Not only can you continue your internship following your graduation, you can even extend your OPT for additional 17 months since your degree qualfies under STEM degrees. For more info, check this out. http://www.uscis.gov/portal/si...

riddle · Jan 15, 2013 11:54 PM

Do I have to wait for OPT approval and OPT card to continue working in current interning company or I can continue working there even after passing internship period without OPT approval.

sailesh111 · Jan 16, 2013 12:11 AM

 Looks like you're doing internship as a CPT and not OPT. If that's the case, the answer is NO. Once the duration of CPT (stated on your I-20 you got before starting internship) expires, you cannot continue to work. If you continue working, it'll be considered working illegally - just like working at a mall/gas station. If you are doing the internship just like working anywhere else (i.e. without going through the CPT approval process), it's already illegal and working for a few more weeks/months shouldn't do much more harm, if any. Regardless of when your internship ends, apply for OPT exactly 3 months before you graduate, when applying put the day after your graduation date as your OPT start date, get hired at the company as soon as you graduate, start working without any trouble. 

jantare1 · Jan 16, 2013 12:14 AM

Lawfully, you can't work without an EAD (be it in the form of OPT/CPT or Economic Hardship) but as long as your employers don't care and ask for it, you don't need to worry about it. And even if they were to ask for it, you could probably show them your receipt. 

riddle · Jan 16, 2013 12:15 AM

I heard if you are doing the CPT for more than a year or something, it would effect the OPT in the long run.. so better know the info about the CPT coz you don't want to screw up in the long run by not telling employer or the school.

guitarcenter · Jan 16, 2013 9:46 AM

I'm not doing CPT. I 'm doing intern instead of final year theiss/research.

sailesh111 · Jan 16, 2013 12:06 PM