I have seen this question come up again and again and I would like to share this information to everyone concerned.

If you are graduating in May 08, get your OPT starting date sometime in July 08.  You get to choose your starting date. You get 60 days to start your OPT after graduation and take full advantage of it. Also, you will get 60 day grace period after your OPT is over. This means that you will in fact get to stay legally for like  16 months after your graduation. So, you may not have to leave work for a long period of time if you get your H1B in April 09.

 

14 months? Oct 2009?

 

BIBAS,

You can not get 2 months grace period both before and after the OPT. means you are only allowed to stay 14 months in total.

2 months grace can be either before the OPT or after it.

You can also use the grace like 1 month before the OPT and the other after the OPT.

BIBAS,

DOnt give out wrong information to people out here if you are not sure of something.

This is not what sajha meant to be. Watch out!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Bibas is 100% right.

I have taken 2 months grace period before my OPT start and 2 months after my OPT. International Advisor of some college are saying only 2 months grace period which is wrong.

Also, bibas is right in pointing taking start date of OPT as end of July. That way your 60 days grace period will take you to 1st of October (which is your H1 start date). No hassel for any visa stamping, Kaplan etc.

Thanks bibas for sharing your thought.

I remember this 16 or 14 months legal stay after graduation was once discussed in other thread in Sajha but it was never pinned down whether it is 16 months or 14 months.  I believe this information is really important to many of us if not all of us here in Sajha and we can't just ignore the fact that ambiguous information could hurt us a lot beyond reparable.  Could you guys provide us with the link or whatever that has evident information if it is 16 or 14 months in total? Anyway, thanks for the information guys.

Max time that you can use after your completion of study is 16 months.  this can be done by taking 60 days between your course completion date and start of your OPT date and and 60 days after your OPT expiration date.  consult your international advisor.  i am sure this is right because i did this in the past.   

I think the 60 days rule is for when your legal status expires in the US. You have time of two months to be in status by changing or if you are leaving the US, you have 2 months to do that. However, when you apply for OPT, you are always in status and you can delay your OPT start time as much as by 2 months after the graduation. Your status is not jeopardized any way. Sometime, it is necessary to delay the OPT start time because of the EAD processing time.

Whatever you make out of it, 16 months or 14 months, you have 2 months after your OPT is expired to be in status or leave the US. Hope this helps.

 

16 month ..CORRECT..
My univ. never told me that...... suckaaaas

As some of you have written out here, there might be some confusion over 2 months or 60 days. Remember that it is 60 days and not two months after graduation that you can start your OPT. Same is true about grace period. While it is almost 2 months, you need to literally count the days as some months have more than 30 days. So, make sure you don't fall out of status just because of 2/3 days.

OOO....................

Hey Triptibhakta, is Tripti your girlfriend or something??lol

hi my all nepali friends, i need little help for saving my status.  i want to do politcal aslyum and i been here more than 2 year. is that possible to file for the politcal aslyum? After being here 2 years. i have other option too. one of american family would like to do green card for me. and they dont know how to do and nither i dont know too. So, is there any posible to do green card for private house (domestic cook base)? my current visa status is on pending i apply for F1 visa.

please if you know any information about this please suggest me.

thanks

hello my friends, i need your help to save my status. my current visa is on pending and i apply for f1. At the moment i found one american family and they need one cook for their private house and they said that if i want to do green card than they are ready to do all paper work. But, they dotn know, how to process for domestic cook base green card. Nither i dont know the process. So, if you any body knows about this please suggest me. i need all information about lawyer, address phone no ect. and i would like to do political aslyum too but i been here more than one year. So, is there any possible to do for politcal aslyum please let me know.

waiting for all good suggestion soon. thanks

Thank you Bibas for your information.Yes, he is absolutely correct.Moreover I would like to comment on given below statement by Free H1B:

Also, bibas is right in pointing taking start date of OPT as end of July. That way your 60 days grace period will take you to 1st of October (which is your H1 start date). No hassel for any visa stamping, Kaplan etc.

Normally it doesn't happen in practical, there will be some gap and it is not possible to extend your OPT and grace period upto oct 1st.Be careful if you are graduating on spring.

All the best.