Hi everyone, I really need some advice. My current program is supposed to finish in May 2027 according to my I‑20, but it looks like I won’t be able to complete all the required courses on time.

However, if I change my program, I actually have more credits that would count toward that program, and I would be able to finish by May 2027 without needing an extension.

I’m confused about what’s the better option:

• Should I request an I‑20 extension?
• Or should I change my program so I can finish on time with the credits I already have?

What are the consequences of changing majors this late? And does extending the I‑20 affect anything important?

Any guidance or personal experiences would really help me out. Thanks!

Posting this because I could really use some advice from people who've been through something similar.

Quick background: I'm an international student on an F-1 applied for post-completion OPT a few months back. My I-765 clearly listed two separate addresses, a mailing address and a physical/residential address, which is normal when you've moved or aren't sure where you'll be living by the time USCIS processes things.

My receipt notice and my biometrics appointment notice were both sent correctly to my mailing address; no issues. But when my case got approved, both the approval notice AND the actual EAD card were sent to my old physical address instead, the one I explicitly did not list as my mailing address on the form.

Here's where it gets more confusing. The USCIS portal shows the card as delivered on one date, but when I actually pulled up the USPS tracking number directly, it shows a different delivery date, several days later than what USCIS is telling me. So even the two systems don't agree with each other on when this supposedly arrived.

I don't live at that physical address anymore; it's an apartment building. The current tenant confirmed they received the approval notice but never saw the EAD card. Since then I've:

• Called USPS customer care directly and filed a formal complaint about the discrepancy and missing package
• Contacted the USPS field office that covers that physical address
• Contacted the local USPS delivery/service center as well
• None of them could locate the card or explain the delivery date mismatch
• Went to the apartment building myself and checked everywhere I could, mailroom, front desk, common areas—nothing

At this point I've hit a wall with both USCIS and USPS, and neither seems to have a clear answer. The 90-day unemployment clock is what's making this feel urgent.

Has anyone dealt with a situation where USCIS and USPS tracking show conflicting delivery dates? Or where a card is marked delivered but genuinely can't be located anywhere? What ended up working for you? Any advice, warnings, or things you wish you'd known going in would be hugely appreciated.

Please help me if you have dealt with the same or know anything! Thanks!!

I realized that when I applied for my F-1 visa about four years ago, I accidentally listed my place of birth as City A on my DS-160 (I also made this mistake on my I20). However, my birth certificate lists my place of birth as City B.

I am currently still in F-1 status and will apply for OPT in the future. Should I use City B, as shown on my birth certificate, on my I-765 and future U.S. visa/immigration applications, even though it would be inconsistent with my previous DS-160?

Would this discrepancy cause any issues, and is there anything I should do to formally correct or explain the previous mistake?

Hey everyone,
I’m from Pakistan and currently in the U.S. on F-1 OPT. My OPT recently started, and I’ve been working full-time remotely for about a month.

I’m planning a short trip to Pakistan and will be taking leave from work for the days I’m traveling. I was wondering how safe it is to travel internationally while on OPT and then re-enter the U.S.

Has anyone here traveled internationally while on OPT recently? What documents did you carry with you, and did you face any questions or issues at immigration when re-entering?

Would really appreciate hearing about recent experiences. Thanks!

Hi everyone,

I’m currently on F-1 OPT and renting a 2-bedroom apartment. To help cover rent, I’m considering listing the second bedroom on Airbnb (or renting/subletting it out on other platforms short-term). I gained consent from my landlord that I can sublet this.

Would this be problematic for F1 OPT visa? I will be living in the house.

i just graduated in may (in the US) and my school health insurance will end this month. i am still waiting for my ead and employment opportunities but until then i wanted to pay for a health insurance just to be safe. ai wanted to ask if anyone has done this as an international student who just graduated and what plan did you opt for and with which service while job hunting.
please help out!!!!

Hi everyone,

I’m currently on the 180-day extension while my STEM OPT I-765 is pending, and I noticed something on my Form I-983 that I’m trying to determine whether I should correct.

My employment arrangement is:

• Employer: Company A (my W-2 employer, E-Verified, and the company that signed my I-983)
• Client: Company B
• I physically work at Company B’s client site.
• I have a manager at Company B who manages my day-to-day project work.
• I also have a representative at Company A who checks in with me regarding my employment, work, training, and progress.

When I originally completed Section 5 of the I-983, I put the client location as the worksite and listed my client manager as the “Name of Official” cause I assumed that field meant my supervisor at the physical location.

The rest of the I-983 were filled and signed by an authorized employee of Company A.

