unique service aims to help UW international student alumni who are looking for jobs or internships in their home country. GradConnection is a job/internship search platform that is dedicated to helping students and recent alumni find graduate job and internship opportunities in China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia, and a number of markets in the Southeast Asia region. GradConnection also works very closely with employers in China to help them promote their openings that prefer graduates from overseas universities who are now returning to their home countries to start their careers.