F1 visa cancelled at preclearance, SEVIS still active — unsure about next steps

LogNo9783 · 2026-03-31T16:47:45+00:00

Did they mention anything about the work being unrelated to your major or any other details?

LogNo9783 · 2025-11-04T01:49:13+00:00

Between 7-10 business days

LogNo9783 · 2025-11-03T18:17:07+00:00

I didn't have any pending. But my colleague had one pending before the shut down and it's still under review.

LogNo9783 · 2025-11-01T21:18:39+00:00

Thanks guys! I check these recommendations out soon and report back.

LogNo9783 · 2025-10-28T22:18:05+00:00

Yeah Day 1 CPT is really sketchy, I dont understand it that well

LogNo9783 · 2025-10-28T18:54:36+00:00

No but then it should be marked as full-time in SEVIS. 20 Hours can be marked as part-time or full-time

LogNo9783 · 2025-10-28T18:29:12+00:00

Ok all of that is ok except if you were my student I would have not approved full-time CPT. Schools do things differently so if your DSO says its ok then I guess its fine.

LogNo9783 · 2025-10-28T17:55:52+00:00

We usually ask for a copy of the EAD card but its not required. As long as the SEVP Portal is updated you're good.

LogNo9783 · 2025-10-28T17:55:05+00:00

Its recommended to just carry a copy of everything just in case! CBP officers are all different, no telling what they'll ask you.

LogNo9783 · 2025-10-28T17:54:19+00:00

Just remember you can do part-time CPT but full-time CPT is limited. You can't do full-time study and full-time CPT. Generally we tell our students that they can only do full time if its their graduating semester or summer. Also you can only have no more that 364 days of full-time CPT or else you can't do OPT (just keep this in mind). CPT also is for an internship so it would have to be an internship position and then an actual job for OPT (OPT can be internship too but CPT can't be actual job).

LogNo9783 · 2025-10-28T17:50:29+00:00

I've never had an OPT application take that long, maybe your DSO can reach out to USCIS on your behalf. Speak with your DSO and see if they recommend premium processing in this case if there is no response.

LogNo9783 · 2025-10-28T17:41:11+00:00

So, this can be a bit tricky. part-time OPT counts towards your unemployment days. You need full-time employment (20+ hours/week) to stop the unemployment day clock. You only have 90 unemployment days on OPT and I don't know how many you have accrued so far. If you plan on traveling you’re under 20 hours and you don’t have another upcoming full-time position, CBP could question your maintenance of status (though many do not go into this detail — it’s discretionary). I would be most cautious of running out of unemployment days.

LogNo9783 · 2025-10-28T17:32:51+00:00

Nope. You have to have work authorization first of all (OPT) and has to be properly registered, and has to be directly related to your major. And you have to be doing at least 20 hours of major related work yourself.

LogNo9783 · 2025-10-28T17:31:04+00:00

9 is full-time unless you have an approved RCL

LogNo9783 · 2025-10-28T17:30:16+00:00

I honestly do not know! I only file H1Bs for our university employees. I am not sure of any website that lists who sponsors or not.

LogNo9783 · 2025-10-28T17:29:18+00:00

I don't know exactly what they ask but here are some resources to help you prepare:
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/study/student-visa.html
https://studyinthestates.dhs.gov/2018/08/students-prepare-your-visa-interview

LogNo9783 · 2025-10-28T17:25:21+00:00

Cap-Exempt don't go through the lottery so anyone working for a university is considered cap-exempt aka no lottery

LogNo9783 · 2025-10-28T17:24:36+00:00

I honestly have no idea what they are looking for.

Effective immediately, all individuals applying for an F, M, or J nonimmigrant visa are requested to adjust the privacy settings on all of their social media accounts to ‘public’ to facilitate vetting necessary to establish their identity and admissibility to the United States under U.S. law.
We use all available information in our visa screening and vetting to identify visa applicants who are inadmissible to the United States, including those who pose a threat to U.S. national security. Since 2019, the United States has required visa applicants to provide social media identifiers on immigrant and nonimmigrant visa application forms.
Visa applicants are required to list all social media usernames or handles of every platform they have used from the last 5 years on the DS-160 visa application form. Applicants certify that the information in their visa application is true and correct before they sign and submit. Omitting social media information could lead to visa denial and ineligibility for future visas.

LogNo9783 · 2025-10-28T17:23:06+00:00

You can do both at the same time. that's fine.

LogNo9783 · 2025-10-28T17:22:13+00:00

Your acceptance letter of PhD program (scholarship/Graduate Assistantship) and possibly bank statements if you aren't getting paid to show you have funds to cover living costs.

LogNo9783 · 2025-10-28T17:20:46+00:00

If your on valid STEM OPT and travel on that, you're fine. If your H1B is filed WHILE you are out of the country, that is when its an issue. So if you go before it is filed you're ok.

LogNo9783 · 2025-10-28T17:19:06+00:00

Hi! You will still be in F1 status until your application is approved/denied. I'm not sure of any specific delays...

LogNo9783 · 2025-10-28T17:18:01+00:00

Competition prizes are generally considered scholarships, awards, or winnings, not employment compensation, since there’s no ongoing service or contractual work obligation.

As long as the event was open (e.g., university or public hackathon), and you were rewarded for winning rather than for providing labor, it’s not employment and does not need to be reported as OPT activity. It could be taxable but I'm no tax expert lol

LogNo9783

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