r/Stemopthelp

My OPT End date is july 7th, 2026. I applied for stem OPT on april 20th, 2026. My stem opt ext is still pending and i got lais off today. I have no idea what my options are right now and what I should do. I do have 90 unemployment days from my opt but will that apply right now? And i am currently in that extension phase waiting for my approval?

If anyone knows what I can do and what my options are, greatly appreciated!

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.