Visa question for pursuing an MBA after a masters degree

[nishantg]

Hello,

I graduated with my MS degree from a reputed university, here in the US, in June 2006. I got a job and my employer applied for my H1B immediately and the application was approved before I even started working. But to start working immediately, I had to apply for my OPT as H1B only starts in October. I think I applied for a 9 month OPT but only used a few months as my H1B started in Oct 2006. I had used 3 months of the OPT during my internship between the 1st and 2nd years of the MS program. I have been working on H1 since then (have switched jobs once) and am now keen on pursuing an MBA (full-time) starting 2010.

What I am worried about now is that when I graduate from business school, I would be on F1 visa and looking for jobs again, but would probably not have any OPT left. I am sure I am not the first one to do this, but I don't really understand how the visa situation will work then. When I graduate it will be summer 2012, and I will be on F1. To take up a job right out of school, I will need an OPT or H1B, and H1 wouldn't start till Oct, and I probably won't get any more OPT.

Can someone please provide some guidance here?

Thanks!

[sledge_hammer]

If my understanding is correct, you will will NOT be able to take advantage of OPT because MBA is the same as Masters, though the field of study is different.

Originally Posted by nishantg

Hello,

I graduated with my MS degree from a reputed university, here in the US, in June 2006. I got a job and my employer applied for my H1B immediately and the application was approved before I even started working. But to start working immediately, I had to apply for my OPT as H1B only starts in October. I think I applied for a 9 month OPT but only used a few months as my H1B started in Oct 2006. I had used 3 months of the OPT during my internship between the 1st and 2nd years of the MS program. I have been working on H1 since then (have switched jobs once) and am now keen on pursuing an MBA (full-time) starting 2010.

What I am worried about now is that when I graduate from business school, I would be on F1 visa and looking for jobs again, but would probably not have any OPT left. I am sure I am not the first one to do this, but I don't really understand how the visa situation will work then. When I graduate it will be summer 2012, and I will be on F1. To take up a job right out of school, I will need an OPT or H1B, and H1 wouldn't start till Oct, and I probably won't get any more OPT.

Can someone please provide some guidance here?

Thanks!

[go_guy123]

Originally Posted by nishantg

Hello,

I graduated with my MS degree from a reputed university, here in the US, in June 2006. I got a job and my employer applied for my H1B immediately and the application was approved before I even started working. But to start working immediately, I had to apply for my OPT as H1B only starts in October. I think I applied for a 9 month OPT but only used a few months as my H1B started in Oct 2006. I had used 3 months of the OPT during my internship between the 1st and 2nd years of the MS program. I have been working on H1 since then (have switched jobs once) and am now keen on pursuing an MBA (full-time) starting 2010.

What I am worried about now is that when I graduate from business school, I would be on F1 visa and looking for jobs again, but would probably not have any OPT left. I am sure I am not the first one to do this, but I don't really understand how the visa situation will work then. When I graduate it will be summer 2012, and I will be on F1. To take up a job right out of school, I will need an OPT or H1B, and H1 wouldn't start till Oct, and I probably won't get any more OPT.

Can someone please provide some guidance here?

Thanks!

Yes you wont get OPT this time unless you have stayed 6 months outside USA between the 2 degrees. You will need H1B from Oct 1st. In fact lack of OPT will make it harder during the job search.

[PHANI_TAVVALA]

Originally Posted by nishantg

Hello,

I graduated with my MS degree from a reputed university, here in the US, in June 2006. I got a job and my employer applied for my H1B immediately and the application was approved before I even started working. But to start working immediately, I had to apply for my OPT as H1B only starts in October. I think I applied for a 9 month OPT but only used a few months as my H1B started in Oct 2006. I had used 3 months of the OPT during my internship between the 1st and 2nd years of the MS program. I have been working on H1 since then (have switched jobs once) and am now keen on pursuing an MBA (full-time) starting 2010.

