{"id":618,"date":"2021-03-03T14:31:50","date_gmt":"2021-03-03T14:31:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.h1btransfersusa.com\/blog\/?p=618"},"modified":"2021-03-03T14:31:52","modified_gmt":"2021-03-03T14:31:52","slug":"us-allows-foreign-stem-students-more-flexibility-under-optional-training-program","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.h1btransfersusa.com\/blog\/us-allows-foreign-stem-students-more-flexibility-under-optional-training-program\/","title":{"rendered":"USCIS Offers Some Accommodations to F-1 Optional Practical Training Applicants Affected by Receipting Delays"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In a move that would be beneficial to Indian students<\/strong> in the US, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS<\/strong>) has announced it would provide for greater flexibility for students to finish their optional training program (OPT) <\/strong>after they graduate on account of delays in processing applications. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The OPT permits foreign students<\/strong> to work in the country for a year after they graduate, which should be finished within 14 months<\/strong> of their program ending. Students studying science, technology, engineering, and maths get an extra two years. The 14 month period<\/strong> will currently commence on the date of the approval of which is the application for post-completion OPT for applications filed between 1st Oct 2020, and 1st May 2021.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the last few months, there have been a few delays in processing Form I-765.<\/strong> In January, USCIS had said that Covid-19 restrictions had resulted in an increase in filings. And this would have a postponement of four to six weeks<\/strong> in candidates\/students getting their receipt notice after filing their petition<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

US allows more flexibility for foreign STEM Students under the Optional Training Program<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

“These delays are a result of COVID-19 restrictions<\/strong>, a dramatic increase in filings of certain benefit requests, postal service volume<\/strong> and delays, and other external factors. While we have made progress in addressing the problem, we are extending \u2026 flexibilities to help certain candidates for OPT <\/strong>affected by the delays,” said the agency in a press note. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In February, a group of 18 international students <\/strong>filed a lawsuit against the agency. On the grounds that a delay in processing their application<\/strong> could make them lose their legitimate status<\/strong> in the country during the waiting period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[Biden administration \u2018undecided\u2019 on ending Trump-era H-1B visa ban<\/span><\/a>]<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Over the last few years, has been sending between 185,000-200,000<\/strong> students to the US every year. In 2019\/20, more than 81,000<\/strong> students were in the country on an OPT as per an Open Doors report.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also, the delays had resulted in participants having a shorter OPT period<\/strong>. The agency said that it would begin approving applications for post-completion OPT<\/strong> with validity dates. Reflecting the same amount of time originally recommended by the designated school official (DSO<\/strong>) from their school on Form I-20<\/strong>. Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status<\/strong>. Students who get approvals for a shorter period of time can request a correction due to USCIS<\/strong> error, it said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In a move that would be beneficial to Indian students in the US, the US…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":544,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[57],"tags":[401,92,42,31,247,108,180,228,400,183,11,272],"yoast_head":"\nUS allows STEM Students more flexibility under Optional Training Program<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"USCIS has announced it would provide for greater flexibility for students to finish their optional training program (OPT) after they graduate.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.h1btransfersusa.com\/blog\/us-allows-foreign-stem-students-more-flexibility-under-optional-training-program\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta 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