u/SamDivaGoat

Has anyone dealt with this situation and managed to get another F-1?

The situation is: a student took a year off because of a low GPA but didn’t realize they needed to leave the US. They stayed during the break, mostly traveling. After eventually leaving and trying to come back, CBP stopped them, revoked their F-1 visa, and allowed them to withdraw their application for admission and leave.

The school has now issued a new I-20, and they’re preparing for another visa interview.

I know a new I-20 doesn’t make the revoked visa valid again. What I’m trying to understand is how a fresh F-1 application might go with that history.

A few questions for anyone who’s been through something similar:

• Did you get approved when you reapplied?
• What did the consular officer ask about the gap year and previous stay?
• How did you explain the academic issues and your plan to return?
• What documents did you bring, and which ones did they actually look at?
• How did you confirm whether CBP had allowed a withdrawal or issued a removal order?

There’s also a lot of conflicting advice about being out of status versus accruing unlawful presence. I wouldn’t assume that staying over 180 days automatically answers the bar question without reviewing the actual records.

For interview prep, I’d put together the full timeline, transcripts, leave approval, school emails, CBP paperwork, and the new study plan. Travel records could help explain what happened during the break, but they wouldn’t resolve the status issue.

Mostly looking for firsthand experiences. I know nobody can predict an approval, but hearing how similar interviews went would help.

I’m trying to wrap my head around this new DHS proposal.

It would charge schools $70,000 for an initial OPT recommendation and $30,000 for subsequent recommendations, including STEM OPT. The school would have to pay before its DSO could recommend the student for OPT.

This is still a proposal, not an effective rule. But even as a proposal, those numbers are wild.

My biggest question is: what school is realistically going to cover $70k per student?

If a university won’t pay, does the cost end up on the student or employer? Or does the school just stop recommending students for OPT? I don’t see how most students could afford this after already paying international tuition.

DHS frames this as a way to address fraud and increase oversight. I get wanting to crack down on fake employers, but how does charging a school $70k distinguish a legitimate job from a fraudulent one?

To me, a fee this high could make OPT inaccessible for a lot of people even if the program technically still exists.

A few things I’m wondering:

• Has anyone’s international student office said anything yet?
• Would your school actually cover any of this, or would you expect the cost to get passed along?
• What would this mean for students already on OPT who need a STEM extension?
• If you’re graduating in 2027, is this changing your plans?
• Does anyone have a solid explanation of the legal authority for fees this large?

I’m also seeing people predict an early-2027 rollout, but I haven’t seen a confirmed effective date. If anyone has an official source on timing or how pending applications would be treated, please share.

I paid for PP when I filed my OPT and still ended up waiting over three months. Toward the end, I was getting up at 6 a.m. to call the PP line and checking my case way too often.

Figured I’d share what I tried in case anyone else is stuck waiting.

My timeline:

• 6/18: Filed OPT + PP.
• 7/30: Got my biometrics appointment notice.
• 7/31: Completed biometrics. I was told my PP clock started here — already 43 days after filing.
• 9/11: Reached 30 PP business days by my count. Nothing.
• 9/22: Finally approved, day 96.
• 9/29: “Card Was Produced,” day 103.

What actually helped me:

PP phone line — 866-315-5718

This was the most useful option for me. When I got through, the agents could email the officer handling my case and ask for an update.

I kept getting that “office is closed” recording, so getting through was frustrating. Early mornings worked better for me. By the end, I was calling once a day and asking for a follow-up. One of the agents started recognizing me.

I can’t prove those calls got my case approved, but this was the only channel where I felt I was getting somewhere.

PSC premium processing email

I tried this too. It gave me a way to put everything in writing, but replies were slow, and some emails never got a response.

Congressional inquiry

Tried it. Got a pretty generic response, with no clear timeline.

e-Request

Same deal. Standard response, no noticeable progress.

Emma / regular customer service

Didn’t get much help with my PP case through either one. I ended up going back to the PP line.

What I wish I’d known earlier:

The biggest thing was the PP clock. I’d assumed paying for premium meant the countdown started when I filed. In my case, I was told it didn’t start until biometrics were done. Almost six weeks had already passed by then.

If I could do it over, I’d ask about the biometrics appointment much earlier instead of spending weeks waiting for an approval update.

