What after M.Eng. ?

[vidhya11]

Hi,

I shall be joining the School of ECE at Cornell this Fall for my M.Eng. I got a F1 till June 15 2008 but my I-20 is till May 31 2004. What does this actually mean? Does it mean that I am allowed to remain a student even if my course is over? I want to get a job ASAP after my course, but as an alternative I also want to apply to some Ph.D. program after my M.Eng. For the next Fall I would need to apply by this January to other schools, by which I would not have my M.Eng. results out. Can I apply then? Also, when do companies normally visit the campus for placements? My stats are GPA 3.6/4.0 from JU, India, with 2.5 years work experience in telecom switching with a MNC, GRE 1360/1600 (V 560, Q 800, AWA 5.5). Do I need to retake GRE for admission to a better school?

Thanks in advance, Vidhya

[Sri]

Vidhya, the VISA we get in India or any foreign country is just an entry /travel document or in other words, a permission for a person to enter into the US. You should have got a multiple entry VISA (which is usually the case with F1 VISAS) and now the date June 15th 2008 means that within this timeframe from 2003 - 2008 u can make multiple entries into US. Some VISAS are single entry VISAS (usually VISITOR VISAS). In such single entry cases, a person can enter US only once within the time frame on his/her VISA. If they leave the country once they cant re-enter unless they get a fresh VISA. Now, as far as the duration of thy stay in the US is concerned its the immigration officer at the port of entry who should decide. Typically, for students, they put a "D/S" stamp, which means 'Duration Of Study". So now, u have a valid VISA to stay in the country until thy University gives u a graduation. Immediately after graduation u can apply for something called PT card (aka EAD card) - Practical Training or Employment Authorization Document. Now the lifetime of this card is 1 year. REMEMBER A PERSON CAN HAVE ONLY ONE YEAR OF EAD TIME, EVEN HE/SHE SPLITS IT ACROSS YEARS. Before thy EAD expires, thy company (assuming u have started working) should sponsor thy [H1] VISA and hence u can transfer onto [H1]. EAD IS NOT A TRAVEL DOCUMENT. So, after u graduate and when u r on thy EAD its advisable not to leave the country until u get thy [H1].

Companies usually visit campus after the end of Summer Sem (mostly for interns) or Fall Sem (for full-time positions). However, these days due to the downfall of the economy companies are not hiring fresh grads as much as they used 3 years ago. Times might change though, for better hopefully.

I dont have an answer abt PhD as I never tried that stuff. Let's hope someone else will answer those questions.

If u have any questions abt the VISA shoot away and I will try my best.

-Sri.

[vidhya11]

Hi Sri, thank you so much for all your help. The EAD document can be got after I finish my graduation, i.e. on May 31, 2004? Will this allow me to work as an intern after I finish my course? And if I do get a job, then can I change my visa status to [H1] in the US itself or do I need to come back to India? Does my F1 visa still hold in that case? Like my F1 is valid till June 2008, and if I get a job say in 2004 then does my F1 still remain valid? Do please let me know.

I thought of asking you about the prospects of a job too. Do you think that my 2.5 years of experience will count? I worked in telecom switching, but intend to specialize in microelectronics. Do companies like TI and Intel hire from Cornell? Do you know anyone who did her M.Eng. in ECE recently from Cornell or elsewhere? Sorry for so many questions... they just don't seem to end!

Bye for now, Vidhya

[Sri]

Ok, there are two types of EAD docs. I didnot mention this earlier as I didnot want to confuse you anymore. One EAD is CPT (Curriculum Practical Training) and OPT (Optional Practical Training). CPT is issued while u r still a student, ie, when u r still studying in the Univ. Usually, this let's u take off for a summer and work as an intern at any company. The other clause attached to CPT is that thy grad advisor should recognize that this particular internship is important for thy studies and should be ready to give you a course credit for it. Usually grad advisors give credit for internships as long as its in a company related to thy course of study. This CPT is also valid for atmost one year. Typically we used to work as intern during summer semesters which is 3 months long.
Now the EAD that I was talking in my earlier post is OPT. This can be obtained only after u graduate. U CANT GET OPT WHILE YOU ARE STILL A STUDENT. So u'll get it in May 2004 after u finish thy course. OPT allows u to work either as an intern or even as a FULL TIME EMPLOYEE. So once u get absorbed into a company the company will sponsor u for a [H1] Visa. Again, thy company will apply for thy [H1] and when its approved u shud go to someother country and get thy [H1] stamped. Normally people go to Canada or Mexico as they r closer to US and get their H 1 stamped. But, incase u have plans to visit India at the same time, u can get thy VISA stamped even in India. There's no decision by the immigration officer involved as all the paper work is already taken care by the company, so, its just a matter of getting it stamped in thy passport. Once thy status changes to [H1] thy F1 will be void. At a time, a person can have only one valid VISA status. So incase, u decide to go back to school after getting thy [H1] and working for a couple of years, u have to get thy F1 again.

