From F-1 Student to H-1B Worker: Things to Note

fickeymartinez • October 3, 2019

New graduates from universities and colleges must always consider what comes next, how will their educational career evolve into their professional careers. 

For international students on F-1 visas, the battle is especially intense because they have to: 

  1. Find a job & (as if that isn’t hard enough),
  2. The employers must be willing to invest and sponsor their H-1B visas.

But, what are the things that F1 students should note when they are in the process of job hunting? H-1B for Students can make or break a professional career in the US. An important formula for many Students can be: F1 to OPT to H1B. This blog will explain further.

What is the Timeline in applying for Optional Practical Training (OPT)?

OPT stands for Optional Practical Training, and as the name spells out, it can be the first step into an F-1 Student breaking into their professional career.  OPT allows you to be eligible to work temporarily on an F-1 status after graduation. During this employment, the F-1 Student is able to find an H-1B sponsoring employer and have the H-1B application filed and approved. 

It is recommended to apply for OPT BEFORE you graduate from school. The regulations permit you to apply for OPT up to 90 days prior to graduation and NO LATER THAN 60 days grace period after graduation/program end date. The processing time for OPT usually takes 3-5 months to process. 

Although OPT is usually granted for a 12-month period, some F-1 OPT may possibly be eligible for STEM-OPT 24-month extension, which is available for students majoring in science, math, engineering, and technology.

Your start date of OPT must be within 60 days after graduation. Please make sure that you contact your international student advisors for OPT application in a timely manner. 

For the OPT, you have to work with your international student advisors to acquire an updated I-20, fill out and sign the Form I-765, and file the application with supporting documentation and the filing fee to the USCIS. 

Does your field of study qualify for the STEM-OPT 24-month extension ? 

Your field of study designates whether you are eligible for OPT extension, the potential jobs that you are looking for, and the opportunities for H-1B lottery. If you are in the fields of science, math, engineering, and technology (STEM), you may be eligible for an additional 24-month extension of OPT if you have a full-time qualifying job.

The STEM OPT extension allows you to have more than one chance for the H-1B Cap lottery. Most U.S. Employers are subject to a cap of 65,000 H-1B visas issued each fiscal year with an additional 20,000 quota for those with Master’s Degree or above. The fiscal year begins on October 1 st of each year, and the employers are allowed to file H-1B petitions up to six months prior (April 1 st ) to the October 1 st start date. This means for most non-STEM OPT students unless they find a job and the employer submits the H-1B petition on his/her behalf BEFORE graduation, they only have one chance to participate in the H-1B Cap lottery. The STEM OPT offers those qualifying F-1 graduates to have at least three chances to be drawn on the lottery while working for private companies in the related field. 

Is the job you are looking for aligned with your field of study? 

One key requirement for OPT status and H-1B visa is that all current or future employment positions must be related to your field of study at school. This means that if you are a computer science major, you may work as an IT person for an Investment Company, but you may not be employed as a bookkeeper for an IT company. You also cannot work as a server or waiter in restaurants as your job during OPT unless you were in a related field of study, even if they pay you more than your underpaid research jobs in a related field. 

Does the employer give you a reasonable salary comparable to similar positions in other job postings?

There are no salary requirements when you work in a position of the related field of study during the OPT. This means you could do volunteer work, paid or unpaid internship, or part-time (at least 20 hours/week) or full-time positions with minimal wages. 

However, in order to get an H-1B, the employer must pay you the wages comparable to similar positions in the industry of the region. Even though other U.S. employees in similar positions of the same employer are all underpaid, they cannot pay you lower than the average salary in the industry for the position you are applying for. 

Who is eligible for Cap-Gap Extension?

If you have a job whose employer on April 1 st submitted your H-1B petition that has been selected by USCIS and will allow you to work as an H-1B starting from October 1, but your OPT status expires in mid-summer, what should you do with the gap? 

