My OPT expires July 14, 2006! Need to file for graduate H-1b!

[solitudeman69]

All,

My OPT expires in July 14, 2006 and I am a gruaduate student. Since H-1b begins in Oct, 2006, the company I work for cannot afford for me to have not work from July 15 - Oct 1st, 2006 i.e. for 2.5 months. If I can work full time till Oct, 2006 then ther is a possibility the compnay sponsor my H-1b. Thus, my objective is not to miss work till Oct and then attain my H-1b & continue my work.

In this case, what would be my options? I was thinking...

1) Join school (A - different state) for online summer class from July 3 - Aug 28 and who offer full time CPT (Currier Practical Training)

2) Join school (B - different state) for physical school from Sep 3 - Dec. This school provides full time CPT.

3) Are there any online schools who offer class from July - October and offer Currier Practical Training?

I would greatly need any help, because I have suffered being a student for the past 10 years.. morally, financially, psychologicall...and its about time I get back to life and start working for a change. If it was for only me, I could careless where I end up. Unfortunately, it is not. So any assistance is greatly appreciated.

Thank you,

Rajan

[viswana5]

hi,
Yeh im in the same boat like you. My OPT expires first week of July.
Im am trying to apply for grad school now as i hv an undergrad degree from here.
U know how many days u can stay legally after an opt expires? I am not sure if its 30 or 60 days.
Any help will be helpful.
Thanks in advance.

[supersix]

I think 60 days after OPT expires ur status is valid. Pls cross check though.

[tihor]

Hi,
I am in the same boat as you guys are. I just graduated. My OPT starts on July 24 2006. I applied for H1-B on 1st June 2006 but according to latest update, cap was reached on 26th May 2006, so my application did not go thru.
Now I can not apply for H1 until 1st April 2007, and I can only start working on my H1 from 1st Oct 2007.
I know, you can stay for 60 days after your OPT expires. So, in my case I can stay in US till 24th September 2007 (24 July+60 days), but just for 6 days I have to maintain my status legal.
The 2 options I knw are: 1. To leave US for those 6 days, get H1-B stamp and re-enter. 2. Take online classes from Kaplan or community college (for a new I-20) for those 6 days.
For the second option, one of my International advisors at my university, suggested not to do so, as it is considered Visa fraud.Once your H1 is approved you can not change status back to F1 for 6 days. So should I just enroll and take online classes for a 3 month term course (July-October)? so that it is not considered a visa fraud, as I completed my full term of studies (3 months).

Please suggest me, what are the other options.
Thanks
Rohit

[solitudeman69]

1) what is Kaplan university's website?

2) it says only US studetns can take online course? So how are we suppose to get I-20 in this case?

3) are there any online schools I can take who issue full time (currier practical training) and I-20?

I really need help desperately. Pls help. Thank you.

[solitudeman69]

All,

My another quetison is...

4) Since I have used up my OPT by July 14, will I have the opportunity to get CPT (Currier practical training) when I join back to school. My school says they are willing to give me full time CPT but my quesiton is if INS will grant me CPT or not.

All in all, my company requires me that I work without having to take the leave of absense.

Please help. Thank you.