OPT issue

[amirm]

What is the name of your state? WI

My passport expires in March 2005. Im currently on student visa and want to apply for OPT. I will be graduating in January 2005. My international student advisor wants me to renew my passport before having me apply for OPT becuase BCIS might deny my application(as BCIS requires the passportto be valid for atleast 6 months after applying for OPT) and OPT denials cannot be appealed. Problem is that came to US when i was under 18, and thus do not have an ID card from back home. So, for now I can only get my passport renewed for a year max.

So assuming I get the one year renewal, and my passport now expires on March 2006; are there any chances that my OPT will get denied? Pls advice.

 

[ImmigAttyLana]

Why don't you have your relatives send you the ID card and you apply through the Embassy in the US?

 

[amirm]

Thanks for the reply Lana. I don't have an ID card made. It i'll take me months to make one, and I don't have that much time.

So do you think this is a big problem?

 

[ImmigAttyLana]

You should just get the passport renewed for as long as you can. I don't think that this issue in and of itself will have an impact on your OPT application.

Please let me know if you have any additional questions or if I may be of assistance to you in this matter.

Lana
Immigration Attorney