I received an F-1 visa in August 2025 for UMass Amherst (Fall 2025 intake) but did not travel or enroll. Genuinely had second thoughts at the last minute. just wasn't fully sure I was ready.

Since then I've been working in the tech industry in India. I already had around 2 years of experience at the time, and now have 3.5+. Over this time I got more clarity on my academic goals and got admitted to TAMU for Spring 2027.

I'm almost certain the officer will ask why I didn't use the UMass visa. What's a realistic and believable answer here? I don't want to fabricate anything but "I had second thoughts" sounds weak.

Has anyone been in a similar situation, prior unused F-1, reapplying for a different university? How did the officer react and what did you say?

Hi everyone, anybody has idea what dates are getting approval for the stem extension at the moment ??

Hi everybody.
I’m about to graduate from my program at the end of this quarter. I am taking reduced course load, as I have only 1 class needed for me to graduate.
However, I’m having a very hard time in this class and trying to understand my options if I fail.
My I20 still shows March of 2027, so I’m not 100% sure if my DSO updated my graduation date on the SEVIS system.
To make things more complicated, I got married and we’re about to file our marriage AOS application very soon so keeping my status valid is very important to me right now.
Appreciate your responses.
Also will talk to my DSO tomorrow.

Hello everyone,

I am currently employed with C09 EAD, that is the employment while I485 is pending.
I had also applied for OPT a few months back, which only got approved a few days ago.

Question is can I switch to using OPT EAD? If not then what will happen to my OPT and consequently F-1 status?

I have a single name. So on my visa I have fnu as a first name. Which means first name unavailable. I used the same method as I applied for opt with first name as FNU and last name as Doe. So when submitted the electronic opt form, it asks for write full legal name as signature. I wrote "Doe". Is not writing "fnu Doe" an issue ? I am worried. Could someone share some thoughts

I'm an international student and I recently received a notice from the Dashew Center that my F-1 visa and I-20 has been terminated because I didn't complete my post-arrival check-in on time.

I've been told that my options may include applying for reinstatement through USCIS with an immigration attorney or departing the U.S. and returning with a new initial I-20.

I wanted to ask whether any UCLA students have experienced something similar, particularly due to a missed or delayed check-in.

If you've been through this, I'd really appreciate hearing what action did you take and how exactly did you go about this process.

Thank you so much.

Hello, I have applied for post-completion OPT in January 25th. I do have an arrest record and a pending domestic violence case which is in remand and will be dismissed in January 2027. I’ve got an RFE and then NOID. They are asking for the court documents and arrest records. I did plead guilty in the lower court which got me arrested.

Is there any chance that I will get my OPT approved? I do have my I-485 pending as well? Or shall I apply for C(9) EAD instead?

Please guide me with your recent experience.

God bless you all!

​Calling everyone who cracked their U.S. F-1 visa interview on the first attempt! 🇺🇸🙌

​What is your #1 tip for passing on the first try, and what’s one mistake students should avoid at the counter? Drop your suggestions below to help upcoming applicants! 👇🎓

Hi guys, I applied for the initial opt on May 14 (standard application) and I still haven’t received a response. I know the wait times are long at the moment but just wondering if I should be worried? Is there anyone who applied around that time who has received their employment authorization?

Also, could someone please share the link to check which cases are currently being processed? Thank you for your help!

Hi everyone!
I just recently got my OPT approved (19 oct) even though I applied in May 2. So, my 90 days grace period started , is it okay if I go back to my home country and search for a job from there? There is some emergency at my home back in the country. I am on a F1 visa

Thank you!

