Serious question regarding OPT

[Leo7777 243]

The OPT sounds like - - - at first reading - - - a great situation.

But I don't understand how it can work in practice in most cases.

Can apply for, and usually easily get, OPT authorization for a year or so of work authorization in USA after completing some program of study for which you previously got F-1 visa with I-20 supporting.

BUT - - - typically your F-1 visa will expire on or about the time you finish your course of study AND you are desperate to go back home to visit your family.

So you get the OPT, but you can't get back into USA because your F-1 has expired.

Yes, I know you can just stay in USA after your F-1 expires under an extended I-20 or the OPT plan.

But you WANT to go back to your home country for a short visit.

So how can this OPT actually work for the normal student in the normal situation???

Edited February 21, 2014 by Leo7777

[canadian_wife 1,822]

I traveled back to Canada many times on my OPT, you receive a new I20 and with authorization from your DSO I believe you can travel.

If incorrect, I am sure that someone will correct me

good luck

[Leo7777 243]

Hi Canada Wife,

Thanks for your answer, but I don't think you read my question carefully.

Leo

[canadian_wife 1,822]

So how can this OPT actually work for the normal student in the normal situation???

So...how is my answer insufficient for your question?

yes, it can work for a normal student in a normal situation...as it did for me.

If you are looking for something else, ask a different question

thanks

[Leo7777 243]

Hi Canada Wife,

I am not trying to be disrespectful of you or your answer.

I had defined what I thought was the 'normal situation for the normal student.'

Yes, I might be wrong about what I thought was normal, but given that was my definition, I was looking for anwers to that definition.

My definition:

"Typically your F-1 visa will expire on or about the time you finish your course of study AND you are desperate to go back home to visit your family.

So you get the OPT, but you can't get back into USA because your F-1 has expired."

[canadian_wife 1,822]

You may travel on an expired F-1 if you have a valid I20 with authorization from your DSO

[engineer21 51]

My visa expired in the middle of my OPT so I played it safe and never left.

I believe you can travel (under 30 days) and re-enter the US from certain countries -- I think only Canada and Mexico -- and contiguous territories .

Otherwise, you can travel to whatever country, but you cannot re-enter the US without renewing your visa.

The OPT only extends your valid status as F-1 student but not your ability to re-enter.

Doesnt mean it can't be done. You can try to renew your visa. but I wouldn't (and didn't) try it.

[Leo7777 243]

You may travel on an expired F-1 if you have a valid I20 with authorization from your DSO

I have done a lot of checking on this; and you are not correct - - - in general.

The only exceptions for getting back into USA on an expired F-1 relate to travel to Canada or Mexico.

So since you were going back and forth to Canada; you were probably not aware that you were utilizing a rare (considering all countries of the world) exception.

[AnotherLostSoul 167]

Leo:

Canadian_wife was trying to help you, please don't say "You are not correct---in general". Maybe you don't mean it the same way as it comes out in English, but it's pretty insulting, trust me.

Regarding your question, I believe you have to reapply for a valid visa into your passport which will be easily granted if your I-20 is still valid (or OPT document- I was never in this situation so I don't know if the OPT is a separate form from this I-20, or not). So, in a nutshell if you have your paper documents all nice and valid, then you can go home, apply for a new F1 visa to enter back to the United States after your short visit home. Just make sure all the documents are valid/signed/copied (whatever they need to be for proper issuance of a new visa stamp in your passport at your local Embassy in Moldova).

All the best, and if you go back home to visit, have fun, enjoy it!

I have done a lot of checking on this; and you are not correct - - - in general.

The only exceptions for getting back into USA on an expired F-1 relate to travel to Canada or Mexico.

So since you were going back and forth to Canada; you were probably not aware that you were utilizing a rare (considering all countries of the world) exception.

[Pickle 65]

Leo:

Canadian_wife was trying to help you, please don't say "You are not correct---in general". Maybe you don't mean it the same way as it comes out in English, but it's pretty insulting, trust me.