The simple answer is to apply for Cap-Gap extension via your school’s international student advisor who will give you an updated I-20 for Cap-Gap cases. However, if your situation is more complicated than the scenario above, you may want to talk to an experienced immigration law attorney to clarify your situation and make sure you stay in status without violations before working under H-1B visa. 

Has your employer ever hired an H-1B employee or have any knowledge about H-1Bs? 

If your employer is interested in offering you a position, but they have no idea what H-1B is and what is required for a H-1B petition, please ask them to schedule an appointment with our office directly. Each case is different, and the information online may not apply to your particular situation or with your particular employer.

From the salary offered, job titles and duties, to your prior immigration status, field of studies, and employment history, they will all affect the H-1B petition process and procedures in different ways. H-1B visa for students is not a difficult visa to get and is quite common among foreign nationals who acquired professional degrees in the U.S. However, its commonality does not negate the complexity of the law and the fact that any mistakes in H-1B visa petitions may result in serious consequences for the foreign nationals in the long run. You and your employer should receive professional help and do the H-1B petition the right way from the very beginning.

If you would like to speak with an immigration attorney to learn more about your option and how to best plan for your transition into an H-1B Visa, please contact our office to set up a consultation.

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Disclaimer:  This Blog is made available by the lawyer or law firm publisher for educational purposes only as well as to give you general information and a general understanding of the law, not to provide specific legal advice. By using this blog site you understand that there is no attorney-client relationship between you and the Blog/Web Site publisher. The Blog should not be used as a substitute for competent legal advice from a licensed professional attorney in your state.

Polygamy and US Immigration: Common Issue

By Franchesco Fickey Martinez • April 8, 2025
Polygamy is not recognized in the United States. Polygamy is the historical custom or religious practice of having more than one wife or husband at the same time. It is also called plural marriage. When it is a man having multiple wives, the proper term is: Polygyny . When it is a woman having multiple husbands, the proper term is: Polyandry. Polygamy is illegal and a criminal offense in all fifty states of the US. As a similar note, Bigamy is the crime of being intentionally married to more than one spouse at a time. It is similar to Polygamy, except it focuses on the spouse that connects multiple marriages together. Bigamy is a Crime of Moral Turpitude that may permanently bar an immigrant from ever being able to Naturalize as a US Citizen. Should you apply for a Green Card, if you’ve practiced polygamy? No, if the subsequent marriage is being attempted to be the basis of a marriage-based Green Card filing, and no divorce(s) have occurred. Yes, if all prior marriages have been divorced, AND the marriage that is to be the basis of a marriage-based Green Card filing has been re-married. Should you apply for a Green Card, if you have committed bigamy? No, if the subsequent marriage is being attempted to be the basis of a marriage-based Green Card filing, and no divorce(s) have occurred. No, unless ABSOLUTE FULL DISCLOSURE is completed, zero omissions have occurred, and the adjudicating immigration officer at USCIS or DOS is able to review and decide on eligibility. Should you apply to naturalize if you’ve practiced polygamy? If you had practiced polygamy in the past, prior to coming to the United States, your history of polygamy should not be a barrier to becoming a U.S. citizen. However, if you have practiced polygamy within the U.S., you should not naturalize without first consulting with an immigration attorney. Polygamy is illegal; regardless if you've ever been charged or convicted. Denial is possible; which if there is a denial, deportation is a possibility. Should you apply to naturalize if you have committed bigamy? Depends! If you intentionally committed bigamy and used a bigamous marriage to apply, enter, or immigrate to the US, then NO! If your bigamy was accidental: examples: IF you believed your prior spouse was dead, but they turned out to be alive, or IF you believed that you were divorced, but the divorce filing was never finalized or were forged by the prior spouse THEN you may or may not (heavily depends on the facts) need to wait for five years from the time of the legal divorce to naturalize. You would still need to fully disclose the marital history in the N-400 application. However, the USCIS officer will consider whether you meet the good moral character requirement for naturalizing. Disclaimer: This Blog is made available by the lawyer or law firm publisher for educational purposes only as well as to give you general information and a general understanding of the law, not to provide specific legal advice. By using this blog site you understand that there is no attorney-client relationship between you and the Blog/Web Site publisher. The Blog should not be used as a substitute for competent legal advice from a licensed professional attorney in your state.

