Film school student needs your help!

O

octoberfilms

New Member
Hi,

This is my first time here.

I'm a film school student in Los Angeles, California. I've been here since fall 2007 and I've completed three quarters at a film school in Hollywood. I am very unhappy with the quality of education at my school and on top that, they've increased the fees from fall 2008 onwards. Basically, I don't want to go back there. I want to know what my options are?

My I-20 says "...must complete studies no later than 09/24/2011" but I read that if an international student doesn't attend classes for over five months, the I-20 is annulled. The visa validity in my passport reads 20012.

Say I can get an internship (full or part time) at a production company. Can I apply for an OPT and stay here on that?

What if I don't go back to school? Does the school have to inform the INS? Will the INS come knocking on my door?

I know a whole bunch of Asian students who have discontinued their studies but are still here in the US.

Confused :(

Thanks in advance! Much appreciate it.
 
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Oh and by the way, over the summer, I was hired by an independent film producer to write a first draft of a script based on an idea of his. I got paid approx. $8,000 for it. I don't know if this information helps. Just thought I'd throw it out there.
 
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For starters, you are not authorized to work and you have violated your F-1 status. If USCIS finds out, you will be deported.

You can't get OPT because you haven't finished your degree. You can get CPT if an internship is required as part of your degree.

In short, you are here on an F-1 to study. If you don't want to study, F-1 isn't going to help you much. If you overstay and fall out of status, it will make it a lot harder to get any kind of visa in the future. If you don't like your school, find a new one and finish your degree. That route is the only realistic way of staying here long-term short of marrying a US citizen.
 
Thanks ncsagony for your reply.

I honestly wasn't aware I was breaking the law when I accepted the offer to write that script 'cos I was just working from home. But what if I get myself a TIN number and pay tax? Is it OK then? I'm asking 'cos a similar opportunity might come up again.

Yes, I qualify for CPT. I know that for sure. So if I can get a full time internship, I think that would help. But I also know that CPT eats into your OPT.
 
If you haven't paid tax, than you also committed tax evasion on top of an immigration status violation. Paying taxes might help to keep you out of jail if USCIS finds out what you do, but it won't help keeping you in the country.
 
*gulp*

Thanks again for the info. Since the international student adviser at my school quit a few months ago, no one there seems to know anything about these rules and regulations.

Thanks!
 
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