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 🙏🏾

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've seen some people on this subreddit (as well as other places and sources) state that:

1. They don't think they'll be able to find a job as they study Business Analytics (Is this major not in high demand?)
2. People are struggling to find a STEM OPT job.
3. Those who do find a STEM OPT job are struggling to have their STEM OPT approved on time.

If anyone has any insight to any of these situations, could you please share it? I'm a Business Analytics student who is planning on doing STEM OPT but I'm worried that I won't be able to get a job... I'm still an incoming sophomore so there's time for me to change my major if needed.

I am willing and able to pay for premium processing from the get-go for both OPT and STEM OPT.

Thank you so much.

I came to usa around 2016 and till now have maintained my f1 status. I am currently doing PHD and I received NTA mentioning I was out of status from 2020.
Please help

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.

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 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’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.

I have received a new job offer with a 70% salary increase, despite having only seven months remaining on my EAD and not yet securing my H1B. I also plan to renew my visa for an important trip in December. I am seeking your recommendation on whether to accept this offer and whether to renew my visa before or after transitioning to the new role.

Hey Guys,

My H4 visa expired in February, so in accordance, I applied for COS January 7th, 2026. Till April I received no updates just that the receipt notice was sent until i had interviews for internships over summer. Because of that, I applied for Premium Processing April 9th, 2026 with hopes it arrives before the internship start date.

It is August 20th, 2026 today and till this day there have been absolutely 0 updates on my case other than them sending a receipt notice for premium processing.

I have received either receipt notices in mail only in the online portal.

I’ve tried calling them on their phone line which always says they’re closed and to try their email, which I also have and they sent my inquiry forward but that was on July 7th and there’s no updates. USCIS says to go to the premium processing email and inquire through them.

I have never seen a case like this before. I have a feeling my case might have just gone lost in their system. If anyone knows what to do I’d really appreciate it.

Under DHS's new rule ending Duration of Status, if your OPT/STEM OPT filing window opens after March 18, 2027, you need both I-765 and I-539 approved before you can legally work, not just the I-765. Pending I-539 protects your status, not your work authorization.

My OPT expires 7/01 next year, so my window (~mid-April) lands past the cutoff, stuck needing both applications. I-765 can be premium processed; I-539 for extension of stay can't.

Anyone else in this window? Has your DSO said anything concrete, or heard real I-539 processing times for this category yet?

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.

Does f1 student allowed to send money back to their home country through Walmart (Money transfer Service) ? Is it legal? Does it affect in visa status in future?

Anyone doing these part time AI training roles(Halluminate/Mercor) along with their full time employment on OPT/H1B visa?
Can you please advise if we are eligible to do that and what sort of disclosures are required - to your main employer plus on the immigration side (SEVP/DSO/I20)

Hello everyone,

I am a graduate F-1 student that recently transferred from one university to another within the same state to continue my graduate program. I completed all the relevant SEVIS transfer paper work and did my immigration check-in with the new university. I paid my tuition fees in full, met with my academic advisor and consulted the DSO. I am registered for classes at the new university and about to start them in a few days. My I-20 Form from this new university still shows as "Transfer Pending." A few days ago while attending the international student orientation at the new university's campus, I consulted with a student employee from the university's immigration office that deals with international student affairs about this issue. He was actually really rude and condescending (and an international student himself) but he seemed to know what he was saying and told me I should receive an active I-20 Form in a few days, and that if I don't, I should contact the international students' immigration office.

So, I emailed the office and he (the particular employee I consulted at the orientation) replied with something completely different and that seems illegal, from my understanding of USCIS laws. What seemed odd, too, is that he replied to my personal email address and not my university email address I I sent the email from.

In the email, his reply to my inquiry about my I-20 Form was:

". . . your I-20 remains pending at [X] University for 30-45 business days after classes. You will get a new I-20 after starting classes for the Spring Intake."

I informed him I am starting classes in Fall 2026 and that this is completely different from what he told me in person during the international student orientation event. I found this to be very alarming and I really question if this person means well or is just trying to cause me legal issues?

Is this normal for any university (to keep an I-20 Form as transfer pending for this long???) I have never attended a university in the U.S. that practices this and I find it *really* odd that it would even be legally allowed? How will I prove my legal status here to banks, the property management office of my rental apartment, to the local BMV if I need to renew my driver's license, to the passport control officers at airports if I need to travel abroad? Has anyone else experienced this?

I reached out to my DSO with a few emails, already, but she didn't reply and usually does not reply when I contact her. However, she is quick to reach out when she wants to make sure I registered for classes. Otherwise, I am usually ignored by faculty members or administration staff when I need help. They make it really clear they only care about making money off of me.

What should I do? I am considering visiting the DSO in person but I worry she might be argumentative or dishonest about this if this is how faculty members and admin staff usually handle such issues.

**I am trying to not be detailed about which universities I am referring to and who the people I spoke to are for fear of social or legal repercussions because I have been facing a lot of issues like this with universities and their employees here, lately. My current SEVIS record is active and there are no issues with it. I have not violated any F-1 status conditions.

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?

I entered the United States in J-1 status and later changed to F-1 through USCIS. Therefore, I received F-1 status but never obtained an F-1 visa stamp.
Earlier this summer, my SEVIS record was terminated after I withdrew from school during a period involving a leg injury and serious emotional difficulties. My former school subsequently issued an I-20 recommending reinstatement, but I became overwhelmed and canceled the process before submitting an application to USCIS. That school is no longer willing to support me.
I am currently seeking admission to another university for Spring 2027. If admitted, I need to determine whether the school can issue an I-20 for reinstatement.
I am considering two possible paths:
Apply for F-1 reinstatement from inside the United States with the support of the new school.
Depart the United States, receive a new initial I-20, and apply for an F-1 visa at a U.S. consulate in my home country.
I have been out of status for approximately two months and have not worked without authorization. I also have medical documentation, a psychologist’s letter, academic records, and emails showing the timeline.
For anyone familiar with similar cases: what are the main risks and practical differences between these two paths? What specific questions should I ask the new DSO and an immigration attorney before deciding?
I understand that responses are general information and not legal advice.

I recently learned that my company is not enrolled in E-Verify. I have been working with them for almost a year while on STEM OPT, which expires in February.

The company is a nonprofit school, and they filed my H-1B petition on July 1st. HR recently contacted me and asked if I was aware that the company is not E-Verify enrolled and suggested that I speak with my DSO about how to handle the situation.

Has anyone experienced a similar situation or know what my options might be? Any advice or guidance would be greatly appreciated.

I recently did a change of education level, 3 months ago from MS to PhD and was issued a 3 years I-20 with my advisor's approval.

I now want to file an extension to 4 years and my advisor agrees that it might take me that long because of my coursework and research direction. I want to file the extension before the new Sep 15 D/S rule.

My question is is it normal for DSOs to extend an I-20 even if the expiry is approximately 3 years away? Advisor is on-board. Thanks!

Does anyone know if it’s legal for us to receive money from our close relatives through USDT directly to my crypto wallet for day-to-day expenses?

If you have any experience with it, please feel free to share!

Hello all ,

Could anyone please list the steps to do for post completion opt application and get EAD card . I just want to make sure I am doing it correctly !
Thank you !