F1 Student, Travel during OPT

N

nandita_singh

Registered Users (C)
Hello,
I am currently in New York, on my F1 visa, graduated and currently on the 8th month of my OPT (with valid EAD). I don’t really have a job in my field (I did my MS in Finance/MIS in the US) and have actually been working in a Fast-Food Restaurant. Now I would like to go for a 1-week vacation to Canada.
What are the risks involved in traveling at this time. My Visa expires in May 2003 and on my I-94 is stamped D/S.
Can I get a letter from my employer?…..i can get it from the management company that runs 4 fast-Food restaurants including the one I work in. Though the name of the Fast food restaurant will be on that letter. My Job Title would not appear on that letter (being that I am just a plain crew member) but can I get by, by telling the INS official at the border when I am returning, that I am a Management trainee at the firm that runs these fast food joints?
Please advice me on this issue, I am really worried and don’t want to be prevented from coming back to the US. I am from India and plan on vacationing next month ( February)
I appreciate your responses.
 
Yes. You should be fine, since canada is still covered by the 30 day -can use current valid I94 rule. Returning to US after Travel to India is another matter.
 
Thanks jaxen. you're the first one giving me some positive news. can u pls let me know more about the 30-Day rule - or a link where i can read more about it. Also what does D/S mean when stamped on a I-94?
i appreciate it.
 
The Automatic Revalidation Rule

Currently, Section 41.112(d) permits a nonimmigrant visa to be automatically extended when a foreign national has made a trip of less than thirty days duration within North America and is applying to be readmitted to the United States to resume nonimmigrant status. Under the rule, a foreign national's expired nonimmigrant visa is considered automatically extended to the date of reapplication to admission; where the individual's original nonimmigrant classification has been changed to another nonimmigrant classification, an expired or unexpired visa is automatically extended to the date of application for readmission, and the visa is converted to the new classification. Thus, a nonimmigrant whose visa has expired after admission the United States can still travel to within North America and be permitted to reenter the U.S. on the basis of a valid I-94.

In order to qualify for the automatic extension, the foreign national must:

Possess a Form I-94 Arrival-Departure Record showing an unexpired period of initial admission or extension of stay. A qualified F or J student or exchange visitor must have a current Form I-20 Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status or Form IAP-66, Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor Status;
Have maintained and intend to resume nonimmigrant status;
Apply for readmission after an absence from the United States of thirty days or less;
Have traveled within North America. In the case of a student or exchange visitor, the travel must have occurred within North America or to an adjacent island, including Bermuda, the Bahamas, or any Caribbean island except Cuba;
Apply for readmission to the United States within the authorized period of initial admission or extension of stay; and
Possess a valid passport.


http://www.shrmglobal.org/function/immigration/fd031402.htm
 
You're welcome but are times really that bad that somebody with an MS in Finance has to work in fastfood? :confused:
 
Travel on OPT

Hey Guys,

I am a masters of science student and am graduating(submitting my thesis) next week, although the semester ends on the 22nd of may. I got my OPT card and I have a job offer, the job starts on the 5th of May. I am planning to make an internation trip to Ireland. I was wondering if I am legally allowed to travel abroad with an OPT and a job offer letter. The OPT card says "not valid for reentry to US".

Regards
 
sorry

amit you should get a visa stamp or have a valid F1 stamp to take up any international travel..
 
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