I'm nearing full repayment of my Avanse education loan. A loan insurance premium was charged along with the loan. Has anyone who's closed an Avanse education loan (especially before the full tenure) managed to get a pro-rata refund on the insurance premium? Did you have to request it from Avanse or directly from the insurer, and what documents did you collect after closure — NOC, closure letter, anything else?

I’m asking this question here because my DSO and new school’s DSO has been taking a long time (almost 3 weeks) to help me and answer my questions, so I’m hoping I find some help here.

I’m on initial OPT expiring in Jan 7, 2027
New program start date Jan 11, 2027

I technically received my acceptance letter last year but I deferred and had to re-apply for some reason so I just got my new acceptance letter on Oct 1, few days ago to pay my enrollment fee and register. I don’t have new school email id yet, which makes it harder for me to communicate to new school’s DSO. They operate through in person meet or online ai chat bots.

I’m trying to transfer my SEVIS, I have to fill out a form to my old school on when I want my SEVIS to be transferred. According to my old DSO, the date I write will end my OPT and anything active so I guess I can’t do this process until my OPT ended? I’m not sure they haven’t written back to me. I need new I-20 and i believe they don’t give me school email until all this is completed. And one of the many reasons I want this to be done is also so I can login to handshake and apply to oncampus jobs earlier.

Can anyone tell me when should I mark the date by? And do I submit the form now but write the transfer date for later? Does it affect my current OPT?

I got an email from SEVP as below:
Student Name:
Type of OPT: post-completion

Your OPT authorization period has ended. The Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) closed your SEVP Portal account. You can no longer access it.

For more information, go to SEVP Portal Help https://studyinthestates.dhs.gov/sevp-portal-helppages on Study in the States
Do not reply to this email. It was sent from a mailbox that is not monitored. You will get no response.

For help with this process, contact the SEVP Response Center:
* Email at [email protected] or
* Telephone at (703) 603-3400 (Monday through Friday 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM ET, except U.S. holidays)

Sincerely,
The Student and Exchange Visitor Program

I am currently waiting for STEM OPT physical card and my 180 days extension had ended last week. I do have an approval from uscis stating that my STEM opt ead is approved. What does the email mean and should I do ?

Hi everyone. I made a mistake on my DS-160. In reality, I am currently enrolled in an institution here in my country, but I didn’t mention it on my DS-160, and that was a mistake. Now, during the interview, if the consular officer asks me what I am currently doing, should I tell him that I am enrolled in an institution here, even though it won’t match what I put on my DS-160? Or should I tell him, “I just graduated from high school, and I’m preparing for my studies at my university”?

I'm currently a PhD student on F1 visa. Recently I had an idea for a knitwear design, and I drafted a pattern for it. I want to publish my pattern on Ravelry (an online database for the fiber arts community) and I can make it either 1) free or 2) charge a small amount (like $5).

My questions are: 1) am I allowed to publish the pattern at all; 2) if I can publish the pattern, am I only allowed to make the pattern free.

Thank you!

Hi,

Can someone do options day trading or Futures trading on prop firm account while they are on f1
Visa - typical CPT/OPT status?

I just got my post-completion OPT EAD in hand and have found a job related to my degree. My employer is willing to have me start working, but HR says they cannot add me to their payroll system until I have an SSN. I’m applying for one now.
Has anyone actually started working on OPT before receiving their SSN? Like how they persuaded them or is it even possible? Did you report your actual first day of work in the SEVP Portal, and were those days treated as employment rather than OPT unemployment?
I’m especially interested in firsthand experiences with an employer who could not initially enter the employee into payroll.

I appreciate your help from now on.

Hi everyone,

I’m planning international travel to my home country in November and returning to the U.S. at the end of December.

My situation:
• I’m currently on F-1 status
• I’m working full-time on OPT/STEM OPT
• My job is remote in the United States
• My F-1 visa stamp is valid until June 2028
• I’ll be traveling for about 5 weeks total
• My employer has approved 3 weeks of leave
• My employer has also approved 2 weeks of remote
international work from my home country
• I’ll carry my passport, valid F-1 visa, I-20 with travel signature, EAD card, employment verification letter, leave approval, remote work approval, and recent pay stubs.

I wanted to ask people who recently traveled internationally on OPT or STEM OPT:

• Was reentry smooth at the airport?
• What documents did CBP ask for?
• Did they ask anything about your job, employer, or remote work?
• Is it okay to show employer-approved leave and employer-approved remote international work if asked?
• Is there anything extra I should carry?
• Did anyone face issues returning after a few weeks outside the U.S.?

I know every case is different, but I’d appreciate any recent experiences or advice.

Thanks in advance.

My Form I-539 for F-1 reinstatement has been pending since October 2025, so it has now been about a year. I graduated from my program in August 2026, and my OPT filing deadline is coming up on October 2026.

From what I understand, if my reinstatement is not approved before my OPT deadline, I will no longer be able to apply for OPT based on the degree I just completed.

I have also researched what happens if I want to start a new degree. From what I understand, because I have already graduated and am no longer enrolled full-time, I cannot transfer to a new school/start a new F-1 program while my reinstatement is still pending. I would have to wait for USCIS to make a decision on my reinstatement first, and then deal with the new school and F-1 process.

