A senior undergraduate student in the United States has found herself unable to apply for Optional Practical Training (OPT) after her Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) status was terminated. The issue arose when her college registered her for online classes this semester, which prevented her from meeting the in-person 9-credit requirement needed for OPT eligibility. The student had previously secured Curricular Practical Training (CPT) approval for an ongoing internship, but a change in the Designated School Official (DSO) at her college has complicated her situation.
Reinstatement or Leaving the Country Remains Only Options
“I’m graduating after this semester ends, so if I reinstate, I’ll have to do a Master’s, but even doing that is still risky because I don’t know if my reinstatement will get approved or not,” the student wrote on Reddit.
Online discussions on Reddit have highlighted the challenges faced by international students in such situations. One user advised, “Leaving the country is the way to go. Long story short, my SEVIS also got terminated for other reasons last month (moving from F-1 to H-1B). From the time it got terminated, to me leaving the country it took 7 days. During those 7 days, even though it wasn’t my fault – the burden of staying in the states legally is on the Non-immigrant (me). USCIS is very clear about that since day one of you entering the states. It’s just the way it is. I left the country, went back to my home country, did the interview for H-1B and was back in 2 weeks. I’ve gone through this last month.”
Another user noted, “In all honesty, reinstatement is reserved for cases that it was beyond the student control. Taking too many online classes or only online classes was not outside your control. Therefore, it will be hard to argue your case for reinstatement.”
The situation underscores the complexities international students face when navigating SEVIS regulations, OPT eligibility, and sudden administrative changes at their universities, leaving many uncertain about their next steps.
Disclaimer: This story is based on a post shared by a social media user. The details, opinions, and statements quoted herein belong solely to the original poster and do not reflect the views of Financialexpress.com. We have not independently verified the claims.
