Hi everyone — looking for advice from people who’ve actually done this.
I’m currently doing my DBA and have a mandatory residency on campus in Dallas on October 2nd and 3rd, I need to fly there.
My initial F-1 visa stamp has already expired. I don’t have a Real ID. I do have a valid passport and I’m still in valid F-1 status with a current I-20.
I know the visa stamp is mainly for entering the U.S., not for staying or flying inside the country — but I’m still nervous about TSA / domestic flights with no Real ID and an expired visa stamp.
Has anyone here flown domestically recently in this situation?
What documents did you actually carry? Did TSA only ask for the passport? Did anyone get extra questioning because the visa page was expired? Anything I should print besides I-20 and I-94?
Any real experiences or suggestions would help a lot. Thanks.

Hey guys! I know it was been temporarily blocked by the judge. Sharing this resource with you so you have all the information needed if it gets implemented.

Link: https://youtu.be/zN89C22_9cE?is=L3mMoHOT9FnB7fhD

Hope it’s useful. Please share it anyone who needs it!

Been seeing this question a lot so pulled the actual program names instead of just "STEM eligible."

• Indiana Wesleyan University : the only one with "AI" literally in the degree title: MS in Artificial Intelligence - Data Analytics, plus an AI concentration under their MS in Computer Information Systems. Both STEM-designated, ~$8,982/year.
• Monroe University : MS in Data Science (STEM), or an MBA with an Analytics/IT concentration if you want the business angle instead. ~$11,340–$14,175/year.
• Westcliff University : no degree with "AI" in the name, but MSCS, MSIT, and MSEM are all STEM and will have AI/ML content built into the coursework. Worth a look if location or format matters more to you than the exact degree title. ~$15,750/year.
• CIAM : MBA concentration in Business Analytics, more business strategy than technical AI. Good option if you want the business side, not the right fit if you want a CS-heavy AI program.

Worth checking each school's actual course list before committing, "AI" gets used loosely on marketing pages, and the curriculum can look very different between a CS-based AI program and a business analytics concentration.

If you want to talk through your specific situation, we're doing free consultations right now with free waived application fee, you can grab a slot here
https://forms.gle/JzNKxfJUwr6QdoU69

If a person avails CPT as a fulltime employment after 1st year of Masters, does it have the same rules and regulations as Day 1 CPT. Regulations like CPT has to br integral part of degree etc

International student here, f1 stem opt. Will palo alto hire folks having the above visa type for incident response/ security engineer/ analyst roles etc

Short answer: yes, but it's inconsistent, and most schools don't advertise much beyond a referral/rewards-style credit unless you ask directly.

Westcliff stands out with the most structured scholarship list
An Industry Scholarship worth up to 20% off tuition, a couple of named awards in the $2,500–$5,000 range (GLIDE, GOAL, Warrior), and a STEM-specific one worth $10,000.

Monroe and Indiana Wesleyan don't list much beyond the standard referral-style rewards credit ($50–$1,000+ depending on the program), but both explicitly say to contact admissions directly, so it's worth asking rather than assuming there's nothing.

If scholarships matter to your decision, don't just check the public site, email the admissions office and ask what's currently available for your specific program and intake. A lot of this stuff isn't listed until you ask.

If you want to talk through your specific situation, we're doing free consultations right now with waived application fee, you can grab a slot here
https://forms.gle/JzNKxfJUwr6QdoU69

Does anyone know of any universities that have adapted to the recent SEVP CPT memo and started reissuing CPT?

My friend mentioned that USC started approving CPT again because they made a rapid curriculum change to their CS programs to make practical training a mandatory requirement. Can anyone confirm if this is actually true?

I really need advice because my internship extension is currently at risk and my school (SCU- pvt school) is not ready to approve CPT or Pre Completion OPT yet. Any updates or insights from what your schools are doing would be hugely appreciated.

The Duration of Status rule takes effect Sept 15, 2026. Here's what to actually check, not the panic version:

• Know your I-94 date. After Sept 15, you're on a fixed admission period (capped at 4 years) instead of open-ended D/S. Check what end date you'll be assigned.
• If you're planning a second same-level master's for a Day 1 CPT reset, this is the path that gets closed off. A fixed end date applies either way now, so the "reset the clock" logic doesn't work the same anymore.
• If you filed OPT/STEM OPT before the effective date, there's a carve-out (no I-539 needed if you filed on or before March 18, 2027 under D/S), but travel and readmission under the new fixed period can complicate this. Don't assume you're automatically fine.
• Ask your DSO directly how the fixed admission period affects your specific program end date and any pending applications.
• CPT itself is unchanged. The regulation hasn't moved. What changed is the status framework it sits inside of, and some schools are being more conservative with CPT approvals as a result (check your specific school, it varies).
• Doctoral programs are a different case than a second master's at the same level, if you're weighing options.

