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a second OPT possible?
Hi
I did a Masters (MA in biological sciences) 1997-99 in the US. I got an OPT and then got a H1B and worked for 2 years and then changed to F1 and went to Grad school for PhD in 2001.
Now I am facing a dilemma. My PhD research is not going well after 5 years of hard work. I am thinking of taking a Master's and looking for a job (to cut my loss and move on in life). However, I hear that there is only one OPT for every level of education meaning one OPT for masters and one OPT for PhD. If I get a second Master's now, I am afraid they might deny an OPT (even if this master's is more advanced than my first masters) claiming it is the same level of education. My first masters was in Biological sciences and this second one if I decide to get it will be in much advanced Molecular microbiology.
In this case what do I do? It seems futile to continue a PhD which is not going any where. I am sure there have been people in my shoes who finished a Masters, used an OPT and then went to a PhD but quit. What did they do to stay legal in the US and find a job and move from F1 to H1?
Please let me know if you have any suggestions
thanks
smile
I did a Masters (MA in biological sciences) 1997-99 in the US. I got an OPT and then got a H1B and worked for 2 years and then changed to F1 and went to Grad school for PhD in 2001.
Now I am facing a dilemma. My PhD research is not going well after 5 years of hard work. I am thinking of taking a Master's and looking for a job (to cut my loss and move on in life). However, I hear that there is only one OPT for every level of education meaning one OPT for masters and one OPT for PhD. If I get a second Master's now, I am afraid they might deny an OPT (even if this master's is more advanced than my first masters) claiming it is the same level of education. My first masters was in Biological sciences and this second one if I decide to get it will be in much advanced Molecular microbiology.
In this case what do I do? It seems futile to continue a PhD which is not going any where. I am sure there have been people in my shoes who finished a Masters, used an OPT and then went to a PhD but quit. What did they do to stay legal in the US and find a job and move from F1 to H1?
Please let me know if you have any suggestions
thanks
smile
