Travel on STEM OPT Extension

While on an active period of OPT or STEM OPT, F-1 students are eligible to temporarily leave the U.S. to return home or to another country, however, please keep in mind that you must have the necessary documents in order to reenter the U.S.   In addition, if traveling to a country that is not your own, you need to confirm that you have the required entry visa documents for that country.   You should contact the embassy or consulate of the particular country you plan to visit for detailed information on what you need to do to apply for an entry visa should you need one.  

Please also keep in mind that reentry is always at the discretion of the U.S. Custom and Border Patrol (CBP) officials that you encounter at your port of entry.  

Entry to the U.S. in any status other than F-1 STEM OPT will invalidate your STEM OPT work authorization.
 

 

Travel while STEM OPT application is pending, but before the Post-Completion OPT EAD expires

You must have ALL documents listed below in order to travel and reenter the U.S.

• Valid passport
  • Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your period of stay in the United States
• Unexpired U.S. visa (Canadian citizens exempt)
  • It is not possible to apply for or renew non-immigrant visas inside the U.S. 
  • A visa is used solely for the purpose of entry and reentry to the U.S.  It does not determine how long an individual may remain in the U.S.  Therefore, an individual may stay beyond the expiration date of a visa as long as the visa document (I-20/DS-2019) is valid
• A valid I-20, signed on page 2 by the International Center staff
  • Signature must be less than six months old at the time of reentry to the U.S.
• an unexpired Post-Completion OPT EAD card issued by USCIS
  • Printed on the EAD is the statement "Not valid for reentry."  This means that the EAD card alone is not valid for reentry
• evidence of a job offer or evidence of resumption of employment
• SEVIS fee (I-901) payment receipt

Travel while STEM OPT application is pending, after the Post-Completion OPT EAD card expires

You must have ALL documents listed below in order to travel and reenter the U.S.

• Expired Post-Completion OPT EAD card issued by USCIS
• USCIS-issued receipt notice for your STEM OPT application
• Valid passport
  • ​Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your period of stay in the United States
• ​Unexpired U.S. visa (Canadian citizens exempt)
  • It is not possible to apply for or renew non-immigrant visas inside the U.S. 
• A valid I-20, signed on page 2 by the International Center staff 
  • ​Signature must be less than six months old at the time of reentry to the U.S.
• evidence of a job offer or evidence of resumption of employment
• SEVIS fee (I-901) payment receipt

Travel after STEM OPT Approval

You must have ALL documents listed below in order to travel and reenter the U.S.
 

• a STEM OPT EAD issued by USCIS 
  • Printed on the EAD is the statement "Not valid for reentry" which means that the EAD card alone is not valid for reentry
• Valid passport
  • ​​Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your period of stay in the United States
• ​Unexpired U.S. visa (Canadian citizens exempt)
  • ​It is not possible to apply for or renew non-immigrant visas inside the U.S. 
• ​A valid I-20, signed on page 2 by the International Center staff 
  • ​Signature must be less than six months old at the time of reentry to the U.S.
• Evidence of a job offer or evidence of resumption of employment
• SEVIS fee (I-901) payment receipt