US Citizen’s Guide to Marrying in the Philippines and Immigrating a Philippine (Filipina) Spouse to the United States

By Franchesco Fickey Martinez • April 7, 2025
The Philippines, a beautiful country with polite people, delicious food, and a positive culture. Marrying someone from the Philippines is wonderful! This article will discuss the two common questions: How does a US Citizen marry in the Philippines? How does the Philippine Spouse immigrate to the US? If you are interested in the US K-1 […] The post US Citizen’s Guide to Marrying in the Philippines and Immigrating a Philippine (Filipina) Spouse to the United States appeared first on Fickey Martinez Law Firm.

Deeper Dive: R-1 Catholic Teacher Positions - How to locate possible Religious/Education Employment

By Franchesco Fickey Martinez • April 2, 2025
This article will cover specifically Catholics that are considering teaching for a Catholic School under the R-1 Visa for Religious Workers. Over the years, the following article has led numerous J1, F1, and H-1B Teachers to R-1 Teaching Positions: https://www.fickeymartinezlaw.com/r1-visa-for-school-teachers-at-religious-private-schools-an-alternative-to-the-h-1b-visa However, the common questions are always raised: How do I locate Openings at a Catholic School? There are many locations in which to find current availabilities. The primary source is the online listing for any given Dioceses. Our main office is located in NC, which the Charlotte and Raleigh Diocese availabilities can be seen here: https://dioceseofraleigh.org/employment https://charlottediocese.org/employment-opportunities/ N ational listings can be seen here: h ttps://www.catholicjobs.com/search/teacher https://jobsforcatholics.com/jobs/?q=teacher&l= https://careers.ncea.org/ What kind of Schools can Sponsor an R-1 Visa? Catholic schools have a very close connection with the local Parish/Catholic Church, and fall within the organizational structure of the local Dioceses. Now, it is important to note, not every Catholic School may be interested in sponsoring an R-1 Visa. If they have never sponsored before in the past, they may not want to begin now. However, as there is generally a teacher shortage in almost every state, Teachers are in high demand. For a Catholic School, the teacher would also have to be a Catholic/of the same denomination (which that is true for any catholic teacher position, whether hiring a US Citizen or for sponsoring a foreign national). What are the Requirements for the Teacher to Qualify? Yes, the Teacher must Generally: Prove belief in the Catholic Faith for at least 2 years prior to any R-1 Employment, which would be evidenced by certificates of Baptism, Confirmation, and Communion/Sacrament. If you do not have a Catholic Record/Certificate, they can be ordered from the local Parish anywhere in the world. Proof of weekly Mass Attendance, evidenced by support letter from the Priest. If attended Mass at multiple Parishes/Catholic Churches over the years, then evidenced by support letters from the respective Priests. Teacher Specific Items: Passing Score in the PRAXIS Credentialing of any and all education, Credentialing explained below Applying for Teacher Licensure in the state of employment Do you recommend any Credentialing Companies? Our clients have had positive experiences working with World Education Services , International Education Evaluations , and Education Credential Evaluators . However, the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) provides a list of qualifying companies: https://www.naces.org/members . USCIS requires applicants to provide evidence of all degrees, certifications, or licenses received, including specifically include: (1) Transcripts, (2) Diplomas, (3) Degrees, and (4) Certificates. How Long is the R-1 Visa good for? 3 0 Months or 2.5 Years, and it can also receive a 30 Month/2.5 Year Extension. So, in total, the R-1 Employment can be as long as 5 years. Can an R-1 Teacher Position lead to a Green Card? Yes, it is very much possible and common, especially since there is always a shortage of teachers, and Catholic Teachers. Can a J1 that is Subject to the 2-Year Home Residency Requirement apply for an R-1? Yes, it is common for J1 Teachers that are subject to the 2-year Home Residency Requirement to pursue a non-disqualified teaching visa. A J-1 waiver can be applied for during the R1 Teaching period. Meaning, an R1 Visa does not have the same restrictions as an H1B Teaching Visa. Alternatively, the teacher can return to the home country every summer and long break, contributing to the 2-year Satisfaction. If a prior J1 spends 2 years back in their home country, a J1 Waiver would no longer be required as the restriction would have been satisfied. Again, if you send 3 months abroad between the J1 and R1 Employment, then 3 months every summer over the next 5 years, you would have about 18 out of 24 months already "satisfied." What Does the School Need to do? To summarize: Be Interested in sponsoring the visa, providing mandetory documentation, and paying the immigration fees. File Form I-129 on behalf of an alien seeking to enter the United States as a nonimmigrant minister, or a religious worker in a religious vocation or occupation. Provide Proof of Tax-Exempt Status/the IRS 5 01(c)(3) letter Documentation that establishes the religious nature and purpose of the organization, including, but not limited to: A copy of the organizing instrument of the organization that specifies the purposes of the organization; Organizational literature describing the religious purpose and nature of the activities of the organization; and A religious denomination certification, included as part of the Form I-129, Supplement R, stating that the petitioning organization is affiliated with the religious denomination. The religious denomination certification should be signed by an organization other than the petitioning organization, and attest that the petitioning organization is part of the same religious denomination as the attesting organization. Provide Proof of Salaried Compensation showing how the school intends to compensate the religious worker/teacher, including specific monetary or in-kind compensation. Provide Proof of Denominational Membership and Evidence Regarding the Prospective Position of the intended Visa Holder. Disclaimer: This Blog is made available by the lawyer or law firm publisher for educational purposes only as well as to give you general information and a general understanding of the law, not to provide specific legal advice. By using this blog site you understand that there is no attorney-client relationship between you and the Blog/Web Site publisher. The Blog should not be used as a substitute for competent legal advice from a licensed professional attorney in your state.

