F1 (MS) >> to OPT or PhD? help pleeeeeassssse ...

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nystudent

New Member
F1 (MS) >> to OPT or PhD? help pleeeeeassssse ....

i am on F1, finishing this June. For some reasons, I have to continue in student status (have had 2 extensions of student status already)
My questions are:

1. If I go for PhD (starting this Fall -- in Sept) meaning another F1, then how do i maintain status from July to Sept?

a.) Can I change status from F1 to B1/B2 and then back to F1?
b.) what do I write as the reason for requesting change of status from F1 to visitor?
c.) any better ideas for maintaining status?

2. If I go for PhD, what happens to my OPT from MS? Is it gone or I can change to OPT anytime during my PhD?
(I know I can get OPT AFTER I finish PhD, but I am asking about OPT that is available after i finish my MS)

I mean whether the OPT is NOW or AFTER FINISHING PhD.

3. RA/PDF position is another option that may be the answer to the problem. but am still searching.
 
OPT is fine, but period from July - Sept?

OPT is fine, but period from July - Sept?
Thanks JoeF your quick response. It is indeed helpful. I am still not clear about maintaining status from July - Sept.
example:

finish F1 : June this year
on OPT : July - June next year
PhD F1 : Sept Next year
???? : July - sept next year
(ofcourse, in this question I am assuming that I do not get a job during period of OPT and I have to go for PhD)
or

finish F1 : June this year
on PhD F1 : Sept this year onwards
???? : July - sept this year

I can try for PhD from Spring session (March next year), so I won't be out of status from July - Sept. But I believe getting a tuition waiver for Spring session is very hard compared to the fall session.

Lastly, do you know if there is limit to the number of student extensions one can get? (I have taken 2 already, 6 months each)

Thanks again.
 
thanks JoeF. I will definitely ask my international office when i go there.

about that student extension --- my I-20 was valid until june 30, 2003.
extended till Dec 31, 2003.
then extended till June 30, 2004.

so 2 times extended already. can it be extended 3rd time?
 
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