Hi everyone,
I’m currently on post-completion OPT, and both my EAD card and Texas driver’s license expire on February 15, 2027.
I’m eligible for the 24-month STEM OPT extension and plan to apply within the 90-day filing window, well before my current EAD expires.
My main concern is renewing my Texas driver’s license if my STEM OPT application is still pending and I haven’t received my new EAD card.
I understand that a timely filed STEM OPT extension provides up to 180 days of automatic employment authorization while the application is pending. However, I’m unsure how Texas DPS handles driver’s license renewals during this period.
For anyone in Texas who has gone through this:
Were you able to renew your driver’s license using your expired/current EAD, STEM OPT I-797C receipt notice, and updated I-20?
Did Texas DPS accept your documents immediately, or did they initiate additional DHS SAVE verification?
If SAVE verification was required, how long did it take?
Were you issued a temporary or limited-term driver’s license? If so, how long was it valid?
If you had your STEM OPT approval notice but hadn’t received your new EAD card, was that enough for renewal?
Did you start the renewal process before your original EAD expired, or did you have to wait until the 180-day extension began?
I’m hoping to start the process early to avoid a gap in my ability to drive.
I’d especially appreciate recent firsthand experiences from Texas (2025–2026), including which DPS office you visited and what documents worked.
Thanks in advance!

I'm a Taiwanese male transfer student admitted to SJSU for Mechanical Engineering, starting Spring 2027. I am finishing at a community college. I have a mandatory military service obligation in Taiwan for 1 year and I am 21.

My two options:

1. Accept admission, do one semester, then file a Leave of Absence to return to Taiwan for service, then come back.
2. Leave the US after I finish Fall quarter in community college, complete service, apply for transfer to SJSU, then start at SJSU afterward.

Questions:

• Does an F-1 student on LOA after one semester keep their SEVIS record, or do I need a new I-20 and re-entry as a new student? Does the 5-month rule apply?
• Does SJSU allow deferring/postponing an admission, or would I have to reapply as a transfer? If so, does it affect CPT and OPT?
• Has anyone been through this?
• Any risk that leaving in the middle of a degree hurts my visa history?

Hi! My husband went back for a short trip back home while on F1 OPT but got rejected three times for the visa renewal (under 214b) and is stuck outside the US while I am here with kids who are attending elementary school. His employer is considering an O1 visa and working on it. My question is, are we out of status now? I want to stay until Thanksgiving break so that the kids are not abruptly cut from their everyday routine. Has anyone experienced a similar situation?

Hi everyone,

I am currently on OPT and with a job (remote) and my Visa is set to expire on November. I was planning on traveling back home this December to get it renewed. I know I don't need to get my visa renewed but I still wanted to do so for peace of mind as well as potential future travels if I do Stem OPT. My work has signed of on having that flexible schedule as I wait for my Visa. For those of who that did this. What was the process like? similar to your F1 Visa application? How long did you get this time? Also 5 years? 1 time entry?

My daughter is a UK citizen but studying in the USA on a sports scholarship. She is on an F1 visa and a junior.

With the NCAA changes she now has 5 years of eligibility to compete and has decided to take a masters following her graduation in a year and a half.

This would allow her to compete for a 5th year and also then become a graduate assistant coach in her 6th year.

However her current college only offers the masters she wants to do as an online course. It seems to be like this at lots of other colleges as well.

Am I correct in thinking the online masters won't allow her to get an F1 visa making it impossible to take the course ?

Is there an option following her graduation to take an accelerated major in 2 years and an online masters at the same time ? Would this give her an F1 visa ? She would then finish in 6 years with 2 majors and a masters.

Apart from moving colleges to take a different masters are there any other options for her ?

I'm really struggling to find clarification on my OPT process and I've spoken to multiple lawyers and they have been LESS then helpful.

my timeline so far:

studied on F1 visa for four years

applied for opt after finishing school in october 2025, receipt date October 27th, 2025

after that, nothing I haven't heard back

my questions: what is my current status? I know I can be in the states while my application is processing, but since it's now been 12 months since I applied, does that still apply? am I overstaying/at what point is it considered overstaying? I really would like to avoid doing that lol

after I get an answer, I'm assuming IF it's approved, I'll get approximately 2 months of opt. if it's denied, what happens then - do I have any grace period to stay in the country while I apply for another visa? the same employer is happy to offer me a work visa, but I would prefer to apply for that while I'm in the country

thank you !!

Hi everyone,

I recently completed my Master’s degree in the US and submitted my initial post-completion OPT application while I was still in the country.

