Impact of new PERIOD OF STAY clause mentioned in I-20 on OPT for STEM students

[phanwadi]

Hi,

I have got an I-20 for MS in CS for Fall 2017. Attached is the scanned copy of page 3 of the I-20 with a new clause PERIOD OF STAY which mentions student has to leave US earliest among MS program end date or OPT end date. MS program duration mentioned in I-20 is '10 Sep 2017 - 30 Sep 2020'. I will be a STEM student and would like to work full time on extended OPT for a total of 3 years in case my H1B gets delayed because of some reason. Could you please advice on the implications of this clause especially on my OPT being a STEM student? Will I need to leave US by MS program end date (consider I don't get H1B by this time) even if my approved extended OPT end date is way beyond it?

Thanks!

[pontevecchio]

It means whichever applies in your case. So OPT end plus 60 days if you are in OPT, to leave.

[phanwadi]

On 4/10/2017 at 1:15 AM, pontevecchio said:

It means whichever applies in your case. So OPT end plus 60 days if you are in OPT, to leave.

But clause states the date to leave US will be earliest among MS program end date and OPT end date. Hence in STEM cases program end date will always be earlier than OPT end date.

[pontevecchio]

Each of those three conditions are mutually exclusive. For what it is worth any DSO will be glad to answer any and all questions about your OPT.