STEM OPT Denial
Hi, I have applied for STEM extension in early January 2026 and have recieved a NOID from USCIS in early April stating that my Degree is not STEM eligible, to which our University DSO provided documentation to prove that my degree is STEM Certified through Dept of Education and a Memo explaining everything, but soon after submitting I still got my STEM denied. Key frustration is that the denial came after the 60 day grace period post Initial OPT expiry, meaning my SEVIS is auto completed and I cannot transfer it to a different program to maintain status.
I am filing for a MTR (Motion to Reopen) I290B by working with an Attorney, but I am quite unsure if anyone recieved approvals of MTR since my attorney has never seen both SEVIS and STEM getting reinstated by USCIS even after MTR Is approved, and if someone did get it, how did you manage the unlawful days accrual, did you leave and come back or took a gamble of staying for a long time without status?
Another solution suggested by my DSO is to get a new admit and re-enter the US with new SEVIS record, in this regard wont the CBP officer question the unlawful days we accrue in between and did that pathway work for anyone with regular university or CPT university?
Wanted to know if someone else went through same situation as mine, and learn from their experiences.