Travel Risks and OPT Outcomes for Students from Countries Under Review

(UNITED STATES) Students from countries under immigration review face a tougher path when they apply for Optional Practical Training (OPT), even though the formal rules and forms are the same as for everyone else. The key difference is how closely their cases are examined, and how risky travel becomes once an application is pending or approved.

Overview of the OPT Journey for Students Under Review

OPT lets F‑1 students work in the United States 🇺🇸 in their field of study after they finish or while they complete their programs. To get work permission, most students file Form I-765 with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). This is the Application for Employment Authorization, available on the USCIS website as Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization.

For students from countries under immigration review, the steps, forms, and deadlines for Optional Practical Training (OPT) do not change. What changes is the level of scrutiny, the questions at the border, and the risk that travel can break their plans.

USCIS explains general OPT rules on its students and employment page. According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, students from these countries should plan each stage with extra care, especially any trip outside the United States.

Stage 1: Preparing to File for OPT

Before filing, students should talk closely with their Designated School Official (DSO). The DSO must add the OPT recommendation to the student’s Form I‑20 and sign it. For students from countries under review, this early planning period matters even more because later travel may become very risky.

At this stage, students should:

• Decide if they can stay in the United States for the entire time their OPT application may be pending.
• Discuss with their DSO the dangers of international travel once the application is filed.
• Make sure their passport and F‑1 visa are valid, because both will be needed later for any re-entry.

The goal before filing is simple: avoid any travel plans you cannot safely cancel once the OPT process starts.

Stage 2: Filing the OPT Application with USCIS

Next comes filing Form I-765 with USCIS. The process is the same for all F‑1 students, including those from countries under immigration review. However, one detail is much more sensitive for these students: the mailing address.

USCIS only mails Employment Authorization Documents (EAD cards) to U.S. addresses. It does not send EAD cards abroad. This means:

• The address on Form I-765 must be a reliable U.S. address.
• Someone must be able to receive the EAD card and keep it safe.
• The student will later need the physical EAD card in hand to return to the United States on OPT.

Once USCIS receives the application, it issues a Form I‑797 receipt notice. This paper is important proof that the OPT request is pending and should be kept with the I‑20 and passport at all times.

Stage 3: While the OPT Application Is Pending

This is the riskiest stage for travel. For students from countries under immigration review, the advice is simple and firm: avoid leaving the United States while OPT is pending.

Why this stage is so sensitive:

• USCIS may send Requests for Evidence (RFE). An RFE asks for more documents or answers before a decision.
• If USCIS sends an RFE while the student is abroad, it may be very hard or impossible to respond on time.
• USCIS may deny the OPT while the student is outside the country.
• If OPT is denied while abroad, F‑1 status ends and the student cannot return in F‑1 status.

An RFE by itself is stressful. For students from reviewed countries, it can be even harder to address, especially if they are not physically in the United States to gather documents or receive mail quickly.

Stage 4: Travel During a Pending OPT Application

If travel cannot be avoided, students must accept real risks. For those from countries under immigration review, travel during a pending OPT application is especially dangerous.

Key dangers include:

• USCIS might issue an RFE that the student cannot answer before a deadline.
• USCIS might deny the application while the student is abroad.
• The student might face denial of entry by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) even if the case is still pending.

CBP officers at ports of entry have broad discretion. Students from countries under review may face extra questioning, including about their plans, job search, and ties to their home country. Even with proper documents, CBP can still deny entry.

Because USCIS only mails Employment Authorization Documents (EAD) inside the United States, a student outside the country cannot receive their EAD card directly. A friend or family member in the United States may hold it, but the student must have the original card in hand to re-enter in OPT status.

Important: If you must travel while OPT is pending, accept that responses to USCIS requests, mail delivery, and the ability to return may all be compromised. Travel plans should be treated as high risk.

Stage 5: After OPT Approval and Receiving the EAD

Once USCIS approves OPT and mails the EAD card to the U.S. address listed on Form I-765, the physical card becomes the center of everything. For students from countries under immigration review, travel is still sensitive, but the rules are clearer.

To re-enter the United States while on approved OPT, a student should carry:

• Valid passport
• Valid F‑1 visa
• Form I‑20 with OPT recommendation and recent travel signature
• EAD card
• Proof of employment or job offer letter

Visa issuance at a U.S. consulate may be harder for students from countries under review, especially once they are on OPT. Officers may ask more questions about the intent to return home and financial stability. Without a valid F‑1 visa and EAD card, re-entry is not possible.

Stage 6: STEM OPT Extension and Extra Travel Risk

For students in science, technology, engineering, or math (STEM) fields, the STEM OPT extension creates another sensitive stage. When a student files for a STEM OPT extension and the original EAD has already expired, travel becomes even more dangerous.

Considerations for STEM OPT applicants:

• Travel while the STEM OPT extension is pending is especially risky if the first EAD card is no longer valid.
• Re-entry is generally not recommended without a valid EAD card or at least the receipt notice for the STEM OPT extension.
• If the STEM OPT extension is denied while the student is abroad, the effect is the same as a denial of regular OPT: F‑1 status ends and re-entry is barred.

Practical Planning Tips for Each Stage

Across all stages, students from countries under immigration review can reduce risk by:

• Avoiding international travel while OPT or STEM OPT is pending.
• Using a stable U.S. mailing address for Form I-765.
• Keeping copies of the I‑20, I‑797 receipt, EAD, and job offer letter together.
• Accepting that CBP officers may ask detailed questions and that entry is never guaranteed.

For many students, the safest choice is to stay in the United States from the time they file OPT until they receive the EAD card and secure a valid F‑1 visa. This may mean delaying family visits or trips home, but it helps protect their study and work plans.

Key takeaway: Students from countries under immigration review must plan each OPT stage with extra care. The formal process is the same, but the practical risks — especially around travel and mail delivery — are significantly higher.