A US graduate’s H-1B dream ended before it even began when their employer withdrew an approved work visa at the last minute. The USCIS failed to update the change, which also led to the automatic termination of the student’s F-1 visa status.
Employer Withdrawal Causes Chaos
The student shared online that they were selected in this year’s H-1B lottery and had already received Change of Status (COS) approval. However, the employer withdrew the petition in early September, weeks before the H-1B start date.
SEVIS Auto-Terminated F1 Status
On October 1, when their H-1B status was meant to activate, SEVIS automatically terminated their F-1 OPT record. Four days later, the USCIS finally marked the H-1B as revoked, leaving the student officially out of legal status in the US.
DSO Unable to Reverse SEVIS Record
The Designated School Officer (DSO) explained that SEVIS cannot be fixed without an official USCIS withdrawal notice. This bureaucratic gap has left the student stranded in a legal limbo, with no valid work authorization or visa category.
Similar Stories Surface Online
Others who read the post shared similar experiences, revealing how delayed USCIS updates forced them to leave the US despite approved petitions. Many advised the student to consult an immigration lawyer immediately and plan to exit to avoid long-term visa issues.
Waiting for USCIS Action
Once USCIS sends the formal withdrawal notice, the DSO can correct SEVIS, possibly allowing a new H-1B transfer or reinstatement. However, that process is slow and heavily dependent on official paperwork, leaving the student’s future uncertain for now.
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