Answer The NIW and the J-1 (Conrad) waivers serve two different purposes. The NIW is a green card filing that waives the requirement of a PERM labor in the GC process. The Conrad 30 waives the J-1 2-year home residency requirement (HRR) for physicians. People subject...
... After I applied for a 24-month OPT extension, based on my STEM degree, the USCIS issued a request for evidence (RFE) asking for proof that my first-year OPT employment directly related to my degree. What should I do? Answer To show that the OPT employment is...
Answer An employer and a sponsored student employee should prepare and complete the I-983 form, which describes the student's training plan in a field directly related to his/her STEM degree, and which contains specific attestations regarding the employer's understanding of and adherence to the STEM OPT...
... However, I previously obtained a degree in a STEM field in the U.S. while I was in H-4 status. Can I apply for a 24-month STEM OPT extension based on that degree? Answer Yes, you may use your previous STEM degree as a basis for your...
Per a notice of proposed rulemaking published in the Federal Register on May 4, 2016, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is seeking to raise filing fees for most types of immigration filings. This notice specifies the amount of the proposed fee increases and explains...
Answer No. Volunteering during the STEM OPT extension is not allowed. Your employer should be paying you wages comparable to the wages received by other workers who are similarly situated. (13.May.2016)Questions frequently reach us from students on a variety of matters. This is a sample question,...
Answer An employer could start the GC process for a person in F-1/OPT, but there is not enough time to complete the process with only 7 months of OPT left. The PERM LC could get filed in that time, but not approved. Once your OPT is...
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) screens foreign nationals seeking to enter the United States. Students and exchange visitors who intend to travel outside of the U.S need to have proper documentation to present to the CBP officer in order to gain admission. The arrival...
Answer Under the May 10, 2016 STEM OPT rule, students in designated STEM fields are eligible for the 24-month extension of their first 12 months of post-completion OPT. During the 24-month extension period, the student must report to their DSO every 6 months verifying their employment...
The Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) has revised the guidance for 24-month STEM OPT filings. This guidance reflects accommodations for delays during the transition to the new 24-month STEM OPT program. These changes are only applicable to students with optional practical training (OPT) expiration...