What I am worried about now is that when I graduate from business school, I would be on F1 visa and looking for jobs again, but would probably not have any OPT left. I am sure I am not the first one to do this, but I don't really understand how the visa situation will work then. When I graduate it will be summer 2012, and I will be on F1. To take up a job right out of school, I will need an OPT or H1B, and H1 wouldn't start till Oct, and I probably won't get any more OPT.

Can someone please provide some guidance here?

Thanks!

The best option for you would be to use CPT. When you have completed your course work do not apply for graduation and instead apply for CPT. Schools will be really flexible once you complete the coursework and working on CPT will nto be a problem.

On a side note, do you think it is worth going full-time for MBA now. Forget about getting into investment banking or consulting in current situation expecting pays pre-financial disaster. ROI will take a long time considering you will be losing close to $200,000 in salary and benefits and add to it another $80,000-100,000 in fee and another $40,000-50,000 in expenditure plus another $15,000 in books. MBA graduates on an average can expect to make $120,000/year once they graduate.

If you consider opportunity costs part-time/executive MBA might be a better option.

[nishantg]

thanks for your replies. Is there no provision to sort of "reactivate" (if I may use that word) the same H1B account under which I have my visa right now... so that my employer then could simply file a transfer petition or something. I don't know if that even makes any sense..!

[ajp5]

That does'nt make sense. I doubt your current employer will not revoke your H1b once you are off to B. school. Besides when you come back 2 years later, do you want to continue working at the same place, with the same job title & same salary? If thats the case why would want to do MBA in the first place.
Also if you have used 2 years of your h1b (3 years by 2010) once you graduate in 2012 you can get an H1b only for 3 years unless you have stayed out of this country for atleast 12 months before your MBA program begins. All the best.

Originally Posted by nishantg

thanks for your replies. Is there no provision to sort of "reactivate" (if I may use that word) the same H1B account under which I have my visa right now... so that my employer then could simply file a transfer petition or something. I don't know if that even makes any sense..!

[nishantg]

yeah I realized it doesn't make any sense (wishful thinking). I guess the only option I will have then is to go for CPT as Phani suggested...! I was wondering if there were any other options out there...

[go_guy123]

Originally Posted by nishantg

yeah I realized it doesn't make any sense (wishful thinking). I guess the only option I will have then is to go for CPT as Phani suggested...! I was wondering if there were any other options out there...

I don't think you can use CPT after graduation. Only OPT can be used after graduation unless you haven't already used it completely.
However using CPT as Phani suggested cant be used for full time when school is on. only for 20 hrs per week.
Also so long you need to remain in school to need to take full credits (except last semester)

[gcnotfiledyet]

Originally Posted by go_guy123

I don't think you can use CPT after graduation. Only OPT can be used after graduation unless you haven't already used it completely.
However using CPT as Phani suggested cant be used for full time when school is on. only for 20 hrs per week.
Also so long you need to remain in school to need to take full credits (except last semester)

There is some truth to above posts. You do not have to finish courses to apply for CPT. You cannot use CPT after graduation, check with ISO what happens if you finish required coursework but do not graduate. You can work 40hrs per week on CPT for 11months 29days. Unless ofcourse it has changed since my friend did it. You do not have to be enrolled in any classes during CPT. CPT has to be part of your education (or prove that it is needed for you to complete education). Check with ISO before enrollment. These rules have changed in recent years.

Like Phani said, is it really worthwhile doing MBA at such high cost? As per his calculations expenditure is around $300,000 of post tax dollars. You will take a decade to recoup that money on salary of $120,000 per year. Can be higher during these turbulent times. Even I am thinking about it but do not want to put a dime in education here until I get greencard. Good luck getting CPT during these economic times with so many layoffs. TARP companies are already banned for h1b, who knows what else will come. Get immigration out of the way before such big investment.