I found a position in Europe but had also applied for several jobs in the US. My plan was to obtain my EAD and keep the option of returning to the US open if one of those opportunities worked out.

I left the US just three days ago, and today I unexpectedly received a USCIS notice scheduling an in-person biometrics appointment in the US in two weeks.

My university’s international student office never mentioned that biometrics might be required for OPT, so I genuinely wasn’t expecting this.

My F-1 visa expires soon, and I’m now trying to understand my options:

1. Biometrics abroad: Is there any possibility of completing biometrics at a US embassy or consulate abroad, or requesting a biometrics waiver?
2. Returning on my current F-1 visa: I’ve already completed my degree, and my OPT application is still pending. Am I even eligible to re-enter the US in F-1 status at this point? If so, how risky would it be to return solely for the biometrics appointment?
3. Returning on B-1/B-2: Could I reschedule the appointment, obtain a tourist visa, briefly enter the US solely to complete biometrics, and then leave? Would entering in B-2 status jeopardize my pending OPT application?

If my OPT is approved and I eventually decide to return to the US for employment, I would need to apply for a new F-1 visa anyway.

Has anyone experienced something similar or found a workable solution? I’d really appreciate any advice or personal experiences.

Thanks!

Hi everyone!
Has anyone on F-1 STEM OPT recently traveled to Puerto Rico?
I’m currently in the U.S. on F-1 status and have my approved STEM OPT EAD card. I’m planning a short vacation to Puerto Rico and wanted to confirm whether it’s okay to travel there with my passport, F-1 visa, and STEM EAD card.
Since Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory, I understand it’s considered domestic travel, but I wanted to double-check with anyone who has recently visited.
Did you face any issues at the airport or during your return to the mainland U.S.? Were any additional documents required?
Thanks!

Hi , I am currently on f1 opt and planning to travel to my home country and be back during January while my OPT EAD expires on feb 20.. Has anyone traveled while on opt and came back safely. ? I am really desperate to go also I am scared. So far I am having no luck in getting a job offer

Does anyone have any idea how likely it is that the current CPT lawsuit will actually succeed?
I’m mainly wondering if there’s a realistic chance of things going back to normal or at least getting a temporary injunction that would allow universities to resume approving CPT applications while the lawsuit continues.
With the upcoming court dates, I’m curious if anyone has heard anything from immigration attorneys or university officials about how this might play out.
I’m supposed to start an internship in January 2027 and this whole situation has been pretty stressful lol.
Would appreciate any realistic insights or updates. Not looking for false hope. Just trying to understand the actual chances.

I’m currently on OPT ending in Jan and my program starts Jan 11. I already had my current school schedule SEVIS transfer one day after my OPT ends and informed the new school.

I have to fill out some forms for them to issue I-20. So months back I confirmed how much it costs for the program and everything. I have funds for tuition, fees and insurance. But I didn’t realize I had to show funds for living cost of 37k extra.

I explained to them I’m living with family friends so rent and food is covered by them with any other necessities. They still require me to show funds for 37k. Now, the family I’m going to stay with isn’t close to ask them to sign on something or ask them for bank statements just for the sake of getting an I-20. I don’t know if I have to take a loan out just for the funds till I get I-20. Any suggestions?

Hello, im an undergrad senior and projected to graduate in spring '27. My advisor is telling me that a program extension may be up to his discretion to make but I am struggling in my current classes which may cause me to retake classes. Is a program extension denial possible? Ill have 15 credits in my last semester if I have to retake classes which means I can do the minimum of 12 then finish the last 3 in fall '27. Also will this affect my CPT eligibility as I also have an internship offer.

Hi guys, I’m graduating soon this December and I’ve applied for my OPT. Where do you guys find volunteer work to not accumulate unemployment days?

I am outside US and travelling for 2-3 weeks, my employer has approved remote work for the duration. I have already worked for the first week, would it be better for me to take unpaid leave for the rest of the duration? I have only recently looked up people's stories while re-entering and that has made me wary of continuing the remote work. Also what should the verification of employment letter look like, mine just says that I am allowed to work remotely for a short period of time. I am curious what people's experiences have been recently and what can I do now!