After doing MBA from USA are the international students (say from India) allowed to work there legally ?

Question

I am from India and planning to do MBA from USA. Would I be allowed to work immediately after that within USA legally or I will have to get some company apply for my H1.

Actually I have heard once you do your MBA from some college in USA you are allowed to work for minimum 2 1/2 years without any H1 but after that you have to get an H1 with your companys help to continue work further. Is it so. Your answer shall be appreciated.

Thanks.

Answer 1

Just before you graduate from your MBA program you must speak to the DSO at your school and ask them to recommend you for OPT (Optional Practical Training). If you are recommended the DSO will then update your SEVIS information as 'recommended for OPT' and will indicate weather employment is to be full-time or part-time.

Once this is done you must file for work authorization, by filing Form I-765.

Since an MBA is not part of the STEM field, OPT/work authorization will be granted for 12 months (not 29 months). Once this 12 month period as ended you will have 30 days to either find an employer to sponsor you for an H1B, enroll in another school or leave the country.

Immigration law, is Federal and not State law, meanihng that these laws apply to all states and all colleges - they cannot bend the rules.

Yes, once you are nearing the end of OPT the company can, if they decide that they want to hire you, sponsor you for an H1B - but they are under no obligation to do so.