HOUSTON, July 28 2004
PTI
Foreign students concerned about losing authorisation to stay in the
United States have received an extension from US Citizenship and Immigration
Services that may allow them to remain in the country after October
1.
The extension applies to foreign students and recent graduates interested
in working professionally in the United States who are applying for
H-1B work visas. It will enable these students to remain in the country
until their applications for work visas have been processed, according
to a statement issued by the department on Tuesday.
The ruling affects students seeking to trade F and J visas for H-1B
professional visas, the statement from US Citizenship and Immigration
Services said.
Normally, these foreign students receive a 60-day or a 30-day grace
period to close out affairs and return home at the end of their educational
programmes. This year, Congress has limited the number of H-1B visas
for the fiscal year 2004.
"The extension of the grace period allows affected foreign students
to remain in country and avoid the inconvenience of returning home only
to travel back to the United States in the near future," said Eduardo
Aguirre, Director US Citizenship and Immigration Services.
A visiting student has the option of working professionally for one
year for "optional practical training," but must apply for
the H-1B visa after the year is up.
If the visa is not granted before the end of the grace period, the
student must return to his home country to apply again.
The visa allows international students to work in the United States
for up to six years, as long as they are working in a specialised industry
and hold a job that requires a degree.
Foreign students qualify for the extended grace period only if their
prospective employer has filed an H-1 B petition on the student's behalf
before July 30, 2004. The petition must include a requested employment
start date of October 1, 2004.
Once the practical training period ends, a student has between 30 and
60 days to close out affairs and apply for a H-1B visa that would allow
him to continue working in the US.
If the visa is not granted before the end of the grace period, the
student must return to his home country to apply again.
The visa allows international students to work in the United States
for up to six years, as long as they are working in a specialised industry
and hold a job that requires a degree.
Foreign students qualify for the extended grace period only if their
prospective employer has filed an H-1 B petition on the student's behalf
before July 30, 2004. The petition must include a requested employment
start date of October 1, 2004.