Mgk

I have recently completed my course requirements at my undergrad
school. I have been allowed to file for graduation on Feb 1st 2003.

I plan to go to my home country in Jan 2003, then come back by the 3rd
week of Jan, and file for my OPT and graduation. The college has
issued me an I-20 that is valid until Feb 2004.

Has anyone had a similar experience of going out of country after
finishing the course requirement and without having the OPT or being
enrolled in further courses? Do you know if what i am doing is
correct?

Any information/pointer in this regard will be really helpful.

TonyC

I looked into doing this and EVERY post that came back said NO. F1 is for STUDY. OPT is not study, and you can be denied on these grounds.

If you wish to continue working in the US after OPT, You need to find a company who is willing to help you gain an H1. Do not wait until you are six months into OPT to ask.

Also, the clock is ticking from the validity date on the OPT - please bear this in mind, and start finding that sponsoring company now. I believe you can get two years at part time hours, but I would check with one of the gurus (Inigo, Sylvia)

I am not completely sure, but having completed with your classes/requirement may put you out of F1 status as there are rules for being in status and a full time student.. If you went home I think you would have to come back as a visitor to graduate - or you would be lying at the POE. I do not think you should ever do that - they don't seem to like that very much for some reason......

So, stay put, apply for OPT now and find a job.

Congratulations on your graduation, and good luck with your venture.

syedraza70

but i have seen in some cources working/practical training is important so what about it? i saw a friend he had to do practical training to complete his degree.

Sylvia Ottemoeller

"mgk" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...

    > I have recently completed my course requirements at my undergrad
    > school. I have been allowed to file for graduation on Feb 1st 2003.
    > I plan to go to my home country in Jan 2003, then come back by the 3rd
    > week of Jan, and file for my OPT and graduation. The college has
    > issued me an I-20 that is valid until Feb 2004.
    > Has anyone had a similar experience of going out of country after
    > finishing the course requirement and without having the OPT or being
    > enrolled in further courses? Do you know if what i am doing is
    > correct?

This strategy has worked several times, though there is never a guarantee
that it will work in any particular case. It is actually much less risky
than trying to enter the U.S. in F-1 status, after graduation and after
applying for F-1 optional practical training, but before F-1 OPT has been
approved.

You need to get a letter from someone in your department, perhaps your
adviser, which explains that you are expected to return to the U.S. to
perform some activity (related to your degree program) before graduating.
Even something like walking through the graduation ceremony is a reasonable
justification for you to re-enter the U.S. in F-1 student status just before
graduation. (However, you may not have this reason as you are graduating
mid-year.) Applying for F-1 OPT should *not* be mentioned as a reason to
re-enter the U.S.

Sylvia Ottemoeller

"syedraza70" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...

    > but i have seen in some cources working/practical training is important
    > so what about it? i saw a friend he had to do practical training to
    > complete his degree.

The appropriate type of off-campus employment authorization for practical
training which is a required part of the degree program is "curricular
practical training." This is different from "optional practical training."
It must be completed before graduation.