01/05/09
Eligible Participants May Automatically Extend F-1 OPT
On April 4th, USCIS announced that it will be automatically extending F-1 Optional Practical Training from 12 to 29 months. To qualify, F-1 students must have a degree in science, technology, engineering or mathematics and be employed by businesses enrolled in USCIS free on-line E-Verify program.
This new rule also solves the problem of employees whose F-1 OPT status will expire before their pending H-1B petition grants them H-1B status valid from October 1st. Generally, those employees must depart the U.S. and wait until late September to apply for an H-1B visa and reenter the U.S. to return to work. Under this new rule, eligible participants will have their OPT automatically extended to October 1st eliminating the need to stop work and depart the United States to wait for a visa.