OPT Extension Confusion – !!!

USCIS announced on Friday ( when everybody was planning to take some time off and relax) the new OPT Rule which sounds very good and too good to be true. Yes, everybody who is on OPT and is going to face a GAP from the time OPT expires to the time when the H1 comes into effect will have an extension ‘Automatically’ applied to their OPT which means, he/she be living in status and be working peacefully till October 1st. ( This is for all F-1 Students, any major and remember-its automatic)

The rule (Click here for more info on OPT Extension Policy) also states that OPT, which was 12 months has been extended to 29 months ( 12 , default for all STEM Deg Students + 17 , Extension ) which means 17 months of extension is provided to all the F-1 Students with a STEM degree ( Click Here for more Info on STEM).

Now the question, how to avail this? Who can avail it? When can one apply for extension? USCIS has answers to these question and hopefully will release them ASAP. Another aspect to look at or look for is ” Who needs to apply for this extension? ” because the letter clearly states that all F-1 Students will get a extension of OPT till Oct 1 2008, which is what student is looking for. The 17 month Extension will be useful for students who were not able to apply for FY 2009, students who’s application did not make it through the selection process and others who were not granted H1s for any reason.

However, USCIS states that an extension can be filed 90 Days prior to the expiration of OPT.

- Once these answers are found and got from the correct sources, I will update this blog with utter clarity. Meanwhile please leave as many questions as possible.

Targetted Sources to answer these Questions:

1. USCIS Press Notes
2. International advisors from Universities
3. Immigration Lawyers.

-Db