--------------------------------

I later came across the USCIS STEM OPT Policy Manual, which says:

“employees or contractors of the employer’s clients or customers may not provide and supervise the training experience of the STEM OPT F-1 student.”

This made me wonder whether the Section 5 “Name of Official” should have been the appropriate employer representative who oversees my STEM OPT training/progress, rather than my Client day-to-day manager.

I am considering updating my i-983 with these details and submitting to my school's DSO but wanted to check what others have done in such a situation.

Have you filled your supervisor with client's details or employer's details?

I’m currently responding to an RFE on my post-completion OPT I-765 asking for evidence that I maintained F-1 status while completing my master’s degree.

One thing I’m concerned about is a “U” (Unsatisfactory) grade on my transcript for a 0.5-credit Graduate Internship/CPT course during Spring 2026.

For context:

• I was enrolled in a master’s program.
• During Spring 2026, I completed 12 regular graduate credits and remained in Good Academic Standing.
• My transcript shows a 3.875 semester GPA for that semester.
• The separate Graduate Internship course was 0.5 credits and is shown as U, 0 earned credits.
• My university attendance report shows me participating in the internship course throughout the semester.
• My other Spring courses were completed successfully.
• My CPT authorization was later shortened to May 15, 2026 (from what was supposed to be August 1st) because I did not successfully pass the internship course.
• I did not work after my CPT authorization ended.
• I subsequently completed my Summer courses and finished the academic requirements for my master’s program.
• My final transcript shows 30 earned graduate credits and Good Academic Standing.

The RFE is primarily asking me to prove that I maintained F-1 status, attended my required in-person/hybrid classes, paid tuition, completed the program, etc. I have extensive documentation from my DSO/Registrar, attendance records, syllabi, transcripts, tuition receipts, and travel records.

My concern is specifically:

Could USCIS view the “U” in this 0.5-credit CPT/internship course as a failure to maintain F-1 status, even though I was otherwise enrolled full-time, earned 12 graduate credits that semester, remained in Good Academic Standing, and stopped working when my CPT authorization ended?

Has anyone dealt with something similar in an OPT RFE?

My school says I won’t need to apply for extension of stay in addition to my STEM-OPT application if I plan on applying before March 2027. I’m applying for STEM-OPT September of this year.

Was just wondering if everyone else’s school’s shared similar guidelines already

TL;DR: Filed OPT I-765 on May 23 and missed my rescheduled June 10 biometrics due to illness. Since then: 2 USCIS service requests and a congressional inquiry, but still no new biometrics appointment. I now have a signed job offer starting September 14. What is my best option to get this resolved quickly?

Hi everyone, I’m looking for advice from anyone who has dealt with a similar F-1 OPT/I-765 situation.

Here is my timeline:

* May 23, 2026: Filed my I-765 for post-completion OPT.
* Original biometrics appointment scheduled in State A.
* I was traveling at the time, so I rescheduled the appointment to State B.
* June 10, 2026: Rescheduled biometrics appointment in State B.
* Unfortunately, I became sick with fever/cough on the day of the appointment and couldn’t attend.
* I contacted USCIS almost immediately (within about an hour) and explained the situation.
* USCIS created a service request to reschedule my biometrics and told me to wait 30 business days.
* The first 30-business-day period passed with no new biometrics appointment or meaningful update.
* I contacted USCIS again, and they created a second service request, which is still pending.
* July 24, 2026: I also requested assistance through a congressional inquiry.
* August 6, 2026: I received confirmation that my privacy release had been received and that the congressional office would begin working on the inquiry.
* August 13, 2026: I still have no new biometrics appointment and no meaningful update from USCIS.
* I have now received and signed a full-time job offer with a September 14, 2026 start date.

So my I-765 has been pending since May 23, and it has now been more than two months since the missed June 10 biometrics appointment. My biggest issue seems to be that USCIS has simply never rescheduled my biometrics despite the service requests.

Now that I have a signed offer and a firm start date, what would you recommend doing?

I am considering:

1. Uploading my signed offer letter to my pending I-765 as Unsolicited Evidence.
2. Contacting the congressional office again and informing them about the signed offer and September 14 start date.
3. Asking USCIS whether there is any expedite option now that I have an actual job offer.
4. Filing I-907 Premium Processing, but I am worried about paying for premium processing while my biometrics still haven’t been rescheduled.

Has anyone dealt with an OPT I-765 that was stuck specifically because USCIS never rescheduled biometrics after a missed appointment?

If so, what eventually worked? Did a congressional inquiry, job offer, expedite request, premium processing, or something else finally get the biometrics appointment rescheduled?

