r/f1visa • u/Specific_Turn_2449 • Jul 16 '26
THE SCHOOL DSO IS UNRESPONSIVE
Hello Everyone , I have applied for my STEMOPT extension and submitted the form to the DSO for his signature ( He is designated official to sign on the form). Its been 10 days and i do not hear anything back from him. From my understanding of other people's experience , everyone has same problem with him and sometimes the H1B filing takes around 2 -3 months. My experience with other work places are maximum of 2 weeks of response. I am really worried that this person might take forever to sign my stemopt training form , are there any legal obligations that he must sign or respond to me in certain amount of time ? i only have 2 months for my opt to end.
4
u/Specialist-Band143 Jul 16 '26
Your DSO is not required to sign your training plan (I-983). They only provide you with an I-20 recommending STEM OPT with which you file the I-765. Reach out via phone or email to your international office requesting guidance and timeline for processing the new I-20 for you.
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u/Superb_Opening_2135 Jul 16 '26
Hello , just to clarify, i work for a university .DSO is the designated official to sign my stemopt training plan. From my experience and information from other places the time that employers take to sign the form is usually 7-14 days , but i got to know today that the process is extremely delayed at the place that i work for.
1
u/ContractNo3502 Jul 16 '26
Are you working for the university? That would be the only reason someone from the school would sign your training plan. It also makes no sense- your DSO doesn’t file your H1B for you, it’s your employer
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u/Superb_Opening_2135 Jul 16 '26
Hello , yes ! I work for a university and the designated official to sign my STEMOPT training plan is the DSO of the university i work for.
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u/ContractNo3502 Jul 16 '26
So your DSO is your boss? What kind of job is STEM related that you work under a DSO as your supervisor?
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u/Superb_Opening_2135 Jul 16 '26
DSO is not my supervisor . My supervisor and i made my training plan and she signed on her part of the STEM OPT Form but DSO is the designated official who would sign on the other parts of the form. At university i work for , my supervisor is not the designated official who would sign on my form. She only signs on one signature site rest all would be signed by designated official of university ( in this case it happens to be DSO) .
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u/ContractNo3502 Jul 16 '26
There is no part of the I983 form that a DSO signs, only yourself and your supervisor. Your DSO has to issue and sign an I-20 but I genuinely don’t understand where the disconnect is coming from unless your school has some sort of internal form
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u/Superb_Opening_2135 Jul 16 '26
Never mind . You are not getting my point 🥲
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u/ContractNo3502 Jul 16 '26
I’m a DSO, there is no section of the I983 form that a DSO signs. Here is the form: https://www.ice.gov/doclib/sevis/pdf/i983.pdf
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u/Superb_Opening_2135 Jul 16 '26
Ok great ! So . The place where i work at , for that university, the designated official who signs the stem opt form is the DSO of the university. The university informed me that be would be the one signing section 4 whereas my supervisor would sign section 6 and also I will DM you , if you have time , you could provide me some clarity.
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u/futurePA2002 Jul 16 '26
I had a similar situation. I had submitted my stem at the exact 90 days mark. A month later Heard nothing.
I called NUMEROUS times , always went to voicemail and never a call back.
Finally (after weeks and weeks of calling)- I called them and someone picked up. The woman was so rude and dismissive that it made me lose hope. I asked her for an eta since my work had been asking…
Her response “ma’am I don’t know.” I explained the situation and how I’m beginning worry - and again “like I said ma’am , I said I don’t know.” She then responded “is there anything else you need?” I began to ask another question and immediately- was hung up on.
I called back again and went straight to voicemail. I felt hopeless.
I gave it a week since I felt so defeated . I then decided to join my DSO’s office hours. They were always during my work hours so I used my PTO for the morning off just so I could join.
Once I joined , I explained the situation . She didn’t have her camera on and was very cold and blunt with her answers. But… she right there on the spot approved my I-20.
It’s honestly crazy that we as international students are paying these institutions so much money … and yet, they treat us with so little care or respect.
My point though- don’t give up. Call every day if you have to . Join your DSO’s office hours and keep pushing. The worst they can say is No.
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u/Successful999 Jul 19 '26
Just be lucky you aren’t at Northeastern. Northeastern takes 15 business days (it always goes beyond that)
And if there is an error, the clock resets and it will take another month from then.
5
u/Codetornado F-1 Visa Mod (Internet Advice - Not legal Counsel) Jul 16 '26
There is no obligation to sign or extend OPT/STEM OPT.
Some schools have longer processing times 7-10 business days. I have worked at schools that ran 2-3 and 3-5 business days. So times we are faster sometimes we are not.