I am not sure how its going to affect ur future prospects for H1b but you are only supposed to work in the field related to ur degree.. u need to send info about ur employer to ur university within three months or else u could get out of status.. I dont think Walmart or gas stations can help u with this.. I am sorry for posting such a despairing comment but its very close to reality

Prad · Feb 23, 2009 9:55 PM

secondlife, Nothing's changed as far as one year OPT rule is concerned. All you've gotta do is BE employed for 9 months out of 12 months. You can work anywhere. If you fail to secure a permanent job, you have to go join Grad School. Prad. Please don't give any suggestions on topics that you have no knowledge on. I'm a graduating senior myself and I know what's going on.

Quagmire · Feb 24, 2009 1:11 AM

Quag dude.. Congrats to u for ur upcoming graduation.. You may not believe me but I hope u believe USCIS Here is what USCIS says: What is optional practical training? Optional Practical Training (OPT) is temporary employment that is directly related to an F-1 student’s major area of study. Under the prior rules, an F-1 student could be authorized to receive up to a total of 12 months of practical training either before (pre-) and/or after (post-) completion of studies. Here is the link for more info By the way Quagmire is funny!! Chill

prad · Feb 24, 2009 9:20 AM

Prad, technically we're not supposed to work without a work permit when we have a restricted SS card right? They won't care. Trust me.

Quagmire · Feb 24, 2009 1:36 PM

Quagmire, prad is right! You have to find a job that's related to your major. Since the lawmakers who wrote these laws have not completely defined what it means by 'related' to your major, it comes down to ultimately being able to explain it to your officer who might question you when you file for Green Card few years down the line. Example: You are an art major but you worked in Dunkin Donuts after graduation. The government won't care during your OPT but later on( if you apply for GC), you will have to explain some official why you worked in Dunkin Donuts after getting an art degree. If you can't come up with a plausible reason, then you might get screwed. But say you were a computer science major and you tell them that you developed a program to manage inventory in Dunkin Donuts, that might be something related to your major. So, ultimately it boils down to can you convince someone that your job is at least related to your major without them laughing at you! Last edited: 24-Feb-09 04:58 PM

JediMaster · Feb 24, 2009 4:57 PM

Hey Quagmire, don't say someone's good comment a bad one when u urself are giving comment that may hamper one's status. You cannot work anywhere while in OPT. You should work in the field related to ur study. Of course if you go to Walmart or some store and show ur EAD card, they will give u job. But when u report that (which you must report) to ur college from where it is reported to USCIS, then you are out of status. One possible option for Secondlinfe is joining consultancy as they can put u instatus till u get job, or join a school. Not sure what would happen if you already passed 3 months unemployed.  

ark · Feb 24, 2009 5:24 PM

Better to work within your related fields. There are some companies which help F-1 students to get enrolled on entry level project and your EAD and I-20 will be extended.  If you want to know the companies information, let me know. thank you

binodb · Feb 24, 2009 7:12 PM

Secondlife, On Post-Completion OPT, you are only allowed 90 days of unemployment which is a change from previous years. However, employment is now defined as: 40 hours/week paid job in your field 20 hours/week paid part-time job in your field Minimum average 20 hours/week contract work through an agency 20 hours/week unpaid volunteer/internship Students on OPT can do a combination of all 4 of those options. You need to inform your interntional student advisor where you are working and when you switch positions.  You will also need to keep records of your work history that immigration may ask for if you decide to change status.   I hope this helps. Wish you luck!!!        

Compassion · Feb 24, 2009 7:18 PM

• v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} p\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} .shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);} v\:textbox {display:none;} .O {font-size:149%;} Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} Maximum of 90 days of unemployment   •         New regulations state that students on OPT may not remain unemployed for more than a total of 90 days out of a 12 month OPT period, or 120 days out of a 29 month OPT period.  Time is accumulated.   •         Excess unemployment can affect future visa renewals my question is as shown above that it will affect future visa renewals if you are unemployed for more than 90 days. so, will there be problem when we want to join University? i mean university might have a look at our status and if we are unemployed for longer period than probably that will count against our legal status.

killer_eyes · Feb 24, 2009 7:30 PM

If your OPT is expiring because of the unemployment, best and easy way to extend the status is to join kaplan university. they will extend at least for 6 months to 9 months and if needed they can extend another 6 months. by that time you will have ample time to seek grad school.

binodb · Feb 24, 2009 7:39 PM

Thanks alot all you guys for your suggestions, Actually my OPT started from Jan 09 and my major is computer science.  My understanding is as a computer science major you can work almost all the places because in every stores, they are using computer. So is it OK if I submit to my international office working in gas station (normally gas station have different company name in letter head) or in walmart? Do they really care what I am working there?   If I make the letter from dhoti consultancy and submitted international office and worked in store using EAD does that creates problem?   Or any other suggestion to get me out of this situation and also earn some bucks.  

secondlife · Feb 24, 2009 7:54 PM

please let me know such companies who can let us work in entry level. Thanks in advance

Raxi · Feb 24, 2009 8:55 PM

Hey Binod, I am also interested in such companies..If you can provide me some details send me an email in sajha account.. Thanks

Yesai · Feb 24, 2009 10:17 PM