Also, check the clock for your own case. Don’t just count calendar days from your filing date or assume someone else’s timeline applies to you.

Have your receipt number and dates ready when you call, and write down what they tell you. Ask whether anything is still outstanding and whether they can send a follow-up to the officer.

None of this guarantees approval or a faster decision. But if your case is stuck, those are the channels I tried, and the PP phone line was the most helpful for me.

I just received a NOID for my initial OPT application and I’m honestly panicking.

I requested my OPT I-20 from my DSO on April 3, but I didn’t submit my I-765 until May 6—33 days later. USCIS says I missed the 30-day filing window.

Has anyone here dealt with this and managed to save their case through a NOID response? Is there anything I can realistically argue, or is the 30-day rule strictly enforced?

If USCIS denies my case, would filing an I-290B be worth trying? What kind of argument or evidence could possibly work?

I know I should have filed sooner. I’m just trying to figure out whether there’s still any chance to fix this. I’d really appreciate hearing from anyone who has been through something similar.

my OPT unemployment days run out soon and I still haven’t found a job. filed for a change to H4 and an H4 EAD in late August and got both receipt notices, but neither is approved yet. do I tell my school to close my F1 record now or wait until the H4 is approved? kinda confused about what happens if my unemployment days run out while I’m still waiting. anyone been in this situation? what did your school tell you to do?

I submitted my I-765 on Aug 31 but uploaded my old I-20 instead of the one with the OPT recommendation. Got the OPT I-20 on Sept 7 and uploaded it to my application that same day. now I’m worried because I already submitted and paid before getting the right one. has anyone done this before? was uploading the new I-20 enough or did you have to do something else?

maybe a dumb question but can you start OPT if you’re done with classes but still need to finish your thesis and defend? saw someone mention doing this and I thought you had to graduate first lol. has anyone actually done it? mostly wondering what happens if your defense gets delayed after your OPT starts. do you just keep working and finish whenever your school lets you, or does that cause issues?

My initial OPT expired at the end of June, and I completely forgot to submit my STEM OPT application before it expired. My H-1B was approved back in May, though, and I’ve already received the I-797A.

I just remembered the STEM OPT issue after requesting a cap-gap I-20 from my school. Do I still need to file a STEM OPT application as a backup, or would that be unnecessary now that my H-1B is approved? I’ve seen people on Xiaohongshu say they filed both and kept the STEM OPT case as insurance, but since my initial OPT has already expired, I’m not even sure whether I’m still eligible to apply.

Has anyone been in the same situation? Is the approved H-1B plus cap-gap enough to cover the period before the H-1B start date, or should I talk to my DSO about whether there’s anything else I need to do?

I filed my STEM OPT extension in December 2025, and it’s still pending. My initial OPT expired in February, so I’ve been working under the 180-day automatic extension. My employer filed my H-1B change of status on June 11, and that case is still pending as well. I upgraded the STEM OPT case to premium processing on June 22, but it has already been over 30 business days with no decision.

I was previously told that I could continue working under cap-gap after the automatic extension ended. This week, however, my school’s SEVP office suddenly told me that I don’t qualify for cap-gap employment authorization. If my STEM OPT is still not approved when the 180-day extension ends, I’ll have to stop working.

Now my company is saying it may terminate me next week instead of putting me on unpaid leave. I only have around 20 unemployment days left, so I’m honestly starting to panic.

If I’m terminated while both my STEM OPT and H-1B COS are pending, could that affect either case or my F-1 status? Would unpaid leave make any difference, or would it still count toward my unemployment days? I’ve also considered enrolling in a Day 1 CPT program so I could continue working, but I’m worried that transferring schools or using CPT could complicate my pending H-1B change of status.

The company is meeting with its immigration attorney on Monday, but I’d really like to hear from anyone who has actually been through a similar situation. What happened to your STEM OPT and H-1B cases, and was your employer willing to keep you on unpaid leave?

I’m on STEM OPT and currently unemployed. Based on the unemployment days I have left, I can probably stay on OPT for another four months.

My I 140 is already approved and my priority date might become current early next year, probably around ten months from now. I’m basically trying to figure out how to legally stay in the US until I can file I 485.

Would switching from F1 to B2 actually work here?

I know I wouldn’t be allowed to work on B2, and I’m not trying to use it as some fake work status. I just need a little more time between OPT ending and my priority date becoming current.

