A final-year STEM OPT student is facing a tough ordeal with their employer, who hasn’t paid them for three months. As the immigrant student is planning a return to the US after a family emergency, they wonder if this would be held against them at the airport.
Seeking advice on social media, the student asked if unpaid salary could be a problem. Some believe immigration officers only check visas and proof of employment, while others warn that missing pay stubs can raise red flags.
An ex-OPT worker shared that they were directly asked for their most recent pay stub. If the officer demands similar proof, the student could be denied entry or face further scrutiny.
While the employer ensures they would issue a letter as proof of employment, the OPT remains skeptical, and maybe for the right reasons.
Immigrants are already in a vulnerable position and companies not paying them for three months is just exploitation. Most likely, they didn’t think this would be a problem when they left the US for a family emergency but now their whole future is in balance.
