OPT Flagged at Airport: US Reverting to Old Rule?

Just when international students thought things were getting simpler, a new wave of confusion was hitting US airports.

A student on OPT recently re-entered the US and was told by a CBP (Customs and Border Police) officer that their I-20’s travel signature needed to be “original,” not an electronic copy.

For those unaware, US immigration rules were updated during the pandemic. Since 2021, the Department of Homeland Security has allowed DSOs to issue and sign I-20s electronically.

It was supposed to be a permanent, post-COVID reform. But apparently, not all CBP officers are on the same page.

In this case, the student was luckily allowed in but warned to carry a physical copy next time. The officer even blamed the university for not “meeting the rules,” which led the F-1 holder to panic that the government had reverted to the old ruling.

Ironically, it’s the officer who may be behind the times. Several commenters pointed out that CBP officers deal with all visa types, and may not be fully up-to-date with F-1 specific policies.

Other students shared that they were also questioned for following rules that CBP apparently forgot were updated. While such rules are introduced to provide convenience for visa holders, the ground reality tells another story.