Hey guys,

I am posting this for a friend who's under current dilemma of going to Nepal. He is graduating in december and is starting his OPT in jan 22nd. He has his OPT approved, received his OPT Card and got job offer letter from the US company. He wants to go to nepal before starting his OPT. Do you guys have any such experiences or know of any risks involved in doing so?

please share!

He can go although return visa is not always guaranteed.

From what I hear, it could be a risky move. Better wait for H1B.

I don't think its easy to come back to US if you leave on OPT, even though the visa isn't expired, cause that visa is a student visa and you're not a student anymore after you graduate. Any way good luck with the trip, Maoist are looking for a foreign graduates....////

If he has a VISA current,there won't be any problem.he will be considered in F1 VISA until his H1 gets approved but he should have job offer to come back when he goes to Nepal in OPT...

ASk him to enjoy his trip as much as he can...

As long as he has a valid re-entry visa in his passport then the travels should be fine. If he needs a new reentry visa from the embassy in Kathmandu that might be riskier.

Do make sure your friend gets a new signature on his I-20 though. (The signatures don't last as long on OPT as they do while one is a student).

During my past three re-entries into the US on OPT I only needed to show my passport (with valid visa) and I-20, endorsed for OPT. One is required to have the employment authorization card and a letter from the employer along, but they generally don't ask for it.

Arnico,
Where are you working these days? Heard that you graduated. Congrats!!

Arnico
I am trying to go to Nepal this December after my graduation. I do have a valid visa, passport, I-20 endorsed for travel and a job offer letter from the company i'll be joining after I come back from Nepal. Looks like you had a similar case. I guess I won't have to worry about it too much rite?

Simonsaurav, for the time being I'm a postdoc at the same university.

Sazz: Has your OPT been processed?
If so you should have a new I-20 (from the time you applied for OPT) which lists your OPT dates, and you should have received an employment authorization card.

You need to carry the card as well (But don't need to show it unless asked for).

yea, my opt has been approved and i have the card with me... the opt starts on jan 10th... hopefully they'll let me back

No way!

It's not just risky to go to nepal on OPT, it's for sure that you can't re-enter US with OPT.

OPT: Optional Practical Training... get it? Optional.
OPT is not a requirement or part of your study for which you got your F-1 visa. So, you can't get student visa for OPT. Once you go outside US, you will have to apply for visa to re-enter. You have no ground to apply for student visa under OPT. You will have to get another i-20 to apply for student visa again.