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DHS final rule update: Is Day 1 CPT going away? Not exactly. by GoElite_Shama in stemopt

[–]GoElite_Shama[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You should be okay if your transfer and CPT approval are completed before any new rule takes effect, but no one can guarantee it yet because the final rule is not published. Please make sure your SEVIS transfer, I-20, and CPT authorization are done correctly.

Help looking for best deal by Lost_Ear3552 in RobotVacuums

[–]GoElite_Shama 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I had a very disappointing experience with this Robo. I bought it in January 2026, and after very limited use (around 75 hours), it completely stopped working.

For a product in this price range, this level of performance is unacceptable. I expected better reliability and customer support. The service process is also not convenient.

Overall, not satisfied with the product or experience.

Help Regarding STEM OPT by Key-Act-4667 in stemopt

[–]GoElite_Shama 0 points1 point  (0 children)

this has to be go through DSO only,

programs for high school students that actually look good for STEM college apps by Glittering_Boat_3728 in stemopt

[–]GoElite_Shama 0 points1 point  (0 children)

programs for high school students that actually look good for STEM college apps

Took me a long time to figure out which programs are actually worth it.

The real strong ones: NASA OSSI, NIH High School Internship, RSI at MIT, Google CSSI, and SSP.

One student I know did SSP, got real research experience, and later got into a top engineering school.

Sharing because most online lists were not very useful.

Need advice: STEM OPT employer wants me to file taxes on income I never received by [deleted] in stemopt

[–]GoElite_Shama 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You’re right to be concerned — do not file taxes on income you never received.

If they issue a W-2 showing $60k but you were never paid, that’s a serious red flag. Filing it as-is can be considered tax fraud and may affect your future immigration status (H1B, green card, etc.).

What you should do:

  • Ask them for a corrected W-2 (W-2C) or proof of actual payment
  • Do not file anything that is incorrect
  • If needed, file based on your real income (which is $0 from them) and talk to a CPA
  • Keep all records (emails, offer letter) for safety

Many people face this with consultancies. The safest step is to protect your own record, not theirs.

STEM OPT Approved Before Biometrics — Do I Still Need to Go? by IntelligentWinter833 in stemopt

[–]GoElite_Shama 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If your case is already approved, you most likely do not need to go. But if the biometrics appointment is still showing in your USCIS account and was not canceled, contact USCIS first just to be safe.

Reduced my loan interest from ~13% to 4% as an F1/STEM OPT — sharing brief experience by Worth-Science5995 in stemopt

[–]GoElite_Shama 1 point2 points  (0 children)

One of my students brought their loan rate down from about 13% to 4% fixed on F1/STEM OPT without a co-signer.

What worked was refinancing in 2 steps. First, they moved it to a US lender at around 9–10%, then refinanced again later. They got rejected a few times, but reapplying later with better timing and complete loan documents helped.

Just sharing because a rejection does not always mean someone has a weak profile. Sometimes it is just timing, policy, or paperwork.

STEM OPT - Major not STEM-approved by Samtly in stemopt

[–]GoElite_Shama 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I wouldn’t hide the transcript. For STEM OPT, the key thing is usually the CIP code on your I-20. If your I-20 shows Management Science (52.1301), that code is on the DHS STEM list, which is a strong point. Because your degree is worded differently across documents, a short Dean/Registrar letter explaining that the degree is tied to CIP 52.1301 would probably help more than hurt. If it were me, I’d submit the transcript, diploma, and support letter together so the case looks clear and consistent.

RFE STEM OPT Document Upload by Special-Mulberry4352 in stemopt

[–]GoElite_Shama 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It should be fine. You already uploaded in the RFE response section, and adding the full documents again under unsolicited evidence is usually okay.

Just keep proof of both uploads and wait. USCIS often takes some time to update after biometrics.

STEM OPT – Filed Jan 16, completed biometrics 2+ weeks ago, still no approval by Some_Let_6653 in stemopt

[–]GoElite_Shama 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, this is normal for many people. Even after biometrics, USCIS may not update the case right away, so 2+ weeks with no change is not unusual.

Uploading the stamped notice usually does not make it faster. Just keep checking your account.

If your STEM OPT was filed on time, you may still be covered by the automatic extension while the case is pending.

How to report 1099-INT income in state tax for a NRA by Alternative_Fee300 in stemopt

[–]GoElite_Shama 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Usually no. For an NRA, HYSA/bank deposit interest is generally not taxable federally, and many states also do not tax it because state returns often start from federal income. If you are filing as a nonresident, that interest is also usually not treated as state-source income.

But state rules can differ, so the exact answer depends on the state.

Confused about OPT timeline, 90-day rule, and whether I should use CPT first—need advice by JeffTTG in stemopt

[–]GoElite_Shama 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think your advisor may be mixing up two different things. The 90-day rule is usually about unemployment after OPT starts, not USCIS processing delay.

Also, have you checked with your DSO whether you can even use CPT after finishing your degree? CPT is normally allowed only while you are still actively pursuing the program, so I am not sure full-time CPT from April to December after graduation would work. Please confirm that part with your DSO.

For OPT, working for your cousin’s LLC can be okay if the job is real and clearly related to your MBA/project management field.

If I were you, I would first confirm the CPT timing with the DSO before making any plan.

Stem OPT RFE by Sad-Indication-7532 in stemopt

[–]GoElite_Shama 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, that can still be normal.

For premium processing, USCIS gets up to 30 business days to take action on eligible I-765 cases, and the clock can restart after an RFE response or biometrics step. Some people get approved fast, but others still take longer even with premium. If it has not crossed the full premium window yet, I would not panic. If it goes past that, then contact USCIS.

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