Fwd: FW: Clarification on OPT Extension rule for MS ITM Graduates

[Srinath Sivaramakrishnan]

Guys... it looks like we are royally screwed!!! Just learned from ISSO that People who graduated in Fall 2008 or before are not eligible for the 17 month OPT extension. Please see the email chain below. This is the most royal bungle that could ever happen!!!!!! Its preposterous!


If you already did know this information, sorry for the re-telecast. Please pass it on to the people who might need this!!!

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Sivaramakrishnan, Srinath <sri...@student.utdallas.edu>
Date: Fri, Feb 20, 2009 at 9:37 AM
Subject: FW: Clarification on OPT Extension rule for MS ITM Graduates
To: sri...@gmail.com





-----Original Message-----
From: ISSO UTD Current Student
Sent: Thu 2/19/2009 5:38 PM
To: Sivaramakrishnan, Srinath
Subject: RE: Clarification on OPT Extension rule for MS ITM Graduates

Dear Student, I understand your concern. This is the policy of UTD because students with the MITM major who graduated in fall would have the MITM major connected to the old CIP code and only students who graduate in spring will have the MITM major connected with the new code that is on the STEM list.

-----Original Message-----
From: Sivaramakrishnan, Srinath
Sent: Wednesday, February 18, 2009 6:10 PM
To: ISSO UTD Current Student
Subject: Clarification on OPT Extension rule for MS ITM Graduates
Importance: High


Hello,

This is a question regarding the 29 OPT extension for MS ITM (MIS) Graduates in Fall 2008. I learned that , it was mentioned during the Immigration Attorney Seminar on 18-Feb-2009 that MIS at UTD has been listed under STEM codes only from Spring 2009 and that ITM students who graduated before this time are not eligible for 17 month extension.

However, the ISSO link below mentions that ITM has been listed under STEM from 09/01/2008.

 http://www.utdallas.edu/student/international/current/optextension.html


Also please find pasted an email from a professor in the department officially communicating that ITM has been added to the STEM code.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Thouin, Mark F <mxt0...@utdallas.edu>
Date: Wed, Oct 1, 2008 at 10:22 AM
Subject: Master of Science in Information Technology Management Update
To: Abhijeet Ghuge <aghijee...@gmail.com>, "Agarwal, Priyanka" <pxa0...@utdallas.edu>, "Ajmani, Akshay" <axa0...@utdallas.edu>, Akhil Jain <akhi...@student.utdallas.edu>, Anteneh Kassa <antene...@mail.doc.gov>, Ashok Ramadass <axr0...@utdallas.edu>, Avinash Gaikivad <avinash...@gmail.com>, Baiju Nagori <baiju...@gmail.com>, "Brimer, Dale P" <dpb0...@utdallas.edu>, Deepak Ravindran <deepakra...@yahoo.com>, "Deshmukh, Dushyant V" <dvd0...@utdallas.edu>, Gabriel Nica <gsn0...@utdallas.edu>, Garima Trivedi <garim...@gmail.com>, "Gulati, Pooja" <pxg0...@utdallas.edu>, "Gupta, Divya" <dxg0...@utdallas.edu>, "Gupta, Shipra" <sxg0...@utdallas.edu>, "Hosangadi, Amita" <aph0...@utdallas.edu>, "Kuduva Devadoss, Ratheesh K" <rkk0...@utdallas.edu>, "Kulkarni, Vineet" <vxk0...@utdallas.edu>, Lakshmi Goginent <Lakshmi.c...@gmail.com>, "Mahendrakumar, Revathy" <rxm0...@utdallas.edu>, "Mandlecha, Saloni" <sxm0...@utdallas.edu>, Max Alcala <maa0...@utdallas.edu>, "Minawat, Mayank" <mxm0...@utdallas.edu>, Mohit Malhan <msm0...@utdallas.edu>, Nahed Khairallah <nahedkh...@gmail.com>, Nimish Patil <nimis...@gmail.com>, oluf...@sbcglobal.net, "P D, Nitin" <nxp0...@utdallas.edu>, "Poapongsakorn, Ekaluck" <exp0...@utdallas.edu>, Prachi Rathore <pxr0...@utdallas.edu>, Pragya Singh <Pragya...@student.utdallas.edu>, Prerana Singh <preran...@student.utdallas.edu>, "Prodduturi, Swetha" <sxp0...@utdallas.edu>, Rajiv Karanam <Rajiv....@gmail.com>, Rungumaraj Nachimuthe <senthilk...@gmail.com>, "Sajid, Turabia" <txs0...@utdallas.edu>, "Salian, Uttam S" <uss0...@utdallas.edu>, Shruthi Srinivas <sks0...@utdallas.edu>, Siddhesh Sheth <Siddhes...@gmail.com>, Srinath Sivaramarisknan <sri...@gmail.com>, "Thimmaiah, Chetranda N" <tnc0...@utdallas.edu>, TK Khen <tkk...@gmail.com>, "Trinh, Kevin" <kxt0...@utdallas.edu>, "Trivedi, Zarana H" <zht0...@utdallas.edu>, "Tsai, Wang-Ting" <wxt0...@utdallas.edu>, "Venugopal, Giri S" <gsv0...@utdallas.edu>, Williss L Seng <willis...@student.utdallas.edu>