Immigrant Visa Interview Scheduled: What to Focus on Now and In What Order

By Franchesco Fickey Martinez • April 2, 2025
[Publicación en español] Finally, the interview is here!!!! The finish line is within arms reach. However, many things need to get done, and be done ASAP. But but but THEY MUST BE DONE IN ORDER. Please don’t focus on something minor, when other matters must be done since time is of the essence. First: LOCATE […] The post Immigrant Visa Interview Scheduled: What to Focus on Now and In What Order appeared first on Fickey Martinez Law Firm.

Tarjeta Verde I-551 sin fecha de vencimiento

By Franchesco Fickey Martinez • April 2, 2025
a Tarjeta Verde I-551 es la versión actual de la Tarjeta de Residente Permanente Legal. Sin embargo, existe mucha confusión sobre si las tarjetas verdes “sin fecha de vencimiento” siguen siendo válidas. S i el I551 se emitió entre 1977 y agosto de 1989, la Tarjeta Verde no tendría fecha de vencimiento, pero sigue siendo una Tarjeta Verde válida y aceptable.  Est a Tarjeta Verde vigente fue la edición entre la (1) Tarjeta Verde I-151 que ya no es válida y (2) la Tarjeta Verde I-551 que tiene fecha de vencimiento. Imagen frontal y posterior de la Tarjeta Verde I-551:

Tarjeta verde I-151: cosas que debe saber

By Franchesco Fickey Martinez • April 1, 2025
El antiguo Servicio de Inmigración y Naturalización (INS), ahora USCIS bajo el DHS, emitió el Formulario I-151 (Tarjeta de Recibo de Registro de Extranjero), comúnmente llamado “tarjeta verde”, a extranjeros de Julio de 1946 a 1978 . En 20 de marzo de 1996 , la Tarjeta de Recibo de Registro de Extranjero I-151 dejó de ser válida por ley. El INS (ahora USCIS) recomendó a los titulares de la tarjeta I-151 que solicitaran una nueva tarjeta verde. Aunque no se consideraría que los titulares del I-151 hayan perdido su residencia permanente, han tenido y siempre enfrentarán dificultades para obtener empleo, beneficios y reingresar a los EE. UU. desde el extranjero. Si intenta volver a ingresar a los EE. UU. con la tarjeta I-151, finalmente se le permitirá ingresar a los EE. UU., pero esperará retrasos y complicaciones. Por el contrario, al buscar empleo, la Tarjeta I-151 no es prueba válida de autorización de empleo. Otr a versión de la I-151: 

Me negaron la presentación del formulario I-90 porque tenía una tarjeta de residencia condicional de dos años. ¿Qué debo hacer ahora?

