How many days can you be unemployed on OPT ?

[DesiOPT-FaceBook-Admin]

A. 30 Days
B. 60 Days
C. 90 Days
D. Not sure - Please Explain

This was posted on https://www.facebook.com/desiopt1 on Aug 13th 2013

[DesiOPT-FaceBook-Fan]

C. 90 Days

[DesiOPT-FaceBook-Fan]

90 days of unemployment in 364 days if OPT.
I believe another 90 days in case on OPT extension of 17 months for STEM courses.
Correct me if I'm wrong.

[DesiOPT-FaceBook-Fan]

these are just numbers.. There are ways to stay in States after these days also..

[DesiOPT-FaceBook-Fan]

agree with you...but sometimes people got quarey during applying for STEM extension and asks for PAYSTUBS since starting from OPT to current month....you cant send fake paytubs atleast...

[DesiOPT-FaceBook-Fan]

90 ( opt ) + 30 ( stem )

[DesiOPT-FaceBook-Fan]

You can be Unemployed for a Max of 90 Days wen you start your First OPT .. after that you cannot stay unemployed for more than 30 Days ..According to the Rules ..

[DesiOPT-FaceBook-Fan]

C is the Answer

[DesiOPT-FaceBook-Fan]

90..but remember its cumulative..

[DesiOPT-FaceBook-Fan]

90 days unless you can convince one of your professors to help you out in putting a temp special research which requires you in states

[DesiOPT-FaceBook-Admin]

As per ICE.gov SEVP Policy document

4.9. Unemployment time
The total time spent without a qualifying job during post-completion OPT. Except as noted in the section on what counts as time unemployed, each day that the student is not employed in a qualifying job is counted toward
the limit on unemployment time. The limit is 90 days for students on postcompletion OPT, including those with a cap gap extension, except that students with an approved 17-month extension are given an additional 30
days of unemployment time for a maximum of 120 days.

7.1.1. What are the limits on periods of unemployment?
Students on post-completion OPT may have up to 90 days of unemployment.
Students who have OPT extended due to the cap gap provisions continue to accrue unemployment time and are subject to the 90-day limit on unemployment.
Students who receive a 17-month extension are given an additional 30 days of unemployment for a total of 120 days over their entire postcompletion OPT period.

7.1.6. What counts as time unemployed?
Each day (including weekends) during the period when OPT authorization begins and ends that the student does not have qualifying employment counts as a day of unemployment. OPT authorization begins on the employment start date shown on the student’s EAD.

7.1.8. How does travel outside the United States impact the period of unemployment?
Time spent outside the United States during an approved period of postcompletion OPT counts as unemployment against the 90/120-day limits,unless the student is either:
- Employed during a period of leave authorized by an employer; or
- Traveling as part of his or her employment.

More at: http://www.ice.gov/doclib/sevis/pdf/...nce_042010.pdf

[DesiOPT-FaceBook-Fan]

Hmm .. Know what is employment with respect to uscis for opt and stem opt .. And any way legal ans is 90 in opt ..

[DesiOPT-FaceBook-Fan]

Can showing some voluntary work allow to stay in f1 status even after the 90 days?

[DesiOPT-FaceBook-Fan]

In the first 12 months, its 60 days and for the entire 29 months its 90 days...But there are folks who were totally unemployed for the first 12 months and still got their OPT Extension without a question and later their H1 too..