A friend of my friend who works at a top spot in this company just randomnly told me yesterday that his company is hiring and he could get me a job there!!!
I wasn’t looking for jobs right now but its a super cool company founded by an alumnus of my uni and a lot of alumni from my uni and my dept work there so I was excited at the idea and thought its coming straight into my lap so maybe I should give it a try :roman:
I’m currently on F-1 visa though. He is on H-1 and he told me his company processes H-1 visas for employees in 15 days, something called premium processing for H-1.
It sounds too good to be true though LOL. I don’t actually know anything about visa issues, I just know that I’m on F-1 and am not allowed to work off campus on F-1.
I’m wondering if this happens? Can ppl get their F-1 converted to H-1 so quickly and they can just start working off campus then?
And what about OPT? Do they not use up their OPT then?
If someone has any info about this please post. Thanks
Spock behen, thanks for the info :) I finished all my graduation requirements but since I didn't apply for OPT in time, I delayed getting my diploma so I am planning to get my diploma this summer after applying for OPT and I am currently taking some random courses.
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*Originally posted by ~NiQ@Bi~: *
Spock behen,
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behan??? Im a bhai!!! hehe
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thanks for the info :) I finished all my graduation requirements but since I didn't apply for OPT in time, I delayed getting my diploma so I am planning to get my diploma this summer after applying for OPT and I am currently taking some random courses.
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Ok, so according to what you have said, you will be graduating pretty soon. Once your OPT arrives (now you can even check online) you can even start working for that company under it, but keep pushing them to process your H-1 in the meantime. I think this is a wonderful oppurtunity for you, considering the job market is pretty messed up right now, and you ought to go for it. Talking to your career advisor at your university will also be very beneficial!!! Go for it!
Yup I know, hehe I was just pulling your leg since I thought its obvious from my nick that I am a behen but you called me bhai :D
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*Originally posted by Spock: *
Ok, so according to what you have said, you will be graduating pretty soon. Once your OPT arrives (now you can even check online) you can even start working for that company under it, but keep pushing them to process your H-1 in the meantime. I think this is a wonderful oppurtunity for you, considering the job market is pretty messed up right now, and you ought to go for it. Talking to your career advisor at your university will also be very beneficial!!! Go for it!
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Hey, thanks for the encouragement :) I turned in my OPT papers to my school's international student office but apparently I made some mistake in filling the app out so I have to resubmit then before they send them to INS. So technically right now I haven't applied for OPT. Should I still apply for OPT or just apply for this job and get an H-1?
Will talk to my career advisor though and in the meantime will forward my resume * to the guy.*
It looks like u have 2 months time to get H-1 visa if u didnt applied for PT.. for premium processing h-1 visa comes withinn 2 weeks.. u should try teh job if ur getting one considering state of economy..
Yup I know, hehe I was just pulling your leg since I thought its obvious from my nick that I am a behen but you called me bhai :D
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My bad, I thought you were a guy :) Apologies
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Hey, thanks for the encouragement :) I turned in my OPT papers to my school's international student office but apparently I made some mistake in filling the app out so I have to resubmit then before they send them to INS. So technically right now I haven't applied for OPT. Should I still apply for OPT or just apply for this job and get an H-1?
Will talk to my career advisor though and in the meantime will forward my resume * to the guy.
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I think to be on the safe side you should get your OPT first. I think the h1 process takes time, and in the meantime you have to stay in the country legally, so that is where your OPT will help. Also, do talk to your university's international office, I am sure they can give you better guidance than us, in these matters.*
To get your OPT you must apply within 90 days of your gradution day.You can not apply afterwards. if you apply and within that 90 days the OPT card is not processes and comes to you, you can go to the closest INS office and get a temporary OPT card for three months.
For H-1 regular applications as degas said it takes about 2 months. For premium H1 processing it takes 2 weeks and if you have not recieved a decision by then you can get a temporary H1 till you are processed through. Now assuming you are planning on getting your degree in Decemeber it means right now you do not have a degree. This may or may not be an issue if the H1 is based on this degree. Meaning that when you apply for an H1 you have to show that you have the qualifications required for the position and that you are not been underpaid. if you dont have the degree this may not be possible. Also once you are approved for your H1 visa you are no longer on an student (F1) visa status and hence you can not apply for OPT and may also have some issuees if you are still taking courses at school and not working.
If you are finishing up in December I would suggest that you apply right now for the job and interview for it. This will probably take a month by which time it will be October and then you have only two months or there abouts before you graduate. By then you can ask them to start processing the H1 and at the same time apply for OPT. If it comes through you can start working once you graduate. otherwise you will have OPT and you can work with that.
now if you want to work before you graduate, I would strongly suggest that you talk to a good immigration lawyer and find out exactly whats your best option.
Thanks for the advice Degas and Spock. I think I'll apply for OPT and then ask my firm for the H-1 anyway. I am actually not going to work for more than a year as I am applying to grad school for 2004 and I haven't used up any of my OPT yet so I might not even need an H-1...
You're right though, I'll talk to the international student advisor on Monday though and some other international students and get their opinions too...
Thanks a lot for the detailed advice. I was finishing up in June and am done with my requirements, but just because there was a sudden change of plans and I decided to apply for OPT, I deferred my graduation to September. I then applied for OPT and didn’t fill in the form correctly so I am doing them again right now in the process of applying for OPT.
I think I’ll just apply for OPT now and then ask my firm to get the H-1 process going.
I spoke to the guy and told him I don’t have the degree in my hands and he was like that’s not a problem since I’ve completed the course requirements and that is what they will look at for the job and the H-1.
Hmmm, I’m talking as if I already got the job LOL and till now the guy only said he can get me one but there wasn’t any promises…
niqabi, another new rule from INS recently states that you can get another OPT after completing your grad school!!! So you can get an OPT after your undergrad degree, and then if you decide to go for grad school, you can get it again after graduation.
Wow, that's pretty cool...! I don't plan on sticking around after grad school and I might be going to UK for grad school...but who knows what the future will bring, as I said I won't be around after undergrad either and here I am!
So, that sounds like a useful law...Thanks for the info :)
Each time you get a new degree you can get one year of OPT - however the OPT has to be related to the degree you just got.
Also for the upcoming cycle (2004) starting in October, the H1 numbers are gonna be reduced back to the old numbers of 65,000 from the current 130,000.
I think OPT is different from PT.. OPT is one get during studies and one hasnt graduated.. and we can have it 2 times full time semesters.. PT is given after graduation and is valid for 1 year for each graduation..
hmcq thanx for the info :) its a programming and human computer interaction kind of job...i think the nature of the job is somewhat flexible but i don't actually know the details yet...i dont even know if i'm going to go for it...i still need to make my resume lol :D
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*Originally posted by Degas: *
I think OPT is different from PT.. OPT is one get during studies and one hasnt graduated.. and we can have it 2 times full time semesters.. PT is given after graduation and is valid for 1 year for each graduation..
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I think you have the two switched. The OPT you referred to is called CPT (Curriculam Practical Training), and can be opted for during your semester, whereas OPT (Optional Curriculam Training) is what you have to go for after you graduate and opt for some training programme.
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*Originally posted by hmcq: *
Also for the upcoming cycle (2004) starting in October, the H1 numbers are gonna be reduced back to the old numbers of 65,000 from the current 130,000.
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I think that is going to only have a minimal effect as with the current job market I doubt the full quota of H1's are being used.
I dont believe so. if you look at the numbers for this year in the recession more then 65K H1s were issued! By next year things will start picking up hopefully so it will be worse.
:roman:
so I am doing them again right now in the process of applying for OPT.