US Department of Homeland Security's Removal of Automatic Extension for Work Permits Does Not Impact International Students from STEM Field

The removal of the automatic extension of up to 540 days for work permits or ‘Employment Authorization Documents’ (EADs), announced recently by US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will not impact international students from the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) field.At the time when the automatic extension was increased from 180 days to 540 days, USCIS had clarified that F-1 students are not eligible for the enhanced extension. “If you file your STEM OPT extension application on time and your OPT period expires while your extension application is pending, we will automatically extend your employment authorization for 180 days. This automatic 180-day extension will end when USCIS adjudicates your STEM OPT extension application,” USCIS had statedCyrus D Mehta, immigration attorney, told TOI, “The 180-day automatic extension will still be available to F-1 students seeking the additional STEM-OPT.”F-1 visa holders (international students) can participate in a one-year optional practical training program (OPT). However, STEM students get an additional two years. They have to renew their EAD before the initial 12-month OPT expires. As per 2023-24 Open Doors Report 97,556 Indian students were participating in the OPT program (a significant number of which were in STEM-OPT).