OPT Revoked Without Warning: H1B Approval at Risk?

An international worker recently received H-1B approval and assumed his immigration journey was finally on track. But a silent SEVIS glitch has now thrown everything into uncertainty. Without any warning, his OPT status was quietly marked as “completed” well before the official end date, creating a risk of being considered out of status.

The student, who was on STEM OPT, only discovered this issue weeks later. SEVIS, the federal system that manages records for all international students on F, M, and J visas, controls both legal student status and OPT validity. The termination of his OPT before the expected deadline came without an email, alert, or message. Unaware of the change, he continued working—technically out of status—for nearly two months.

His designated school officer (DSO) told him this happens often when a student changes status, such as moving from F-1 to H-1B. However, the student claims he was never told that the OPT would be marked complete prematurely. More concerning, he received no official notice from SEVIS or his DSO, a lack of communication that may have serious immigration consequences if the gap is viewed as unauthorized employment.

Despite several follow-up emails, the student says his DSO has not filed any corrections or offered clarity. As a result, he’s left with growing anxiety that this technical oversight could jeopardize future visa applications or green card processing. In a system that demands compliance and precision, even a silent system error can carry long-term risks.