Students studying under the F-1 Visa under Optical Practical Training will now enjoy an extended work period of 29 months. The advantage holds for students of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects. Students who have not enrolled themselves in any of the STEM subjects have the freedom to work for only one year.

Optional Practical Training (OPT) is a tenure in which overseas students who have enrolled themselves in their courses for nine months or beyond that can gain work experience related to their work field. These students are not required to get work H-1B visa in order to fulfill their work requirements.

According to James W Herman, a renowned counselor, the OPT facility provides ample opportunities to students to gain ample experience in their fields. The option has assisted thousands of Indian students, especially when it comes to gaining experience in the US. It also provides additional skills linked with the field of students, which further helps them in enhancing their career perspectives.

All overseas FI-Visa holders in the US have the freedom to enroll themselves in Optional Practical Training, as it provides them with perfect opportunity to gain quality work experience, a step closer towards their brilliant career

Stats say that more than 10% of the overseas students in the US enrolled themselves in Optional Practical Training during 2008-2009 and in turn grabbed plenty of benefits out of it.

Overall, it is good news for all those students studying in the US who are planning to study in the US along with gaining work experience!

A recently introduced Immigration bill introduced by Rep. Luis V. Gutierrez (D-Ill.) would ensure that undocumented college students would be able to pay in-state college tuition rates. Later on, they would be able to apply for the citizenship of America.

Comprehensive Immigration Reform for America’s Security and Prosperity Act, as the bill is called, would enable the undocumented or illegal college students to be eligible for American citizenship after getting a PR. It is essential that they must complete their graduation from an American institution along with others requirements.

The bill also includes some facets from “Dream Act,” which elaborates that illegal immigrants would get some aid and other benefits during their stay. According to Gutierrez, the country cannot punish these illegal or undocumented students for wanting to be better personalities in this community.

With applauded educational institutes like Academy of Art University, Adams State College, Air Force Institute of Technology, Benedict CollegeGreensboro College, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Virginia Intermont College, and so on, US is certainly one of the best places to study in the world.

U.S. is a potential country which offers plenty of prospects to all the applicants who are intending to migrate to a new country and make their future in a brilliant way. The new amendment in the Immigration bill would further applaud US as an anticipated country for studying abroad!

The United States has the highest number of students pursuing higher education on its land. This is according to the 2009 Open Doors Report which is considered to be the most important and comprehensive on international students studying in various American Universities. This clearly proves the efforts of the Department of Homeland Security with their Open Doors Policy which has maintained the borders yet attracted many to come to the United States.

This clearly proves the balance that is maintained between attracting visitors yet securing a stringent policy on its boundaries. In addition, the partnership between the Immigration and Costumer Enforcement and the academic community has shown positive results with a substantial rise in the number of foreign students coming to the United States.

This is especially true for the last three years in a row. Such significant rise has been experienced the first time after 1980. At present, there are more than 670,000 foreign students studying in the United States.

In 2003, a web based Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) was started by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Through this system, all the records of the students, exchange visitors and other dependents are efficiently managed during their residence in the United States. This has led to the correct numbering of students entering the country and thus, keeping a track of it at all times.

On the other hand, it also proves the standards of education offered in the United States to be at par with the rest of the world. Thus, many students prefer to come and study here. With this, the country is also one of the developed nations in the world offering state of the art facilities. What more does one require?

Making career and finding better future options are some of the facets that are perhaps becoming top priorities for students out there. More than anything else, students are concerned about their faculty, institutions and the kind of education they get. This is perhaps one of the reasons, they don’t hesitate to leave their home country and choose the option of studying abroad. Check out some of the hottest study destinations:

