April 6th 2008: CCIE #20450

Yup, that's right. Cisco's CCIE is now up to "The Number" #20450, at least up until April 6th '08, and counting. Brad Reese reports a resume uploaded to his site by a recent successful CCIE candidate from Cisco Dubai test lab. Another story about Terry Slattery, the "first-true" CCIE i.e. non-Cisco guy. Interestingly, the VP at the time that championed the CCIE program was none other than John Chambers, current Chairman and CEO! Hopefully, i'll slay this lab or that written (and lab, when it's out) before #25000 or #3000...

What's Cisco co-founder - Len Bosack - been up to lately?

Well, 17 years later after leaving Cisco, much, apparently. His new company XKL has in "semi-seclusion" been developing a new product line of fibre-optic switches based on wave division multiplexing which would greatly increase traffic bandwidth.
Some insight.

Great News for F-1 Students Pursuing STEM Degrees

In the previous post I posted a release from the DHS stipulating the program changes in the post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT) available to students on the F-1 visa.
This is indeed great news for a couple of reasons:

• Those on OPT can now spend a longer period of time (29 months!) gaining valuable work experience without having to (necessarily) worry about leaving the company after the brief 12 months
• One now has, theoretically, at least two opportunities to apply for the H1-b visa with your current employer
  

It is important to note that this 17-month extension is only for those that have attained (or are currently pursuing) a degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM). Check out the previous post to see a description of these degrees.
More to follow...

17-Month Extension of Optional Practical Training for Certain Highly Skilled Foreign Students

April 8, 2008

On April 8, 2008, DHS published the interim final rule that changes several key aspects of F-1 optional practical training (OPT). This is an interim final rule with request for public comment. The rule is effective April 8, 2008. Written comments must be submitted to DHS on or before June 9, 2008.

USCIS reports that it has revised Form I-765 and accompanying instructions and plans to post the new edition April 8, 2008. The revised form I-765 will have additional fields under a new #17 for:

• Education level and Major field of study
  
  • Note: the student will also need to submit a copy of the conferred degree with the application. However, the student will not need to include CIP code on the I-765 as the CIP code will be reflected on the student's new I-20 following the DSO's recommendation for extension.
• Employer name as listed in E-Verify
• E-Verify company identification number of employer (or E-Verify client company identification number of the employer's agent)

Summary of Key Provisions

• OPT extension to 29 months for STEM students. The 12 month limit on F-1 Optional Practical Training (OPT) will be extended by 17 months, for a total of 29 months, for certain STEM degreeholders (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) in the following fields:
  • Actuarial Science. CIP Code 52.1304.
  • Computer Science Applications:
    • CIP Codes 11.xxxx (except Data Entry/Microcomputer Applications, which are CIP Codes 11.06xx)
  • Engineering. CIP Codes 14.xxxx.
  • Engineering Technologies. CIP Codes 15.xxxx.
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences. CIP Codes 26.xxxx.
  • Mathematics and Statistics. CIP Codes 27.xxxx.
  • Military Technologies. CIP Codes 29.xxxx.
  • Physical Sciences. CIP Codes 40.xxxx.
  • Science Technologies. CIP Codes 41.xxxx.
  • Medical Scientist (MS, PhD). CIP Code 51.1401

Specifically excluded from the above codes, however, are all CIP codes ending in xx99, which are "catch-all" categories usually designated by "Other" in the CIP lists. Degrees associated with CIP codes ending in xx99 are not eligible for the 17-month extension.

A full list of CIP Codes is available online at Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2000).

• Other requirements for 17-month extension. Additional requirements for the 17-month extension include:
  
  • Student must be currently participating in a 12-month period of OPT, working for a U.S. employer in a job directly related to the student’s major area of study.
    
  • Student must have successfully completed a bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree in a field on the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List, from a SEVIS-certified college or university.
    
  • Student must have a job offer from an employer registered with the E-Verify employment verification system.
  • The student has not previously received a 17-month OPT extension after earning a STEM degree.
  • The DSO must recommend the 17-month OPT extension in SEVIS, after verifying the student's eligibility, certifying that the student's degree is on the STEM Designated Degree Program List, and ensuring that the student is aware of his or her responsibilities for maintaining status while on OPT.
  • Student will have to apply for the 17-month extension on Form I-765 with fee.
  • Students who timely file an application for the 17-month OPT extension will be able to continue employment while the extension application is pending, until a final decision on the I-765 or for 180 days, whichever comes first.
  • The employer must agree to report the termination or departure of the student to the DSO or through "any other means or process identified by DHS." An employer must consider a worker to have departed when the employer knows the student has left employment, or if the student has not reported for work for a period of 5 consecutive business days without the employer's consent.
  
  
• H-1B cap-gap extension of D/S and work authorization until October 1. Duration of status and work authorization will be extended for a student on OPT, who is the beneficiary of a timely-filed H-1B petition requesting an employment start date of October 1 of the following fiscal year. This would apply to all students on OPT, not just STEM students. The extension of duration of status and work authorization would automatically terminate upon the rejection, denial, or revocation of the H-1B petition filed on the student's behalf.
  
  
• I-765 filing window. Under the current rule, the I-765 must be filed no later than the student's program end date, and it is not specified how soon before the program end date the application can be filed. Under the new rule, a student will be able to file his or her I-765 up to 90 days prior to his or her program end date, and up to 60 days after his or her program end date.
  
  
• Duration of employment authorization
  • Employment authorization will begin on the date requested or the date the employment authorization is adjudicated, whichever is later.
  • Exception: The employment authorization period for the 17-month OPT extension begins on the day after the expiration of the initial post-completion OPT employment authorization, and ends 17 months later, regardless of the date the actual extension is approved.
  
  
• Reporting Requirements while on OPT
  • All students on OPT are required to report to the DSO:
    • any change of name or address, or
    • any interruption of such employment
  • In addition, students with an approved 17-month OPT extension:
    • Must report to the student's DSO within 10 days of any change of:
      • legal name
      • residential or mailing address
      • employer name
      • employer address, and/or
      • loss of employment.
    • Must make a validation report to the DSO every six months starting from the date the extension begins and ending when the student's F-1 status ends, the student changes educational levels at the same school, the student transfers to another school, or the 17-month OPT extension ends, whichever is first. The validation is a confirmation that the student's name and address, employer name and address, and/or loss of employment is current and accurate. The report is due to the DSO within 10 business days of each reporting date.
      
  
  
• Limited Periods of Unemployment to Maintain Status
  • During post-completion OPT, F-1 status is dependent upon employment.
  • Students may not accrue an aggregate of more than 90 days of unemployment during any post-completion OPT carried out under the initial post-completion OPT authorization.
  • Students granted a 17-month OPT extension may not accrue an aggregate of more than 120 days of unemployment during the total 29 month OPT period.
    
  
  
• F-1 students currently in the United States will also be able to take advantage of the rule's new provisions once they become effective.

Source: NAFSA