Fellow Sajha Experts,
My OPT is expiring in May of this year (I was one of the unlucky person who didn't get H1B). Now, I would like to continue with my Masters. Do I have to join the Masters right away (summer school??) or can I join starting from Fall of this year??
Does anyone know the proper procedure for doing this so that I won't lose my status? Thanks in advance!!!

You have 60 days to maintain your status from the day of your OPT expiration. Don't worry, join Masters and you'll be fine.

Please consult with your international advisor, remember you are still under the control of your college till the time of your OPT, and the handover takes place when your new college accepts you and issues you a new I-20. Again you have 60 days. Get your I-20 meaning enroll for fall 2006.

If your OPT is expiring in May, you must start Master's program in Summer. In case, you are unable to start in summer or want to start in fall, you have to go back to Nepal and apply for VISA again with your new I-20. Your current status (F-1) will end with your OPT and legally you can not stay more than 60 days without any status.

makar tantra are you sure? I'm all confused now. If he was to get admitted to a Masters Program within the 60 days wouldn't he be ok. That's end of July. Fall semester starts late August, early Sept. Why would he have to go to Nepal for visa. I don't get it.

Yeah, I am also in the same confusion as AC/DC. "mantra tantra", I think one should be fine if he gets his I-20 before his grace period expires. I think he doesn't have to go back to nepal. If somebody knows more specific procedures, then please help us out.

Does anybody know any procedure of getting I-20 from Kaplan or other online education services? And how much does it cost to get I-20?

Makar is bullshit.. you have 60 days to leave or adjust your status. Within that 60 days you can get an i-20 . your session should start within 5 months from you opt expiring date. however you have to get an i-20 withing the 60 days grace period. And talk to your foreign student advisor as soon as possible.

read this from Ohio state university: If you study after completion of OPT, then you must be accepted by a new program and have your immigration record released from Ohio State to the new program (even if it is still OSU) by the end of the 60 day grace period. The start date of the new program must be within five months following the transfer release date or within five months of the program completion date in SEVIS, whichever is earlier

link : http://www.oie.ohio-state.edu/int_students/opt.asp

and btw, online courses do not let you stay, as far as i know. they made a new rule which makes foreign student take no more than one class a semsester online, what i heard from a friend of mine.

just to give you guys a little relief here , from : http://www.wesleyan.edu/immigration/program/change_education_level.htt

A student who is maintaining status may transfer to another Service approved school. However, an F-1 student is not permitted to remain in the United States when transferring between schools or programs unless the student will begin classes at the transfer school or program within 5 months of transferring out of the current school or within 5 months of the program completion date on his or her current Form I-20, whichever is earlier. In the case of an F-1 student authorized to engage in post-completion optional practical training (OPT), the student must be able resume classes within 5 months of transferring out of the school that recommended OPT or the date the OPT authorization ends, whichever is earlier. An F-1 student who was not pursuing a full course of study at the school he or she was last authorized to attend is ineligible for school transfer and must apply for reinstatement under the provisions of paragraph (f)(16) of this section, or, in the alternative, may depart the country and return as an initial entry in a new F-1 nonimmigrant status

You have 60 days to get ADMITTED. I-20 is not a must – you have to have an acceptance letter by 60 days. You have to start attending class within 5 month. You will be fine if you start school by Fall 2006.

I think your case is just like mine, what i did was i got I 20 for fall class, i didn't even join for summer class thats all you need to do........dont' worry about out of status as you are not in that situation which makes you illigal....

Sorry guys i could not explain you very well in my last posting.
In order you to be in F-1 status, you must have valid I-20 and INS has nothing to do with VISA stamp in your passport and it is only for the purpose of leaving from Nepal. There should not be a gap of more than 60 days between the date your first I-20 expires and the date that your new I-20 gets effective from. If you can do this, you are okay no matter whether you start from summer or fall. If it seems like that there may be a gap of more than 60 days period between two I-20s, you may be out of status for that certain period. In that case, it is advisable to go to Nepal to avoid that out of staus situation. Even you don't have to re-apply for new visa from US consulate in Kathmandu if your visa stamp is still valid.

Thanks a lot for your replies.
Dyamn, thanks for your researches. So, I guess, I will make sure that I get admitted before June then start the classes from Fall 06.
It would suck to join the summer school.
Anybody else had similar situation?

my opt is expiring in May too. im planning to do my masters in fall. im thinking of going to nepal for the summer and chilling and then apply for F1 visa and then come to US in august.

latoboy as far as i know...as long as you get new I 20 you don't need to apply again for F 1 visa......

ss74, yes i know if i get a new i-20 i can stay here for the summer. but really no point in me staying in Minnesota for the summer. the cost of rent and living expenses is the same as for me going home to nepal.

rent here is about $400, food & entertainment $400, misc $200
total monthly expenses = $ 1000

the worst part is i wont be working, they are quite strict here about OPT and stuff. also i am a little scared abt working without OPT.

I could understand it...it may sound stupid to you..but i worked in school after my opt expired (may) as i joined the same school.....i think it is better to go nepal..hmm sounds good..didnt' even think about that......

By INS rule, if your I-20 has been issued for the study beginning in Fall semester, you are allowed to start working on campus no sooner than 1 month before the first day the fall term begins. I don't know how well these rules are being enforced.

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