F1 visa

24-Month STEM OPT Extension

Oaks Academy

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is amending it F1 non immigrant visa regulations on Optional Practical Training (OPT) for certain students with degrees in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) from US institutions of higher education.

OPT is a period during which undergraduates (BS/BA) and graduate students (MS/MBA) with F1 status who have completed or have been pursuing their degrees for more than 9 months are permitted by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to work for 12 months on a student visa towards getting practical training to complement their education. On April 2nd 2008 DHS announced a 17-month extension to the OPT for students in qualifying STEM fields to be eligible for the 12-month permit. Any degree in any field of studies is valid. For the 17-month OPT extension a student must have received a STEM degree as listed on the USCIS website.

DHS is now amending its rule regarding OPT under STEM category to extend the OPT period to 24 months. This 24-month extension effectively replaces the 17-month OPT extension previously available to certain STEM students. In short, a student can now work in America for up to 36 months after completing degree even if he doesn’t qualify for H1B visa during that period. This rule will be effective from May 10th 2016.

The rule also makes F1 students who subsequently enroll in a new academic program and another STEM degree at a higher education level eligible for one additional 24 months STEM OPT extension. In other words, a student can get 36 months OPT after undergraduate education (BS) and also after completing a graduate degree (MS) from STEM category.

The rule also permits an F1 student completing a non-STEM graduate degree to use a prior eligible STEM degree from a US institution of higher education as the basis to apply for a STEM OPT extension. For e.g. if a student has completed MS in STEM category and now completes MBA which is a non-STEM degree is also eligible for the 36 months OPT extension.

To improve the integrity of the STEM OPT extension, the rule limits eligibility only to students with degrees from schools accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the Department of Education.

Keep yourself updated on our next blog on E-Verify requirements and Cap-Gap extension.

Pre Departure Orientation For Spring 2015 Semester

Oaks Academy

Congratulations! You’ve secured admission to an American university – and you’re rightly thrilled. But do you know all the formalities you have to go through in order to get there? And, even if you have thought about them a bit, do you know all the details relating to the important matters below?

• the student (F1) visa
• foreign exchange
• airport formalities (port of entry/immigration procedures)
• insurance
• medical checkups & immunizations
• initial formalities in the university
• accommodation (on- & off – campus)
• financial and other formalities for the first semester of studies

If you don’t know about these, then you need to find out because they are all a part of the next stage in getting to your university in America. There’s a lot to take care of, it’s all complex and crucial – and if you are a first time traveller it’s all going to be very new and confusing. You know that mistakes will mean headaches, delays and increased costs you can’t afford; and you know that there’s only one way to do this: that is to get things right from the start.

Worried? Don’t be. We have an excellent solution for you – Our Pre-Departure Orientation Program for students planning to join American universities for the spring 2015 semester. In this program Mr. Oak, with his decades-long experience in the field, will guide you through the complexities of going to America. The program has been organized just to make your journey to your American university smooth and hassle-free.

What are the other benefits of attending?


But that’s not all.
1. In addition to the orientation, you will be given ‘Get Set to Go’, a booklet written by Mr. Dilip Oak, which explains all these matters in detail – so you have a written guide to go back to any time you have a doubt.
2. You will also get an excellent opportunity to connect with other students going to your university – at the end of the program we form groups of students joining the same university so that you can make joint travel plans and staying arrangements at the university.
3. Finally , we will also provide contact details of seniors studying at your university so that you can contact them in advance and:

a. make temporary housing arrangements
b. schedule airport pick-up and
c. help you cope with the initial settling process

Who can attend?

Please note that the Pre-departure Orientation is only for those students (and parents of students) who have received confirmed admission to American universities for the spring 2015 semester. So, in order to get passes for the program, you must show the I-20 form issued by your university (or your stamped F1 visa).

When and where is the Orientation?

Date: Sunday, 23rd November 2014

Time: 10:00 am.

Venue:

Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan School Auditorium,
Opp. J.W. Marriott, Off Senapati Bapat Road,
Pune 411016

PLEASE NOTE: SEATS ARE LIMITED.

COLLECT YOUR ENTRY PASS FROM THE ACADEMY SOON.

All About the I-20

Dilip Oak's Academy

I-20The I-20: What It Is and What It Contains

Once you have been admitted by an American university, your university will send you an I-20 to enable you to enter the U.S. on an F-1 (student) visa. The I-20 is a certificate of non-immigrant eligibility i.e. it certifies that you are eligible to travel to the United States as a student and are not traveling as an immigrant. This document, sometimes referred to as a DS-2019, is usually sent to you by the admissions office in your university.

The I-20 certifies that you have enough financial resources to attend school and pay for your living expenses while attending school without resorting to illegal employment or relying on public funds. For this reason, the I-20 states:

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