OPT Denied: USCIS Verification Error Ends F-1 Visa?

An international student on an F-1 visa is facing a serious STEM OPT crisis after the USCIS denied their application. The decision came after the student submitted a response to a Request for Evidence.

According to the USCIS, the denial was linked to the agency’s inability to verify certain employment details. The student’s earlier OPT employment could not be confirmed due to insufficient documentation.

The agency stated that the applicant did not provide detailed personnel records. Officials said supervision documents and project related letters should have been included in the RFE response.

Based on unverifiable employment information, the USCIS recalculated the student’s record. The agency concluded that the applicant had exceeded the permitted unemployment limit despite claims of working during that period.

The student’s SEVIS record has now been marked as complete. This means the student is currently in the 60 day grace period before leaving the United States becomes mandatory.

The student has the option to file an I-290B motion to reopen the case. However, the process may take several months or even up to a year to receive a decision.

During this time, the student may still need to leave the country due to lack of legal status. A second denial could also result in a multi year restriction on applying again.

Experts have advised the student to immediately consult an immigration attorney. Taking further steps without proper legal guidance could lead to serious consequences.