OPT for MBA (done 10 years after MS)

[tijuanasri]

Hi All, 

 

I completed my M.S in 2001 and worked in OPT for six months (from April-October), till my H1-B visa date started.  I worked for a few years in my H1-B Visa and then went back to India.

 

 Now I'm starting my one year full time MBA this Fall.  My question is will I be eligible for OPT next year when I complete my MBA? Some people suggested that since I did not use my full OPT time (in 2001), I might still get OPT. To do this, I will have to earn some certificate courses. Others suggest that OPT is only given once for Masters level and since MBA is also Masters level, I will not be eligible for OPT next year. 

 

Can someone with experience in these matters, help me understand what will happen for my OPT next year?  

 

Thanks

Vaths

[jairichi]

Hi All, 

 

I completed my M.S in 2001 and worked in OPT for six months (from April-October), till my H1-B visa date started.  I worked for a few years in my H1-B Visa and then went back to India.

 

 Now I'm starting my one year full time MBA this Fall.  My question is will I be eligible for OPT next year when I complete my MBA? Some people suggested that since I did not use my full OPT time (in 2001), I might still get OPT. To do this, I will have to earn some certificate courses. Others suggest that OPT is only given once for Masters level and since MBA is also Masters level, I will not be eligible for OPT next year. 

 

Can someone with experience in these matters, help me understand what will happen for my OPT next year?  

 

Thanks

Vaths

You will not get OPT that you did not complete after M.S degree. 

You will not get OPT for a MBA degree. Only when you do a Ph.D (a degree higher than your Master's) you are eligible for OPT.

[JoeF]

Hi All, 

 

I completed my M.S in 2001 and worked in OPT for six months (from April-October), till my H1-B visa date started.  I worked for a few years in my H1-B Visa and then went back to India.

 

 Now I'm starting my one year full time MBA this Fall.  My question is will I be eligible for OPT next year when I complete my MBA? Some people suggested that since I did not use my full OPT time (in 2001), I might still get OPT. To do this, I will have to earn some certificate courses. Others suggest that OPT is only given once for Masters level and since MBA is also Masters level, I will not be eligible for OPT next year. 

 

Can someone with experience in these matters, help me understand what will happen for my OPT next year?  

 

Thanks

Vaths

No, you won't be eligible for another OPT.

The old OPT was isued for one year, even if you only worked for six months.

Because it was issued for one year, all the time has been used up.

[t75]

Even if you do not use all OPT time, it is a one time offer.

[stonecold_1981]

You can't get another OPT for the same level of education (Masters).

Also, even though you "used" only 6 months of your prior OPT, that's gone now. You cannot recapture "unused" OPT time.

[rahul412]

That's correct, only one OPT for one level of degree. So either it's MS or MBA, you are eligible for only one OPT.

[tijuanasri]

Thanks for all the replies. This shows the value of this forum.