Doubt about graduation and applying for OPT

[WaitingforF1]

Hi,

I started school in sept 2013 on h4 and got my F1 in april. I am on a valid F1 visa from april 2014.I need to do 12 courses(36 credits) to finish my masters. I did 5 courses(15 credits) while on H4 and 3 courses(9 credits) on F1.Now i am left with 4 more courses(12 credits).

Full time student on f1 is required to take minimum of 9 credits as per the rules.

My options for graduation:

1)Take all the rest of the 4 courses(12 credits) and graduate in January

2)Take only 3 courses(9 credits) this semester and take the last course which is balance in the next semester and graduate in may 2015.

I know that we have to be in valid F1 visa for atleast 365 days to get our opt aproved.I will be 1 year on F1 only by april 2015.

Now my question is it okay to graduate in january and wait untill april 2015 to apply for opt after officially finishing 1 year on F1? Does my feb-april wait time count under 1 year on f1 status even though i graduate in january?

I am confused. Any thoughts,concerns and experiences will be highly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

[rahul412]

Now my question is it okay to graduate in january and wait untill april 2015 to apply for opt after officially finishing 1 year on F1? Does my feb-april wait time count under 1 year on f1 status even though i graduate in january?

 

What will be your status after graduation till April??

Once you are graduated, you are no longer a full time student.

[pontevecchio]

I would run it by the DSO/ISA.

[shekar11#]

It's not that you have to be on F-1 visa for 1 year. You have to be enrolled as a full time student on F-1 status for 1 year. You should consider taking 3 courses now and also 3 in next semester (even if u just need 1 course for graduation). This way you will be a full time student on F-1 for 1 full year which fulfills requirement for OPT. Anyways ask your DSO about OPT requirements. They will explain you in detail.