OPT Rejected Over College’s Absurd SEVIS Blunder

An international student’s shocking ordeal recently came out, which has put his OPT (Optional Practical Training) work permit in doubt.

Taking to social media, the F-1 visa holder claimed that their first-ever OPT application was denied by USCIS (US Citizenship and Immigration Services), not because of any fault of theirs, but due to a careless error in their SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System) record.

The student had never transferred schools and never intended to either. Yet their DSO (Designated School Officer) somehow moved their SEVIS record to another university.

When USCIS looked up the file, they saw no OPT recommendation from the old school, because technically, the record had been transferred, and as a result, their OPT was denied.

It’s the kind of blunder that sounds absurd, but it is a reality. And now, the student might face harsh consequences for the university’s error, as they could lose their F-1 status and miss out on valuable work experience.

The student is now scrambling to fix the mistake. They’ve asked their DSO to reverse the SEVIS transfer and reactivate the record as the time is ticking.

This isn’t just a paperwork issue, it’s about the student’s future and survival. With processing delays and strict visa rules, even the smallest misstep can derail years of hard work.