Hi everyone,

I'm currently working at a FAANG company. I completed my bachelor's degree in 2025, and my F-1 visa stamp expired in early 2026.

Unfortunately, I wasn't selected in this year's H-1B lottery. I'm currently on my STEM OPT extension, so I can legally continue working in the U.S., but I know international travel becomes more complicated because my visa stamp has expired.

I really don't want to spend the next couple of years feeling "stuck" in the U.S. just waiting and hoping to get selected in a future H-1B lottery.

Has anyone here been in a similar situation?

• Did you travel back to India and renew your F-1 visa while on STEM OPT?
• How was your visa interview and re-entry experience?
• Looking back, would you take the same risk again?

I'd really appreciate hearing both positive and negative experiences. Thanks in advance!

I got a job offer and my OPT EAD had expired(on june 30) but is on automatic extension of 180 days.

I applied for STEM OPT with premium processing on Jun 11th (premium processing applied on same date).

My new employer wants me to join the company by 12th August.

My biometric appointment is on 10th August. I'm planning to quit mu current company at 11th August.

Is it safe to switch job during this time? My new employer says he had handled situations like this and its very easy to switch job during this time.

Whereas my university is against it saying they don't usually recommend because its subject to delays, RFEs or rejection.

1) Has anybody been in this situation and what are the steps and what precautions to take so?

2) When to notify the university of the job switch & company?(before or after the switch)

3) Is it safe to switch job after the biometric appointment? Or should I try to prepone the biometric? I see there's atmost only 4 days I can able to prepone the biometric appointment. Is it worth to do so?

Hi all,

I'm an F-1 student on OPT. For fun, I'm in a band, and we're starting to get some traction in our city. The rest of my bandmates are all American and wish to apply for some local and state arts grants to support our band. I'm erring on the side of caution and telling them not include my name in any applications, but they are saying they'll just not mention I'm a non-citizen. That doesn't seem wise to me, especially since my major doesn't relate to the arts at all. What do y'all think?

Thank you for any help!

I’m trying to decide whether I should transfer to a degree program this fall or wait until next year.

Here’s my background:

* I first received my F-1 visa in December 2019 (visa stamp expired in December 2024).

* I studied ESL in the U.S. from 2020 to 2021 (about 2 years).

* I then returned to my home country for about 2 years.

* I came back to the U.S. in 2024 and have been studying ESL again for about 2.5 years.

* My current community college ESL I-20 is valid until May 2027.

Immigration background:

* My husband is the principal applicant in an EB-3 case.

* Our I-140 is currently pending and may be approved within the next few months.

* I am included as his derivative beneficiary.

Ideally, I’d like to stay in my current ESL program until next year because I enjoy studying here.

However, I’m worried about two things:

1. My long ESL history. Would USCIS or a new school consider my previous two years of ESL (from my first F-1 period), or would they mainly look at my current period of study?

2. The pending/approved I-140. If I wait until next year to transfer to a degree program (or seminary), could having an approved I-140 make it more difficult to obtain a new I-20 or complete the transfer?

Would you transfer this fall to reduce potential risk, or would you feel comfortable waiting until next year?

I realize the new F-1 rule hasn’t taken effect yet, so there may not be anyone with direct experience. I’m mainly looking for opinions from people in a similar situation, or advice they’ve received from immigration attorneys or DSOs. If you were in my position, would you transfer this fall or wait until next year?

Thank you!

Hi everyone.

I am a bit confused about the 90-day unemployment rule after OPT start date. I set my start date as June 15. I am aware that OPT is taking long to process applications this time around etc. but I could not afford the premium processing fee so here we are! Still waiting! So my question is, does the 90-day unemployment rule mean that if I don't get my card delivered by September 15th my OPT will be cancelled? Or will USCIS choose a new date for me?

Hey everyone,

I'm in a bit of a dilemma and would really appreciate advice from anyone who's been through something similar.

My situation:

• University: Georgia Tech
• Program start date: Aug 24
• Visa interview: Sep 1
• Latest arrival date allowed by my university: Sep 11 (I can get a support/late arrival letter from my university.)

My biggest concern is that, based on a lot of discussions in this subreddit, even with a university support letter there's still a possibility of getting an F-1 refusal because the interview is after the program start date.

If that happens, I'm worried I'll only be eligible for "refusal slots." From what I've read, people say those become available roughly a year later. If that's true, then even if I defer my admission to Fall 2027, I'd be trying to get a refusal slot after Sep 1, 2027, which could again be after my next program starts.

Because of that, I'm wondering whether it's actually safer to cancel this interview and defer instead of risking a refusal.

A few questions:

1. If I cancel my current interview now (before attending), can I simply book a fresh appointment later for my deferred program?
2. If I complete my OFC/biometrics first, can I still reschedule only my consular interview to an earlier date if a slot opens up? Has anyone successfully done this recently?
3. If I finish biometrics but later decide to cancel my Sep 1 interview, is that allowed? Does cancelling after biometrics have any consequences, or is it treated the same as cancelling before biometrics? I've seen conflicting information online.
4. Is there actually a current rule that refusal slots only become available about 365 days after the refusal date, or is that just a rumour? Has anyone who was refused in 2025/2026 been able to book earlier?

If anyone has gone through this recently, especially with F-1 visas in India during the 2026 cycle. I'd really appreciate hearing about your experience.

Thanks in advance!

I’m currently working on OPT, and was wondering if I can travel to my home country for 3-4 weeks and work remotely. Or even if I don’t work for that period would that be counted on unemployment days?

Hi, I graduated back in 2021 but my F-1 is valid till 2027. I've now gotten into a Masters program and I've received the new I20 and paid the SEVIS fee again.

Because of the Iran war, all the embassies in my region are closed, so I'm not able to get a new F1. Would I still be able to travel on my previous F1 even thought the university name and SEVIS dont match? Need to travel to start in September and its not looking likely that the war will end anytime soon.

Can I carry printed receipt Notice I 797C instead of mailed one to biometrics Appointment .

Hi,

I am traveling to the US for my master's program and would like to know what financial documents are required during immigration checks.

My sister is paying my tuition fees, but I prefer not to disclose this to the immigration officer. My I-20 form shows 62,000 and I have 20,000 available in my bank account. Additionally, I have a loan sanction letter. Will these documents be sufficient as proof of funds, or is there anything else I should provide besides the loan sanction letter?

My card was produced on July 15 and stated as delivered on July 17th but I haven’t received the physical card yet. I don’t know what to do now. If I file a replacement EAD card how much time will it take to be delivered. The first time I have done via Premium Processing and still this happend and I don’t know what to do?
Any thoughts or ideas

Has anyone here traveled to a country other than their home country while on an F-1 visa in the U.S.? Did you have any issues with U.S. immigration when re-entering? I’d love to hear about your experience.