missed the graduation date on OPT

[spinoza]

Hi,

I am on an F-1 visa doing a Ph.D. and I recently received my OPT. My OPT states my graduation date (or completion date) as 30th Sept, 2005 and my employment start date is given as 1st Oct, 2005. I was about to defend on 25th and get ready to take up my new job when my advisor dropped a bomb shell and told me that I cant graduate till end of Oct.

I talked to the international office at my school and they told me that I could continue as a graduate student after 30th Sept, although they "DO NOT RECOMMEND" it. They are being very foggy about why they do not recommend it.

Can someone tell me the near-term and long-term implications of not graduating before the graduation date specified on the OPT ?

Thanks in advance,
-s

 

[LucyMO]

no problems whatsoever. Do not enroll full-time, that's all. You are in F-1 status for another year, and will not have problems graduating at the end of October. As a graduate student you have a choice of precompletion OPT and postcompletion OPT. In your case it's going to be a precompletion OPT.