“What did I do wrong,” a worried F-1 visa student asks, as a single I-20 mistake threatens study, career plans, and STEM OPT work rights
A Reddit post on r/f1visa highlights the anxiety faced by an international student who uploaded the wrong I-20 while filing a STEM OPT extension, with their EAD close to expiry. As peers weighed in, the case underscored how minor administrative errors can jeopardise careers. Drawing on USCIS and SEVP guidance, the article explains why uploading a corrected STEM OPT I-20 as unsolicited evidence is often safer than withdrawing and refiling when timelines are tight.
A Reddit post on r/f1visa highlights the anxiety faced by an international student who uploaded the wrong I-20 while filing a STEM OPT extension, with their EAD close to expiry. As peers weighed in, the case underscored how minor administrative errors can jeopardise careers. Drawing on USCIS and SEVP guidance, the article explains why uploading a corrected STEM OPT I-20 as unsolicited evidence is often safer than withdrawing and refiling when timelines are tight.
