A small error by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has put a student’s OPT work permit at serious risk even before the card reached them.
OPT Start Date Error Creates Legal Confusion
The F-1 visa holder shared their experience online. While their OPT was approved on 13 August 2025, the card issued showed a start date of 15 July.
This mismatch has cost them nearly 30 days out of the 90-day unemployment window allowed under OPT.
Card Sent to Wrong Address and Then Destroyed
Adding to the trouble, USCIS mailed the card to the student’s old address, even though an address update had been submitted online.
The postal service returned the card to USCIS, where it was destroyed instead of being corrected and reissued.
No Clear Answers from USCIS Support
The student has filed an e-request for a replacement card. However, there’s no confirmation whether the new card will reflect the correct August date or continue showing the earlier one.
Even repeated phone calls to USCIS have failed to provide clarity.
OPT Errors Can Ruin Careers Overnight
Thousands of international students rely on OPT to begin their careers in the United States. A single clerical mistake can threaten their legal status and future.
Such errors show the urgent need to fix not only immigration processing but also postal coordination in the system.
Broken Process Needs Immediate Reform
This case highlights a larger issue while debates continue around visa policies, practical fixes to the system remain ignored.
Without reforms, talented international students risk being pushed out due to avoidable mistakes and inefficient processes.
