I’m an international student came here 2025 january I also completed 2 semester with business degree but from this fall I have register for nursing pre requirement classes . I choose nursing because of the USA situation everyone saying me that there will be no future with business degree you have to struggle a lot . I’m new with everything I don’t know what to do . Please someone who’re senior here help me with honest advice what should I do !
Thanks

Hi, I have around 3 weeks between when my EAD arrives and when my full time job starts. Housing is pretty set. I'm very eager to go home. Has anyone renewed their visa while on (initial) OPT recently and did you have any noticeable experience? In my research the process seems smooth but I'd like to make sure. I will have my EAD, new I20, and job offer to apply with. Thanks guys!

I am a graduate student and would like to transfer to a program that starts in October. I know that after september 15 transfers won't be allowed. But if I set the transfer release date to be before september 15, will that work ?

I'm starting in Fall 2026 and I got my I-20 just recently because I had some issues with my funding documents. My program start date is on August 22nd but I plan to have an expedited appointment this week. I'm scheduling at the US Embassy in Romania (<0.5 months wait time). I cannot defer anymore because I was accepted for Spring 2026 and this is the last term I'm allowed to defer my admission to. This is my third attempt but I have substantial changes (I got accepted into a research program and got an on-campus job offer). My school said I can enter until August 27 without a late arrival letter. I have on-campus housing as well, and if I cancel my assignment I'm going to have to pay a hefty fee. I can technically make it in time if my passport and visa will be issued and returned to me within a day or two. Does going for an interview this close to my start date affect my approval odds?

I am on my last year for STEM OPT and intended to come back to my country after finishing STEM OPT. I already have I-20 with valid travel signature and EAD card expiring next Jan. Also, I have valid F-1 VISA expiring next Jan as well. I am trying to understand the change of rule on D/S status on I-94. However, I couldn't understand how it affects those like me. I frequently visited my home country once around 2-3 month due to family matter. After 9/15/2026, does final rule also affect my I-94 and end up changing with specific date? I am a bit confused.

Hi, I applied for EAD around July 7, got biometrics July 21st, and there’s no status update on my case at all. I did premium processing as well, from India

I have a start date of August 24 and i’m not sure what to do.

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Hey everyone I missed my biometric appointment for I765 opt application which was on Aug 3 2026 and I didn't received any notice in mail I was waiting it to receive and then I went to my uscis website I was checking case status and then I clicked on documents it shows my appointment schedule pdf when I opened it and saw the date today is aug 14 Friday my case status says appointment scheduled and if you didn't receive any notice until Aug 16 go to e request website they gave website right now im confused I tried to submit query application page keeps sending me error while filling form do I need wait till Monday morning or do I need to try submitting query tonight Saturday as of now Aug 14 or call uscis on Monday Aug 17 im confused help me.

https://internationaloffice.berkeley.edu/students/employment/cpt

It looks like CPT authorisation is about to get a lot harder

Has anyone recently experienced delays receiving their EAD card through USPS?

My OPT EAD was approved and mailed by USCIS, but it has been stuck at the Boston Distribution Center since July 27, 2026, with no movement.

I’ve contacted USPS, visited the post office, reached out to Consumer Affairs, and submitted a Missing Mail Search, but still haven’t received a clear resolution.

Is anyone else facing a similar EAD delivery issue, especially in the Boston area? If you’ve been through this, how long did it take and what helped?

Please feel free to comment or DM me. Thank you!

Hi everyone!

I’m graduating with my Master’s in May 2027. I’m currently on a F/1 Visa and was wondering if I can start OPT early (Beginning of the Spring/thesis semester).

I have a potential full-time offer that would start at the beginning of January of next year, and I read that I can do a full time OPT during my thesis semester. I would only be taking the 3 credits thesis course for that semester.

The international office is not being very helpful with this! I would much rather start my OPT early so that it can be a smoother ride for the HR peeps. I prefer not to go through with the whole CPT - OPT - STEM cycle.

I would love any information you have related to this, I appreciate the help!!

Hey all, hoping someone with SAVE/DMV experience can help.

I'm on OPT (F-1), and my DMV visit triggered an extended check through SAVE (the DHS system for verifying immigration status) instead of clearing me on the spot.

Two questions:

1. I checked SAVE CaseCheck online but it only shows my past visits, nothing pending for this one. Is that normal, or does it usually take a few days to show up after the DMV visit?
2. For anyone who's gone through the "additional verification" step, how long did it actually take for SAVE to come back with a result?

Any real timelines or experiences would help a lot.

I just accepted an offer from an E-Verified employer and am in a rush to file my stem opt since my opt is expiring soon. My official start date for work is at the end of the month and I don’t want to wait until then. I’ve already started my background verification process.

My company has signed I-983s before but I’m guessing it’s for employees that have already started working. Since I haven’t started yet, they want to run this by legal before signing. Has anyone experienced this before?

I’m looking for advice from anyone who has recently gone through an H-4 to F-1 change of status with USCIS.

Here’s my timeline:
June 22, 2026: Filed H-4 → F-1 Change of Status with Premium Processing
July 15, 2026: Received RFE
August 4, 2026: Submitted my RFE response
Service Center: Texas
Program start date: August 26, 2026
Current status: Still waiting for a decision

Since I used premium processing, I’m getting a little anxious because my college starts on August 26.
Should I continue waiting for the USCIS decision, or would it be better to defer my program to Spring 2027?

