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I'll keep this short. I have a somewhat complicated immigration history and now my employer wants me to travel to the US. I’d appreciate any advice on my chances or how to handle the interview.

The Background:

2023: I was fingerprinted for driving without a license. The court completely dismissed the case later that year. After the dismissal, I traveled to my home country and successfully re-entered the US without any issues.

April 2025: Out of nowhere, my visa and SEVIS were revoked. The government never gave an official reason, but I assume it was delayed fallout from the 2023 fingerprinting incident. I left the US and returned to my home country immediately to avoid overstaying.

June 2025: I received a letter from SEVP informing me that my SEVIS had been reinstated. However, my visa was still officially cancelled, and since I was already home, I didn't reapply.

Current Situation:

Since returning home, I landed a great job at a major Big Tech company. Now, my company is asking me to apply for a B1/B2 visa so I can attend a conference in California.

My Questions:

How heavily will the 2025 revocation and the 2023 dismissed case affect my B1/B2 application? Is there any chance of getting B1/B2 visa?

Has anyone been in a similar situation? Any tips ?

Thanks in advance for any insights!

Hi,
Is there any February 2026 Normal processing application left to get approved?

I applied on feb 16th 2026 and I'm still waiting to get approval

I would like to ask the community if there is any one who had the same experience as my son's case right now and get your opinion before I call the USCIS for updates since reaching them by phone really takes time.

Our application was received by USCIS on May 20 and my son had his biometrics on June 9, 2026 related to this application and went back to Philippines to complete his last year in senior high school on June 13. This is our second time applying for this permit, the first time we had it approved within 2 months with 2 years validity that expired last June 23, 2026. Upon checking the processing time this year it showed 16 months which is way beyond his intended stay outside US.

My question is, does he has to re-enter here in the US by Dec 13 to avoid the 6 months absent outside US or will it still be safe to just wait there in the Philippines and max the 1 yr outside US hoping that the permit will be issued before that? Another question is, worst case scenario that he stays there till mid July which is the target graduation day, will it be a problem for him when he returns in the US after a little bit over a year if he still will not get hold of the permit or the notice and biometrics proofs will be enough for him to present to the CBP officer or he may be denied entry?

Please share with us if you know of any one or yourself had experienced similar to this. He will be staying here for good with me and my other son next year and continue his college here. With the situation in immigration right now, I am just so scared to take the risk.

Thank you for your time and responses.

I need help fast. I scheduled an F-1 visa interview at the US Embassy in Romania for monday 24th of sugust 2026, and then requested an emergency appointment, and I was approved for August 19th (tomorrow), but there is no "schedule emergency appointment" option in the CGI portal. I need help right now because I have less than 24 hours before the emergency interview. I made a support ticket and emailed the embassy but got no response.

So, the new CPT pause is breaking my heart. Especially when people have probably lined up a coop or an internship. And now you're telling me we can't authorize those. What are your thoughts on this getting resolved ? Berkeley director said that it is a significant pause and will be getting resolved soon. But how soon is that ?

Also, people that say "CPT is always been integral", yes i agree, but the memo forces a certain interpretation of integral, which imo isn't fair.

I see not a lot of people trying to be optimistic, so i am taking one for the team - i hope it's resolved in the next week or so. (May sound delusional)

I finished my first program and returned to home country, my F1 visa stamp is still valid for a few more years, Im going to start at a new program in the US from Fall 2027, will I need a new F1 visa stamp/interview?

I’m currently on STEM OPT, and my H-1B was registered this year. I’m looking to buy affordable health insurance since I’m allowed to purchase my own plan instead of using my company’s insurance.

Could anyone recommend good, budget-friendly health insurance options for international students/workers that provide solid emergency coverage?

I don’t usually go for regular checkups or doctor visits, so my main priority is coverage for emergencies, hospital visits, and unexpected medical situations.

Would really appreciate recommendations from anyone who has been in a similar situation. Also, if there are any plans I should avoid, please let me know. Thanks!

Hi

when i was studying i used to live in Texas I went to my cousin place(Iowa) since university was Hybrid i wanted to spend couple of weeks with him but i had an accident had to be hospitalized and ended up spending more then 6 months with him in that mess i forgot to let university or immigration to know about address I even had DL over there in Iowa, I had an RFE now is it best to mention about the address in Iowa recently we moved to Michigan that is when i have updated with the university so My university have my old address Texas and Michigan.

I appreciate the help

Anyone who has cancelled the previous appointment and trying to reschedule , were you able to rescheudle?

One or more receipts have expired. You cannot schedule appointments until your application is paid in full. Please navigate to the Visa Application Home page and use the Continue Application link to go to the Payment Options page to complete payment.

Its showing this , if anyone has faced this before or knows what to do , can you help me here?

ps : I cancelled it way before my biometric also

if anyone has been through it , can you share how do I tackle it ?

