F1 OPT time will likey be extended to 29 months

D

DMX

Registered Users (C)
It's likely that the OPT time will be extended to 29 months from 12 months. The exact interim rule should be published in the Federal Register after the OMB approval. Source is a law firm's website.

I hope this is not an April 1st joke. The source mentions that it is not.
 
correct

... as posted in immigration-law website
04/01/2008: DHS Submitted OMB 03/31/2008 Rule Extending Period for OPT for 17 Months for Qualified F-1 Students

  • The Homeland Security Department asked the White House OMB on March 31, 2008 to clear the interim final rule to publish in the federal register to extend OPT for 17 months. This is an interim final rule and as soon as it is published it will take effect. This means that the OPT period will be 29 months for certain F-1 students in OPT: current 12 plus 17 month extension. Please stay tuned to this web site. This is not April 1st joke!!!
  • Those currently in H-1B may not be able to participate in the FY 2009 H-1B cap filing. However, since their OPT is likely to be extended for 17 months, they will have a sufficient time to participate in FY 2010 H-1B cap petitions. The details have to be announced as to who will be the "qualified" OPT students to take advantage of this upcoming OPT extension rule.
  • This rule is the product of the persistent lobbying efforts by the business leaders and their lobby group, competeamerica.org. Bill Gates deserves a good credit for this good news. These business leaders pressured the Senate leaders at the end of last year to take action to the Homeland Security Department Secretary. We also reported Senator Norm Coeman's legislative bill to increase the OPT to 29 months. The magic "29-month" OPT proposal is these business leaders' idea to allow the OPT students not to face the deadly H-1B cap filing problems on April 1 in the future. Hats-off to the business leaders including higher learning institution leaders and NAFSA.
  • WHAT A RELIEF! There is a regulation even at this time that gives an authority for the Homeland Security Secretary to exercise a discretion and consider the OPT students "in lawful stay period" up through October 1 if the OPT files the H-1B petition before the cap is reached and while their F-1 status remained in status including 60-day grace period. However, this new policy is more juicy and flexible option for the OPT students.
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If this becomes a reality, all those shady consultancies will have a big hit on their business. Their clientele currently are the people fresh out of school and they often fall prey to their shady business due to H1b cap reasons.

Wish they extended the EAD for pending I485 parolees to 29 months as well as it is a pain in the neck to keep applying for EAD every 8-9 months.
 
I read another letter on a different law firm's website. This one mentioned a total OPT time of 17 months and not 29 months.

Based on what I read, 17 months of total OPT time makes sense to avoid cap-gap issues for May grads. We shall see whether it's 17 months or 29 months.

" "Extending Period for Optional Practical Training to 17 Months for Qualified F-1 Students." This rule proposes extending the optional practical training (OPT) period to 17 months from its current length of 12 months. "
 
This would be great! It makes sense to be 17 months though, not 29. Though ofcourse 29 is better.
 
Look like it has cleared the OMB

04/04/2008: OMB Approved OPT 17-Month Extension Rule!!

Dramatically, the OMB approved yesterday in "three days" USICE regulation to extend OPT for 17 months for certain qualified OPT F-1 aliens. Please stay tuned to this website. The extension does not take effect until the regulation is published in the federal register. It is anticipated that USICE will publish this rule as quickly as possible. We extend thanks, on behalf of the agonizying OPTs and their employers all over the country, to the Assistant Secretary of USICE, Director of USCIS, and most of all, the Secretary of Homeland Security and the White House. Gosh, we forgot to thank the business leaders, particularly Mr. Bill Gates!!
 
Guys, I have heard that we have to apply 90 days prior to OPT ending date, now my OPT expires on June 30...will I be able to apply??
 
txh1b said:
If this becomes a reality, all those shady consultancies will have a big hit on their business. Their clientele currently are the people fresh out of school and they often fall prey to their shady business due to H1b cap reasons.
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May those %$#&Y$ get hit HARD !!!!!!
They have no shame in the extent to which they undermine their prey.
-- spoken from BITTER experience during OPT by the way.
 
http://www.networkworld.com/community/node/26729?t51hb

17-Month Extension of Optional Practical Training for F-l Students who have Obtained a STEM Degree

This interim rule will allow F-1 students who have received a degree in a STEM field to obtain an extension of their existing post-completion OPT period for up to 17 months, for a maximum period of post-completion OPT of 29 months.

The extension, however, is only available to students who are employed, or will be employed, by an employer enrolled (and determined by USCIS to be in good standing) in USCIS' E-Verify employment verification program at the time the student applies for the 17-month extension (Pages 14 and 15).
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