I’m about to graduate in the summer and I have no idea what to do next. I know I’m supposed to apply for a CPT or OPT before I graduate. How would I know which company would accept my visa? I don’t know where to start looking.
Someone help please!
I’m about to graduate in the summer and I have no idea what to do next. I know I’m supposed to apply for a CPT or OPT before I graduate. How would I know which company would accept my visa? I don’t know where to start looking.
Someone help please!
To find an employer:
If your school has campus recruitment events, then you can participate in that
Get in touch with your alumni to know where they were placed or are currently working, and see if they have any openings for entry level position
Get in touch with your other network of friends and colleagues
Few things to remember:
You can stay unemployed for only 90 days while on OPT
Companies have both disadvantage and advantage when hiring an OPT candidate. They don’t need to pay for any visa processing fees, but the employment is limited to 1 year unless OPT extension is filed or work visa like H-1 is applied
As H-1 is becoming difficult to obtain, you should try to find an employer who is willing to file H-1 this year in April. Gives you another shot at H-1 lottery
BTW, what’s your major?
My major is Business Administration with a focus on Finance and Corporate Management.
Don’t you have to be on OPT first before applying for H-1?
What’s a H-1 lottery?
OPT is not a pre-req to H-1. One can file H-1 even if the person is on F-1 and not on OPT.
If you want to avail H-1 under advanced degree cap, then you need to be graduated. So if you apply for H-1 in 2017, then you will be eligible under advanced degree; but depending upon when you are graduating in 2016, you may or may not be eligible under advanced degree cap.
There is annual cap on number of H-1 petitions that USCIS will process. In the past, there have been twice the number of filings. This causes USCIS to randomly select H-1 petitions, which is loosely referred as H-1 lottery. The more you apply in H-1, the better is your chance of getting H-1. This also needs to be done by an employer and once you have zeroed down on one, you can discuss H-1 and OPT options w/ them.