The part that worries me is the approved I 140. Would USCIS see that and deny the B2 change of status because I clearly plan to file for a green card? And even if the B2 gets approved, could it cause problems when I file I 485 later?

This feels like one of those ideas that sounds fine on paper but could totally blow up when USCIS looks at the full timeline.

Has anyone actually gone from STEM OPT to B2 while waiting for their priority date? Did it work, or did your lawyer tell you not to touch it?

I just got laid off while on STEM OPT and I’m lowkey freaking out.

On regular OPT, I knew people who did unpaid work or volunteered while job hunting. But apparently that doesn’t fly on STEM OPT. The employer has to be in E Verify, the job has to be paid, they need to sign the I 983, and I have to work at least 20 hours a week.

I already used some unemployment days during my first year of OPT, so I don’t even have the full 150 days left. Switching to B2 would buy me some time in the US, but I still wouldn’t be able to work, so that doesn’t really solve anything.

Right now it feels like my only real option is finding any legit E Verify employer willing to hire me for at least 20 hours a week while I keep looking for something better. No fake payroll, no paying a company to “hire” me, none of that sketchy stuff.

Has anyone here been laid off during STEM OPT and actually managed to save their status? Did you find a smaller company, take a part time role, or switch to another status? How long did it take before you landed something?

I work in a research role at a mid sized company and have a little over seven months left on OPT. My job can’t be moved outside the US, so the company basically gave me two choices.

I can enroll in a Day 1 CPT program, keep working and keep taking shots at the H1B lottery. Or the company can sponsor me for O1 now.

Their immigration lawyer is pushing pretty hard for O1. They think my background is strong enough and that it makes more sense than paying for another degree just to stay in F1 status.

Honestly, I’m leaning toward O1 too. Day 1 CPT sounds like a lot of tuition, classes and extra stress just for another lottery ticket. It also feels like CPT programs are getting more attention lately, and I really don’t want this coming back to bite me later.

At the same time, O1 makes me more tied to the employer, switching jobs could get messy, and traveling back to China may be a pain once I need a new visa stamp.

My gut says if the company is willing to pay for O1 and their lawyer thinks the case is solid, I’d be kinda dumb not to take it. But giving up future H1B lottery chances still makes me nervous.

What would you guys do? Take the cleaner O1 route now or squeeze out a few more H1B shots with Day 1 CPT? Anyone here actually made this choice and regretted it?

recently received an oral offer from PANW, but the timing is turning into a problem.

The hiring manager needs someone to start in August 17 to backfill the role. My post-completion OPT has already been approved, but the start date on my EAD is September 4. HR told me may be too late, and they might have to move on to another candidate.

As far as I understand, I can’t legally work before the date on my EAD, even if it’s unpaid or described as training.

Has anyone managed to get a company to hold the position in this situation? Did they delay your start date, move you to another opening, or find another legitimate solution?

Let's say I'm leaving Company A on Aug 28 and Company B files a new O-1 petition for me. USCIS receives it Aug 30 and B wants me working Sept 1.

Receipt received = start working, right?

That's what I would've assumed because I've heard the H-1B transfer situation discussed so many times.

But I wouldn't make that assumption with O-1.

If B is actually becoming the new O-1 petitioner, I'd plan the move around the new petition being approved rather than treating the receipt notice as my green light to work.

That changes how I'd handle the resignation too.

Instead of:

quit A → B files → immediately start B

I'd try to do:

B files early → keep working under the existing O-1 arrangement if possible → get the new petition approved → leave A/start B based on the approved dates.

And if B really needs me immediately, that's when I'd ask about premium processing rather than trying to save a week by starting while the petition is pending.

The biggest mistake for me would've been assuming “transfer” works the same way across visa categories just because people casually use the same word for both.

For an O-1 move, I'd rather build the resignation date around the immigration timeline, not the other way around.

F-1 extension filed Apr 10. I-94 expires Apr 15.

Then in June there's an internship offer and the school issues a new I-20 with CPT starting July 1.

Except July 1 comes around and the extension with USCIS is still pending.

At first glance everything looks fine because the CPT is right there on the I-20.

I'd still stop before starting the job.

The thing I'd want cleared up is whether I'm mixing up two completely different issues: being able to remain in the US while a timely filed extension is pending, and being authorized to actually work.

