3分钟读完－17 Months OPT Extension Revoked 英文原版分析转载 附请愿方法

转载自happyschools.com

[align="left"][align="left"]Breaking News – 17 Months STEM OPT Extension is Revoked and Cancelled by the by Federal Court.[/align]

• This rules is valid until Feb 12, 2016.
• DHS has time till then to respond or file an appeal.
  

17 Months STEM OPT Extension Revoked[align="left"]This is going to IMPACT STEM degree holders BIG Time with H1B Visa lottery affecting the possibility of getting work visa.[/align][align="left"]Background on OPT[/align]

• OPT stands for Optional Practical Training.
• This lets Students on F1 Visa studying in U.S.A. get EAD (Employment Authorization Document).
• EAD lets F1 students work in USA after completing graduate degree for period of 12 months.
  

17 Months STEM OPT Extension

• 17 Months STEM extension was added to 12 Months Initial OPT period back in 2008
• STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths
• STEM Degree graduates from U.S. Universities and Colleges can get additional 17 months OPT.
  

Opposition to STEM OPT Extension

• Some opponents argued that 17 Months STEM OPT Extension is backdoor for H1B Visa and it violates Labor Laws (which H1B visa is subject to).
• Plus, some employers take advantage of this OPT to not follow the labor law of minimum wage for specific position in specific location.
  

Lawsuit Against STEM OPT Extension

• Opponents: Washington Alliance of Technology Workers, a collective-bargaining organization that represents science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (“STEM”) workers,
• They sued the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”).
• Challenging the interim final rule by DHS on April 2008 to allow 17 months OPT Extension
  

[align="left"]Court Document Summary:[/align][align="left"]Argument Against STEM OPT: .. alleges that the OPT program exceeds DHS’s statutory authority and conflicts with other statutory requirements, including the labor certifications related to H-1B visas[/align]Ruling by Federal Court Against STEM OPT

• The Court will Revoke the 17-month STEM extension described in the 2008 Rule.
• Current 17 Months OPT Rule will be valid until February 12, 2016
  

[align="left"]Not One but 3 RULES[/align]

1. STEM OPT Extension rule is Vacated. But, it’s Valid till February 12, 2016.
2. F1 Visa (OPT) to happyschools.com will not be Automatic.
3. OPT cannot be applied during 60 Days Grace Period.
   

[align="left"]Why three Rules?[/align][align="left"]Above 3 Rules were passed as a Bundle back in April 2008. Now, court’s order vacated them.[/align][align="left"]What DHS Can Do?[/align][align="left"]DHS SHOULD start New Rule Making process as per the Law to fix the Court Order within next 6 months. If not, what would happen?[/align][align="left"]Until DHS does that or files an appeal, this is Rule is considered Vacated (or Void). In dramatic term – Revoked.[/align][align="left"]Here’s why I’m worried?[/align][align="left"]You guys have NO Idea, how long Rule Making Takes.[/align][align="left"]Just head to happyschools.com. I hope there’s a faster way for Rule Making to be completed.[/align][align="left"]If you read the article, you can see that I mentioned the “Economical Significant”. That “concept” cannot be applied to This Rule Making Process to speed the Rule Making.[/align][align="left"]By now you are wondering what is Rule Making. Stay Tuned. I will provide more details About that as well in a video.[/align]How Can You HELP?[align="left"]First, Sign-up for Email Updates ( sign-up box is below this Article )[/align][align="left"]You MUST Take Active ROLE to speed-up this RULE Making Process. I will send you instructions on What, When and How to Do.[/align][align="left"]For that to happen, I should to be able to communicate with you. So, sign-up for Email Updates.[/align][align="left"]I took Active Role in H4 EAD Rule Making Process. I’m aware of the this Process and how you can help as well.[/align]
[align="left"]Federal Ruling Document[/align]
[align="left"]What Happens Next:[/align][align="left"]Stay Tuned for further details on STEM 17 months OPT Extension Revoked by the Court.[/align][align="left"]This is Breaking News. I will be updating this article as more information becomes available.[/align]

自己也总结一下，目前一些情况尚不明朗，难免出错，请大家指正。这次的判决是真实有效的，联邦适用，if nothing change，opt延期政策将在明年2月正式废除。[/align]
[align="left"]目前我觉得很不乐观，这个已经法院判定了，进入倒计时阶段了，如果没有翻盘，作为将被废除的08年法案的各个部分，目前可以确定的直接影响包括：

1）Opt extension 将在16年2月12日正式废除，所有已在使用或申请的都将即时失效。因为影响巨大，在宏观趋势上也是技术移民政策路线的收缩。
2）所有Opt（普通／延期）将无法自动获得happyschools.com， 即OPT在H1b 10月生效前自动延长。
3）普通12个月Opt不能在毕业后两个月的Grace period期间申请，（Opt开始时间尚没有确认是否改变，比如目前是可以拖2个月以内）。

[/align][align="left"]其实还有其他目前无法确定的影响，比如从现在起即将申请STEM extension的（尤其延期开始时间在明年的）是否还会受理？会不会批？有可能会被暂停的。毕竟目前在无法确定2月以后是否还会有延期政策的情况下，没有意义批准新的申请了吧。如果这样，那将对即将延期的包括lz和其他同学直接影响太大了。。。可能会被牺牲了。。。

[/align][align="left"]关于DHS可做的翻盘，目前有上诉到高一级法院，或重新公示走流程等待批准。问题在于需要多长时间，一些流程很花时间（这也是正文作者的担忧）。DHS不傻，08年跳过流程很可能也因为耗时长，可能会牺牲掉很多需要该政策的学生。另外公示肯定有被反对的声音和不被批准的风险。这是否也是当时的考量？所以真的不知道这次DHS会以怎样的态度来应对这个判决，如果重走公示流程，是走过场或是会遇到多大阻力能否通过不得而知。如果更有了解的同学欢迎分享。

[/align][align="left"]无论如何，现在不能只是看着别人的答案就放心了，大家多多抱团，可以通过多几个渠道，多几个请愿发出自己的声音，让DHS更快更努力的跟进这个事情。欢迎大家讨论

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