Help! OPT and Expired F-1

[doradee]

Hi. My F-1 expired on my graduation date which was May 2005. Since July, I have been training at a company in the US. My OPT is valid from July 2005 - July 2006. Something came up, and I have a neccessity to travel back to my home country (Thailand) for a few weeks due to a family crisis. I've spoken to my advisor at the school- she said that she'd issue me a new I-20 form (also valid until July 2006), so that when I go home, I can use it to reapply for a new F-1. She thinks that there shouldn't be a problem because technically with the OPT, I still have a student status.

The company I've been training at is also going to write a letter for me, saying that I have been training with them, and that they expect me to come back in a few weeks to continue the training.

My question is... will it be possible for me to get a new F-1? I only want to have the visa for until my OPT expires. I've called the embassy office in Thailand twice and spoke to two different people. One person said that as long as I have a valid I-20, I could get the visa. The other person, however, said that when you're on OPT, you cannot travel. So what am I supposed to do now? Please help. Thank you in advance.

 

[student81]

you cannot enter the US without a valid visa even if you have the OPT.My visa expired at the time of my graduation which was may 2005 but i didnt apply for OPT.Instead I applied for the master's program, got a new I-20 ,went back to my country and applied for visa renewal and got the visa.By doing this i proved to the visa officer that i have strong ties to my home country thats why i came back.Applying for opt and working in the US shows that the person is a potential immigrant.you have to prove to the visa officer that you have no such intention.my advise to you is dont mention anything about your opt unless the officer asks you about it.

 

[doradee]

About not mentioning the OPT- doesn't it say on the I-20 form if you are on OPT? (I don't know because I actually have not picked up my new form yet). And if that's so, I should not use the letter my company is writing for me at all? Furthermore, is it appropriate if I tell the interviewer outright that I have no intention to immigrate to the US whatsoever (and that's the truth- my entire family is in Thailand. My other siblings have finished their education from universities in the US and have since returned to Thailand permanently. I intend to do the same).

 

[LucyMO]

Applying for opt and working in the US shows that the person is a potential immigrant.you have to prove to the visa officer that you have no such intention.my advise to you is dont mention anything about your opt unless the officer asks you about it.

Now, that's not true. OPT is a privilege of practical experience that is allowed on F-1 visa. A person remains in F-1 status, and doing OPT does not show immigrant intent.