Hello Guys,

I got myself into this OPT mess. I graduated recently and had filed for OPT early march. My last day of school was March 29. After, not hearing anything for a month after sending my OPT to college advisor, I contacted my school and they told me I had issues with my paper work.

Last week, I received an package from my college stating they had just processed my paper work on 4/22/2010. The issue was that the previous international adviser screwed (didn't update) up my SEVIS record in early 2008. My SEVIS record was stated as terminated, so when I filed for OPT they realized I was in status (looking at my college registration) all this time and collage realized their staff's mistake. The current adviser has send an request to correct my status + the OPT to Vermont center.

The issue now is maintaining my F1 status, after school is finished I believe I can only stay for 2 month in status. I will  then either have to either have valid I-20 for a masters or the OPT acceptance, if both not I might be out of status. That's what I believe is the rule, but I am not 100% sure as well.

Now, I am not sure what I should do. I can wait for a OPT, but if it doesn't come by the end of this month then I might lose my status for sure. I don't want to join maters, but I guess that's my only option here.

Do you guys have any suggestion or anybody been through similar situation?

well, first its not ur fault. the mess has been created by school, so you dont have to worry abt ur status. Similarly, you wont go out-of status once u apply the opt, no matter how long it takes to come. I was also in latter situation last February. I didn't have my opt after the completion of the grace period. But make sure you keep update with your ISO and the advisor.

Thanks bro for the reply. That definitely makes me feel lot better that I am not the only one in this situation. It definitely helped clear things up.

I also contacted school today and they said the same thing as well.

aHead bro,

Pay close attention to what happened to me.

I walked in May 2006 ( although I had 2 more classes to finish for my associate degree). In Fall 2006, I took those 2 classes and in early November I applied for the opt.  I didn't hear anything from the int'l office until January 08 2007 (please not that the spring semester was to begin from 18). So I went to int'l office and they could not find my file. Apparently, they had not sent my file and thus lost it. I thought Man I am SOL. Then I  talked to advisor for potential solution to it. Since all of the classes were full, I enrolled in for the Flex term 12 hour classes that were set to begin after the spring break. In the mean time, I reapplied. And I started going to school. Also, I wrote to the INS office about what happened to me and told them that I did everything on part and that the interational office was the one to blame (I don't know if this letter helped). In early April 2007 I got my EAD card and henced dropped all the classes.  However, the opt period was about 3 months shorter because  of all the mess I had to go through.

Thus, the solutions:

Ask your advisors if he could enroll you in other classes just to be in status until your EAD card arrives (if its community college)

Or asks him if you could take some classes at  cheaper CC (under the condition that int'l officer would talk to the prospective school--should the necessity arise since it is not your fault and they are the one liable for everything)

The Bottomline

Set aside tuition for community college for a semsester. Because I went and talked to the president of the college if i could get reimbursement on my tuition. "It' s the cost of being in-status, we can not do anything about it", she said.    

 Good luck !! Everything should be fine. 

The lesson to be learnt here: EVEN IN AMERICA THINGS LIKE THIS HAPPEN, NOT JUST NEPAL

good news, if u go out of status, that will be school's fault, and u can sue them and get all your tuition fee back and much more.  So my suggestion, just stay put.

Thank you all for your feedback. It helped a lot.

According to the adviser, if the OPT is filed and is in the process even after the 2 month grace period passes through it doesn't matter and status will not be terminated. Mad season you were right bro

I just checked my bank account today and the check I send for OPT got cashed today. Hopefully it all will be resolved soon.