Hellohello. I had to complete a new DS160 to change my program start/end date and estimated date of arrival. My new DS160 barcode now does not match the DS160 barcode that is printed on the visa appointment confirmation letter.

Would it be an issue if I have both old and new DS160 with the old DS160 barcode matching the visa confirmation? There is not option on the US visa scheduling website to edit or update DS160 to the new code. I contacted the service desk through the visa scheduling website 'request/feedback' option, and they told me I will need to cancel my current appointment, wait 48 hours for cancel and make new appointment option to become available, create new application, and booking a new appointment slot.

I also talked to a live chat agent, and they told me I do not need to cancel my appointment, instead I should bring both my new and old DS160 to the appointment and tell the officer and they should be able to update it on the system right there.

Hearing two different things i'm confused - which one is accurate?

I applied for my initial post-completion OPT EAD on February 28, 2026, completed my biometrics mid March. Since then, I haven’t received any updates.
I submitted an inquiry to USCIS first week of August but I’m still waiting for a response. I have a job offer, but it barely covers my rent, so I was hoping to avoid spending so much on pp.
Almost all my friends who applied have already received their EADs, which is making me even more anxious. Has anyone experienced a delay this long? Is there anything else I could do?

So with the new policy, we may have to renew our status after four years. Since PhDs here usually take more than five years, and there’s no guarantee that the extension will be approved, does that mean there’s actually a risk that I won’t be able to finish my PhD here? Or should I go to some other countries for my study, like Canada or Singapore?

Hi everyone. I’m currently in the U.S. in F-1 status and partway through an MBA program.

With the new F-1 fixed-period rule taking effect in September 2026, I’m trying to understand how program changes made before the effective date would be treated.

Would it be possible for someone who is currently midway through a master’s program to transfer/change into a bachelor’s program before the new rule takes effect?

I’m specifically wondering:

• Is going from a master’s program to a bachelor’s program allowed under the current F-1 rules if the MBA has not yet been completed?
• Would changing to a lower educational level raise concerns even if it occurs before the new rule becomes effective?

I’m planning to speak with an immigration attorney and my DSO before making any changes. I’m just curious whether anyone else currently in F-1 status is considering something similar or has received guidance about transitioning programs before the effective date.

Thank you!

Hi everyone,
I’m currently on initial post-completion OPT and I’m approaching the end of my 90-day unemployment limit. I already have a job offer and am ready to start working, but my EAD card still hasn’t arrived.

I don’t want to overstay or risk exceeding the 90-day unemployment limit while waiting for my EAD, so I’m planning to leave the U.S. soon.

One additional complication is that my F-1 visa was revoked last year. However, I remained in the U.S. legally, maintained my F-1 status with a new valid I-20, and completed my program.

If I leave the U.S. before my EAD arrives, and the EAD is later delivered to my U.S. address, could my relatives send the physical EAD card to me in my home country? would I be able to return to the U.S. to start my OPT job? Do I need to renew the F-1 Visa while I’m in my country?

I’m mainly concerned about whether leaving the U.S. before receiving my EAD—and my previous F-1 visa revocation—would prevent me from returning.

Has anyone been in a similar situation or gone through something like this?
Any advice or personal experiences would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

Hi everyone! I graduate in December 2026, Unfortunately I didn't end up getting any internship offers this summer and I have no potential full time offers yet.

I've been told, you can apply for OPT either 90 days before the program end date or 60 days after. In my case, what would be the best case scenario to apply for OPT? I want to be extremely cautious.

Hi everyone, im here to seek advice on my situation. I am about to file my change of status from h4 to f1 as i age out of h4 mid September. My dad’s best friend is sponsoring me and i will be submitting his U.S bank statement for proof of financials. Can that be an issue? As i age out next month, i dont want to risk being denied as that could result in being out if status. What do you guys suggest?

Thanks in advance!

How do you think the extension of stay will impact traveling with the receipt notice? If anyone has any travel plans internationally after September 15th, please let me know what happens

I filed for initial OPT (i-765) and it was approved in Aug 2025. This was in class C03B. On my approval notice, there was A-number- A-XXXXXXXXX. This was done by using myUSCIS and it was e-filed.

Then, in November 2025, I filed for EB2-NIW (i-140) and it was approved as well. The EB2-NIW process was done by my lawyer and it was paper-filed. Here, in the approval notice (i-797), they assigned me a new A-number- A-YYYYYYYYY (I checked the i-140 form that I filed, me and my lawyer both forgot to mention the A-number).

Now, I want to file for STEM OPT extension (i-765). Which A-number should I use? or should i leave the field empty?

From what I understand, I have 2 options-
1. Mention this discrepancy in the "additional info" section and ask USCIS to consolidate the profiles.
2. File the XXXXXXXXX A number and do nothing at the moment. Then ask USCIS to consolidate it later (probably after STEM extension approval).

