advise from suzanne

[2008el]

i'm international nursing student. i just graduated from adn this may. currently i have opt. i"m looking to go back to school to do my bsn online. do i need to change my i-20 for that? my i-20 expires in june 2009. i'll be done with my bsn classes fall 2009. can i extend my i-20 as i'm on also opt for this year? can i go to school and have opt at the same time?

(title edited to spell my name correctly ------ suzanne)

[suzanne4, RN]

Many on-line programs do not qualify for the I-20 ststus as you will not be attending full time for that program. And you are required to be a full-time student to maintain the student visa.

As long as you stay enrolled in school on a full-time basis, then you keep the same visa that you have. They go by what is stamped in the I-94 in your passportm, not just what the date is. As long as you do not leave the US, you can continue with the same I-20 as your passport should be stamped D/S for the expiration date and that is 60 days after you have completed your classes or the OPT.

OPT is supposed to be done full-time and the schooling is supposed to be done full-time. Something is not going to be getting the full attention that it needs. I would complete the OPT before starting to attend school for the BSN, but be aware that if the program is not full-time, then it is not going to be accepted for the I-20 and most of the on-line programs do not meet the requirements.

Also be aware that you may not work once the OPT is completed, so not sure if you are aware of that. The OPT is never renewable.