By Franchesco Fickey Martinez • March 31, 2025
Si USCIS proporciona un aviso de denegación para la presentación del I90, el aviso también debe indicar que la ley exige que el titular de la tarjeta verde presente el I-751. El I-751 se centra en el matrimonio subyacente que proporcionó la tarjeta de residencia de dos años. USCIS evalúa el período de tiempo después de que se emitió por primera vez la tarjeta verde, generalmente dos o tres años antes del momento de la denegación de la I-90. Ahora bien, hay dos escenarios que pueden ocurrir. ¿Tiene una presentación I-90 denegada porque presentó el formulario incorrecto? Este es un error común para muchos titulares de una Tarjeta Verde. Cuando busca en línea, ve que el formulario I-90 de USCIS es el formulario de renovación para cuando una tarjeta verde está a punto de expirar. Lo que comúnmente se pasa por alto es que una tarjeta verde (condicional) de dos años tiene la condición de que, cuando esté a punto de expirar, se debe presentar el formulario I-751 de USCIS para convertir la tarjeta verde de 2 años en una tarjeta verde de 10 años. En el primer escenario, solo se puede presentar el I-751 ante el USCIS, lo que el resultado sería una tarjeta verde de 10 años recibida entre uno y cuatro años después de la presentación. El proceso I-751 es extremadamente lento y los tiempos de procesamiento se pueden encontrar aquí ( Tiempos de procesamiento de USCIS ). Segundo escenario, si todavía está casado con el ciudadano estadounidense que le brindó patrocinio y solicitó la tarjeta verde, y el matrimonio sigue siendo amoroso y próspero, puede considerar presentar el I-751, recibir la extensión I-751 de 24 meses y luego solicitar la naturalización N-400. Para calificar para la naturalización, el titular de la tarjeta verde debe haber mantenido su tarjeta verde por un período de al menos tres años si la tarjeta verde se recibió debido al matrimonio con un ciudadano estadounidense y el matrimonio aún existe y está prosperando después de tres años. En este escenario, en lugar de esperar muchos años para que se procese el I751, el tiempo de procesamiento depende de la presentación del N400. En algunas jurisdicciones, como en la oficina local de USCIS en Raleigh Durham, la solicitud de naturalización puede realizarse en unos pocos meses. Cuando compara unos pocos meses de tiempo de procesamiento con la posibilidad de esperar de 1 a 4 años, puede ser más beneficioso simplemente convertirse en ciudadano estadounidense y terminar por completo con el proceso de inmigración. Si ha recibido una denegación I-90, no dude en comuníquese con nuestra Firma de Abogados de Inmigración para programar una consulta para determinar la mejor ruta de inmigración.  Descargo de responsabilidad: Este Blog lo pone a disposición el abogado o el editor del bufete de abogados únicamente con fines educativos, así como para brindarle información general y una comprensión general de la ley, no para brindar asesoramiento legal específico. Al utilizar este sitio de blog, usted comprende que no existe una relación de abogado-cliente entre usted y el editor del blog/sitio web. El Blog no debe utilizarse como sustituto del asesoramiento legal competente de un abogado profesional autorizado en su estado. on it

Common K1 Visa Question: Who Schedules the K1 Visa Interview?

