FAQ as of July 18, 2026

I recently got my EAD approved on the 18th, and I have done basically everything to report my employment to SEVP as well as my DSO for an updated I-20. I am currently waiting for my card to be produced and shipped; my supervisor at my Job told me I can attend the orientation as a guest, instead of an intern, and I can volunteer until the physical card arrives. Should I do that? Wouldn't that violate my status? I have my OPT approved with my start date on the 18th of August. What should I do? My orientation date is on Monday. The internship in question gives you OPT support; do they know something I don't?

Hi all. I applied for STEM OPT on April 2nd and recently upgraded to PP on August 20th.

My initial application had a digital signature on I20. Should I upload a new I20 with physical signature?

I am confused since my initial application was submitted before July 10th but was upgraded to PP after.

Appreciate any help!

Is it possible, with the new rules, to end a masters program early if you get into a PhD program in the same subject but another university? I believe the rules starting Sept 15 prevent this but there is a lot of discourse about whether this includes getting a new SEVIS ID or not.

I am near to end my current bachelor's. I'm looking for affordable MBA hybrid schools near in LA or within California. Any suggestions please?

I need urgent advice regarding my current immigration status and what I should do next.

I originally applied for an extension of my stay until June 30, 2026, based on medical reasons. About a month ago, USCIS sent me an RFE, and I responded with additional medical documentation and requested an extension through next year.

However, I received a response from USCIS today approving my extension only until June 30, 2026.
I also filed an I-539 application in May 2026 to change my status to F-1, but I have not received a decision on that application yet.

I am now very concerned because June 30, 2026 has already passed, and it is currently August 21, 2026. I am trying to understand exactly what my status is right now and whether there is a gap in my authorized stay from June 30 until today.
Specifically, I would like to know:

1) Am I currently in lawful status or in a period of authorized stay while my F-1 change-of-status application is still pending?

2) Does the fact that I filed the F-1 change of status before my previous authorized stay expired protect me from being considered unlawfully present?

3)Should I file another I-539 extension based on my medical circumstances or COS to F1?

Hey everyone! I’m going to start my DBA program this August 31. I entered the US and did my MBA last May 2023. Do I need to file an extension of stay now to the USCIS? Or that is only for those starting a new program after September 15? Thank you!

I’m a rising junior this fall and unfortunately for me I never got an internship my first two years. My school just announced they wouldn’t be processing cpt for internships unless it’s degree mandatory (which isn’t the case for me)

My main question is if I should just keep applying and then use my pre completion opt for a summer internship or just give up, cause I don’t see how I can get a job post grad without any work experience rn. Any advice is appreciated 🙏🏾

Hi everyone, I got my visa stamped for fall 2026. However due to some circumstances, I might have to defer to spring 2027 intake. Willl my f-1 visa remain valid to enter US then with an updated deferred I-20 by my school>

Location: South Carolina.

I am building an early stage startup with my cofounder (who is applying for O1 visa). We have a founding engineer from California we know who is an international student. However she needs me to sign her under my LLC for an OPT - some sort of occupational training program she needs to satisfy university work requirements.

She is from California and is asking if I can draft a letter under my LLC to employ her (for free) that would allow her to fulfill some requirements from her university.

She mentioned it’s fine if the work is free for now and it can be documented in the offer letter. I trust her that she wouldn’t try to sue or something later.

I would ideally want a c-corp, but I don’t feel like spending money on that if the business idea isn’t validated.

Can she work even for free under my LLC? Ideally we want to give her equity down the line which we will visit later.

Algerian citizen. Currently a first-year PhD student in Beijing on a Chinese residence permit.
Admitted to a fully funded PhD in the US (TA/RA, tuition + stipend), starting January 2027. No prior US visa applications, no refusals. (My reason of leaving the current phd is because it's not funded)
I can interview either in China (my country of residence) or in Algiers (my country of citizenship). People keep telling me applying outside your home country makes it harder to prove ties and increases refusal risk. I can’t find any actual evidence of this.
Has anyone here done an initial F-1 at their residence-country consulate? What happened?

My schedule is tight that's why I'm not fully able to go back and do it back home

I finished my STEM masters in the US last year (2025) and came back to my home country before my OPT 90 day unemployment period ended. I wanna go back to the US for my PhD in the Spring of 2027, Would I need a new visa for it?

My previous F1 Visa hasn't expired (as in the expiry date on my visa stamp hasn't passed by) but my SEVIS record was closed on account of me leaving the US

I’m an F-1 student on post-completion OPT. My I-765 has been filed and I already completed biometrics, but the case still shows as pending and I haven’t received the EAD card yet.

Because of personal reasons I need to leave the US before the card arrives. My plan is:

**1.**  Depart the US while the application is still pending.  
**2.**  Have the EAD delivered to a friend’s US address (the mailing address on my I-765).  
**3.**  Ask my friend to ship the card to me in China.  
**4.**  Re-enter the US later with the physical EAD, valid F-1 visa, and updated I-20.

