A foreign student’s past F-1 work mistake is now raising fresh concerns about green card eligibility. With increasing scrutiny from USCIS, such cases are drawing attention as immigration rules are being more closely examined.
The student stated they have lived in the US legally since 2015 while completing bachelor’s and master’s studies on an F-1 visa. During the master’s programme, they received CPT authorisation and began working at a startup.
However, the student later realised that the CPT approval had expired while the job continued for nearly two more years. They claimed neither the employer nor the university requested updated documents, which delayed identifying the issue.
Despite this lapse, the student later secured approvals for both OPT and STEM OPT. These approvals allowed continued legal work status, but the earlier mistake has now become a concern during future immigration steps.
The individual is now preparing to apply for a marriage-based green card through a US citizen spouse. They fear that the period of unauthorised employment could affect the Adjustment of Status process.
Online discussions show mixed opinions on such cases. Some users say unauthorised work is often forgiven for spouses of US citizens, while others warn that USCIS officers may still review such matters carefully.
One individual shared that their own marriage-based interview required supervisor review after admitting unauthorised employment. This highlights how disclosures can impact application outcomes under current scrutiny levels.
The situation reflects growing anxiety among immigrants due to stricter USCIS reviews and policy changes. Past visa mistakes, even if resolved, may resurface during the green card process and require careful handling.
