17-Month OPT Extension for F1 students Approved
As per the Department of Homeland Security Press Release dated April 4th 2008, a 17-Month extension of the OPT work authorization status granted to F1 students in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics has been approved, which increases the total duration from 12 months to 29 months. However this extensio will be only for students who have employments from employers who are a part of the e-verify program, for the rest it should be the regular 12 months.At this point, I am unsure if the extension would apply only for new OPT applicants or also for people already on OPTs. For F1 students already on OPT status and anticipating a gap before the H1b status begins, this might apply :
"Another aspect of the rule responds to the situation in which an F-1 student’s status and
work authorization expires before he or she can begin employment under the H-1B visa
program. The interim final rule addresses this problem by automatically extending t
heperiod of stay and work authorization for all F-1 students with pending H-1B petitions.
The rule will also implement certain programmatic changes, including allowing students
to apply for OPT within 60 days of graduation."
This is surely good news for IMGs planning to start residencies first on OPT (both J1 and H1 programs) which will free up more visa time for training later on.. The International Student Office centers in your respective colleges will be able to help you on the details...
Will update this as I get more information
Also Read:
- OPT Visa Advantages for IMGs seeking Residency / Fellowship TrainingLabels: opt
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posted by Digitaldoc, MD at 11:07 AM
Comments on "17-Month OPT Extension for F1 students Approved"
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superdoc said ... (April 4, 2008 8:40 PM) :
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Anonymous said ... (April 5, 2008 9:47 AM) :
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Anonymous said ... (April 5, 2008 11:06 AM) :
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makeurluck said ... (April 5, 2008 3:28 PM) :
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Anonymous said ... (April 5, 2008 8:42 PM) :
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superdoc said ... (April 8, 2008 8:15 PM) :
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Anonymous said ... (April 11, 2008 8:22 AM) :
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Digitaldoc, MD said ... (April 12, 2008 11:46 PM) :
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Anonymous said ... (April 15, 2008 5:40 PM) :
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Digitaldoc, MD said ... (April 18, 2008 11:14 AM) :
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Anonymous said ... (April 21, 2008 10:58 AM) :
Post Your Comment !Now this is one great news, thanks to DD again !!
This would allow FMGs to do as much as 2.5 years of residency training on F1 itself!! That leaves a lot of time on H1b and J1 visas for further fellowship training as well as work. This is especially gonna be useful for candidates looking to train in specialties which require a long commitment, for e.g IM+Cardio+Interventional Cardio, or General Surgery+1-2 yrs of research+ fellowship etc.
Now there is all the more reason to go to USA via the MPH route.
But a word of caution, please make sure that the residency program u r aiming for does allow u to start residency on the OPT status. :-)
Here is the real issue.
Most of the doctors are in MHA or MPH programs. Does this MHA program falls under STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics)catogery?
If it doesn't fall under STEM how it is going to be beneficial?
Hi digitaldoc,
I always trust you as a source of information, but only one thing to remind here is that this is month of April and this time I am very much scared of becoming an April fool. But if it's true than It will be a great news for IMG's who could not match just because of VISA issues.
Hi Digital Doc, First of all let me thank you for having done so much for all of us. I have question regarding OPT. I am currently enrolled in Kaplan. Can i work out side kaplan on OPT? I have an employer who is willing to give me a job if i am legally allowed to work. If so please tell me how to do it. Thank You Once again.
Can someone throw more light on this STEM...
to makeurluck
Sorry buddy, Kaplan visa doesn't allow u to work off campus, I have umpteen no of friends studying on Kaplan visa, so I know this for sure.
Hey Doc,
Heard this from my International student advisor at school, that 29months of OPT apply for people who are currently on OPT but not to new OPT applicants :-( ..so it's only one year (as usual) for all those who are applying now.
Kaplan F1 visa courses are less than a year long, do not grant a degree and are ineligible for an OPT work authorization post-completion
Hi DigitalDoc,
Thanks for all of your information. I am a non-US citizen who is currently enrolled in a US medical school and will be graduating next year. Like others in my position, I plan to apply for OPT and then H1b after that. I'm going into Anesthesia residency which will require 1 prelim year (not necessarily at the same institution in which I do my categorical training). Do you anticipate any visa issues? could the OPT extension apply to someone in my situation (apologies if this has been addressed in a separate thread already). Thanks
The list of degrees mentioned on the interim rule covered MD/PHD degrees, am so I am not sure if the extension would apply to you, unless yours was a MD/PhD program. But converting status from F1-OPT to H1b within the US is pretty easy and there should not be any visa issues for you
Hi, DD.. I am from India. My fiancee is on F1 visa in USA ...doing her Phd.. which visa will i get if we married??? will it help me any how to get my residency..or to do observership/ externship over there?