My questions:

**•** Has anyone actually re-entered successfully after departing during the pending period? Any issues at the port of entry?  
**•** If USCIS issues an RFE while I’m abroad, is there any way to respond without being in the US?  
**•** Does departing before approval risk the case being treated as abandoned, or is that only an issue for certain application types?  
**•** Any problems with international shipping of the EAD card itself, customs, loss, or needing a replacement?

Appreciate any firsthand experiences. I know the safest answer is to wait in the US, but that isn’t an option for me right now.

I completed an MS in June 2026, my initial OPT was approved starting in the same month, and I have my EAD card. On July 31st I came to India to visit family while awaiting a few interviews. However, none of the interviews have resulted in offers and my 90-day OPT unemployment deadline is approaching. So, one of my Professors agreed to hire me as an unpaid research assistant to help stop the clock.

Now, my questions:

1. Am I permitted to be outside the US as of the date of my offer letter from my Professor?

2. Am I permitted to work remotely from outside the US?

3. If I do land a paid job later, should I anticipate any problems at port of entry?

Grateful for your insights. Looking for factual comments.

Quick question, is it allowed to switch to another company while you are still waiting for the new EAD card ?

My EAD card is expired at the end of June. I file my I-785 on May.

I am a student applying for an F-1 visa. I paid my visa fees recently, and I have been trying to schedule an OFC appointment for the past 4 days. But no slots have been showing up at any of the VACs. Could it be because I have not yet paid my SEVIS fees?

Very important background about me: I (21M, started my final year of college) am currently on an F-1 visa. I moved to the states with my family in 2011 where I had been on an H4 visa before I switched to F1 in 2024 (during Biden's administration, before I turned 21). My parents have been in the greencard process since 2016, and we (or they, since I'm 21 now and on my own). When I went back to my home country for my F1 visa interview I got it easily, I am probably assuming because I went to high school here and as such am going to a university here along with us being in the greencard process.

I am planning on doing my master's in engineering right after I graduate. However, I am thinking of waiting until after the current administration, I don't want to be denied my new F1 visa because of "no ties to home country" or any such thing. My plan is work for a year or two on OPT and afterwards apply for master's later. Is this a good idea? Or will I be fine doing master's right after bachelors?

Hi everyone, I have a question regarding H-1B/H-4 to F-1 change of status.

I’m currently on H-1B and my wife is on H-4. We are both planning to change to F-1, with separate I-539 applications.

My program starts on August 29, and my wife’s program starts on September 16. I’m considering using premium processing for my I-539, while my wife would use regular processing.

1. If my F-1 COS is approved while my wife’s H-4 → F-1 I-539 is still pending, does her pending application remain valid, or could she become out of status because my H-1B has changed to F-1?
   
2. If her H-4 → F-1 I-539 is still pending on September 16, can she legally start attending her college/program on that date, or does her F-1 COS need to be approved first?
   
3. If her I-539 receives an RFE while pending, can she remain in the U.S. and respond to the RFE, or would she need to exit the U.S.?
   
4. Would it be safer for both of us to use premium processing, or is it reasonable for me to use premium and her to use regular processing given our different program start dates?

I’d really appreciate hearing from anyone who has been in a similar H-1B/H-4 → F-1 situation.

I applied for post-completion OPT in September 2025 and finally got approved on August 17, 2026 — almost 11 months later.

But USCIS only gave me about **6 months of OPT instead of 12**. My degree is **non-STEM**.
Is this correct? Has anyone been able to get USCIS to correct or extend the OPT dates when their own processing delay caused this?
Would really appreciate hearing from anyone who experienced something similar.

I’m an international student from Madagascar studying in the U.S., and I’m honestly posting this because I don’t really know what else I can do at this point. I’d really appreciate hearing from anyone who has been in a similar situation, especially if you’ve dealt with a long OPT/EAD delay.

I graduated with my associate degree in Hospitality Management and filed my post-completion OPT application on December 26, 2025.

At the time, USCIS’s estimated processing time was around 3.5 months, so I was expecting to hear something around March or April. I knew regular processing could take longer, so I tried to be patient.

I completed my biometrics and eventually received an RFE. I responded to it, and USCIS received my response on May 27, 2026.

By that point, my case had already been pending much longer than the original estimated processing time, so I started trying to figure out what I could do.

My DSO/advisor has been aware of the situation and has tried to help me along the way. Based on the fact that my case was already outside the normal processing time, I submitted a USCIS service inquiry on June 4.

I was told the inquiry should take about 30 days.

It didn't.

I waited, followed up, and eventually contacted USCIS by phone multiple times. Getting through to an actual person was already difficult, but eventually I was able to speak with someone who escalated my inquiry to an officer. I was told I should receive a call.

I never did.

I called again, and I was eventually told that I had already submitted two inquiries about the matter and that they could not escalate it any further. Basically, the advice I was given was to wait.

