Hello,

I graduated last august and got my OPT from october. I used the 60 days delay on OPT start date allowed by USCIS. However, since now my OPT expires this october and I have not applied for another university for this fall, nor am I sure about my H1B approval. How long can I remain in the US legally after my OPT expires? Is the 60 days delay i took after graduation same as the 60 day grace period allowed after the expiry of the OPT? In other words, am I still eligible for the 60 days grace period after the expirty of OPT? How can I reinstate my status any time soon after the expiry of my OPT?

Any information would be helpful for me.

Thanks

I THINK you should either get admitted to the university within 60 days of OPT expiration OR be transferred to H1 status with in that period... check with ur previous university's international office....

HOw OPT works is u get total of 14 months. So, work permit limit = 12 month and 2 month= grace period. You can use the 2month grace period either as soon as u graduate (where u delay ur OPT date , 2 months after graduation) or Towards the terminal ( 2 month grace perios after OPT expiration date).

I went through the same situation. I graduated in May and my opt started from July so, i didnt have any grace period left after my OPT expired. Decided to join summer classes as the best option.


PS: THis information is based on what Internation Student Advisor told me abt my case.

hora.. testo bhaye ta tension bhayo ni yaar.... shoot!!! aajhai ramrai bujhnu paryo..

khoi ta legal experts haru...urgent!

I would suggest u ask ur International Student Advisor from your previous colllege. Also, u still have time to get admission for Fall semester. U definately need to start the admission application if u think of going back to school.

.I have read the rules about OPT, so here it goes.

So, your OPT expires in October. You are not enrolled for this Fall (August). The INS rules say that, you CAN stay in the US for 5 more months even after your OPT has expired, provided that you get an I-20 before the OPT expires.

Which means, 5 more months from October is April 2008. So, before your I-20 expires in October, make sure you apply to a college and get I-20 for the semester that starts in Jan/Feb 2008 i.e. the coming spring semester. REMEMBER, you cannot apply for the next summer or fall, because then you will be staying in the US for beyond the 5 months period according to INS rules.

So, there you go. If you cannot get an H1 or if you cannot get an I-20 from a good school, even then, make sure you apply to a poor school and get an I-20. You can always transfer to a better school the next semester and start again. My point is, DON'T BE ILLEGAL.