| Username |
Post |
| NepalMan |
Posted
on 10-Feb-03 07:44 PM
Dear Sajhaites,
I'd appreciate your information/suggestion on the following to issues pertaining to F-1 students:
1. I am planning to go to graduate school (Fall 2003) after completing my bachelor's degree in May 2003. Is there a need for me to apply for OPT for the times between graduation and starting of masters, just to be on status? If there is no need to do so, I'd rather save my OPT. (I am aware that my status will be valid for 60 days after graduation, and the new I-20 will cover a period of 30 days prior to the start of a new program; but I am concerned of the times between those periods.)
2. Also, assuming that I apply for 3 months of OPT for the summer, and for some reasons (like not getting in a graduate school) I choose to use the remaining months (12-3=9 months) of my OPT. In this case, will I be able to apply for those remaining 9 months of OPT even after my 3-month OPT has formally started?
Thanx in advance.
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| prashant |
Posted
on 10-Feb-03 08:54 PM
Nep ji..
You don't need to apply for OPT to be in status for the summer period. Summer is an exempted semester to maintain your status. But if you don't join the masters even after summer, you'll be out of status.
According to the latest rule of INS, an international student can have OPT every time s/he advances to another level. This means you will again get an OPT facility after your Masters but one cannot get OPT twice for the same level. For example, after doing ME and MBA. Before, one used to get OPT just once in his lifetime. You may like to use your OPT if u want to as you'll get one more after completion of masters. Remember, OPT is a reward for you for remaining in status. OPT itself provides you F1 status only.
After graduation, there is a 2 months grace period for leaving the country. Since you'll graduate in May, u can use this summer as you had used before even without taking classes, and even without applying for OPT if u r joining Masters from Fall 2003.
Now the decision is yours.
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| NepalMan |
Posted
on 10-Feb-03 10:29 PM
prashantji,
Thanx for your response. I was aware of the bill allowing a F-1 student to have 12 months of OPT for every educational level; but was not aware that this bill has actually been signed into a law. Ironically, DSO at my school seems to be unaware of this new ruling. And as of mid December, DSO used to say unless the student leaves US for 5 months and one day, his/her OPT will not be "recharged" back to 12 months even if the student goes to new educational level.
If you know, it would be great if you could direct me to some links (official websites even better) that tells about this latest rule of INS, so that I could have something when I go to meet my DSO!
Thanx again.
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| prempujari |
Posted
on 11-Feb-03 06:35 AM
NepalManjyu,
Not trying to pull your leg or something that means similar to that (pardon my pre-coffee syndrome), but isn't it better to ask "international students service" at your school? I am sure they will help you out, because the INS rules are changing faster than Christina-Aguiluera's looks, and ISS sure has the information about the update ni.
Just a thought, not to be taken otherwise.
Prempujari
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