This is for a friend ( Not Nepali, International Student)
 
His OPT (regular 12 month, non-STEM) will expire on Feb 10, 2011. He will apply for Masters for Fall 2011. He will hear back from the admissions committee on/around April 15, 2011. Assuming he gets into the Master's Program; how can he maintain his status until his Masters classes start on August 12, 2011. I know that there is 60 day grace period after OPT so that will mean he can stay till April 10, 2011. How many months can he stay after his new I-20 is issued? Well, in his my case he also needs to worry about how to maintain his status for the 1 month or so before his I-20 is issued. Any suggestions? insights?

Edit: Can he stay in the US for 3 months after his I-20 is issued for Masters? If we are able to have his I-20 for Masters issued on May 12, 2011; will he need to file any forms to stay in status till August 12 (will the SEVIS be updated as soon as the school issues the I-20 so he own't have to worry about status for 90 days)? Is going from OPT to Kaplan I-20 or Masters I-20 a case of reinstatement or is it just a case of getting a new I-20 because you are still on F-1. Will you have to get the government's approval at any time, can they reject it?

In that case, all he will have to worry about is maintaining his status from April 10, 2011 (end of grace period) to May 12, 2011 (I-20 issue date). Can he join Kaplan for three months with a start date before April 10, 2011 and have his masters I-20 be issued before the end date on Kaplan I-20 and be in status? Are there any downsides to joining Kaplan? Thanks guys.

well... the only option i can see for him right now is to join a community college just so he can get a new I-20 that'll keep his status right. coz the way i see it, he will hear from the grad school around april but his I-20 will be for fall 2011(august 2011). so technically he has a layover period of 6 months. (feb - august). I mean there might be other options but i am saying it from my own experience.

If s/he can get new I-20 issued before April 10 he will be OK till July 10 (3 months but classes do not start till August ) the best option would be to join KAPLAN for GRE. The course is 3 months and can be extended for 3 more months (this u have to convince them u will do better and not satisfied by the score/progress). Good thing about GRE is you do not have course load as in college and can work outside.

I had somewhat similar issue...this link might be helpful http://www.sajha.com/sajha/html/openThread.cfm?threadid=78298

Thanks for the replies. More suggestions?