A simple administrative mistake by a Designated School Officer (DSO) turned into a nightmare for an F-1 student. She shared her experience on Reddit, explaining how her DSO forgot to mark her as “active” in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS).
How the issue began
When the student reported to school in the Fall, the DSO failed to update her SEVIS record. SEVIS tracks every international student in the US, and if your status isn’t “active,” your visa can be terminated even leading to deportation.
Automatic termination and late discovery
Because of the oversight, her SEVIS record was automatically marked as “No Show.” She didn’t know about it. After leaving for summer vacation and returning in the fall, border officers let her in without issue. But she forgot to check in with her DSO again.
The shocking discovery
Nearly ten months later, she found out her SEVIS record had been terminated all along. Her DSO offered two options: leave the US and return with a new SEVIS record or file for reinstatement. Both options could affect her visa history.
Shared blame but heavier fault
The student admitted she should have reported back to the DSO, but the officer’s initial mistake caused the bigger problem. Many users online advised that the university should correct the record and submit proof of enrollment to SEVIS.
Larger issue for F-1 students
In today’s US immigration climate, even small administrative errors can cause serious trouble. With increased visa scrutiny and automated system terminations, international students feel constant pressure and little room for human error.
