Apply for OPT URGENT

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Registered Users (C)
1.I am unclear how to apply for OPT. Is OPT based on F1 working part time less than 20 hours per week OR temporarily stop class for one semester or one year concentrating only on working as OPT?
2.As described on INS site, I have to submit a I-20 endorsed by DSO within the past 30 days. But I am here almost 1 year, how could I have a I-20 endorsed within the past 30 days? Does this mean that I have to ask DSO give me a new I-20 and submit it to INS within 30 days?
Anybody who has this kind of experience please give me some advise.
Thank you in advance.
 
1) There are two kinds of practical training: One is optional practical training (OPT) and the other is curricular practical training (CPT). OPT can be taken either during the summer (when school is not is session), or after graduation. CPT is always taken before graduation, and is considered sort of like course-work being done at some industry location. Contact your DSO for more details.

2) You simply meet your DSO with your I-20 and he/she wil sign the back of it and put a date on it.
 
OPT employment restriction

Hi Raj,

I just got my MS (Aquatic Sci) last Aug 02 and I am on OPT. I got offered by a biotech company for a position that requires my lab skills. My major and the biotech field are both scientific fields. I gained the needed skills while working toward my degree. Will accepting the job violate my OPT?

I would appreciate your reply. Thanks.

F1

PS. How can your office help me on this one?
 
I think you are okay. If the INS contacts you/your employer, then you can explain the situation in detail.

I'm not an attorney. If you need legal help you could contact the law firms such as the one facilitating this forum directly.
 
Thanks.

Thanks Raj1994. I just thought that you were an attorney. :D

But I really hope that I should NOT be too worried about the OPT opportunity. I'm just worried that Aquatic Science might be too far from biotech science. Although there are similar skills and equipment used in both fields. When does INS really look into these specifics anyway? (Specifics like job's relation to field of study, etc).

Also, when I do get into the biotech company, should I immediately apply for an H visa before my OPT expires?
 
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F1student: To me (an engineer), both aquatic science and biotech look similar. Moreover you should be easily able to defend if the INS asks you about your job, especially since you have a graduate degree. Its unlike a BS where you are trained in only a particular field. Graduate degree is inherently more general than a BS degree. If ever the INS contacts you (unlikely), then hire an attorney. No need to worry until then. I dont think the INS keeps track of a person's OPT employment (not very sure).

You should make sure that you get a H1 approval before your OPT ends. otherwise you cannot continue to work and will have to lose salary. So it will depend on the processing time which in turn depends on where you live. But you do want to hold onto the OPT a bit as there are tax benefits - you dont pay social security tax which is 7.5% - quite sizable amount (unless you have stayed in the US for more than 5 years when you are supposed to pay social security tax)
 
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