1 year MBA in the US - employment / career options in the US


KevlarKev

Question: is it assured that we can get the normal OPT visa if we do a 1 year MBA?

Question: is it assured that we can get the normal OPT visa if we do a 1 year MBA?
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laurie

Question: is it assured that we can get the normal OPT visa if we do a 1 year MBA?

Typically, you'll need to complete a "full academic year" of studies in the US in order to apply for the OPT visa.

I'd imagine that most (if not all) of the reputable 1 year MBAs in the US meet this requirement. However, you should check with the schools you're interested in, to verify.

Keep in mind that nothing is 'assured.' You'll still need to apply for the visa, which includes getting an I‑20 endorsement from your school and then file all the relevant paperwork. These are normally perfunctory steps but you never know.

[quote]Question: is it assured that we can get the normal OPT visa if we do a 1 year MBA? [/quote]
Typically, you'll need to complete a "full academic year" of studies in the US in order to apply for the OPT visa.

I'd imagine that most (if not all) of the reputable 1 year MBAs in the US meet this requirement. However, you should check with the schools you're interested in, to verify.

Keep in mind that nothing is 'assured.' You'll still need to apply for the visa, which includes getting an I‑20 endorsement from your school and then file all the relevant paperwork. These are normally perfunctory steps but you never know.
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Inactive User

Question: is it assured that we can get the normal OPT visa if we do a 1 year MBA?


You'd still need to apply for OPT which needs to get approved from USCIS. OPT is not a visa. Visa is required for you to enter the country which would be your F-1 (student). Read my earlier posts in this thread. I have explained it in great detail.

[quote]Question: is it assured that we can get the normal OPT visa if we do a 1 year MBA? [/quote]

You'd still need to apply for OPT which needs to get approved from USCIS. OPT is not a visa. Visa is required for you to enter the country which would be your F-1 (student). Read my earlier posts in this thread. I have explained it in great detail.
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yb1bif

Is anybody aware of any 1 year MBA in the US which also allows students to pursue other qualifications at the same time? I am particularly interested in a CPA.

Is anybody aware of any 1 year MBA in the US which also allows students to pursue other qualifications at the same time? I am particularly interested in a CPA.
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Duncan

I dont see how anyone could stop you from preparing for the CFA in your own time but a one year MBA will be quite intensive and demanding.

I dont see how anyone could stop you from preparing for the CFA in your own time but a one year MBA will be quite intensive and demanding.
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Larry

Yes, that's a lot of work for a single year. I think Katz may offer some kind of CFA prep options, but these may only be available to part-timers and 2-year MBA students.

Yes, that's a lot of work for a single year. I think Katz may offer some kind of CFA prep options, but these may only be available to part-timers and 2-year MBA students.
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yb1bif

Ok I understand, I appreciate your thoughts and guidance.

Ok I understand, I appreciate your thoughts and guidance.
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Adanali01

Hi all, I read this post with great interest as I am still on my decision where to do the MBA journey. I am a 36yrs old sales professional German (BA from Mannheim),10 years experience and 1,5 years as a sales manager US MedTech for Swiss/Austrian market. Obviously my purpose is to refresh my business knowledge and change country rather than just salary increase. I have a small family, we considered always the US ( lifestyle, climate, opportunities) and did 6 months of language school in Chicago. I got then attracted by Thunderbirds Global Master program in Phoenix and awarded with full scholarship but declined after reading about the postgrad visa issues. Even on my LinkedIn research I saw many alumni in the MedTech industry. Yesterday I had an one hour call with the T-Bird admission where they asked me why I declined. They assured to support me from day 1 and that it will be possible to place me in a multinational company, my concerns (packing my bags and return) weren’t a problem at all, according to them. Maybe I will need to leave the US for one year after the OPT and come back, lack in the immigration laws?? Currently I am holding offers from Cranfield and Durham, application process with Judge (GMAT not taken yet due to Covid). What could be the purpose of T-Bird to make me move there, it is obviously not the tuition, and they know my situation and intention to settle down in the US. Would they sacrifice me and make empty promises just to fill their cohort? I have no experience of living in the UK so far..but feel it is a much safer bet...(please excuse my long post)

