USCIS recently announced it will no longer require F-1 students to bridge the gap. Previously USCIS had required students who filed a change of status application to F-1, to also file a second application in order to extend their current status. Therefore, someone who entered in B-2 and wished to change to F-1 was required...
F-1 Students No Longer Required To Bridge The Gap
Jul162021
Students on F-1 status need to ensure they maintain status. A failure to maintain status could result in a violation which could have an impact on their immigration future. At PSBP we often see requests for evidence questioning maintenance of status for F-1 students, who have submitted an H-1B cap petition requesting a change of...
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will now withdraw its duration of status rule. Students have for a long time had the benefit of being admitted for the duration of status. In other words, unlike other nonimmigrants, they are not admitted for a specific length of time. This flexibility has allowed them to extend their...
Jun152021
Having previously written two articles on Day 1 CPT (Curricular Practical Training) I keep being asked whether I would recommend Day 1 CPT and what are the potential consequences of taking it. If you haven’t read my previous articles, please find the links below: https://patel-law-group.local/why-day-1-cpt-is-not-a-good-idea-and-can-cause-more-problems-than-it-solves/ https://patel-law-group.local/day-1-cpt-revisited/ Please note that the first article was written during...
On April 12, 2021 USCIS announced that F-1 students can file OPT and STEM OPT applications online using form I-765. This applies to the following applications: Pre-completion OPT; Post completion OPT; and 24- month extension of OPT known as STEM OPT. USCIS has also warned that anyone else that attempts to file I-765 online that...
Apr62021
2 years ago I wrote an article on the problems of taking Day 1 CPT and thought it was time to revisit this issue. Click here to see my previous article. At the time of writing my previous article, USCIS was taking a very firm stand on Day 1 CPT cases. In fact, students applying...
On Monday, July 6, 2020 SEVP (Student and Exchange Visitor Program (a division of ICE) announced that students taking a full online course load in the fall semester are not allowed to remain in the US. This new rule was a departure from a previous exemption announced in March 2020, allowing students to study online...
There are a number of potential employment options for International students on an F-1 student visa to gain work experience that is directly related to their field of study. On-campus employment On-campus employment is permitted once classes have started provided it is on the school’s premises or at an off-campus location that is educationally affiliated...