Definetely thy 2.5 yrs will count. Cornell is a top ranked school and I would assume that TI and Intel will hire from there. But, in general the market is bleak right now and so its a tad bit hard for students from any school to find jobs....But, who knows, 2 years ago it was all hunky dory, it might be that way in 2 years from now . Unfortunately, I dont have any friends in ECE let alone Cornell. We all r "birds of the same feather" - Computer Science Engineers. But, may be u bovine mastication send an email to the Indian student association at Cornell and they can help u. Dont feel sorry to ask questions....Had I not asked my seniors, I would have never known any of these things right

-Sri.

[vidhya11]

Hi Sri, thanks immensely for thy help and for clearing the doubt on visa status. Actually, another doubt has cropped up in the meantime. See, we need to transfer foreign exchange to Cornell for tuition fees....due to Forex regulations of the Govt. of India SBI will only issue the exchange in Cornell's name. Now I have enrolled myself with AMS for opting the monthly instalment plan, as it will help my dad manage the finances. But AMS wants me to pay directly to them as tuition reimbursement, i.e. they will debit my tuition to Cornell's Bursary and I have to pay their credit back. What do I do now? Do u have any ideas? I'm sorry for bothering u again and again.....but neither I nor my parents have any ideas about it....we r kinda worried.....Also, can we get a student loan upon arriving at Cornell? I wrote to their loan counsellor and she said that I would need a US co-signer. How easy is it to get one and can I get one? Please reply....thanks in advance again!

Vidhya

[Sri]

I dont know what AMS is...Can u clarify that?? In the meantime I will find out more abt this issue and post back..

[vidhya11]

Hi Sri,

AMS is Academic Management Services, that helps students pay for their tuition fees in monthly instalments. Here is a website:

http://www.univco.cornell.edu/bursar/billingdates.html

u can click on the Cornell Installment Plan (CIP) there.....

pls do let me know....

Thx a lot in advance, Vidhya

[Sri]

Vidhya, I am really sorry, but, I couldnot gather any info abt this whole loan thing. Only thing some of my friends did was to get a loan and yah they also got it in the name of the Univ. But apparently some of them could get half the money in the Univ name and the other half in their name. None of my friends or acquaintances tried AMS thing. So really sorry I couldn't be of much help here...May be u shud contact some Indian students in the Univ itself and find out what they did. I am pretty sure that atleast one of them would have gone thru this process. Also, as far as my knowledge goes, foreign students are not eligible for student loans. And even if the loan officer promised for a loan, unless u have a blood relative, I dont think anybody else would be ready to sign right? Only permanent residents and US citizens are eligible for student loans. I know it sucks, but, that's how it is [!]. Why dont u write to that loan officer itself abt the situation?? Also, get everything she says in writing bcoz, sometimes, people here differ in opinions and so its always safe to have a copy of the email exchange or whatever with u upon thy arrival. Also, I guess there's a limitation as to how much money u can get to the US as a student in thy NAME. So check those out as well. Any VISA consultancy services in India should be able to help u.

-Sri.

[vidhya11]

Hi Sri,

Thanks a lot again. I managed to solve the problem with forex....i took a printout of the page where Cornell has endorsed AMS for students wishing to take the installment scheme....and convinced the bank manager about it....so thankfully that is solved for now...i also sent a wire transfer for the necessary amount before registering....so all shud be set and done....I contacted the Indian Students' Association at Cornell on thy advice and they did give me some hints abt the loan, but as
u said rightly they need a US co-applicant...I am still keeping my fingers crossed on it....also they said that the M.Eng, course is very demanding,
so I would not have time for on-campus jobs. But the course is good and carries a certain value, not too sure about jobs though...neways I dunt have any other options, so will explore this.....I appreciate thy help Sri, and will ask u again if I need any help. Thanks a lot. Vidhya.

[Sri]

Sure anytime!