F Visa Blog Entries
STEM OPT Employed with Startups - A Special Case
For international students on an F-1 visa in the United States, the STEM OPT extension program provides an opportunity to gain valuable work experience after graduation while extending their stay in the US for a chance of an H-1B lottery win.
Post-Covid OPT Policy for F-1 Students
Note:
The following information is a FAQ from the government. I have highlighted the parts that F-1 students have been asking me over the last few weeks. Rajiv.
Source: https://www.ice.gov/doclib/sevis/pdf/COVID19_FAQs.pdf
Also useful: https://studyinthestates.dhs.gov/stem-opt-hub
SEVP ends its Covid flexibility for F-1 and M-1 students
Biden announces STEM changes for F-1, J-1, O-1A and National Interest Waivers
24 January 2022
Students in the following fields will be able to obtain STEM OPT extensions for 24 months:
Waivers of the Interview Requirement for Certain Nonimmigrant Visas
For latest updates, watch this video with Rajiv from Dec 28, 2021.
F-1 OPT and STEM OPT students obtain settlement in Li v USCIS case
The following settlement was reached in Li v. USCIS in favor of the OPT and STEM OPT applicant students suffering from delays and rejections:
F-1 students no longer need to file bridge petitions - USCIS policy change on COS
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced today new policy guidance that eliminates the need for individuals who have applied for a change of status (COS) to F-1 student to apply to change or extend their nonimmigrant status while their initial F-1 COS application is pending.
Can Student Visa Holders Apply for a Green Card?
This article was submitted to and published in The Economic Times.
Link to Rajiv's Author Page in The Economic Times.