jsmoon69

I have one question about OPT.

I applied OPT (post completion) begging after this semester.
However, my official graduation might be delayed a little bit
(1-2 months) but my job offer wants me to start right after
the graduation.

My question is whether it is illegal to get paid before the official
graduation with the post graduation OPT.
If this is the case, I have to ask the company for H1-B so that I
can legally get paid. In other words, whether INS looks into
pre-completion and post-completion OPT in detail.

Any advice for this matter is appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

- Jay

Ingo Pakleppa

You couldn't get an H-1B, either, because that, too, requires graduation.

I think you should ask your international student advisor about whether
it's OK to start working. Personally, I think it should be OK, but I am
not really experienced enough with the intricacies of student visas to be
sure.

On Tue, 22 Apr 2003 23:08:52 +0000, jsmoon69 wrote:

    >
    > I have one question about OPT.
    >
    > I applied OPT (post completion) begging after this semester.
    > However, my official graduation might be delayed a little bit
    > (1-2 months) but my job offer wants me to start right after
    > the graduation.
    >
    > My question is whether it is illegal to get paid before the official
    > graduation with the post graduation OPT.
    > If this is the case, I have to ask the company for H1-B so that I
    > can legally get paid. In other words, whether INS looks into
    > pre-completion and post-completion OPT in detail.
    >
    > Any advice for this matter is appreciated.
    >
    > Thanks in advance.
    >
    > - Jay
    >
    > --
    > Posted via http://britishexpats.com

Ron Jeremy

    > I have one question about OPT.
    >
    > I applied OPT (post completion) begging after this semester.
    > However, my official graduation might be delayed a little bit
    > (1-2 months) but my job offer wants me to start right after
    > the graduation.
    >
    > My question is whether it is illegal to get paid before the official
    > graduation with the post graduation OPT.
    > If this is the case, I have to ask the company for H1-B so that I
    > can legally get paid. In other words, whether INS looks into
    > pre-completion and post-completion OPT in detail.

I am in the same situation. An international student advisor at my
school told me that I am not allowed to use post-graduation OPT until I
graduate.
Additionally, since I'll graduate after the date given in my I-20 as the
day of graduation, I am not allowed to work even on campus after the
date on I-20.

jsmoon69

I consulted several of my friends who went through this process,
and all of them told me they didn't have any problem.
Strictly speaking, it might be illegal. But they all told me this is
very common practice for most of Ph.D.s. I am not sure if new
rules strictly prohibit, but one of my friends is getting paid
without any problem since April. He started to work under post
OPT but not officially graduated.

I will check with others and will post here again.