Hi all, I read this post with great interest as I am still on my decision where to do the MBA journey. I am a 36yrs old sales professional German (BA from Mannheim),10 years experience and 1,5 years as a sales manager US MedTech for Swiss/Austrian market. Obviously my purpose is to refresh my business knowledge and change country rather than just salary increase. I have a small family, we considered always the US ( lifestyle, climate, opportunities) and did 6 months of language school in Chicago. I got then attracted by Thunderbirds Global Master program in Phoenix and awarded with full scholarship but declined after reading about the postgrad visa issues. Even on my LinkedIn research I saw many alumni in the MedTech industry. Yesterday I had an one hour call with the T-Bird admission where they asked me why I declined. They assured to support me from day 1 and that it will be possible to place me in a multinational company, my concerns (packing my bags and return) weren’t a problem at all, according to them. Maybe I will need to leave the US for one year after the OPT and come back, lack in the immigration laws?? Currently I am holding offers from Cranfield and Durham, application process with Judge (GMAT not taken yet due to Covid). What could be the purpose of T-Bird to make me move there, it is obviously not the tuition, and they know my situation and intention to settle down in the US. Would they sacrifice me and make empty promises just to fill their cohort? I have no experience of living in the UK so far..but feel it is a much safer bet...(please excuse my long post)
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Inactive User

Hi all, I read this post with great interest as I am still on my decision where to do the MBA journey. I am a 36yrs old sales professional German (BA from Mannheim),10 years experience and 1,5 years as a sales manager US MedTech for Swiss/Austrian market. Obviously my purpose is to refresh my business knowledge and change country rather than just salary increase. I have a small family, we considered always the US ( lifestyle, climate, opportunities) and did 6 months of language school in Chicago. I got then attracted by Thunderbirds Global Master program in Phoenix and awarded with full scholarship but declined after reading about the postgrad visa issues. Even on my LinkedIn research I saw many alumni in the MedTech industry. Yesterday I had an one hour call with the T-Bird admission where they asked me why I declined. They assured to support me from day 1 and that it will be possible to place me in a multinational company, my concerns (packing my bags and return) weren’t a problem at all, according to them. Maybe I will need to leave the US for one year after the OPT and come back, lack in the immigration laws?? Currently I am holding offers from Cranfield and Durham, application process with Judge (GMAT not taken yet due to Covid). What could be the purpose of T-Bird to make me move there, it is obviously not the tuition, and they know my situation and intention to settle down in the US. Would they sacrifice me and make empty promises just to fill their cohort? I have no experience of living in the UK so far..but feel it is a much safer bet...(please excuse my long post)


Over 20 years ago (seems like a lifetime ago) Thunderbird was known as a really good school (maybe top 50 or so but the best in international business - a hot buzzword back then). But even back in their glory days, the problem at Thunderbird was % placement (I remember they had the worst placement back then) and low salaries.

I don't know if they "would sacrifice you and make empty promises just to fill their cohort". After all, they are not charging you tuition and they are no longer trying to climb the rankings. That said, don't feel guilty about rejecting their offer. Trust your gut.

[quote]Hi all, I read this post with great interest as I am still on my decision where to do the MBA journey. I am a 36yrs old sales professional German (BA from Mannheim),10 years experience and 1,5 years as a sales manager US MedTech for Swiss/Austrian market. Obviously my purpose is to refresh my business knowledge and change country rather than just salary increase. I have a small family, we considered always the US ( lifestyle, climate, opportunities) and did 6 months of language school in Chicago. I got then attracted by Thunderbirds Global Master program in Phoenix and awarded with full scholarship but declined after reading about the postgrad visa issues. Even on my LinkedIn research I saw many alumni in the MedTech industry. Yesterday I had an one hour call with the T-Bird admission where they asked me why I declined. They assured to support me from day 1 and that it will be possible to place me in a multinational company, my concerns (packing my bags and return) weren’t a problem at all, according to them. Maybe I will need to leave the US for one year after the OPT and come back, lack in the immigration laws?? Currently I am holding offers from Cranfield and Durham, application process with Judge (GMAT not taken yet due to Covid). What could be the purpose of T-Bird to make me move there, it is obviously not the tuition, and they know my situation and intention to settle down in the US. Would they sacrifice me and make empty promises just to fill their cohort? I have no experience of living in the UK so far..but feel it is a much safer bet...(please excuse my long post)[/quote]

Over 20 years ago (seems like a lifetime ago) Thunderbird was known as a really good school (maybe top 50 or so but the best in international business - a hot buzzword back then). But even back in their glory days, the problem at Thunderbird was % placement (I remember they had the worst placement back then) and low salaries.

I don't know if they "would sacrifice you and make empty promises just to fill their cohort". After all, they are not charging you tuition and they are no longer trying to climb the rankings. That said, don't feel guilty about rejecting their offer. Trust your gut.
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Inactive User

"Yesterday I had an one hour call with the T-Bird admission where they asked me why I declined. They assured to support me from day 1 and that it will be possible to place me in a multinational company, my concerns (packing my bags and return) weren’t a problem at all, according to them. Maybe I will need to leave the US for one year after the OPT and come back, lack in the immigration laws?? "

Let's dissect that statement.
T-bird will support you from day 1 - even if true what does it actually mean? At best, they'll put you in touch with T-bird loyalist / alumni who is working in a multi-national company let's say Nestle.

