ikha
11-19-2005, 07:24 AM
Hi all,
I'm in a little bit of a pickle here: I graduated with my Bachelors degree this past August (2005). Due to some miscommunication between my university and myself, I applied for my OPT 2 weeks AFTER graduation even though I had gotten my I-20 endorsed for the OPT back in May 2005. The OPT was thus denied on the basis of applying for it after graduation.
My F-1 visa expired in 2004, and I am now past my 60 day grace period to leave the country. However I was awaiting a decision from the USCIS which came through unfavorably for me last week.
To complicate matters even further, I was offered full-time employment this week with a company to whom I have not mentioned that I might possibly be needing for them to apply for an H-1B visa for me.
My questions:
1. What are my options at this point?
2. Should I file a motion to re-open the OPT application? (I have some supporting evidence from professors whom I have been interning for and the university which I feel is of some relevance to the initial denial)
3. Would I be just better off having the company (if they will do it) file for an H-1B visa for me?
4. My final option would be going back to graduate school...how would I go about accomplishing this and will I have to leave and re-enter the US (my F-1 visa has expired).
Any and all help/advice/suggestions is much appreciated. The idea of being out-of-status keeps me up nights! Thanks :)
IK
I'm in a little bit of a pickle here: I graduated with my Bachelors degree this past August (2005). Due to some miscommunication between my university and myself, I applied for my OPT 2 weeks AFTER graduation even though I had gotten my I-20 endorsed for the OPT back in May 2005. The OPT was thus denied on the basis of applying for it after graduation.
My F-1 visa expired in 2004, and I am now past my 60 day grace period to leave the country. However I was awaiting a decision from the USCIS which came through unfavorably for me last week.
To complicate matters even further, I was offered full-time employment this week with a company to whom I have not mentioned that I might possibly be needing for them to apply for an H-1B visa for me.
My questions:
1. What are my options at this point?
2. Should I file a motion to re-open the OPT application? (I have some supporting evidence from professors whom I have been interning for and the university which I feel is of some relevance to the initial denial)
3. Would I be just better off having the company (if they will do it) file for an H-1B visa for me?
4. My final option would be going back to graduate school...how would I go about accomplishing this and will I have to leave and re-enter the US (my F-1 visa has expired).
Any and all help/advice/suggestions is much appreciated. The idea of being out-of-status keeps me up nights! Thanks :)
IK