Hi:
I will be completing my MS in Healthcare in March from Cal. State Univ. Due to the expiry of my father last May (2004), I had to postpone my final exams. As such I was in India for nearly 4 months after which I returned to the US in December. I am scheduled to appear for the final set of exams before my committee this March after which I will finish my Masters. At the same time, I have recently got engaged and intend to get married in May. The boy is an H1B visa holder. I intend to go to India before my graduation date (which is on June 5th, 2005), get married and come back on my F-1 visa before the graduation date. My questions are
1) Since my exams will get over in March, when can I apply for my OPT?
2) Will it be safe for me to apply for the OPT after I come back from India after my marriage?
3) Or should I forfeit the OPT status, and come on a H4 dependent visa.
4) Since I will be finishing my exams way before the end of the semester (which is May), is it necessary to apply for the OPT status immediately after my exams are over? or can I apply after the end of the semester which is May. Also, after the exams, will my F1 status be still valid till the end of semester?
5) Considering the fact that its not a good idea to travel on OPT status outside US, does the delay in filing of OPT status help my cause? Assuming that my exams are over, and that i still have a valid F-1 visa, will that affect my travel plans to India.
I am in a dilema and anybody who has any insight into these matters or have been in a similar situation before will be of great help.
Waiting for the answers anxiously.
Thanks
Shilpa
I will be completing my MS in Healthcare in March from Cal. State Univ. Due to the expiry of my father last May (2004), I had to postpone my final exams. As such I was in India for nearly 4 months after which I returned to the US in December. I am scheduled to appear for the final set of exams before my committee this March after which I will finish my Masters. At the same time, I have recently got engaged and intend to get married in May. The boy is an H1B visa holder. I intend to go to India before my graduation date (which is on June 5th, 2005), get married and come back on my F-1 visa before the graduation date. My questions are
1) Since my exams will get over in March, when can I apply for my OPT?
2) Will it be safe for me to apply for the OPT after I come back from India after my marriage?
3) Or should I forfeit the OPT status, and come on a H4 dependent visa.
4) Since I will be finishing my exams way before the end of the semester (which is May), is it necessary to apply for the OPT status immediately after my exams are over? or can I apply after the end of the semester which is May. Also, after the exams, will my F1 status be still valid till the end of semester?
5) Considering the fact that its not a good idea to travel on OPT status outside US, does the delay in filing of OPT status help my cause? Assuming that my exams are over, and that i still have a valid F-1 visa, will that affect my travel plans to India.
I am in a dilema and anybody who has any insight into these matters or have been in a similar situation before will be of great help.
Waiting for the answers anxiously.
Thanks
Shilpa