Can I get another OPT for 12 months after my second master’s degrees?
You started working in the new job you were so excited about and after some time you realized you didn’t actually enjoy the field you were working in. Believe me you are not alone in this — every year many people quit their jobs and change their careers. Some get offered a job in a different field and some decide to study a second masters. If you decide to go back to the United States for your second master, think about it well before doing so, because you might not be able to do a 2nd Optional Practical Training, or OPT for short.
Another 12 months OPT in the US
We are really sorry to disappoint you at this point, but unfortunately, if you have already done your first master’s degree in the US you might not be able to do an OPT after your second master’s degree. So why is that? The problem is that the USCIS rules for OPT states that international students can only do a 12 month OPT for one degree level. This means you can do a 12 months OPT for your bachelor’s degree, then another 12 months for your master’s degree, and ultimately 12 more months for your PHD. Therefore, if you decide to do a second master’s program in the US and you have already done a 12 months OPT after your first masters, you won’t be able to do a second one. And for those of you who are even more determined and wondering whether or not you can do a second OPT if you change your field of studies? The answer to that is also no. Even if you have done your master’s degree in a completely different field, you won’t be able to do a second one due to USCIS rules.
How can you get a second OPT?
The only chance you have at getting a second OPT is if your first OPT was only 6 months long or shorter than 12 months. For example, if your OPT after your first master studies only lasted for 6 months you would be eligible to do 6 more months after your second master’s degree, because in total you are allowed up to 12 months for your OPT. In any case, if you decide to take this route, please get in contact with your international advisor or your designated school official, DSO, at your respective university. They might be able to give you more information on the topic.
What if I can’t do a 2nd OPT?
You can definitely do your second master’s degree in the United States, but remember that you won’t be able to do a second OPT after you finish if you have already used up the 12 months for another OPT. The only problem with doing this is that if you are planning to stay in the US after having completed your studies, you would need to have company sponsor an H1B visa for you upon graduation. If you are proactive, you can get in contact with several companies while studying your master’s, but it might be difficult to find someone who would sponsor the H1B visa right after graduation.
We recommend that before you decide to to study a second masters in the US, that you get in contact with your international student advisor or DSO and ask for advice. They might be able to help you through your doubts and uncertainties and have examples of students who did exactly what you want to do. If you decide to study your 2nd masters, remember that you will not be be able to do a 2nd OPT after your graduation if you had already done 12 months in OPT for another master’s degree. You have to prepare for the possibility having to leave the US as soon as your studies finish if you do not find a company to sponsor your visa right away.
We hope you make the right decision and we wish you the best of luck for your second master’s degree in the US! If you have any previous experiences or comments about getting a second masters and your post-graduate life, please let us know in the comments section below! If you have any other questions about pursuing a master’s degree in the United States, get in contact with us and we will be happy to help you in your decision making process!
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