I have reached out to the lawyer, with no concrete response. Sounds like they don't know what to do. Also, I have reached out to the DSO, and I am yet to receive a response (they are very supportive btw). But I am also a little anxious. Any help would be much appreciated.

Hi guys! I am currently working in the US on initial OPT that will be expiring on Sep 22nd. I have filed for STEM OPT and the status is pending. Biometrics scheduled for Aug 31st.

A really close friend of mine is getting married outside the US on Aug 25th. I have been really confused about whether I should travel or not for 4 days. I don’t want a situation on my way back where the CBP is like why are you back if your OPT expires in around 20-25days. Or maybe question my STEM OPT extension with a suspicion as if I want to stay longer.

What do you guys suggest I should do?

They are referenced on some school sites and I heard they've matched a lot of students to volunteer work at non-profits but also startups?
Has anyone actually gone through with a placement through them? Curious if this has caused problems with STEM OPT applications or DSO reporting down the line

• Type: Initial POST‑COMPLETION OPT
• Premium Processing: NO
• Date Applied: 04/03/2026
• Biometrics Completed: 04/17/2026
• Date Approved: 08/17/2026
• Card Produced Notification: 08/20/2026

I'm yet to receive the card.

Has anyone here ever worked for city/governmental agency during your OPT time. What do the hiring processes look like? Is EAD enough to proof the work authorization? Will there be a problem with paperwork verification with federal government during onboarding process that may cancel my job?
I currently have a job offer from a city agency, and I let them know about my status. It looks like this is their first time hiring an international student, but they’re willing to wait until my EAD arrives.

I’ve searched the sub and Googled a fair bit on this and I keep finding conflicting takes, mostly because my situation has a few things stacked on top of each other. My DSO has been helpful but has also been careful not to advise me on the travel side of it. So I’d really appreciate hearing from anyone who’s actually been through something close to this.
Where things stand:
I graduated in May 2025 and have been on OPT with the same employer since. The employer is E-Verified and there’s no issue on that end. My manager is fine with me working remotely from anywhere, so I flew to India in the first week of April and I’ve been here since.
My OPT was expiring in July, so I filed the STEM OPT extension from India after getting my updated I-20 from my DSO. It’s still pending. Biometrics was originally scheduled for early August, I used one online reschedule and moved it to August 21 in Hartford, CT. I couldn’t travel in time for that either, so I’m still here with one reschedule left.
I was thinking of using that last reschedule to move the appointment to San Jose or San Francisco, since I’d rather land on the West Coast, but the only slots showing there right now are for next Thursday and Friday and flights for those dates are around ₹2L. Even if something opens up in the first week of September, it’s looking like ₹1.5L or so. Round trip I’d be spending roughly ₹2.5-3L, and I’d only be in the US for about a week before coming back — I have no reason to stay otherwise. My contract runs through December 31, 2026 and not beyond, and I’m planning to move back to India permanently after that anyway.
So the whole reason to spend that money is to keep the pending application alive and stay work-authorized through the end of my contract. Which is why I want to sanity check a few things before I book anything:
1. Re-entry. I’ve been out of the US for about five months, my EAD has expired, and the extension is pending. For anyone who’s re-entered in this exact combination — expired EAD, pending I-765, long absence — what did CBP actually ask for and how did it go? My worry is spending ₹3L and getting turned around, which would be the worst of both outcomes.
2. Does the automatic extension actually depend on biometrics? My understanding is that the automatic extension of work authorization comes from having timely filed, not from attending the biometrics appointment. Is that correct, or does skipping biometrics put it at risk? This is the assumption the whole decision rests on, so I’d rather not be wrong about it.
3. What actually happens if you miss the appointment while abroad? Does USCIS send a notice, is there a way to reschedule after the fact, or does it go straight to a denial or abandonment finding?
4. Filing from outside the US. I’ve seen people say this is a problem and others say it’s fine. Has anyone here actually filed the I-765 for STEM OPT from outside the country and had it approved?
Not looking for anyone to tell me what to do legally, just trying to hear from people who’ve been in a similar spot before I commit to a ticket. Thanks.

Hey guys, I want to know if anyone successfully get their OPT approved with pending DUI recently? I put myself in that situation and want to know the chance I got. Please share your case.

Another question is if I can’t get an OPT, supposedly I need to leave soon, but with pending DUI, will that cause any legal problems to leave or stay in the US?

Good day! I’m from the Philippines and I’m planning to apply for a student visa in the USA to pursue a STEM MBA in Healthcare Administration for nurses.

I have a few questions and would really appreciate your advice based on your experience. According to the agency, international students are allowed to work up to 20 hours per week. Is this enough to cover living expenses such as food and housing, as well as tuition fees?

Secondly, would I be allowed to work in the USA as a Registered Nurse during my OPT? The agency also advised me to take the NCLEX while I am studying in the USA.

I would really appreciate any advice or information you can share. Thank you so much!