...and you all thought life is easy...read this...
I have been working as IT (Datacenter and Storage) consutant for past 7 years. My employer, my client, and my peers are all impressed (humbly) by me and by my working style.
I came to US on L1-B visa (intercompany transfer) from India in Feb 2006. My current L1-B visa will expire in Feb 2011.
(For those who don't know, L1B visa is similar to H1B visa for employment in US. The advantages are that your spouse can work full time (she/he gets their own EAD, they do not not need any sponsorship). H1 dependant, which is H4, do not get any work authorization, unless they apply for their own H1. GC processing is much easier for L1 than it is for H1. Disadvantage is that you cannot change your employer!!!)
I talked to immigration laywers regarding H1B visa after I complete my school. They told me that after completing MBA in 2013 (assuming if I join a school in 2011), I will get H1 only for max 1 year. H1 visa duration is generally 6 years but since I spent 5 yrs on L1 so I will get just 1 additonal year. They told me that the best way for me to get full 6 years on H1 is that I need to stay outside US for min 1 year. That way my "US stay" clock will get reset. During this 1 year period, I cannot enter US for work. However I can make couple of business consulting trips on B1 visa (3 month trip each). Then in Jan 2012 I can join MBA school and after I graduate in 2014 I will get FULL 6 years on my H1B. yipeee!!!
So based on this "legend", pleae help me get answers to this:-
My company is more than willing to keep me back. However they cannot apply for GC because of company policy issues. They can resend me to US on fresh L1 in Jan 2012. So my questions is: When I come back in Jan 2012, should I do MBA full time or part time?
Question 1: Will joining a part time MBA benefit me?
Pros: I do not loose salary for 2 years.
Pros: FULL time or part time MBA is expensive, so if I have my job I can fund my MBA easliy
Cons: I will be on L1, so after I graduate I will not be able to change my employer. My MBA degree will do no good for me with my current employer. sad!!!
Cons: I will not be able to attend internship
Cons: I may or may not be part of campus recruitment
Cons: If my company changes my project, I may end up in different city/state. So I am not sure how will my part time MBA work then?
On other thoughts, even if I complete my MBA FULL time, I will still need some employer to file my H1 and get me job. So if I do my MBA part time I can look for some other employer who can file my H1 after I graduate.
Question 2: Is there any MBA specific to IT management? Something which can take you to IT Director or CIO (Chief Information Officer)/CTO (Chief Technology officer) position in your career. I love my job and would want to do MBA in a related field (IT consulting/management)
BTW: I have already started preparing for my GMAT. I have join
Manhattan GMAT online course.