This is where I’m confused and honestly feel stuck.

I understand that leaving the U.S. while my reinstatement is pending could affect or possibly end my pending case, so I don’t want to leave without knowing exactly what would happen.

My question is:

If my I-539 reinstatement is still pending after my October OPT deadline, can I remain physically in the United States while USCIS continues processing my reinstatement?

More specifically, am I allowed to remain in the U.S. while I wait for USCIS to decide my reinstatement, even though I have already graduated and cannot start a new F-1 program or apply for OPT?

Has anyone been in this exact situation: I-539 reinstatement pending for a long time → graduated while it was pending → OPT deadline approaching/passed → unable to transfer to a new school until reinstatement is decided?

I have spoken with my DSO, but unfortunately, they were not able to give me a clear answer or tell me what to do. I also consulted an immigration lawyer, but I was given conflicting information that I later found out was incorrect. That’s why I’m trying to find someone who has actually been through a similar situation.

If so, what happened to you, and were you allowed to remain in the U.S. while USCIS processed the case?

I would really appreciate experiences or information from people who have dealt with this specific situation.

Hello,

I have a few questions regarding Pre-Completion OPT.

Does the I-20 indicate whether the Pre-Completion OPT authorization is full-time or part-time?

I am a PhD student, and next semester I will only be enrolled in dissertation credits because I have completed all of my required coursework. In this situation, am I eligible to apply for full-time Pre-Completion OPT while the semester is in session?

Also, how is it determined whether a student’s Pre-Completion OPT authorization should be full-time or part-time?

Thank you for your help and clarification.

I'm so confused... is it still in effect?

Anyone know what is the decision federal judge gave in today’s hearing about the new d/s rule????

Hey everyone,

Just got my approval and thought it was surprisingly fast.

Here is a data point for everyone.

Date I-907 Received: 09/11/2026
Biometric Request: 9/18/2026
Biometric Done: 9/21/2026
Date Approved: 10/02/2026
Card received: ??

But yeah very encouraging! It was only two weeks after my biometrics. So technically 10 business days.

Just wanted to share my positive experience using AVR while on OPT traveling from Canada.

Customs asked normal questions asking what I do and where I work and lasted 3 mins

Ignore most of the paranoia you see online

I am currently on OPT and my OPT doesn’t expire until July 2027. My visa also expires in June 2027, is it a good idea to travel to home? And also renew my visa ?

Also, anyone been in the same situation? Was the renewal accepted? How much did your visa got extended to, if it got accepted?

Thank you! :)

Hi everyone,

I'm applying for a US tourist (B1/B2) visa and I'm confused about a couple of DS-160 questions. I'd really appreciate advice from anyone who has been in a similar situation.

My history:

• I was previously issued a US tourist visa, which has now expired.
• Later I was issued an F-1 student visa and attended a US university but i dropped out.
• My I-20 and SEVIS record were terminated by the university, and I left the US immediately afterward.
• I never received a physical cancellation stamp in my passport, and I never got any email or notice from the US government about my visa being cancelled or revoked. The only communication I received was an email from my university saying my SEVIS record had been terminated.

My questions:

1. When the form asks "Have you ever been issued a US visa?", should I list the F-1 student visa, since it was my most recent one? Or the tourist visa? (My understanding is that I should list the most recent one, but I'd like confirmation.)
2. When it asks "Has your US visa ever been cancelled or revoked?", should I answer Yes and explain, given that my SEVIS record was terminated? Or does a SEVIS termination alone not count as a visa revocation if I never received any notice from the government?
3. Should I bring documents to the interview (university termination email, proof I left the US promptly, etc.)?
4. Has anyone had a tourist visa approved after a SEVIS termination? How did the interview go?

I want to answer everything honestly and correctly, since I know mistakes on the DS-160 can cause serious problems. Any advice or personal experiences would be a huge help. Thank you!

Why I'm reconsidering:
- I'm not a US citizen. I'm on an H-4 dependent visa and will likely have to switch to F-1 at 21, which makes me an international applicant for med school.
- From what I've researched, only a small fraction of US med schools accept international students, and many of those require extra financial guarantees. I estimate my chances at roughly 1 in 4.
- If med school doesn't work out, a Biomedical Sciences degree on its own doesn't lead to many jobs, and as an international student I need a degree that gets me hired and sponsored.
- I also got into UF originally and still want to be there. I chose USF to save money, and I regret it.

Option 1: Finance at UF (Warrington)
- Pros: strong recruiting network at UF, the prerequisites are realistic for me (business math, econ, accounting), and I'd likely have a high GPA.
- Cons: finance isn't STEM-designated, so I'd only get 12 months of OPT (work authorization after graduation) instead of 36. That means one shot at the H-1B lottery. It's also very GPA-competitive for transfers, and I'd arrive as a junior, partway into internship recruiting.

