OPT to F1

[nurburgring]

Hi,

I came to the US on an F1 visa to study a master program (visa valid until 2011), but after one semester, I transferred to a vocational certificate program. I will graduate from that certificate in Sept '09 and my OPT will start from the same month.

After my OPT expires next august, can I go back to F1 status by getting a new I-20 for a MBA program? If, so, will I get another 12 months of OPT after I graduate from MBA (because now im only graduating from a "certificate program" which is a "lower" degree) ?

[kabkaba]

Hi,

I came to the US on an F1 visa to study a master program (visa valid until 2011), but after one semester, I transferred to a vocational certificate program. I will graduate from that certificate in Sept '09 and my OPT will start from the same month.

After my OPT expires next august, can I go back to F1 status by getting a new I-20 for a MBA program? If, so, will I get another 12 months of OPT after I graduate from MBA (because now im only graduating from a "certificate program" which is a "lower" degree) ?

OPT is not a status, you are still F1 while on OPT, so you can transfer to another school/program after finishing your OPT or anytime in between. And you will get a new OPT after you finish your second program.