He works in Nestle USA and really liked you, and wants to hire you for a position in US. But that's the most T-bird can do. T-bird cannot influence a company to sponsor your H-1B / Green Card or convince USCIS to pick you i129 petition in lottery.

You still will have to go through the H-1B lottery process. You could work only for a year on OPT.

At present there is a political divide in the US.
On one side there is a petition doing rounds to extend the grace period from 60 to 180 days for H-1B holders before they have to leave US.Since millions of people have lost their jobs and hiring freeze is going on due to Wuhan virus.
On another side: Unemployment and people claiming unemployment benefits are at all time high. Many have petitioned to stop H-1B and give preference to US workforce that is unemployed.

Let's say the lottery etc. goes in your favour and you can work in US. Good!!
Flip side. Your petition is not picked or gets denied by USCIS. You'll go back to Germany and try to work in Nestle Germany. And here is the catch. Companies are not living entities. it boils down to the person heading that particular department. Would Nestle work as a single firm and initiate Internal Transfer or would Nestle Germany not consider Nestle USA experience or even if they do they don't have a suitable opening at that moment

I came to US for my MBA after working in companies like Nokia Siemens and Ericsson in India. I thought that Nokia and Ericsson would definitely consider me in US (or Canada) after my MBA. Not a single response. Even people on LinkedIn didn't respond.
Another example: Same thing happened with classmate from Taiwan. She worked for Deloitte Taiwan in Audit but Deloitte in US rejected her application outright.
But another classmate from Mainland China worked for Allianz and found employment in Allianz Shanghai if my memory is correct.

US employment is a roll of dice regardless of the school you join. If you want quality US education then you should aim higher than T-bird.

"Yesterday I had an one hour call with the T-Bird admission where they asked me why I declined. They assured to support me from day 1 and that it will be possible to place me in a multinational company, my concerns (packing my bags and return) weren’t a problem at all, according to them. Maybe I will need to leave the US for one year after the OPT and come back, lack in the immigration laws?? "

Let's dissect that statement.
T-bird will support you from day 1 - even if true what does it actually mean? At best, they'll put you in touch with T-bird loyalist / alumni who is working in a multi-national company let's say Nestle.

He works in Nestle USA and really liked you, and wants to hire you for a position in US. But that's the most T-bird can do. T-bird cannot influence a company to sponsor your H-1B / Green Card or convince USCIS to pick you i129 petition in lottery.

You still will have to go through the H-1B lottery process. You could work only for a year on OPT.

At present there is a political divide in the US.
On one side there is a petition doing rounds to extend the grace period from 60 to 180 days for H-1B holders before they have to leave US.Since millions of people have lost their jobs and hiring freeze is going on due to Wuhan virus.
On another side: Unemployment and people claiming unemployment benefits are at all time high. Many have petitioned to stop H-1B and give preference to US workforce that is unemployed.

Let's say the lottery etc. goes in your favour and you can work in US. Good!!
Flip side. Your petition is not picked or gets denied by USCIS. You'll go back to Germany and try to work in Nestle Germany. And here is the catch. Companies are not living entities. it boils down to the person heading that particular department. Would Nestle work as a single firm and initiate Internal Transfer or would Nestle Germany not consider Nestle USA experience or even if they do they don't have a suitable opening at that moment

I came to US for my MBA after working in companies like Nokia Siemens and Ericsson in India. I thought that Nokia and Ericsson would definitely consider me in US (or Canada) after my MBA. Not a single response. Even people on LinkedIn didn't respond.
Another example: Same thing happened with classmate from Taiwan. She worked for Deloitte Taiwan in Audit but Deloitte in US rejected her application outright.
But another classmate from Mainland China worked for Allianz and found employment in Allianz Shanghai if my memory is correct.

US employment is a roll of dice regardless of the school you join. If you want quality US education then you should aim higher than T-bird.
quote
Duncan

Ayon is giving good advice here, as normal. Thunderbird and ASU are doing interesting things and have a very unusual constellation of factors unfolding for them: Thunderbird is basically unrecognizable, alumni are all over the place, the new building reflects huge expectations and, as the Darla Moore school has found, everyone is better at international business than they were. So, they offer scholarships because of their interests, not because of the students. They see that better and more diverse students makes a better experience and creates more value for employers. But, whatever these employers want, their ability to hire foreign talent is limited.

Four semesters at ASU will be a great experience for your and your family and the scholarship is great. Back in Europe, that degree will not be worth much but it will have made you a better manager. However, you'll need to explain an MGM and Thunderbird wherever you go. Imagine explaining the Diplom Kaufmann/frau to a US employer, and trying to convince them that's equal to or better than a qualification they know.

