Can Student Visa Holders Apply for a Green Card?
This article was submitted to and published in The Economic Times.
Link to Rajiv's Author Page in The Economic Times.
Search
US Immigration, Rajiv in Q&A with Yudi (H-1B, CPT, OPT, Visa Ban, Citizenship, Greencard)
***President Biden has revoked the Trump Visa Ban IN RELATION TO GREEN CARD PROCESSING ONLY. It should be effective today, Feb 24, 2121. It might take a few days for this to be fully implemented, but the consulates will still operate under the COVID precautions needed locally.
***OPT Students. Rajiv has sent a letter based upon the difficulties he has been asked to address in the last two weeks.
...............................................................................
Subscribe to our YouTube channel for the latest immigration updates in Biden Administration
The URL for the channel is:
Profession/Occupation
Citizenship and Naturalization
Nonimmigrant Visas
Immigration Law
Green Card
Rajiv in Q&A webinar with NAAIS ( North American Association of Indian Students) - Students, OPT, CPT
Subscribe to our YouTube channel for the latest immigration updates in Biden Administration
The URL for the channel is:
Profession/Occupation
Nonimmigrant Visas
March 4, 2021 Free US Immigration Community Conference Call with Rajiv (Every Other Thursday)
Immigration.com
Citizenship and Naturalization
Immigration Law
Green Card
Substantial transcription for video
Discussion Topics, Thursday, 04 March 2021:
FAQ's: How to deal with H-1B employer paying salary less than required || Green Card Renewal - Do I have to be employed in a similar job?
Other Topics: Downgrading from EB-2 to EB-3: Interview process, job responsibility, wages and period of time to change jobs || | If approved EB-1C and GC (consular processing): Impact of delay to move to the US || AOS versus NVC processing for family members in different status || Upgrading to premium processing, while service correction to I-140 pending/options if, spouse moves to EB-3 || Documents required for parents GC || Spouses changing from EB-2 to EB-3 with a new law firm and service center || Maintaining status || Impact of H-4 EAD expiring on spouses || Time estimate for pending asylum review || Impact of moving to a new office branch with AOS pending || Parent on I-140: Impact on 19-year-old son and CSPA || Green Card through Brother or Sister
Will Duration of CPT Violate Status and Impact H-1B?
Question details
I am pursuing my PhD from a well established accredited university in the USA for over 5 years. My PhD is likely to get over by Feb/March 2021. My PhD has a provision of doing day 1 CPT and I have been on CPT since my first semester ( Fall 2015) to date. My CPT is related to my area of PhD. My DSO has been regularly, updating every semester and endorsing my I-20 with my CPT details.
My questions are as follows:
1. Am I violating my status by doing this CPT?
2. Will this CPT for such a prolonged period impact my chances for an H-1B visa?
Answer 1. In my opinion, you are not violating your status. The USCIS interpretation of CPT is flawed. In my opinion, CPT should be available as long as the course requires. That is true even if the CPT goes on for several years.
Answer 2. In the worst-case scenario, if the government continues in their illegal interpretation of the CPT rules, they can make you go outside the United States for H-1B visa stamping. I do not see how the consulate can deny a visa on the grounds of using CPT. You have done everything by the book.
FAQ Transcript
Note: This is a verbatim transcript of the referenced audio/video media delivered as oral communication, and, therefore, may not conform to written grammatical or syntactical form.