Travelling while on OPT with Consultancy offer letter
Hi Blind, I graduated May 2019 and am currently seeking employment under my OPT, which started July 2019. Since I was getting worried about crossing my 90 day unemployment mark, I talked to a Training/Marketing consultancy and got a temporary offer letter from them that says I am an unpaid Intern. The company is located in Delaware and my current address is in the Boston area. I just had a family emergency come up, for which I have to fly back home for a week starting 9/17. Now I am worried about potential issues re-entering the States. Is it too risky to travel in my current situation? Will immigration verify the workplace of the company I have an offer letter from even on my first year OPT? Any insight would be very helpful!
Dear OP, I’m so sorry to hear about your family situation. I too was in your similar situation in 2018 March, when I was in my initial OPT. I traveled to India during such family emergency. Offer letter is just recommended for additional safety reasons. Be confident during immigration check. Make sure that your I-20 is signed and EAD is with you while returning. You should be fine. However, be prepared to answer several questions from the immigration officers on your job and job responsibilities! I recommend requesting a new I-20 that has your employee name printed on it from your University. May things get better in your home!
Thank you for your concern, I appreciate it! I did just get a new signed I-20 from my Advisor. My biggest concern is if they cross verify with the employer (or what the employer does) and find out that they're a staffing and recruiting firm. I'm not sure if that would raise any red flags.
You’re welcome, ideally your University doesn’t verify about your employer details or what they do, and even at the immigration check, they would be concerned about your employment dates and your day to day job duties. In regards to the kind of questions as far as I remember - Be prepared to tell me what made you travel to India and also know about your job responsibilities (May be about the product or project details you’re working on). Please DM me if you’ve got further concerns! Thank you!
Yeah, same thing for me as well. Nothing as such, just my name was flagged somehow when I returned, so just some additional checking and verification at the airports while coming to US. Keep you documents updated, and just be prepared to answer the questions if asked any.
What kind of questions were you asked when you got flagged like that? Can you share any questions/topics you remember?
Yes, there is always risk. Especially if it states unpaid....
Instead of shady consulancies, why not actually volunteer for something legit? Like a project under a professor at your university? It's valid for the 12 month opt period. That ties in well with your F1 and OPT requirements and getting a letter from your school / professor is way more legit than some random no name consultancy.
I have travelled in same situation but it’s way back in 2016 though!!
Did you face any problems back then?