Imagine you’re on an OPT (Optional Practical Training) work permit with a valid EAD (Employment Authorization Document) and you finally land a gig, only to realize your employer never even bothered to check your documents. That’s exactly what one F-1 student is going through.
Taking to Reddit, the student shared that he got hired by a nonprofit as a contractor. There was no EAD verification or I-9 form to authenticate his status.
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The student is now in a panic, wondering whether he has broken any immigration law. However, the case gets a little messy according to online experts.
Technically, independent contractors are not required to complete an I-9. But OPT students are only allowed to work if it aligns with their degree and they report it properly.
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While he did report his employment, his employer treating him like a contractor, not an employee, could raise red flags; especially if USCIS (US Citizenship and Immigration Services) thinks he’s self-employed or working outside his field.
This mess isn’t entirely the student’s fault but it could still hurt him. USCIS rarely explains things clearly, and even a simple reporting error can end with a visa denial.
Also Read – F1 Visa Renewal Denied Will Airport Refuse?
For now, the safest move is to keep every single document, talk to the DSO, and maybe even switch to an employer who knows what OPT rules are.