[go_guy123]

Originally Posted by gcnotfiledyet

There is some truth to above posts. You do not have to finish courses to apply for CPT. You cannot use CPT after graduation, check with ISO what happens if you finish required coursework but do not graduate. You can work 40hrs per week on CPT for 11months 29days. Unless ofcourse it has changed since my friend did it. You do not have to be enrolled in any classes during CPT. CPT has to be part of your education (or prove that it is needed for you to complete education). Check with ISO before enrollment. These rules have changed in recent years.

Like Phani said, is it really worthwhile doing MBA at such high cost? As per his calculations expenditure is around $300,000 of post tax dollars. You will take a decade to recoup that money on salary of $120,000 per year. Can be higher during these turbulent times. Even I am thinking about it but do not want to put a dime in education here until I get greencard. Good luck getting CPT during these economic times with so many layoffs. TARP companies are already banned for h1b, who knows what else will come. Get immigration out of the way before such big investment.

I did my MS Comp Science from US.
The International center there makes a massive pain in CPT
regarding the clause "CPT has to be part of your education"

MBA in Finance area elective will help in long run.
Anyway if you go to India (not an impossible outcome given the greencard situation) without an MBA and just an MS, you will be severely handicapped
professionally. India management culture wants an "MBA". Without that career growth is
exremely slow. It will many years of experience to reach teamlead position in an IT company but with 2 to 3 years after MBA you can get that position.
The glass ceiling is very low in India without an MBA.
India produces massive number of Comp science Graduates and salaries are low.
You need an MBA in India for career growth.

They wont value ur MS. If you cant afford an expensive MBA do an cheaper one in US or Canada (Ryerson in Toronto or York univ).
Canada one you can apply for PR and once you get Canadian citizenship, you dont need to worry about H1B as ou can work in TN1 visa

[gcnotfiledyet]

Originally Posted by go_guy123

I did my MS Comp Science from US.
The International center there makes a massive pain in CPT
regarding the clause "CPT has to be part of your education"

MBA in Finance area elective will help in long run.
Anyway if you go to India (not an impossible outcome given the greencard situation) without an MBA and just an MS, you will be severely handicapped
professionally. India management culture wants an "MBA". Without that career growth is
exremely slow. It will many years of experience to reach teamlead position in an IT company but with 2 to 3 years after MBA you can get that position.
The glass ceiling is very low in India without an MBA.
India produces massive number of Comp science Graduates and salaries are low.
You need an MBA in India for career growth.

They wont value ur MS. If you cant afford an expensive MBA do an cheaper one in US or Canada (Ryerson in Toronto or York univ).
Canada one you can apply for PR and once you get Canadian citizenship, you dont need to worry about H1B as ou can work in TN1 visa

I agree with your view. Indian companies require MBA for better career growth and it might be worthwhile to finish it off from cheaper university. Unless ofcourse you in niche field and your employer in India really wants to hire you. They will pay premium for it.

But then again original poster never mentioned that he wants to go back to India.

[PHANI_TAVVALA]

Originally Posted by go_guy123

I did my MS Comp Science from US.
The International center there makes a massive pain in CPT
regarding the clause "CPT has to be part of your education"

MBA in Finance area elective will help in long run.
Anyway if you go to India (not an impossible outcome given the greencard situation) without an MBA and just an MS, you will be severely handicapped
professionally. India management culture wants an "MBA". Without that career growth is
exremely slow. It will many years of experience to reach teamlead position in an IT company but with 2 to 3 years after MBA you can get that position.
The glass ceiling is very low in India without an MBA.
India produces massive number of Comp science Graduates and salaries are low.
You need an MBA in India for career growth.

They wont value ur MS. If you cant afford an expensive MBA do an cheaper one in US or Canada (Ryerson in Toronto or York univ).
Canada one you can apply for PR and once you get Canadian citizenship, you dont need to worry about H1B as ou can work in TN1 visa

If you are really concerned about career in India then I would definitely recommend ISB or IIM to any of the U.S universities that are not top5. Even investment for top 10 schools is not worth it especially if you are going full-time.
http://www.businessweek.com/bschools...ge_top+stories