Urgent: OPT then h1b. Questions.? for Chennai.

[subash1977]

I work for a consulting company in NJ. I worked for them partly on my OPT (about 3 months, 2 months in 2002 & 1 (Jan) month fell in 2003).

Then, I started again only after I got my h1b through them towards the end of March 2003.

I did receive any pay from my employer for Feb & march '03. In these months I was patly in OPT & then waiting for my h1b.

- I am wondering what to tell the visa officer (if he asks), about the pay for Feb & march 03. ??

a. Tell him that I was looking for other opportunities in that
period when my h1b was on file? OR
b. Tell him that the employer need not pay me for bench
time on OPT.?

- Also I got my h1b papers about the 3rd week of March & started on work about the 1st week of April. Will that cause any issues?? Can there be some gap between getting h1b & starting?

thx.

 

[great guru]

New H1B

I work for a consulting company in NJ. I worked for them partly on my OPT (about 3 months, 2 months in 2002 & 1 (Jan) month fell in 2003).

Then, I started again only after I got my h1b through them towards the end of March 2003.

I did receive any pay from my employer for Feb & march '03. In these months I was patly in OPT & then waiting for my h1b.

- I am wondering what to tell the visa officer (if he asks), about the pay for Feb & march 03. ??


You are new h1b, it is not necessary that you have to have pay stubs
a. Tell him that I was looking for other opportunities in that
period when my h1b was on file? OR
b. Tell him that the employer need not pay me for bench
time on OPT.?

- Also I got my h1b papers about the 3rd week of March & started on work about the 1st week of April. Will that cause any issues?? Can there be some gap between getting h1b & starting?

thx.

 

[subash1977]

Thx.

So only the h1b period counts. right?

On OPT - there is no need that my employer pay be for bench time.. and there is no need that I should have been on pay roll.

OPT period for 1 yr is like a mini GC