OPT Eligibility - falling short of credit hrs to complete graduation

[rosemary]

I'm currently on H4 visa and planning to join an university for pursing Master's degree. I'm planning to complete Sem 1 and Sem 2 on H4 visa and then complete Sem 3 and Sem 4 on F1 visa. The university has a requirement that to be eligible for OPT the student must be enrolled on F1 for a full academic year and needs to have 9 credit hours to maintian the F1 status. Total of 33 credits are required to complete my masters.

 

Please help me with the below questions:

 

1) If I complete 9 credits(Sem 1 on H4 status), 9 credits(Sem 2 on H4 visa), 9 credits(Sem 3 on F1 visa) then I'm left with only 6 credits for Sem4(on F1 visa). By doing this split am I still eligible for OPT or am I violating the OPT requirement.

 

2) If I go on medical leave after my Sem 3, which means I will be taking a medical leave when I'm on F1 status and rejoin the college after my leave. Will this affect my OPT eligibility?

 

Thanks,

- Rosemary

[t75]

You can always take extra classes to maintain status.

[JoeF]

You would have to discuss that with the university DSO.

[rosemary]

You can always take extra classes to maintain status.

 

Thanks, but if the university approves part time status then am I ok with the OPT? or it all depends on the university DSO

[rosemary]

You would have to discuss that with the university DSO.

ok, thanks. Will do so.