F-1 Visas and OPT Cards!
Every year, the United States is thronged by students who come to pursue for various programs at the undergraduate, graduate and at the PhD levels.
They come to the country on the F-1 visa status which is the most common visa to apply for the students intending to study in the United States.
The United States is known to have some of the best schools, colleges and universities in the world.
With this, the F-1 visa is also considered by many students as a step prior to applying to the H1-B visa which permits foreigners to work full time.
However, there are many misconceptions when it comes to the OPT (Occupational Practical Training) program which is related to the F-1 visa.
Under this program, an immigrant student is permitted to work in the United States after he receives his academic degree.
These opt cards have proved to be a boon for students from India pursuing courses in subjects like science, technology, engineering and mathematics or the STEM streams.
The Opt card was introduced in April 2008.
The main purpose is to enhance the skills of the students that could aid their academic qualifications and thus, open better career opportunities.
With the help of the OPT program, the students are able to acquire complete sponsorship through the H1-B visa.
This in turn permits them to seek full time employment wherein the employer does not have to sponsor these candidates.
In a way, this could even be considered as a trial phase where the employers can assess the candidates before filing for a sponsorship.
This also helps the immigrants giving them a chance to adjust and test the waters.
It also gives them time to get accustomed to the US lifestyle and work culture.
Incase, they decide to return to their native country, they would atleast have some work experience in the United States which would greatly affect their CVs.
Additionally, it would give them enough time to develop a professional network which could probably help them in the future.
Recently, the US government has announced an extension on the OPT card or the Optional Training Card.
The extension has been made from twelve months to twenty nine months.
This period is applicable after the students complete their degrees.
With the recent economic downturn which has had quite an impact on the United States, OPT has become very crucial for the Indian students in the United States.
In 2008 - 09, it was seen that around ten percent of the total international students were seen to have taken the OPT advantage.
The Opt is applicable for a student to put into effect when it is certified by the relevant advisor that the job acquired would cater to the usefulness and goal of the degree.
This could further be classified between the CPT or the Curricular Practical Training and OPT.
Unlike the OPT program, the CPT refers to working while studying itself.
The permit for CPT is obtaining though the International Students Office or by a similar association in the institution where the student is studying.
To know more, it is best suggested to contact an immigration and visa expert who deals with US immigration.
They come to the country on the F-1 visa status which is the most common visa to apply for the students intending to study in the United States.
The United States is known to have some of the best schools, colleges and universities in the world.
With this, the F-1 visa is also considered by many students as a step prior to applying to the H1-B visa which permits foreigners to work full time.
However, there are many misconceptions when it comes to the OPT (Occupational Practical Training) program which is related to the F-1 visa.
Under this program, an immigrant student is permitted to work in the United States after he receives his academic degree.
These opt cards have proved to be a boon for students from India pursuing courses in subjects like science, technology, engineering and mathematics or the STEM streams.
The Opt card was introduced in April 2008.
The main purpose is to enhance the skills of the students that could aid their academic qualifications and thus, open better career opportunities.
With the help of the OPT program, the students are able to acquire complete sponsorship through the H1-B visa.
This in turn permits them to seek full time employment wherein the employer does not have to sponsor these candidates.
In a way, this could even be considered as a trial phase where the employers can assess the candidates before filing for a sponsorship.
This also helps the immigrants giving them a chance to adjust and test the waters.
It also gives them time to get accustomed to the US lifestyle and work culture.
Incase, they decide to return to their native country, they would atleast have some work experience in the United States which would greatly affect their CVs.
Additionally, it would give them enough time to develop a professional network which could probably help them in the future.
Recently, the US government has announced an extension on the OPT card or the Optional Training Card.
The extension has been made from twelve months to twenty nine months.
This period is applicable after the students complete their degrees.
With the recent economic downturn which has had quite an impact on the United States, OPT has become very crucial for the Indian students in the United States.
In 2008 - 09, it was seen that around ten percent of the total international students were seen to have taken the OPT advantage.
The Opt is applicable for a student to put into effect when it is certified by the relevant advisor that the job acquired would cater to the usefulness and goal of the degree.
This could further be classified between the CPT or the Curricular Practical Training and OPT.
Unlike the OPT program, the CPT refers to working while studying itself.
The permit for CPT is obtaining though the International Students Office or by a similar association in the institution where the student is studying.
To know more, it is best suggested to contact an immigration and visa expert who deals with US immigration.
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