I am now involved in an urgent matter that may legally jeopardize my F-1/OPT status in US. This is a very urgent matter that I need to seek immigration lawyer immediately. My contact info: 919-824-9176, 919-225-6013, peng79@email.unc.edu, gp_oven@hotmail.com
I'm a Chinese student just graduated with M.S. and am on OPT status. I had a job in the university where I graduated from. I worked there part-time from 11/16 (about 90 hours), but have not received any payment yet. On 12/19 I was informed to stop working because the international center found out 1) the job is not directly related to my major area, 2) the job doesn't require a M.S. degree. One other critical point as far as I know is whether or not I have received payment from the unauthorized work (correct me if I'm wrong). Therefore, once I receive the payment for the 90 hours of work, the international center would solidly justify my behavior as violation to OPT regulation. The consequence of this violation will be that I will lost my valid F-1/OPT status and they will change it to "out of status". If my status is "out of status", I can not change to any other valid status (F2 etc.) and I have to leave the US and apply visa to reenter. However I have not received any payment and I do not want this payment.
I did not willfully break the law. I did not apply for this particular job position, but I was contacted by a phone call from that department where I had an interview before. This is a part-time position which would supposedly last for 1.5 month. I was not asked to finsih all the paperwork before I started to work, which would have prevented this from happening at the very beginning. I want to ask whether right now I'm already "out of status"? Before the international center reports to the immigration office, can I still be considered having valid F1/OPT status? And is it still possible to change to F2 and if I can do so in such a short time frame? If so, please give us legal advise or recommend or refer me to any experienced immigration lawyer.
I did not receive or sign the offer letter for this job. I did sign the job application form and filed the photocopy of my EAD card. I was asked to turn in the timesheets twice, but I have not received any pay check since the payroll office withheld my status when they tried to register me as an employee. Am I considered an eligible employee until the completion of all paperwork or during the process (...HR info entry...HR approval...payroll registration...) If I am not an eligible worker, can the 90 hours not be counted as work, or be considered as volunteer or training?
I am an honest student and holds valid F-1 student visa throughout the time in the US. I have no intention to break the law. I Urgently need your help.