1. The United Kingdom: Just as the destination is popular with vacationers, it is immensely applauded for its educational institutions, range of courses offered and faculty members. And if you are into literature and art, there is no better place than the UK. Just head on towards UK and know their culture and accent by indulging in some entertaining exchanges.
2. Australia: The country offers a perfect comfort zone for students, especially those belonging to the English-speaking zones. Sydney, Perth and Melbourne are most popular study hubs in Australia, thanks to some of the renowned universities like University of Sydney, The University of Sydney, Faculty of Health Sciences, Australian Catholic University, La Trobe University, and Melbourne Business School, to name a few. Australia has lot to offer to students having any subject.
3. USA: USA as a study destination can be regarded as a brilliant choice to perfect your academic career and enhance your chances of working with some of the top professionals. Students from various countries flock in to study some of their favorite subjects in well-recognized US Universities.
4. Canada: The country offers a diverse range of more than 90 Institutions and is famous for its high quality of education. With a country offering diversity like no other, Canada with its two official language- English and French, can be a perfect choice for you. Some of the options include Academy Canada, Acadia University, Alberta Vocational College – Calgary, Cégep Joliette-De Lanaudière, College Militaire Royale, and Ecole Polytechnique de Montreal, to name a few.
5. Italy: Know that Europe’s oldest university is in Italy! Students from all over the world come to study in some of the best Italian educational institutes like European School of Economics, European University Institute, Institute of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, and Istituto Universitario di Architettura (Venezia). It is advised that students should not limit themselves to the places about which they have just heard. Rather, they must check out institutions in other Italian cities as well. There is more to Italy, then just pasta, pizza, the Leaning Tower of Pisa and wine! Go and explore its educational aspects.
6. Mexico: The place is getting increasingly popular with students planning to study and learn the meaning of life at the same time! The line sounds interesting! Isn’t it? The practical experience offered by the country is even more exciting and full of learning experiences. Just study your favorite subjects and make your career in Mexico! In addition, it is a great place to learn Spanish.

The list doesn’t end here. Consult an Immigration and Study Visa expert now and know more about your options of studying abroad.

Planning to move to the USA as soon as possible? Consider Eb5 Visa as your prospective option!

The Eb5 visa is decked with two options to choose from. The first one is that you can invest $1 million in the “Traditional Eb5 Visa” It is your wish to start an all together new business or invest in an old business, provided you prove the existence of the capital and later on went on to create ten full time opportunities for the local people.

In another case, you can invest $500,000 and make investment at a place where unemployment rate is higher in comparison to the national employment rate. The biggest advantage of Eb5 Visa Regional Center Plan is that the path is geared with more flexibility and allows the applicants to move to the US with their family members as early as possible. If investing an amount of a million dollars looks appalling, you can choose the option of investing $500,000 that looks safer and shielded.

It is mandatory to start the business in any area that is attired with high employment rates. There are almost 50 targeted areas dispersed all over the nation, with a majority of them having one Regional Center to help the applicants hire employees for their business.

Additionally you can choose to live anywhere you want to live in the US. To know more about Eb5 Visa, consult an Immigration expert now.

In this blog, you will find out some of the issues that are related with EB-5 Visa. First of all, it becomes mandatory for all of you to know as to what EB-5 Visa is all about! It is one of the most adaptable ways to a green card based on a US investment. The motto behind introducing the visa was to get foreign capital invested in the US. Also it would have contributed big time in creating job opportunities to more and more people.

Another critical thing to know is that the visa does not require the prospective applicant to manage the regular facets of any business as the applicant has the freedom to invest in a new or already existing business. In addition, the same business may have more than one investor as well. Some of the qualification requirements include:

• You can start an altogether new business or invest in an already existing business provided you invest $1 million and hire 10 US employees. Indirectly, you must provide employment opportunities to the US citizens.
• You can also invest in a regional center.
• You may qualify by investing $500,000 and hire 10 employees, provided it should be any place in the US where unemployment rate is higher as compared to the national employment rate.

The applicant must understand that there are various issues like processing problems with I-829 applications and job creation issues, including others that need to be addressed before making any serious decisions.

There are various other hidden facets that are linked with EB-5 Visas and could be elaborated through an experienced Immigration veteran only. Consult one today.