By Franchesco Fickey Martinez • March 30, 2025
Before addressing the Main Question, a few items MUST first be explained regarding timing and expectations: First, the K1 Fiance Visa is 100% Different from a Tourist Visa. It is NOT as fast as a Tourist Visa. It is handled by the Embassy or Consulate’s Immigrant Visa Division, NOT the Nonimmigrant Visa Division. It REQUIRES […] The post Common K1 Visa Question: Who Schedules the K1 Visa Interview? appeared first on Fickey Martinez Law Firm.

¿Puedo Naturalizarme como Ciudadano Estadounidense con una Tarjeta Verde antigua o vencida?

By Franchesco Fickey Martinez • March 28, 2025
Generalmente ¡Sí! Es posible que pueda solicitar la Naturalización N-400 con USCIS aunque tenga una Tarjeta Verde antigua o vencida. ¿Qué constituye una "vieja Tarjeta Verde"? Posiblemente la tarjeta verde "antigua" más común sería una tarjeta I-551 emitida entre 1977 y agosto de 1989. ¿Por qué? Las tarjetas emitidas entre esas fechas no tienen fecha de vencimiento, pero siguen siendo una Tarjeta Verde válida y aceptable. Se puede ver una imagen aquí: https://www.fickeymartinezlaw.com/immigration/i-551-green-card-with-no-expiration-date ¿Qué es una tarjeta verde "antigua" menos común? Esa tendría que ser la Tarjeta Verde I-151, mucho más antigua. Estas Tarjetas Verdes se emitieron entre julio de 1946 y 1978 y tampoco tenían fecha de vencimiento, pero el Congreso forzó/aprobó una expiración en 1996. Se puede ver una imagen aquí: https://www.fickeymartinezlaw.com/immigration/i-151-green-card-things-to-know Para Confirmar, ¿puede una Tarjeta Verde vencida solicitar la Naturalización? ¡Generalmente sí! Sin embargo, la verdadera pregunta sería "¿Por qué" expiró? Si estuvo en el extranjero durante muchos años (solo como ejemplo) y nunca renovó su tarjeta de residencia ni solicitó dicho permiso de viaje, es posible que la tarjeta de residencia haya sido abandonada, lo que hace que alguien no sea elegible para naturalizarse. USCIS también puede solicitar que se presente simultáneamente un I-90 si necesita alguna prueba de residencia permanente legal (también conocida como Tarjeta Verde) mientras el N-400 está pendiente. Si tiene más preguntas o inquietudes, debe hablar con un abogado de inmigración con experiencia. Puede ver más información en nuestra página web de Naturalización: https://www.fickeymartinezlaw.com/practice-areas/naturalization-citizenship

Acabo de recibir la Aprobación de la petición I-129F: ¿Qué esperar a continuación?

By Franchesco Fickey Martinez • March 27, 2025
La Petición I-129F aprobada significa el final de (probablemente) un largo proceso de inmigración y el inicio de un proceso consular (generalmente) más confuso. ¡¡¡¡Felicidades!!!! Pero el viaje aún no ha terminado. . . . estás casi en la mitad del camino. Para empezar, recapitulemos. El proceso de visa de prometido se divide en 3 partes: Parte 1: Petición I-129F para reconocer la relación en USCIS Parte 2: Solicitud de la visa DS-160 y la promesa de casarse y apoyo financiero I-134 (el paso real de la visa K1) Parte 3: Ingrese a los EE. UU., cásese dentro de los 90 días, obtenga una tarjeta de Seguro Social durante el período de 60 días en la SSA y ajuste su estatus con USCIS Esta publicación se ENFOCARÁ principalmente en el período de transición entre la Parte 1/Paso 1 y la Parte 2/Paso 2. ¿Qué significa el Aviso de aprobación I-129F? Significa que USCIS “calificó” la relación para recibir una Visa K1. El Centro de Servicio de USCIS (generalmente en California) enviaría por correo el Aviso de Aprobación al Ciudadano Estadounidense (y al Abogado, si se contrata uno). Por último, USCIS indicaría en el aviso de aprobación que están transfiriendo la presentación al NVC para su posterior procesamiento. A continuación se muestra un diagrama del correo/transferencia I-129F: 
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