I have a quick question about what kind of unpaid work during my F1-OPT period would count as eligible employment.
My OPT started in July 2011. Since then I have been working as an unpaid research assistant (RA) in another university (NOT the same one as I graduated from). I wonder if this could be considered by USCIS as eligible employment, so that the time between July 2011 to present will not be counted as my "duration of unemployent". Does such RA work count as an on-campus or off-campus job ? Does USCIS specifically require the employment to be off-campus on F1-OPT status?
Thanks a lot.
P.S. I am concerned because some universities such as Duke states that "any student TA/RA jobs are campus job and are not eligible working experiences on F1 opt".
-THis kind of thing depends on the International Student Office of the school you graduated and I think you will be OK as long as your current supervior issues a letter to address that you are working as a research assistant/associate there because no one will come to check it on-site. If your degree is Master or Dr., use "Research Associate" as job title, and if Bachelor, use "Research Assistant".
Note: Research Assistant/associate is not equal to student TA/RA.