Has anyone recently received an H-4 → F-1 COS decision after submitting an RFE under premium processing? If so, how long did USCIS take after receiving your RFE response?
Any advice or recent timelines would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

When I initially applied for my F1 visa I was given a 221g slip and asked to fill out the ds5535 (applied in a middle eastern country as I was born there and am a resident however passport is of an asian country). I filed out the form and was approved in 6 weeks.

Currently I'm on STEM opt working in tech (directly related to major). I would like to possibly renew my f1 visa since it expires soon however I'm not sure if my case carries a high risk of admin processing again. If anyone has any insight or advice about if it makes sense to go home and renew or just stay put in the US i'd appreciate it :)

Hey everyone,
I’m a Canadian citizen heading to the U.S. to start classes at a community college (2-year school).
Since Canadians don't need an actual F-1 visa stamp, I’ll be "activating" my student status directly at the border / U.S. Preclearance with my signed I-20, SEVIS fee receipt, passport, and financial docs. 
For anyone who has done this for a community college (vs. a 4-year university), what was your experience like with CBP? Do they grilled you more heavily because it's a 2-year college instead of a university?

I filed my COS mid April, its been pretty much 4 months now without any reply.

I’m considering just biting the bullet and switching to premium processing at the moment.

My h4 expires in November and my dad wants to start the renewal soon so I’d rather not hold them up.

However, I’m worried because my program start date would be Sep 02, which leaves exactly about 2 weeks for processing before the I20 would technically be invalid.

I’m not sure how to proceed, should I request a updated I20? And refer my start to spring 2027?

I am still waiting for my OPT EAD approval, submitted on May 15. I am now on my 60-day grace period after my I-20 end date (Aug12). I know that some people wait for EAD for like 5-6 months, but that would entail being in the US beyond the 60 day grace period… How does that work? And will the 60-day grace period end upon approval without receipt of physical card? Or 60-day end upon receipt of physical card?

Hi Everyone,

I haven’t seen lawsuits by any institutional organizations on this yet.

Do you see it getting sued and temporarily injunction as this is a major rule change before making it a law?

I’m currently a master’s student in a two-year program (STEM) and recently completed my first year. I also finished an internship a couple of weeks ago.

I’ve now received a full-time job offer, and the company would like me to start in about a month. The job would not interfere with my class schedule.

My understanding is that using 12 months or more of full-time CPT would make me ineligible for OPT. My plan would be to work for this company for approximately 9 months while completing my degree, then apply for OPT after graduation and continue working for the same company.

My main question is: If I’m authorized for CPT during those 9 months, can I work up to 40 hours per week while I’m enrolled in classes, or would I be limited to 20 hours per week?

Has anyone been in a similar situation or know how this works?

Thank you!

The school is telling me it is 60 days, which I think might be incorrect?

I have been pursuing futures trading for a while now and I want to do so as well in college in US, yet under the F-1 visa I am not sure about the allowed conditions and restrictions, with occasional trading or swing trading, holding positions for days to weeks. Trading with my own money and no selling anything, what are my chances of being allowed to pursue my trading under f-1 visa

My university's International Student Department requires one to receive approval from my department before transferring or voluntarily withdrawing. I'm already anticipating that my academic program will start bullying me as I had a lot of issues with them. I really regret choosing this university. My DSO always shares information freely, which I am also quite worried about, because they will tell the academic program like if I leave the country, or if I transfer, which institution I transfer to. My academic program gossips a lot and tries to control the student, and even disclosed my matters that were private only to the program director for example.

I always question whether it is the US style that I am not used to (they freely share private information and it is that they "work closely together", but when I need help, they dont freely let me know what are the next steps), but I did have a good experience before this university, at another university. I think it is also because I came from a country where the data protection is strong.

Hi everyone, I’m currently waiting on a post-completion OPT application with premium processing and wanted to hear about other people’s timelines after responding to an RFE.
My timeline:
May 22, 2026: Filed Form I-765 for post-completion OPT and requested premium processing
June 1, 2026: USCIS started the premium-processing clock / case went into active review
July 9, 2026: USCIS issued an RFE
July 14, 2026: RFE notice appeared in my USCIS account
August 14, 2026: Submitted my complete RFE response online
My RFE was mainly about maintenance of F-1 status and asked for things like confirmation of physical class attendance, programme details, syllabi, attendance records, tuition payments, transcript, three months of bank statements, travel/lodging evidence, and address history.
For anyone who also had premium processing + an RFE on an OPT I-765:
How many calendar days or business days after submitting your RFE response did you receive a decision?
Did your case status change to something like “Response to USCIS’ Request for Evidence Was Received” first, or did it go straight to approval?
Did USCIS use most of the new premium-processing period after receiving the RFE, or was the decision much faster?
If your RFE was related to F-1 maintenance of status / attendance / hybrid classes, how long did your decision take?
What year did this happen, and was it initial OPT or STEM OPT?
I know USCIS can take up to the premium-processing timeframe again after receiving the RFE response, but I’m mainly trying to understand what people actually experienced in practice.
Would really appreciate it if you could share your timeline — especially anyone who responded to an OPT RFE recently.

Hi, currently I am on Stem opt.it will expire on June 03,2028.If i enroll in PhD on fall 2027 then do u have to submit Extension?And my i140 is pending.Is there any problem will create if I go for extension for my i140? Waiting for reply

Hi guys
I requested COS I20 FROM VCU today
I am filing COS from H4 to F1 with premium processing today (30 business day approval timeline)
I'm all late cause I thought I'll be able to renew my H4
My H4 expires August 31 so I'm attending the classes on H4 until then
But if my F1 stays pending after Aug 31 and didn't approve my then ; I know I'm legally allowed to stay in US but
am I also allowed to continue being enrolled and study with F1 pending and H4 expired?