Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has extended the ridiculously short OPT timeline for students on a F1 visa from 12 months to 29 months. [link] [Press Release] (Sai -> Karthik via email)
“This rule will enable businesses to attract and retain highly skilled foreign workers, giving U.S. companies a competitive advantage in the world economy,” said Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff. “By extending the training period by an additional 17 months to students who are employed by businesses enrolled in E-Verify, we are further ensuring a legal workforce in the U.S. and aiding good corporate citizens.”
Given the kind of mad rush that takes place for the H1B visa these days, this step probably eases the time pressure for F1 students who miss out on this year’s, what can only be termed, H1B lottery.
To be eligible for an OPT extension, an F-1 non-immigrant student must:
-Currently be participating in a 12-month period of approved post-completion OPT;
-Have successfully completed a degree in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) included in the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List from a college or university certified by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program;
-Be working for a U.S. employer in a job directly related to the student’s major area of study;
-Be working for, or accepted employment with, an employer enrolled in U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ E-Verify program. E-Verify is a free, internet-based system operated in partnership with the Social Security Administration that helps employers to determine the employment eligibility of newly-hired employees; and
-Properly maintain F-1 status.
In other words, F1 students need to maintain their status and stay out of trouble. If you’re one of the fortunate to receive this extension, rejoice, but also spare a thought to the students before you, some of whom lost their American dream because their 12 months OPT ran out without them getting a H1B visa.
Update: University officials dealing with International Students at FSU warn students from jumping the gun on this press release from DHS because the information appears to be too vague.
From: Important info for F-1 status students (immigration-related)
Date: Fri, Apr 4, 2008 at 4:48 PM
Subject: [IC-F1 immigration] Interim Rule to Extend Period of OPTIC-Immigration Mailing List: For Florida State University International Students only (F-1 Visa Status)
Dear Students:
Some of you may have heard of an interim regulation proposed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to extend Optional Practical Training (OPT) from the current 12 month period allowed by federal regulations to 29 months for those meeting eligibility criteria.
The information currently available is incomplete and vague; however, the DHS has said that there will be clarification available sometime in the next week. Once we obtain more specific information, we will send another email update about this new rule and how it will be implemented. Until then, we are not in a position to answer any inquiries related to this rule, nor can we accept any applications for OPT extensions. Please be patient and know that your International Center advisers are monitoring the information and working on this.Thank you,
Your IC Advisers
IC-immigration mailing listhttps://lists.fsu.edu/mailman/listinfo/ic-immigration
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