Opt

[WASP]

How long does it really take to get one? Is there a way to expedite the process?

[Frida]

How long does it really take to get one? Is there a way to expedite the process?

depends, they can make it faster if you can provide them with the letter from your employee saying that your job starts at certain day. but if you dont have any certain job but wanna get the OPT card earlier then put the date you would like to get it. If you apply now you can get one in early June. Good luck!

[WASP]

Frida Kahlo,

Thanks for your response. I have an offer in the form of a letter stating my start date, location and salary etc. So, how do I use that to my advantage, specifically? I have mentioned this to people who deal with this at my Uni, but no one seemed to be taking a notice of that...

My start date is on May 30th; therefore, early June does not work for me at all. Please advise me further.

[Пушкарева]

Hi. i used to work in the international students office and dealth with the OPT and stuff. So, to get the card by the end of May, you have to mail your documents asap, as it takes upto 120 days to proceed the paperwork. You might even get it earlier, but it is stated clearly in their rules that the process might take 3 months.

good luck.

Frida Kahlo,

Thanks for your response. I have an offer in the form of a letter stating my start date, location and salary etc. So, how do I use that to my advantage, specifically? I have mentioned this to people who deal with this at my Uni, but no one seemed to be taking a notice of that...

My start date is on May 30th; therefore, early June does not work for me at all. Please advise me further.

[WASP]

Uzbechka,

I decided to go with CPT instead and pay for 3.00 credits. But, thanks anyway!

WASP

[Frida]

way to go! especially if you are still undergrad. you can keep OPT for after graduation.

[abcd]

Uzbechka,

I decided to go with CPT instead and pay for 3.00 credits. But, thanks anyway!

WASP
Just my 2 cents. If you will do CPT 1 year or longer you won't be able to do OPT.

[orxan]

way to go! especially if you are still undergrad. you can keep OPT for after graduation.

as far as i know, according to new rules and regulations, an international student can get an OPT after each degree level:

associate
bachelor's
master's

[orxan]

Just my 2 cents. If you will do CPT 1 year or longer you won't be able to do OPT.

almost correct, but i think it even less then a year. if one does CPT for more than 11 months he or she won't get OPT.

so, wach out when doing your CPT

[abcd]

WASP my advice. Apply for an economic hardship. You will get work permit and will also keep your OPT after graduation.

[WASP]

Razorback,

Thanks for your input. I actually applied for "Internship in Economics" and will register for a summer course to get my CPT. It will only be for 3 months, so I think I am all good with getting an OPT upon graduation (which I hope will not be necessary). The only thing that bothers me is that I have to pay money to my Uni for a work experience elsewhere... is that even constitutional? :D

WASP

[abcd]

Razorback,

Thanks for your input. I actually applied for "Internship in Economics" and will register for a summer course to get my CPT. It will only be for 3 months, so I think I am all good with getting an OPT upon graduation (which I hope will not be necessary). The only thing that bothers me is that I have to pay money to my Uni for a work experience elsewhere... is that even constitutional? :D

WASP
Yes it is.

[Martingale]

does it really take 3 month to get OPT? even for summer?:shock:
I don't wanna enroll in summer classes, cause I will have to pay 2000 plus fess just for 3 hours. anyone has any advice?

[Martingale]

Blin nahotki yuli yuq busa!:(

If the internship was paid I could enroll in classes...it's unpaid..besides, I have to pay out-of state tuition for the summer. :( If I go with CPT. I really can't apply for OPT if it really takes that long.

but the company is really good.:( That's why I even agree to work there part-time and still working full-time in other job.


I didn't even know that one has to get permission to work off-campus in the summer. I could have applied for the waiver for summer.

[Maftuna]

Hi all!
From my experience, it is best to apply in January in order to receive your OPT by the end of May. I applied at least 120 days in advance as it was required, but I received mine in July. But the good thing is that they put the starting date as July 7 (as supposed to June 1 as I requested). I guess they have a lot of paperwork piled up, there is no guarantee you'll get yours done on time.

Best of luck.

[rosefire]

it is a silly question which I am gonna ask now, but after reading the comments, this question came to my mind?

if u get your diploma and go back home for some time, and decide to do your OPT later. Can u apply for visa to do your OPT after leaving the country after graduation? or you have to do your OPT right after graduation while u are here? will she/he loose the chance to do OPT, if student leaves the country?
how does it work?
thanks:)

[Пушкарева]

it is a silly question ..- there are no silly questions, simple because another definition of "question" is asking smth you do not know/want to clarify.

if u get your diploma and go back home for some time, and decide to do your OPT later. Can u apply for visa to do your OPT after leaving the country after graduation? - No. You have to apply for OPT about 3-4 months before your graduation so that you have it approved prior to your student status expiration (which is the day you graduate). Note, there is that 60 days window that you can still remain in the country after graduation, but you cannot work if you dont have the OPT card.

or you have to do your OPT right after graduation while u are here? - Yes.


will she/he loose the chance to do OPT, if student leaves the country? - Most likely, yes. There is a chance to travel on OPT even though the card clearly says "not valid for re-entry." One can do that IF already employed and have the US employer letter to present at the customs control. However, the risk of being denied the re-entry on OPT always exists.

[rosefire]

there are no silly questions, simple because another definition of "question" is asking smth you do not know/want to clarify.
thanks Nezabudka, sometimes I ask too many questions, which would be easily found if i did little reasearch on it. that's why, I thought it might sound simply weird to others.anyways, back to the topic:)

[quote]
[B]if u get your diploma and go back home for some time, and decide to do your OPT later. Can u apply for visa to do your OPT after leaving the country after graduation? - No. You have to apply for OPT about 3-4 months before your graduation so that you have it approved prior to your student status expiration (which is the day you graduate). Note, there is that 60 days window that you can still remain in the country after graduation, but you cannot work if you dont have the OPT card.


my visa will expire right after my graduation. I am guessing thatI'll have to go back home to apply for another one. that's why I asked if it is possible to go back and come back to do the OPT.

things may change by the time I graduate, I'll see then, thanks for the info:)

[Пушкарева]

1) If there is a shortcut that can save yoru time and there are people willing ot help, why not to make good use of the both.

2) Again, by the time your visa expires, you need to obtain extension of your I-20 that will be prolonged for anoter 12 months - equivalent to the length of the OPT.

If you want to stay in the US in search of a job, dont exit. Start applying for jobs early (4-5 months before graduation), get OPT card, get a job, work some time, obtain the employment verification letter and support of your boss and only then travel.

If you dont have all those supporting docs and want to remain the the US, you better stay still where you are now. :)

[quote]
1) thanks Nezabudka, sometimes I ask too many questions, which would be easily found if i did little reasearch on it. that's why, I thought it might sound simply weird to others.anyways, back to the topic:)

[B]

2) my visa will expire right after my graduation. I am guessing thatI'll have to go back home to apply for another one. that's why I asked if it is possible to go back and come back to do the OPT.

things may change by the time I graduate, I'll see then, thanks for the info:)

[Queen]

Hi guys, I have several questions.
1) Can I use my OPT, and at the same time attend to school from Fall'08? If yes, when should I apply for OPT? If I decide to apply to OPT after graduation , would that cause me a trouble, considering that I will begin school from fall'08?
2) If there is no Internship Class for one particular major, how else one can get CPT? How long does it take to get CPT?