Good Morning,



I hope everyone is doing well.  I received news that should be of interest to all international students enrolled in the Master of Science in Information Technology Management program.  The proposal to re-classify the MS in ITM program as a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) discipline has been approved.  Accordingly, the time allowed for optional practical training (OPT) has been increased to 29 months.  After graduating from the MS in ITM program, international students may work for any employer in the US using their current F1 visa for a period up-to 29 months.  This is good news that should positively affect those seeking employment opportunities in the US.  Feel free to forward this e-mail to others that may be interested.



Thanks.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________



Could you please clarify if the 17 month extension would be applicable for students who graduated before Spring 2009.


Thanks,

Srinath Sivaramakrishnan.

[archana b]

Can we do something about this??...the reason doesnt seem to be convincing enough to deprive us of the being included in STEM.

[Girish Kale]

Guys and Girls
I spoke to ISSO advisor and she says teh CIP Code has been changes in
January i.e. after we graduated in December
To change the code the course structure of MS ITM has been changed I
guess some changes either in IT core courses or some shit I not sure
about, as we did not fall under those restrictions we will not be
granted the extension.
So if they give it to us then they have to every batch that graduated
before us too
DHS does not allow to retroactively provide this extension to any one
It sucks big time people but I am sorry to say we can't do anything about it
Good Luck to everyone for all their future endeavors
Regards
Girish Kale

[Punit Orpe]

 

Why were we mis-guided by faculties saying that we are eligible for extension, I believe along with few other classmates of mine that

the hard work put in by fall 07 and senior batches has not benefited us. I would suggest an appointment with Dr.Raghunathan, Mark Thouin and the Dean for this matter.

 

Since many of us are not in dallas, I would say whoever can take the initiative and talk to Prof Raghunathan and senior staff will be really appreciable.

[wenjuan shen]

Did Raghunathan solve any problem for us? Talk to others.

--
Best Wishes!!
Yours sincerely,
Wenjuan
979-661-6488

[Pooja Gulati]

nothing can be done now..don't panic or something...who knows..you might get H1 sponsorship that you don;t  need OPT for 29 mnths...hope for the best to happen..

Cheers always!

Pooja

On Fri, Feb 20, 2009 at 12:23 PM, archana b <archa...@gmail.com> wrote:

[Punit Orpe]

Well he is the only person who can do this for us since he is the program director

[wenjuan shen]

he could just waste your time, and never listen to what you say. we have experienced a lot with him, right? Just go for the dean.