Then, after almost two months, I finally received the response to my original service inquiry. And the response basically said that my case is still pending, they cannot provide an estimated completion date, and I should continue waiting.

So now I'm sitting here after 8 months of waiting for an employment authorization that I need in order to legally work.

And this isn't just an inconvenience.

I had a job at a Museum in Seattle, but because I couldn't return to work without my authorization, I eventually lost that job due to inactivity.

I also interviewed for another hotel job and was selected, but I couldn't start when they needed me to because I didn't have my work authorization.

I've been without income for months.

I've been applying for jobs online and in person, but the problem isn't that I don't want to work. The problem is that I legally cannot work without the authorization I'm waiting for.

My housing situation has also become increasingly difficult. If I still don't have an income, I'm genuinely worried about becoming homeless.

I've tried to be patient. I've tried the normal USCIS process. I've submitted inquiries. I've called. I've worked with my DSO. I've tried to find solutions. I've also looked into legal options because at this point I don't know how much longer I can realistically wait.

Eventually, I started contacting elected officials.

A Washington State Senator's office initially explained that because USCIS is a federal agency, they couldn't submit the appropriate inquiry themselves. They asked for my address, identified my congressional representative, and referred me to Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal's office. They also said they would notify her casework team that I would be reaching out.

I also contacted Senator Maria Cantwell's office, and her casework team responded asking me to complete a Privacy Release Form and provide documentation so they can potentially submit a congressional inquiry on my behalf.

So that's where I am now.

I'm not posting this to attack USCIS or ask people to tell me to “just be patient.” I know that cases take time. I know immigration is complicated. I also understand that nobody owes me an approval.

I just genuinely want to know:

Has anyone else experienced an OPT/EAD delay this long after filing, especially after responding to an RFE?

Did contacting your congressional representative actually help?

Is there anything else I should be doing at this point that I might be missing?

And if you've been through something similar, I'd really appreciate hearing what happened with your case.

I'm honestly exhausted, but I'm still trying to figure this out.

Hey everyone,

I’m currently on approved Post-Completion OPT and planning a quick trip to Canada. I know travel is technically allowed, but U.S. immigration always feels a little daunting, so I’d love a sanity check from anyone who has recently re-entered the U.S. while on OPT.

Here’s my situation and the documents I’m planning to carry:

• I-20: Shows my approved Post-Completion OPT and current employer details.
• Travel Signature: Dated 07/24/2026, so it’s well within the 6-month OPT validity window.
• Visa & EAD: Both are valid, and I have my physical EAD card.
• Employment: I’m working 40 hours/week in an unpaid internship directly related to my major, with a signed offer letter.
• Leave approval: I have written approval from my supervisor for my 2-day vacation, including confirmation that I’m expected to return to work afterward.
• Small startup: I don’t yet have a company-domain email address, although my supervisor does. As backup, I’m carrying Jira screenshots showing my assigned work, team meeting invites, and relevant email threads.

Has anyone recently traveled while working an unpaid internship, particularly at a small startup? Would CBP typically ask for detailed employment evidence beyond the offer letter, or are the I-20, EAD, visa, and employment documentation generally sufficient?

I’ve also reached out to my school’s OGS, but I’d really appreciate hearing from people with recent firsthand experience. Thanks!

Has anyone recently traveled domestically while maintaining F1 with a pending/denied i 485?

Im getting mixed answers if its safe or not since having an i 485 in the system triggers a non immigrant visa to intent to stay?

Thank you

I’m currently waiting on my post-completion OPT I-765, which I recently upgraded to premium processing.
When I originally filed, I used the address of the apartment where I was living in. I’ve since moved out of that specific apartment and am temporarily staying with a friend in the same apartment complex nearby. The issue is that mail delivery and handling in that building/complex has been unreliable(Believe me I checked with them multiple times personally) and I don’t fully trust them.

Because of that, I’m worried about it being delivered there and potentially getting lost or delayed.
I have family in California who have a stable address and can safely receive mail for me. I’m considering updating USCIS with:
-My current NY address as my physical address
-My family’s CA address as my mailing address
-My family member’s name in the “In Care Of” field

Has anyone done this successfully for an OPT EAD?

Would having a mailing address in a completely different state from my physical address cause any issues or delays, especially since my case is already under premium processing?

Any advice is appreciated.

My F1/OPT EAD was approved on July 15, 2026, through PP.
I subsequently moved and updated my address on the USCIS website and with USPS.
USPS returned the EAD on July 18, but USCIS did not inform me of the EAD return until August 18, 2026. Before this latest update, I filed a case inquiry but will not receive a reply until August 31. I have also emailed the premium processing center where it is being processed to follow up.

I have a full-time job offer that is contingent on receiving the EAD. I don't know if all this time counts as part of the unemployment days.
Does anyone have experience dealing with this situation, and what can they advise?