An international student who applied for STEM OPT on September 28, 2025, has shared their experience of receiving an unexpected denial just days after Thanksgiving on Reddit. The student, whose initial OPT was set to expire on October 6, also had their H-1B petition selected in the lottery for consular processing.
Cap-Gap Confusion Adds to STEM OPT Challenges
According to the student, a “Cap-Gap” exemption was mistakenly applied to their STEM OPT I-20 recommendation. “Somehow, Cap-Gap exempt was applied to my STEM OPT I20 recommendation and when I had informed my DSO that cap-gap should not have been applied to my case as my petition is consular processing and not change of status, they informed that they will fix it,” the user said. When the DSO attempted to correct the record, SEVP reportedly stated that the cap-gap exemption could not be removed until the H-1B approval notice was issued.
Following SEVP instructions, the student applied using the same STEM OPT I-20 with cap-gap exemption while uploading a letter explaining why the cap-gap should not apply. “I did everything as I was asked by my DSO. At every single step, I made sure I do not miss anything,” the student added.
Awaiting Denial Notice and Exploring Options
On November 26, the student received a denial for their STEM OPT, though they have yet to receive the official notice explaining the reason. With the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday causing further delays, they described the situation as “extremely stressful” and are exploring their options while awaiting the detailed decision.
Immigration attorneys advise that students in such cases should carefully review the denial notice once received and may consider filing a motion to reopen or consulting legal counsel to understand potential remedies, including whether administrative errors could be challenged.
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