Hi All,

I need a advice, my OPT is expiring in 15 days, and after that I have the 2 month grace period on my F-1 visa, Here is my scenario...I would have returned to my home country but because of the following couple of things I want to stay in the US :

I have filed a petition for employment based green card and the process is in labor stage.

I applied for canadian immigration and my interview is expected in 4 months time...

Please advice me how should I go abt. i.e. if I have the option...Should I go for a F-1 visa or would I be able to apply for H-1 visa...


Please also if anyone knows that premium processing on H-1 visa is still open or not or for that matter the H-1 cap is available or not.


Thank you for all the sincere answers...


God Bless America.

Why would you apply for employment-based green card without applying for H1 visa first?? Didn't you know that the green card process will take more than a year? Anyway.. yes you should apply for H1B ASAP, before you go out of status. I think you can still use the premium processing and the H1 cap is still available (after so many lay-offs since last year..). I'd recommend that you use the premium processing. My friend applied recently (without the premium processing) and it took him 4 months to get his H1.