If I’m an international student, what to do about OPT and a work visa?
Get Legal Help Today
Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
If I’m an international student, what to do about OPT and a work visa?
I am doing my second Masters. I had started my OPT after finishing my first masters 4 years ago, and then in 6 months I got back to school. Now I am at the end of my second masters and wondering if I will be able to work under OPT, or will I need a work visa sponsored before I can work? If so, then will I be able to start work only in October next year? Can anyone give any suggestions?
Asked on November 13, 2012 under Immigration Law, Texas
Answers:
SB, Member, California / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 11 years ago | Contributor
If depends on how much of the OPT time you have used up and whether you would have any more left to you. The best person to ask that would be the foreign student advisor at your school. If you would want to have a work visa through an employer, you would need to have the employer file on your behalf on april 1, 2013 for a start date of employment on october 1, 2013. even if you have opt left, you would not have an entire year so you would want to maybe start on the OPT, if you have it available, but then still secure a H-1B visa so you have uninterrupted employment authorization for when the OPT expires.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.