Honestly, if you were single I'd suggest you consider ASU because there's a good chance you could marry an American and then get over the visa problem. But, frankly, I think it's a choice you have to make with your family.

Ayon is giving good advice here, as normal. Thunderbird and ASU are doing interesting things and have a very unusual constellation of factors unfolding for them: Thunderbird is basically unrecognizable, alumni are all over the place, the new building reflects huge expectations and, as the Darla Moore school has found, everyone is better at international business than they were. So, they offer scholarships because of their interests, not because of the students. They see that better and more diverse students makes a better experience and creates more value for employers. But, whatever these employers want, their ability to hire foreign talent is limited.

Four semesters at ASU will be a great experience for your and your family and the scholarship is great. Back in Europe, that degree will not be worth much but it will have made you a better manager. However, you'll need to explain an MGM and Thunderbird wherever you go. Imagine explaining the Diplom Kaufmann/frau to a US employer, and trying to convince them that's equal to or better than a qualification they know.

Honestly, if you were single I'd suggest you consider ASU because there's a good chance you could marry an American and then get over the visa problem. But, frankly, I think it's a choice you have to make with your family.
quote
Adanali01

Thanks to all of you for your great insights and advice. I tend to doing my MBA in UK get some UK experience while taking part at the Green Card lottery. Totally agree that an MBA is much more recognized than an MGM.

Really appreciate this expert views.

Thanks to all of you for your great insights and advice. I tend to doing my MBA in UK get some UK experience while taking part at the Green Card lottery. Totally agree that an MBA is much more recognized than an MGM.

Really appreciate this expert views.
quote

Ayon is giving good advice here, as normal. Thunderbird and ASU are doing interesting things and have a very unusual constellation of factors unfolding for them: Thunderbird is basically unrecognizable, alumni are all over the place, the new building reflects huge expectations and, as the Darla Moore school has found, everyone is better at international business than they were. So, they offer scholarships because of their interests, not because of the students. They see that better and more diverse students makes a better experience and creates more value for employers. But, whatever these employers want, their ability to hire foreign talent is limited.

Four semesters at ASU will be a great experience for your and your family and the scholarship is great. Back in Europe, that degree will not be worth much but it will have made you a better manager. However, you'll need to explain an MGM and Thunderbird wherever you go. Imagine explaining the Diplom Kaufmann/frau to a US employer, and trying to convince them that's equal to or better than a qualification they know.

Honestly, if you were single I'd suggest you consider ASU because there's a good chance you could marry an American and then get over the visa problem. But, frankly, I think it's a choice you have to make with your family.


I thought the STEM programs allowed for a 3 year extension in OPT? I like your idea of getting married with an American to get the visa issues sorted. :)

[quote]Ayon is giving good advice here, as normal. Thunderbird and ASU are doing interesting things and have a very unusual constellation of factors unfolding for them: Thunderbird is basically unrecognizable, alumni are all over the place, the new building reflects huge expectations and, as the Darla Moore school has found, everyone is better at international business than they were. So, they offer scholarships because of their interests, not because of the students. They see that better and more diverse students makes a better experience and creates more value for employers. But, whatever these employers want, their ability to hire foreign talent is limited.

Four semesters at ASU will be a great experience for your and your family and the scholarship is great. Back in Europe, that degree will not be worth much but it will have made you a better manager. However, you'll need to explain an MGM and Thunderbird wherever you go. Imagine explaining the Diplom Kaufmann/frau to a US employer, and trying to convince them that's equal to or better than a qualification they know.

Honestly, if you were single I'd suggest you consider ASU because there's a good chance you could marry an American and then get over the visa problem. But, frankly, I think it's a choice you have to make with your family. [/quote]<br><br>I thought the STEM programs allowed for a 3 year extension in OPT? I like your idea of getting married with an American to get the visa issues sorted. :)<br><br>
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Inactive User

The OPT visa is still not a long-term residency option, even with the STEM extension. What I believe Duncan is referring to here as a problem is that it's hard to transition to a long-term residency permit in the US.

Most OPT holders, if they want to stay long-term, try to convert to an H1B afterwards, which is awarded by lottery. Marriage of course puts you on a green card route, which is pretty surefire long-term solution. 

The OPT visa is still not a long-term residency option, even with the STEM extension. What I believe Duncan is referring to here as a problem is that it's hard to transition to a long-term residency permit in the US.<br><br>Most OPT holders, if they want to stay long-term, try to convert to an H1B afterwards, which is awarded by lottery. Marriage of course puts you on a green card route, which is pretty surefire long-term solution.&nbsp;
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