You earn a 60 day grace period after your EAD card end date, as long as you:
- Reported your mandatory updates to ISS
- Did not accrue more than 90 days of unemployment
During your 60 day grace period, or before you accumulate 90 days of unemployment, you can do any of the following:
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Depart the U.S.
If you will depart the U.S. and do not intend to return before your EAD card expires, report your departure to ISS on the online OPT/STEM Reporting Form. Submit proof of departure.
Return to UW-Madison for another academic program
The new full-time academic program must start within five months of your last date of employment or your EAD card end date, whichever is earlier.
Once you are admitted to another full-time academic program, you can submit the Change of Education Level request in Terra Dotta with sufficient financial documentation to ISS.
If this update is done before your EAD card expires, you will lose any remaining OPT authorization you have at that same degree level.
Attend another U.S. institution for another academic program
The new full-time academic program must start within five months of your last date of employment or your EAD card end date, whichever is earlier.
Once you are admitted to another full-time academic program, you can submit the Transfer Out request in Terra Dotta, with proof of admission, to ISS.
If this update is done before your EAD card expires, you will lose any remaining OPT authorization you have at that same degree level.
Change your U.S. immigration status
If you have been approved for another U.S. non-immigrant or U.S. immigrant-intent visa status, submit proof of your approval to ISS at iss@iss.wisc.edu. ISS will update your SEVIS record and UW-Madison file.
If you are changing immigration status while on OPT, submit the online OPT/STEM Reporting Form to report your change in status.