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chrissbe17

OPT and travel

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I am currently waiting for my OPT to be approved. My F 1 visa expired March 30th so I am in the 60 day grace period plus I am married to a U.S. citizen. My question is this: If I get my EAD and obtain employment can I then travel back to my home country on my OPT? Or will I still need to go to the embassy and renew my student visa- provide proof of economic ability, etc in order for me to travel freely?

event.png

Our Timeline (F1 to AOS)

08/2008- I moved here on a F1 Visa

10/12/08- My husband and I had our first date.

03/28/11- Our Wedding! smile.png

11/17/11- Our AOS packet finally mailed on my bday! smile.png

11/22/11- Our AOS packet received and signed for.

11/26/11- Email/text notifications for all petitions received

11/28/11- Checks Cashed

12/03/11- NOAs for all petitions received in the mail

12/16/11- RFE received

01/07/12- Biometrics appt received

01/31/12- Biometrics appt completed

02/02/12- RFE sent to uscis

02/06/12- RFE received by uscis

02/10/12- Sent tax return

02/13/12- Tax return received by USCIS

02/15/12- EAD and AP approved. Card production ordered.

02/24/12- Received Combo card in the mail

03/06/12-Notification on USCIS site that interview notice for 04/11 was sent

04/11/12- Interview (Approved on the spot)

04/19/12- Card Production ordered! smile.png

***Removal of Conditions Process***

01/27/14- ROC Packet mailed to USCIS

01/31/14- USPS shows packet was delivered

02/08/14- NOA 1 received, dated 02/03/14

02/14/14- Biometric letter received for 03/07/14

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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Canada
Timeline

When you are issued your OPT you should be issued a new I-20, do not travel before that. The OPT itself is not work authroized, the I-20 will be what you need

Good luck

USCIS
August 12, 2008 - petition sent
August 16, 2008 - NOA-1
February 10, 2009 - NOA-2
178 DAYS FROM NOA-1


NVC
February 13, 2009 - NVC case number assigned
March 12, 2009 - Case Complete
25 DAY TRIP THROUGH NVC


Medical
May 4, 2009


Interview
May, 26, 2009


POE - June 20, 2009 Toronto - Atlanta, GA

Removal of Conditions
Filed - April 14, 2011
Biometrics - June 2, 2011 (early)
Approval - November 9, 2011
209 DAY TRIP TO REMOVE CONDITIONS

Citizenship

April 29, 2013 - NOA1 for petition received

September 10, 2013 Interview - decision could not be made.

April 15, 2014 APPROVED. Wait for oath ceremony

Waited...

September 29, 2015 - sent letter to senator.

October 16, 2015 - US Citizen

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Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: India
Timeline

When you are issued your OPT you should be issued a new I-20, do not travel before that. The OPT itself is not work authroized, the I-20 will be what you need

Good luck

CW - its never a good idea to travel on OPT even on the new I-20, I have come across cases where CBP refuses them the entry upon return saying you have already completed your course for which you had come, and training is optional anyways.

My school's DSO also always cautioned ppl on traveling on OPT.

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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Canada
Timeline

I traveled just fine on my OPT and my new I20 with no issues

My DSO encouraged travel as it was a non-issue

Perhaps the OP should verify with their DSO to break the tie

Good luck

USCIS
August 12, 2008 - petition sent
August 16, 2008 - NOA-1
February 10, 2009 - NOA-2
178 DAYS FROM NOA-1


NVC
February 13, 2009 - NVC case number assigned
March 12, 2009 - Case Complete
25 DAY TRIP THROUGH NVC


Medical
May 4, 2009


Interview
May, 26, 2009


POE - June 20, 2009 Toronto - Atlanta, GA

Removal of Conditions
Filed - April 14, 2011
Biometrics - June 2, 2011 (early)
Approval - November 9, 2011
209 DAY TRIP TO REMOVE CONDITIONS

Citizenship

April 29, 2013 - NOA1 for petition received

September 10, 2013 Interview - decision could not be made.

April 15, 2014 APPROVED. Wait for oath ceremony

Waited...

September 29, 2015 - sent letter to senator.

October 16, 2015 - US Citizen

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Thank you all for your help :). My DSO told me that I would need to renew my student visa but I had found other places stating that you could travel after you had received OPT without renewing your visa so I was just checking. I would really like to visit my home country but do not want to jeapordize my ability to return to my husband.

event.png

Our Timeline (F1 to AOS)

08/2008- I moved here on a F1 Visa

10/12/08- My husband and I had our first date.

03/28/11- Our Wedding! smile.png

11/17/11- Our AOS packet finally mailed on my bday! smile.png

11/22/11- Our AOS packet received and signed for.

11/26/11- Email/text notifications for all petitions received

11/28/11- Checks Cashed

12/03/11- NOAs for all petitions received in the mail

12/16/11- RFE received

01/07/12- Biometrics appt received

01/31/12- Biometrics appt completed

02/02/12- RFE sent to uscis

02/06/12- RFE received by uscis

02/10/12- Sent tax return

02/13/12- Tax return received by USCIS

02/15/12- EAD and AP approved. Card production ordered.

02/24/12- Received Combo card in the mail

03/06/12-Notification on USCIS site that interview notice for 04/11 was sent

04/11/12- Interview (Approved on the spot)

04/19/12- Card Production ordered! smile.png

***Removal of Conditions Process***

01/27/14- ROC Packet mailed to USCIS

01/31/14- USPS shows packet was delivered

02/08/14- NOA 1 received, dated 02/03/14

02/14/14- Biometric letter received for 03/07/14

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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Canada
Timeline

Don't travel without a new I20 or a new visa

Good luck

USCIS
August 12, 2008 - petition sent
August 16, 2008 - NOA-1
February 10, 2009 - NOA-2
178 DAYS FROM NOA-1


NVC
February 13, 2009 - NVC case number assigned
March 12, 2009 - Case Complete
25 DAY TRIP THROUGH NVC


Medical
May 4, 2009


Interview
May, 26, 2009


POE - June 20, 2009 Toronto - Atlanta, GA

Removal of Conditions
Filed - April 14, 2011
Biometrics - June 2, 2011 (early)
Approval - November 9, 2011
209 DAY TRIP TO REMOVE CONDITIONS

Citizenship

April 29, 2013 - NOA1 for petition received

September 10, 2013 Interview - decision could not be made.

April 15, 2014 APPROVED. Wait for oath ceremony

Waited...

September 29, 2015 - sent letter to senator.

October 16, 2015 - US Citizen

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Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: India
Timeline

Thank you all for your help :). My DSO told me that I would need to renew my student visa but I had found other places stating that you could travel after you had received OPT without renewing your visa so I was just checking. I would really like to visit my home country but do not want to jeapordize my ability to return to my husband.

You can travel that is the debateable issue, but you you need a new visa which would be based on your new I-20 there is no doubt in it.

You will need a new visa 100% you cannot travel on expired visa.

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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Malaysia
Timeline

I traveled on my new I-20/OPT as well and did not encounter any problems. I did have a letter from my future employer at the time to verify I had a position waiting for me in the U.S. However, the POE officer didn't even ask for it. My DSO wasn't too wild about students traveling on OPT though.

Applied for Naturalization based on 5-year Residency

07/09/2017 - filed N400 online

07/10/2017 - NOA

08/03/2017 - biometrics done

02/20/2018 - interview & oath ceremony

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