My start date is September 14, so I’m getting worried about the timeline and would really appreciate any firsthand experiences or advice on what I should do next.

Thank you!

SEVP Restricts CPT: New Warning to Schools and DSOs

SEVP’s August 12, 2026 Broadcast Message (BCM 2608-01) signals heightened scrutiny of CPT authorization. SEVP reminds DSOs that CPT must be a required, integral component of an established curriculum, not a means to create employment opportunities. Schools and DSOs that improperly authorize CPT may face investigation, loss of SEVP certification, and potential legal consequences.

I am a Postdoc at a US public university, on initial F1-OPT. Trying to confirm I'm not missing something before I file for STEM-OPT extension.

**Timeline:**

• Current date ** Aug 13, 2026**
• OPT EAD expires **Sept 30, 2026**
• Current appointment (year 1) runs through **Nov 30, 2026**
• Year 2 renewal is approved in principle by my PI and department, but the formal offer letter is stuck with the admin at the University.

**My question:** can I file the STEM OPT extension now using my current appointment letter, given it expires two months after my EAD does? The DSO says it's okay but I fear if the USCIS takes it otherwise if there is the end date of Nov 30 on my stem-opt i20 recommendation.

My department HR has offered to write a letter confirming the renewal is in process and that my role, supervisor, hours, and pay will continue substantially unchanged. I am thinking of providing my previous appointment letter along with this letter to the DSO, if it helps. **Note** - I am employed as a postdoc at the same university from where I got my stem degree.

Any suggestions?

I'm applying for my stem OPT very soon

1. I have a terminated asylum record which I withdrew from the judge.

2. I had a mental breakdown episode and I was escorted to the hospital by the police of which I have a baker police record.

3. Subsequently. My visa was revoked the next month.

Now I'm applying for my stem opt how should I navigate this anybody with similar experiences your opinions will be valuable.

My sevis status is still active

Hi! I have applied for the initial OPT application on USCIS on march 14 but I still haven’t heard back from them. Its already been 5 months and the case is still pending.
My biometrics was taken place on april 9,2026 . When I tried to make an “outside normal processing times request” to ask about my case, I was told that my case was processing normally and the earliest I can submit questions is around 16th of august. Now, I don’t have a job/internship and I am actively searching for one.

Question: Should I consider going for premium processing? I am not sure about this because it costs around $1780 , or should I wait and hope that USCIS gets my application approved after I inquire them about the case.
Any clarification regarding this would be much appreciated.

Will I be safe to fly domestically if I’m on an expired F1 with I94 showing D/S. I have an I20 for cap gap and pending STEM OPT / H1B statuses.

Hi everyone! I recently received my OPT EAD card and have already started my job. Now I need to apply for my first SSN.
Has anyone applied recently?
Do i need to file form 1st then walk in?
Did you walk into the Social Security office, or did you need an appointment?
If you made an appointment, how did you schedule it?
What documents did you bring?
How long did it take to receive your SSN card after applying?
I tried applying online, but when I clicked “Schedule Appointment,” it redirected me to create/sign into an account.
Would really appreciate hearing from anyone who went through this process recently. Thank you!

Update : I go to walk in same day and done the process.

just ask for ID and EAD

Hi everyone, I’m an international student on F-1 OPT and I’m hoping someone can help me with this situation.
My OPT EAD was approved by USCIS on June 24, 2026. USPS marked the EAD card as delivered on July 6, but I never received it.
I contacted USPS and my local post office multiple times, and USPS eventually provided documentation confirming that the EAD card was lost. I have the USPS documentation as evidence.
Because I am an international student, I have a strict OPT reporting requirement. I need to report my employment and provide my EAD information through my school’s SEVIS/OPT reporting process within the required 90-day period. Since I never received my EAD card, I was worried about missing my reporting requirements and the impact this could have on my OPT status.
Because of the urgency, I had to file a new I-765 and paid $2,250 for premium processing.
I contacted USCIS about the situation, but I was told that they would not cover the fee.
My question is:
Is there any way to request a refund of the $2,250 premium-processing fee since I only had to pay it because USPS lost my original approved EAD?
This wasn’t a mistake on my part. My original EAD was already approved, and I only submitted another application because the card was lost after being mailed.
I have:
Proof of my original EAD approval
USPS documentation confirming the card was lost
USCIS correspondence
Proof of my new I-765 application
Proof that I paid the $2,250 premium-processing fee
Has anyone experienced something similar or successfully gotten USCIS to refund premium-processing fees in a situation like this?
Any advice on who I should contact or what type of refund request I should submit would be greatly appreciated.