So instead of asking the DSO a vague “is my CPT okay?”, I'd send the exact dates:

“My I-94 expired April 15, my extension is still pending, and my CPT start date is July 1. Can I actually begin employment on July 1 while the extension remains pending?”

And I'd want that answer in writing.

If there's any uncertainty, I'd rather move the internship start date than work first and try to explain it later.

A CPT start date printed on an I-20 would not be enough for me to guess my way through an unusual status situation.

I went down this rabbit hole because the “extra 60 days” thing sounds way simpler than it actually is.

Example:

Regular OPT ends Aug 31.
STEM was filed on time.
Last day of work was Aug 10.
Already used 40 unemployment days earlier.

My first thought would've been: STEM gives another 60 days, so no big deal.

Not exactly how I'd look at it now.

The 60 days are additional unemployment days for STEM OPT. It's not like the old unemployment history disappears and you start over. Across post-completion OPT and STEM OPT, you're looking at up to 150 unemployment days total.

So I'd keep one running count instead of starting a brand new unemployment counter.

The awkward part is when Aug 31 passes and the STEM application is still pending.

Personally, I wouldn't look at the pending period as some separate free buffer where the unemployment clock stops. I'd keep tracking every day I'm not in qualifying employment and get the DSO involved early instead of waiting for the STEM approval to figure it out.

If I'd already burned 40 days during regular OPT, that's going straight into my calculation.

This is one of those situations where I'd literally make a spreadsheet with every unemployed date. Much safer than trying to remember three months later how many days were used before STEM.

This came up recently and I realized the timing can get messy really fast.

Say you're moving Aug 20 and your I-765 is still pending. You update your USCIS address that day, tell your DSO the next day, and then on Aug 23 your case suddenly says Card Was Produced.

That's the exact timing I'd want to avoid being careless with.

What I figured out is that I wouldn't just change the address on my USCIS profile and call it done. When submitting the address change, I'd make sure the pending I-765 receipt number is included so the change is actually tied to that case.

I'd save the confirmation too. Takes 10 seconds and I'd rather have it.

School/SEVIS is separate, so I'd update the DSO right away as well.

I would still set up USPS forwarding, but I definitely wouldn't treat that as the solution for the EAD. If the case is already close to approval, I'd keep access to the old mailbox somehow — old roommate, landlord, front desk, whatever works.

Especially if I saw Card Was Produced only a couple days after changing the address, I'd watch both addresses until I knew where the card was going.

Basically, if I knew I was moving while OPT was pending, I'd update everything as soon as I had the new address instead of trying to time it around the approval.

That few-day window between changing the address and USCIS producing the card is the part I'd worry about most.

I’m starting a PhD program and recently completed my I-9 with my university HR for an on-campus job.

The next day I got an E-Verify email saying there was an information mismatch and that I needed to take action within 10 federal working days. The case number is valid and I can look it up through E-Verify, so the email itself seems legit.

I contacted HR first. They said they would check with USCIS, but after 5 business days there was still no update. I ended up calling the number on the E-Verify notice myself.

After giving them my name, DOB, case number, and visa status, the representative told me the issue was that my F-1 status was showing as “not activated.”

So I contacted my DSO. She checked SEVIS and told me my F-1 was already active. At first she even thought the E-Verify email might be a scam, even though I explained that I could verify the case on the official site.

I went back to HR and double-checked everything they entered for my I-9/E-Verify case. My F-1 information appears to be correct.

I eventually talked to another DSO, who checked with a more senior official. Their explanation was that my SEVIS status may already be active on the school side, but the update might not have reached the DHS/USCIS database used by E-Verify yet. They told me to wait until they do the next SEVIS update/travel signature.

Has anyone had this exact situation?

SEVIS = Active, but E-Verify/DHS still shows F-1 as not activated.

Did it eventually update automatically, or did your DSO have to do something in SEVIS? And with the E-Verify deadline running, should I be doing anything else besides waiting?

I just filed my STEM OPT extension and used my company’s current legal name on both the I-20 and I-765. The company is about to change its name though.

Same company, same E-Verify, basically just a name change.

Do I need to update USCIS somehow while the I-765 is still pending? Or can I just let my DSO know, submit a new I-983 with the new company name, and have them update SEVIS?