Hey WSO! I am an international student interested in Healthcare IB and have yet to declare my major. Does anybody know if a Biology/Chemistry/Biochemistry major would make eligible for a STEM OPT extension if I were to join a Healthcare group within IBD? Thanks all in advance!
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You won't get a definite answer here or anywhere. No one can or will ever be sure what the immigrations office will say. It will all depend on how well you describe your job to the USCIS/DHS office and how their officers perceive/decide.
Making healthcare banking sound like it's directly related to your major biology could be a challenge. I've seen many industrial engineering and computer science majors get dinged for their STEM OPT for technology banking jobs at BB in both NY and SF. They had to pack and leave after year 1. I have seen however folks with management science degrees get qualified for their industrials IBD jobs as well as management consulting jobs. So maybe pursuing a dual major/masters STEM degree that is more business-related could be helpful if that's a possibility for you.
Always keep in mind that there's a huge uncertainty when it comes to anything immigration-related, and that it is unavoidable. So plan for other options way ahead of time. Discuss with your team to apply for H1B ASAP. Build relationships with headhunters in your home country from day 1. Don't sign(or renew) a lease or make any long term financial commitment in the U.S. before you get your OPT extended. And never listen to anyone who tells you, especially your school's international students office, that you could easily get the STEM OPT extension.