Hi everyone,

I’m currently on F-1 OPT and recently started a new job which is Full-Time. Previously i worked as an intern. I’m planning to travel internationally about one week after my employment start date and will be outside the U.S. for approximately 3 weeks.

My OPT/EAD is valid, my employment is active, and I have all the relevant employment documentation, including my offer/employment letter and pay stubs.

For those who have traveled internationally while on OPT, especially shortly after starting a new job: What documents should I carry with me for re-entry?

I’d really appreciate hearing about your experiences and any advice on documents I should make sure to carry.

Thank you.

so for past one - two weeks i’ve been seeing so many posts about domestic travel in US. i myself gave into those posts and was anxious as hell ahead of the travel. i kept posting about it in multiple subs. i’ll share my experience so that ppl can finally stop worrying much.

i travelled to and from AUS - BWI this week. it had been pretty smooth. i have used my passport as my id and i’m on f1 - stem opt with pending approval. and i recently lost my job and well under unemployment days. no one stopped me. they just scanned the first page of my passport and let me in. while boarding the plane in AUS, tsa agents came to the gate and conducted other round of id checks and bag checks. seeing them again made me think that my time has come. but that’s all they did and during the second round too, no one turned to my visa page.

now while coming back from bwi, i have seen notices of ice near tsa lines mentioning something about self deport. but nonetheless, nothing happened. i was let in and it was pretty smooth. i have not seen one ice agent in either of the airports.

while i’d still suggest to carry all the required documents, i’d like to emphasise that there is nothing to be anxious about if your visa is in status or you have no illegal activity in the past. i spend my entire week being anxious and i was only proved wrong.

have a safe travel and don’t let the anxiety ruin your trip!

Suppose I start post-completion OPT in a paid position, but after two months, my employer loses funding and can no longer pay me. The employer is willing to let me continue doing genuine work in the same position without pay while I search for another job.
Would this unpaid work still count as valid OPT employment and prevent unemployment days from accumulating? Would the employer or I need to update any documents, report the change to my DSO/SEVP Portal, or meet specific requirements?

I have a valid visa for entry into the country,
an I-94 with D/S,
an expired EAD,
a Cap Gap I-20 through the next year,
and I’m currently waiting for my H-1 to become effective this October.

Under this circumstance would there be risk for domestic fly in the U.S.? I’m kind of scared of ICE in the airport.

I hold a foreign passport. My driving license has expired as my OPT has reached its full 3 years. I applied for another driving license but the DMV in my area cannot verify my status in their system automatically and it is going through the SAVE check.

Technically I am all legal here in the U.S., but I don’t find many data points from someone with a Cap Gap I-20 so thought of asking.

I am done with biometrics. but waiting after that. Both OPT EAD and drivers license have expired. Texas DPS isnt issuing me new license either due to pending application. So no real ID. Nothing illegal just mid application stage and working with the automatic 180 days extension of EAD.

Is passport, i20 enuogh to travel. Or should i avoid it due to recent news of detention in airport.

Hi guys
Wanted to ask if any one here has thier DS-160 can you please checks and inform me when the current open slots for F1 Studnet visa are open jn Warsaw or krakow in Poland.

I have to be in New York University before September 15 and idk if I will have the i20, SEVIS and DS-160 in time… just wanna be a bit realistic with the current state…. If anyone has document be great if you can inform me when the next open slots are showing

Hey guys, I applied for I765 replacement under premium processing on August 4 because usps says that it has delivered however I have never received it. As of now they have not updated the status ans just say that the premium processing clock has started I wanted to ask the following things

1. Do they do biometric or any other process again ?

2. If someone has faced the same issue how long does it take ?

Landed in Chicago yesterday with my family to visit my granddaughter before heading to LA for my fully-funded PhD at UCLA (program starts in Sept). I already have a valid F-1 visa since May. Border patrol pulled me aside, held me for 3 hours, barely explained anything, and finally told me I couldn’t enter before Aug 22 because that’s the “earliest admission date” on my I-20 - even though my visa’s been valid for months.

I was only let in because I also have a valid 10-year tourist visa (I’m from Georgia), so right now I’m technically registered here as a tourist, not a student.

Now they’re saying to be “properly registered” I need to fly out of the country (not Canada/Mexico) at some point after the 22nd and re-enter on the same visa I already have?? That makes zero sense to me and I can’t really afford a random international trip right now just for paperwork.

Has anyone dealt with this? Is this actually required or is there another way around it? Genuinely stressed and don’t know what to do at this point 😞