OPT to H1 but F1 visa already expired 3 months ago

[dannyteh]

Hi,

I graduate for my undergraduate degree two years ago and have a opt, then i start my master until now and i will be graduate in this summer, my F1 visa already expired three months ago and i tried to renew it back to my country, but i got adviced that i don';t have to renew it as long as i have my I 20 legal, they said that F1 visa is only document for entry, but here is my question:

Let say i got my OPT on summer time and i got job, so i have to apply for the H1 visa, but my F1 visa already expired, can i sill get the H1? are they going to question me that why my F1 expired and can they not issue me the H1 visa because my F1 already expired? Also, do i need to go back to my home country to get the H1 visa, thank you very much for your help

By,
Kean

 

[great guru]

Hi,

I graduate for my undergraduate degree two years ago and have a opt, then i start my master until now and i will be graduate in this summer, my F1 visa already expired three months ago and i tried to renew it back to my country, but i got adviced that i don';t have to renew it as long as i have my I 20 legal, they said that F1 visa is only document for entry, but here is my question:

Let say i got my OPT on summer time and i got job, so i have to apply for the H1 visa, but my F1 visa already expired, can i sill get the H1? are they going to question me that why my F1 expired and can they not issue me the H1 visa because my F1 already expired? Also, do i need to go back to my home country to get the H1 visa, thank you very much for your help

By,
Kean

Check with your School, whether your SEVIS system is upto date and valid.
If the SEVIS system is not updated (with extended I 20) then you will loose your status. If you loose your status, you will get only new H1 , you have to stamp it outside US before start working.

F1 visa date on your passport, you need not worry.

 

[LucyMO]

Do not worry about the expiration date in your visa. Visa is just a permission to enter the US. Now, the expiration date on your I-20 is important. Getting an OPT extends it for a year. You can go ahead and apply for H1 while you are in F-1 status on OPT.