F2 with 1+ yr OPT validity vs H4 VISA approval chances

[phani.me1]

hi,

    I'm on OPT at the moment and I'm planning to get married as soon as I figure out dependent visa things. My spouse is from India.

 

I will be applying for the STEM extension in Feb as it will expire in June, 2014.

 

Solution 1

I'm planning to get married around Feb.  I'm thinking of waiting until I get the STEM extension (hopefully) so that I would have more OPT validity before my spouse applies for F2. 

 

Solution 2

Another way of dealing with the same is to ask my spouse wait until Oct (in case H1 gets approved) and make her apply for H4. Obviously, that's not something I would prefer in terms of wait period. 

 

I understand that the solution 1 has to happen before any H1 processing starts. I'm just trying my luck at getting the stem extension before April. 

 

 

Please could you suggest whether Solution 1 is something that I can count on? 

 

Having to wait until Oct could be bad!

 

[pontevecchio]

I suspect everything hinges on the credibility of your College. What happens if the STEM extension is rejected and the H1 lottery does not pan out? The best time to get married can only be decided by both of you.