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Do you plan to continue your education at another institution after your STEM OPT? Whether you are transferring at the end of your 24 month STEM OPT Extension, or ending your STEM OPT early to start a new degree, you’ll need to follow these steps to transfer your record.

You will need to have proof of admission to the institution you want to transfer to. More information on the Transfer Out process can be found on our Transfer Out website.

Selecting a date for your record to be transferred is a very important part of this process!

Remember, your STEM OPT Extension automatically comes to an end when your record is transferred! When considering dates for your Transfer Out, you must make sure that you will not be doing any work on or after the date you select for your record to be transferred!

Since you will be ending your STEM OPT Extension by transferring, a Final Evaluation of the I-983 for your current position will also be required.

Make sure that the final date you list for your evaluation is before the date you’ve selected to transfer your record!

The eForm you will submit the Final Evaluation will depend on the timing of your Transfer Out:

• If you are transferring out 30 days or less before the end date on your STEM EAD card, you will need to submit our STEM OPT Reporting eForm. Please use the option for 24-month reporting.
• If you are transferring out more than 30 days before the end date on your STEM EAD card, you will be ending your STEM Extension before your 24-month validation report is due. Therefore, you will need to submit our STEM OPT Employment Update eForm to report the end of your employment.

Remember that the full process for both the Transfer Out and reviewing the Final Evaluation can take up to 7 business days. Time your submission with this in mind!

For many students who are approved for H1-B while on the STEM OPT Extension, a period of time under Cap Gap will be part of their experience. Cap Gap should be automatically applied when an H1-B petition is submitted to USCIS.

If you need an updated I-20 to reflect your Cap Gap, here are a few things to keep in mind:

You can request for a Cap Gap I-20 using our Replacement and Travel I-20 Request eForm. When you reach the section of the eForm that asks for the reason for your submission, select Cap Gap. If your Cap Gap has been applied, it will automatically be reflected on any future I-20s you are issued.

When submitting your Replacement I-20 request, please make sure you submit either your Receipt Notice (I-797C) or your Approval Notice (I-797A). Our office needs to have this proof on file. If your Cap Gap has not been applied to your SEVIS record, we can also use these documents to request a data fix.

Please note that I-797C Premium Processing Receipt Notice or I-797C Receipt Notice: Registration Selection is not acceptable proof.

Keep in mind that our processing time can take up to 7 business days when submitting your request!

If you plan to travel during the cap-gap period, please consult with your employer/immigration lawyer as traveling or leaving the U.S. might affect your H-1B petition.