F1-Visa OPT Extension for Independent Contract

[adesana 0]

Hello Everyone,

 

First time user! I have a very specific question regarding OPT STEM Extension.

 

Currently, I am on OPT and recently I joined a company as an Independent contractor ( Not through any consulting firms or Staffing Agencies). The work is directly related to my Master's degree and falls under the STEM category.

I would like to know if I would be able to get STEM extension? 

[Coco8 1,042]

Yes, why not? You can work as an independently as long as you are working, at the very least, part-time. 

 

I had a part-time appointment as an independent contractor with an university for a month during the summer break. I talked to my advisor at my previous university and they said that was totally fine. It seems to me that what you are doing is similar. What you need to check is whether they have eVerify and all that.

[adesana 0]

@Coco8 There are sources on the internet which say that I would not be eligible for OPT "Extension" if I work as an Independent Contractor. So I just wanted to be sure.

[Coco8 1,042]

7 minutes ago, adesana said:

@Coco8 There are sources on the internet which say that I would not be eligible for OPT "Extension" if I work as an Independent Contractor. So I just wanted to be sure.

Oh! Ok. I don't know about the extension. Did you ask your advisor at your former university? At least in mine they knew about all that.

 

If you are interested in staying in the US, though, you might want to get a job at a company so that they might offer you a work visa or a green card.