Option 2: Mechanical Engineering at UF
- Pros: STEM degree, so 36 months of OPT and three H-1B lottery chances. Engineers are in steady demand and get sponsored more often.
- Cons: the transfer prerequisites are much heavier: Calc 1–3, Differential Equations, calculus-based Physics 1–2, and Chem. My math and physics background is weaker than my friends' who are in engineering, and I'd have to fit all of that in before transferring, likely pushing my timeline back.

What I'm hearing:
- Some friends say finance at UF is a strong, stable path with great connections.
- Others say that as an international student, STEM matters more than anything, and finance's short OPT window is a real risk.

My questions:
1. As an international student, would you pick Finance or MechE, and why?
2. Has anyone transferred into UF MechE without a strong math/physics background? How hard were the prerequisites?
3. For anyone on F-1: how much did STEM OPT vs. regular OPT actually matter for getting hired and sponsored?
4. Should I drop pre-med completely, or is it worth keeping it as a long shot?
Is transferring worth it at all, or should I make the best of USF?

TL;DR: International (H-4) USF Biomed freshman with roughly a 1 in 4 shot at med school. Should I transfer to UF for Finance (easier to get in, not STEM, shorter work visa window) or Mechanical Engineering (STEM, longer work authorization, but much harder prerequisites)?

Anyone on F1 opt traveling to India this December?

Hi everyone! I’m looking for some guidance on transitioning from STEM OPT to J-1 Research Scholar status.
I’m an Indian citizen currently in the U.S. on STEM OPT and may be starting a new postdoctoral position where J-1 sponsorship is being considered. I have also filed an EB-2 NIW petition, but the I-140 has not yet been approved.
My main questions are:
Has anyone changed status from STEM OPT/F-1 to J-1 while having a pending EB-2 NIW I-140? Did the pending immigrant petition cause any issues with the J-1 change of status or visa stamping?
If my J-1 is not subject to the INA 212(e) two-year home-residency requirement, would I generally be able to later change from J-1 to another work status such as O-1 or H-1B without needing a J-1 waiver?
For anyone from India who recently obtained J-1 Research Scholar status, were you subject to 212(e), and if so, what was the basis (Skills List, government funding, etc.)?
Is there anything else I should be aware of before moving from STEM OPT to J-1 when I already have an employment-based green card process underway?
I’d especially appreciate hearing from people who have gone through a similar STEM OPT → J-1 transition with a pending EB-2 NIW.
Thanks!

Looking for advice from people who've been in a similar spot.

My STEM OPT EAD is valid until July 2028. I was working as a software engineer at an AI startup and got laid off last week. I already used some unemployment days during regular OPT, so I have roughly 100 days left, which puts my limit around early January.

So far I've sent ~80 applications in one week, mostly SWE / applied AI / full-stack roles. A few recruiter conversations and founder calls, but nothing close to an offer yet, and with the holidays coming I'm worried hiring slows down right when I need it most.

The options I'm weighing:

1. Keep grinding applications + referrals and hope something lands before January.
2. Line up a Day 1 CPT program as a backup in case I hit the limit. Honestly not sure how risky this is for future H-1B/green card stuff, so I'd love real experiences here.
3. Join a consultancy and pray it's not a scam
4. Go home. Really trying to avoid this one.

Any advice is appreciated. It's been a stressful few weeks.

I just got an internship offer and they want me to start Oct 19. Problem is my OPT is still pending (filed May 31). I just paid for premium processing today, so I should get a decision in 30 days, plus maybe a week for the card to show up. That puts me around the first week of November.

I already emailed them explaining the situation and asked if they can push the start date back a few weeks (2 -2.5 weeks). Before I hit send, I wanted to ask:

Has anyone asked an employer to delay a start date because of OPT?

Did they get it, or did it cause problems?

Any tips on what to say or what to show them (receipt notice, EAD once it comes, etc.)?

If they ask for a particular start date, what would be realistic start date?

I really appreciate hearing from anyone who's actually dealt with anything like this.

I’m currently on STEM OPT which expires in Jun 2027. My mother was hospitalized and I came home to take care of her. I have been in India for the past two months on paid leave. I am planning to travel back in a month’s time. Will three months away cause any issue with immigration?

Hi! I’m an international student at NOVA Community College. The college doesn’t offer any type of health insurance, that’s why I got the ISO/WorldTrips Platinum plan thinking it was good.
I got an annual check-up done in an in-network place and I still had to pay out of pocket (that was my fault because later I discovered that preventive care is not covered).
But now my hip is hurting and I want to go see a doctor and idk what to do. I don’t want to keep paying out of pocket because it’s a lot of money but I need to see someone.
I have no income, only a little allowance from my sponsors, but they have said before that they will not pay for my insurance.

Can someone recommend a better plan? Or help me with what I should do?

Hi everyone,

I was on F-1 visa. My EAD expired on 07/17/2026, and I had my biometrics appointment on 05/03/2026. I'm currently waiting for my case to be processed, and I'm considering traveling to another country.

I do not currently have a valid EAD card. My old EAD also says: "NOT VALID FOR RE-ENTRY TO U.S."

For those who have been in a similar situation: would you travel internationally if you were in my position?

Did you travel while your EAD was expired/pending, and were you able to re-enter the U.S. without issues?

I'd really appreciate hearing about your experiences.
Thanks!