Regarding your question, I believe you have to reapply for a valid visa into your passport which will be easily granted if your I-20 is still valid (or OPT document- I was never in this situation so I don't know if the OPT is a separate form from this I-20, or not). So, in a nutshell if you have your paper documents all nice and valid, then you can go home, apply for a new F1 visa to enter back to the United States after your short visit home. Just make sure all the documents are valid/signed/copied (whatever they need to be for proper issuance of a new visa stamp in your passport at your local Embassy in Moldova).

All the best, and if you go back home to visit, have fun, enjoy it!

AnotherLostSoul, I am on OPT right now and have talked to my DSO and researched traveling on OPT a lot. I would therefore respectfully disagree with your statement "will be easily granted if your I-20 is still valid." This is a topic I discussed with my DSO specifically, and the way they explained it to me is that OPT is not a requirement for your degree program (hence OPTIONAL Practical Training), and therefore it is a risk trying to renew your visa for OPT. Personally I would not try to do that. I was almost in that type of situation, but thankfully my visa expires almost a whole year after I graduated

[AnotherLostSoul 167]

Hey there,

Yeah, I was not sure actually that is why I even wrote I-20, or OPT document or whatever needs to be in order. I've never been in this situation, so I was not so sure myself. Thanks for pointing the procedure out, at least the OP sees many many ideas and some will be better (yours) others' will be worse (mine).

All the best to you, Pickle! (like your user name)

AnotherLostSoul, I am on OPT right now and have talked to my DSO and researched traveling on OPT a lot. I would therefore respectfully disagree with your statement "will be easily granted if your I-20 is still valid." This is a topic I discussed with my DSO specifically, and the way they explained it to me is that OPT is not a requirement for your degree program (hence OPTIONAL Practical Training), and therefore it is a risk trying to renew your visa for OPT. Personally I would not try to do that. I was almost in that type of situation, but thankfully my visa expires almost a whole year after I graduated

[Pickle 65]

Hey there,

Yeah, I was not sure actually that is why I even wrote I-20, or OPT document or whatever needs to be in order. I've never been in this situation, so I was not so sure myself. Thanks for pointing the procedure out, at least the OP sees many many ideas and some will be better (yours) others' will be worse (mine).

All the best to you, Pickle! (like your user name)

Haha, thanks! All the best to you too.

[theswede 5]

here's my story: I made the MISTAKE of traveling back to the US on OPT with an expired F-1 visa. I had entered after a vacation to Mexico a few months earlier w/o problem so I was very stupid/naive to not realize I couldn't come back from Europe without renewing my visa (I thought I just needed valid I-20/OPT card). well, I was obviously brought to secondary questioning. at the time I had no idea what was going on but they explained to me that I could not re-validate my visa from Europe. after a long wait they eventually granted me a visa-waiver and let me enter. I was incredibly LUCKY to have received this and that they let me in after all. they even waived the fee for this waiver (several hundred dollars) which was very nice of them. looking back, I can't believe I was so naive but I learned my lesson and that is to make sure you understand the rules and that you are responsible for knowing them (not just rely on what your DSO may say).

so... to any future OPT students I'd say: don't leave the US unless you have an unexpired visa. yes, it sucks that you can't go home and visit but that's the sacrifice you make to take advantage of this opportunity (OPT)

[Leo7777 243]

Thanks for the great post TheSwede.

It pretty much clears up any questions in the minds of readers here.

The OPT is a great program; but for many, it comes with the handicap of not being able to travel back to home country, because often the F-1 is expired by the time the OPT starts.

And, getting another F-1 to use when in OPT is not as sure a bet as getting F-1 when it is to be used for University study.

Also, good advice in not relying on what DSO says.

I do a lot of checking for anything: In these situations, it pays to 1) read all you can on the official government websites, 2) read all you can in the help forums such as this one, 3) seek out persons at your university who have tried to do something similar previously, 4) get info from DSO, 5) pray.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Some people like to bite the hand that feeds them. Noted.