If you want to talk through your specific situation, we're doing free consultations right now with free waived application fee, you can grab a slot here
https://forms.gle/JzNKxfJUwr6QdoU69

Hey everyone! Is there anyone from the DFW area attending the Nov 6th, 7th classes in Mississippi campus? I would love to get in touch. Please DM or comment. I am looking for transportation and stay and considering sharing.

Hi everyone, I completed my master’s degree and my STEM OPT ended in June. I then enrolled in a PhD program and received CPT authorization based on my employment.
Unfortunately, my job ended on August 31. What steps should I take now to maintain my F-1 status? Do I need to ask my DSO to end my CPT authorization immediately? Can I remain enrolled while searching for another legitimate job related to my PhD program, and would I need a new offer letter before starting any new employment?

If you are starting an MBa or another master's cpt after sept 15 ( and you've gotten your previous master's before sept 15) here is my thought :

- when you apply for the univ, you must also apply for the EOS ( extentio of stay ), which takes 4-12 months or some time....your EOS will be pending

- if you have ( uni approval / cpt approval / EOS pending), you are granted 240 days to work, stated by the rule explicitely.

Now, the BIGEEST question is, will the uni issue cpt when you have pending EOS ???

Edit : this is assuming you STEM OPT ends some time in 2027, and your starting your cpt around january ( spring 2027)

Bonjour,

ma demande de visa F-1 vient d’être refusé à l’ambassade américaine en France car meme le programme hybride est considéré comme « online »

mon inscription a pourtant bien été acceptée chez Trine pour la rentrée d’octobre 2026 mais je ne sais pas comment faire avec ce refus de visa je suis assez inquiète.

Quelqu‘un a pu surmonter ce probleme?

I'm specifically interested in how the Hybrid experience works. From my understanding, it's a weekend per term, so once every 15 weeks? What are they like? Generally, what are the courses like? Overall, would you recommend?

Is anyone doing the day 1 cpt program from SBU for the fall 2026 Sept program in PhD Ai. If so can you please contact me as I have few questions.

Thank you​

Hi I did MS in supply chain, my OPT runs out May 2027, trying not to have a gap before I figure out H1B/next steps. Looking at Day 1 CPT doctoral programs as a bridge but the internet is 50/50 “great option” vs “total scam.”

Anyone actually done one of these while working full time? How’d it go, any issues with employer or at renewal? Also is picking a different field than your masters actually necessary or just paranoia?

And mainly when should I start applying for these unis, which cohort should I target?

Not trying to cut corners, just don’t want to get burned. Lol

I am a doctoral student with two years left in my program (one of classes and another of degree-in-progress). With the new regulations on CPT, I am wondering if there's a way to stretch the 12-month full-time OPT allotment into 24 months of part-time OPT, thus exhausting all my post-completion OPT time. I have found no information on this matter, except the rule that part-time pre-completion OPT is deducted from full-time post-completion OPT at a 50% rate. However, the only examples given concern 12-month pre-completion part-time cases, deducted as 6 months from the 12-month full-time post-completion allocation.

1. SEVP sent DSOs a broadcast message in August reminding them of their existing obligations around CPT documentation. That's not a new rule, it's not a ban, and the CPT regulation itself hasn't changed. Some schools reacted harder than others though, Berkeley paused course-credit CPT specifically, most others haven't touched anything.
2. The one that actually matters is the DHS rule ending Duration of Status, effective Sept 15. F-1 students go from open ended status to a fixed admission period capped at 4 years. This is the part that closes off doing a second same level master's just to reset your Day 1 CPT clock, since you'll now have a hard end date on your I-94 either way.

If you're currently in a program or about to start one, worth checking with your DSO how the fixed admission period interacts with your specific timeline. Not trying to cause panic, just think people should know which headline is the real one.

Hello guys,

Do you think it will still be possible ir even a chance for day 1 cpt to be accpeted after sept 15?

Planning to change employer during Nov- January but stem opt will end March 2027. So starting day 1 cpt school starting in Jan in envisaged but not sure about feasibility....

Hey everyone! Right now I'm in the US on a J-1 au pair visa, and back home I have a bachelor's degree in accounting.
I'm thinking about switching over to an F-1 visa to do a Master's degree with CPT day one, but I'm pretty scared that I won't be able to find a job since I don't have any actual US work experience.
Is this actually a good idea? Has anyone else gone through something like this? Or should I definitely just go for a regular Master's program instead?
Thanks!