The efforts made by the Democratic US representative - Jared Polis from Colorado have led a big support for him by all the tech entrepreneurs in the United States. This would make it easier for all the investors to reside in the US with the help of a visa. It is also being considered as a mode to stop all the foreign born entrepreneurs from leaving the country. In this way, the process which started off the United States could be kept safe in the same country.

This legislation would be introduced next year by Mr. Polis through which he hopes to hinder the custom of the enterprises springing up by in the US but closing down since its originators were not legally allowed to reside on its soil.

During these times of recession, this decision is a streak of lightening since it would help create more jobs in the midst of lay – offs. There are many different visa categories for a foreign national to reside in the US. However, no such category has been prescribed which would allow a foreign – born business man with investor backing to start a US based organization.

The main businesses being affected are the Internet – based set ups where a single individual could devise a concept and raise funds from foreign investors which would help create more jobs.

If the plan proposed by Mr. Polis is implemented, it would bring major amendments in the EB – 5 visas. Under the EB – 5 visas, an investor has to invest a minimum of a million dollars in a US based enterprise. With the current norms in place, more than 80% of it is left unclaimed.

With the new framework in place, all the prospective investors have to be in the form of venture capital firms or individual investors with a minimal of $10 million that they have invested in other businesses.

A concept involves a founder’s visa under which an entrepreneur can invest and reside in the United States and grow his business that would benefit the US economy. This way, he would also be a source for other investors to set up their business on the US land.

Above all, if you are an investor intending to invest in the US economy, it is suggested that you wait for sometime to see if the new bill is passed. If positive amendments are brought about, it would provide a good start for your enterprise. To know more, contact an Immigration and Visa expert who is updated with all the latest in this sector.

If you are interested in going to US on an EB5 Visa, here are some of the things that you should keep in mind before making any final decisions:

• First of all, make sure that you know your eligibility criteria. A lot of websites offer the services of free assessment but until and unless you don’t meet an expert Immigration veteran personally, you won’t be able to know the mandatory requirements linked with the application process.
• If making direct investment, Plan as to where you want to start your business well in advance. An investment of $1 million would allow you to choose any area but if you are planning to invest $500,000, it is essential that you choose an ETA.
• If making an investment in an approved regional project, plan as to which of the projects you wish to invest in and do careful research on past track record on the project vis-à-vis its ability to get removal of conditions for its investors. An investment of $1 million would allow you to choose any area in USA but if you are planning to invest $500,000, it is essential that you choose a regional approved project. An experience business immigration expert would be able to advise you on making right project selection!
• Funds should be legal! It can be in the form of your legal savings, loans, or gifted, but the funds should be legal. Ask your Immigration and Visa consultant as to how you can proceed further with this step.

These are some of the critical facets that should be considered before applying for an EB5 Visa. To know more about each in details, take immediate guidance from your Immigration mentor.

Eyeing US as your study destination? You have made the right choice with the country offering plenty of diversities and options. The country welcomes thousands of international students every year. When compared to other countries, the USP of studying in the United States is the individual development being paid a lot of attention to. Also, the classes are always held in small groups giving students the required opportunities to express themselves. The faculty – student relationship is very informal making it easy for any student to give his best.

With these are the thrills of the adventure, lots of traveling, arts and crafts and so on. This brings in a lot of academic freedom boosting the confidence of an individual. You would get a chance to interact with many students from other ethnicities and nationalities.

The point to be noted here is that the universities in the US spend about $20,000 per year on a single student when compared to $7,225 by Britain, $11,572 in Australia and so on.

If you want to study in the United States, you have to qualify for a student visa known as F-1 Student Visa. The eligibility requirements include the following:

• The university/institution should be recognized by the Government of the United States.
• Your course should be a full – time one.
• You should prove that you would be able to support yourself and for that you have enough finances.
• You must show every possible intention to return to your home country after finishing your course.

The guidelines are not restricted with those mentioned above. There are several other formalities that need to be fulfilled. These include having a valid passport, submission of the application form DS – 156 and so on.

For further information, it is best to contact an US study visa consultant. He would be updated with all the latest guidelines to be followed to ensure a smooth processing. Thus, delays would be least expected!