F1/OPT -- running out of unemployment days

[bttls 0]

Hello visajourney folks,

In my habit of preparing for the worst, I'm preparing for what I may do in case I don't find a job in my field by a certain date.

Context/background:

Recently graduated (December) with a degree in computer science. I am not the worst candidate since I have internship experience, an acceptable GPA, and some individual project experience/open source contributions which have at least attracted a few pre-screening emails and am in the process of setting up phone-screens with some technical recruiting staff. My situation is far from dire, since I live in Austin, TX and it would be difficult not to find a software dev/engineering job that fits my criteria (sponsors work visas, is a large company, etc.) but at this time in my search (which began in January) I have gotten zero actual technical interviews and am expecting that if I don't start interviewing soon the worst will happen and I will be forced to leave the US since my unemployment period ends on the 19th of March.

As part of my plan B's I'm brainstorming places that will either hire for volunteering or part-time positions but once again the worst possible scenario is leaving the US after my unemployment period ends.

If such a thing happens, my desire is to return to the US (and either Austin, Seattle, or a city in the US big on tech) upon successfully passing a (series) of technical interviews with the company of my choice. But how this is going to work is as follows:

-> My unemployment period runs out

-> I return to Mexico for a while, prepare for interviews, beef up my resume with relevant skills/experience
-> I keep applying and if the companies want to learn more, they'll interview me

-> Provided that the company can sponsor F1/OPT folks, I'll be hired (my OPT itself, not the unemployment period, runs out December of this year)

Is this kind of an accurate, optimistic scenario of what might unfold should I not find a job here while I'm on my unemployment period? Or will something less favorable happen -- like once my unemployment period is over, my F1/OPT visa is completely cancelled and I'll have to do something else?

Anyway, I probably could've expressed this in less words but the process was helpful itself. I'll be happy to clarify any other details, though.

Thank you for reading!

[newacct 688]

A company cannot "sponsor" you for OPT. You have OPT after you graduate; during which you can work for companies.

If your number of employment days runs out, your OPT is violated, and you don't have OPT anymore. Even if you are outside the US, if you are not employed in the US, then that still counts toward your unemployment days. So going to Mexico will not stop you from running out of unemployment days and voiding your OPT.

[Valor 131]

Try to find some intern, volunteer work & part time job. It should be relatively easier than finding a full-timem which also sponsors your h1b, at the first stage. Good luck.

[Boiler 45,498]

Do you have a US SO?

Also look at TN.

[HFM181818 750]

didn't you tell the CO that you planned to return to (wherever) after completion of your studies? Then why not return?

[bttls 0]

Try to find some intern, volunteer work & part time job. It should be relatively easier than finding a full-timem which also sponsors your h1b, at the first stage. Good luck.

Thank you. Do you happen to know why it would be relatively easier than finding full-time jobs, or have any other details?

[bttls 0]

didn't you tell the CO that you planned to return to (wherever) after completion of your studies? Then why not return?

I'll assume CO means my university. Returning was never part of my plan. Mexico is not the place to be at the moment.

Do you have a US SO?

Also look at TN.

No American SO, unfortunately. I will look into TN visas. Any relevant details off the top of your head that you may spare?

[Valor 131]

Thank you. Do you happen to know why it would be relatively easier than finding full-time jobs, or have any other details?

Consider the fact that your priority for now is to avoid running out of unemployment days, it is usually faster and easier to get an internship offer than a full-time offer. Meanwhile, you can continue looking for a full-time job.

[Boiler 45,498]

You are in the US on a temporary student visa, so unless you have other options then a return is going to be part of your plans going forward.

For most people main options are work or family.