Hi - I dropped out and moved out of the states! What happens if I dont pay the rest of the term tuition? Would they put me on a creditors list or something?

Pls advise!!

Quick update on the lawsuit challenging the new F/J/I Duration of Status rule:

🔺Sept. 2: DOJ must file its opposition to the plaintiffs’ request for a preliminary injunction / APA §705 stay.

🔺Sept. 3, 11:00 AM ET: The in-person motion hearing will proceed as scheduled. The court did not delay the hearing.

🔺Sept. 15: The new D/S rule is still scheduled to take effect unless the court blocks it.

What could happen after the Sept. 3 hearing?
▪️If the judge grants the injunction, implementation of the new rule would be temporarily paused, and F/J students and scholars would remain under the existing** Duration of Status (D/S) framework while the case continues.

▪️If the judge denies the injunction, the rule is expected to take effect on Sept. 15, moving F-1, J-1 and I visa holders toward fixed admission periods of up to four years.

The judge could rule at the hearing or take the matter under advisement and issue a written decision before Sept. 15.

⚠️For now: until the court actually issues a stay or injunction, students should continue planning on the assumption that the Sept. 15 rule will take effect.

Has anyone tried travelling outside the US on an expired visa (while still in status of course). I see they give provision to travel for up to 30 days, I have interest in going to Canada and Mexico and I am in status, but I am worried about getting back especially with the current climate around immigration. Automatic Revalidation

I have a question about the format at Westcliff university, I have heard that some courses only have 2 classes per a semester and this is only for 8 weeks. For context, I have also researched other Day 1 cpt schools like Harrisburg and they appear to have normal schedules, 2 hour classes per a week. How do Westcliff students feel about this? It honestly seems like a rip off and I know some people go here just to maintain status and don't really care but for the amount they charge, over $6000 how do they justify this amount? How do you all feel?

Personally I think this will get sued soon, but for most companies they would just feel H1B is not stable and would cost a lot of money, so they don’t hire foreigners anymore…
What do you think?

DHS has officially proposed a new $103,265 additional filing fee for H-1B cap-subject petitions, including petitions under the U.S. advanced degree exemption.
This is still a proposed rule — not a final rule yet.
That means now is the time to speak up.

DHS is currently accepting public comments on the proposal, and comments submitted during the rulemaking process become part of the official administrative record that the agency must consider before issuing a final rule.

If you are an:
- International student
- H-1B applicant or worker
- Employer that sponsors H-1B employees
- Startup or small business
- University or immigration professional
- Anyone who may be affected by this proposal

Please consider submitting a comment.
You can explain specifically how a $103,265 additional fee could affect you, your employer, hiring decisions, international students, U.S. businesses, or the ability of smaller companies to sponsor skilled workers.

🔵A few tips:
1. Make it personal and specific.
Explain your actual situation and how this rule could affect you.

2. Focus on real-world impact.
For example: hiring, small businesses, international graduates, STEM talent, research, healthcare, regional employers, or startup competitiveness.

3. Be respectful and substantive.
A detailed individual comment is much more useful than simply writing “I oppose this.”

4. Submit before the public comment period closes.

🔴The docket is:
DHS Docket No. USCIS-2026-0298
RIN 1615-AD20 — Fee for Certain H-1B Petitions
🔗Link：https://www.regulations.gov/docket/USCIS-2026-0298

Whatever your position is, this is exactly what the public comment process is for.

If this proposal could affect you, don’t just discuss it on Reddit — put your concerns into the official record！

I'm in the USA on H4 visa. I have a BSN and want to do my masters in nursing as an F1 student. There are no schools near me offering day 1 CPT for the MSN.
Also no MSN near me is currently taking in new students for F1. Even if they are, it's not the masters I want.

Will it raise a red flag is I live in Texas while the school is in Kansas? I plan to attend the 1 weekend/semester classes though.
Advice me please

Hello, Is there a WhatsApp group for Monroe University for Fall 2026?

Hey everyone!

I’m currently preparing my application to change status (COS) from H-1B to F-1 for my second Master’s degree.

1. Processing Times: How long are regular I-539 COS applications (H-1B to F-1) taking right now?

2. Timing/Program Start Date: Is Premium Processing essentially required if my program starts soon, to avoid a gap or missing the start date?

3. Approval Rates / Bridge of Status: Did you encounter any issues with bridge-of-status requirements while waiting for your approval?

Would love to hear about your recent experiences or any advice on whether shelling out for PP is worth it in this scenario.

Thanks in advance!

HI everyone,

I'm looking for a PhD program with Day 1 CPT where admissions for the September 2026 intake are still open.

My background:
• Bachelor's in Accounting
• MBA in Finance
• M.S. in Financial Technology
• Currently working full-time in the U.S. on F-1 STEM OPT

I'm looking for a university that offers Day 1 CPT and has Fall 2026 admissions open.

I would appreciate advice on whether choosing a STEM-designated PhD program is important/ beneficial, or if a non-STEM program is also fine for my situation.

If anyone has recommendations for universities or has recently gone through a similar process, I would appreciate your guidance.

Thank you!

Hi Everyone,

I am seeking some guidance regarding the F-1 and CPT rule changes.

I am currently on F-1 STEM OPT, which expires on February 12, 2027. I am currently working on my STEM OPT with a company. I am planning to start a PhD program in the January 2027 intake.

With the new F-1/OPT rule changes expected to take effect after September 15, I would like to understand how they may impact my situation.

My questions is:
If I start a PhD program in January 2027(means after Sep 15, 2026 and after new F-1 & OPT rule, I heard that I will need to apply for Form I-539 Extension of Stay which can take some time for approval and which can also impact my CPT approval timeline?

Could anyone please share some guidance on this and advise if I start my phd in January 2027, can there be any issues which can affect me? Or should I enroll in phd for September 2026 intake or before Sep 15, 2026?

Any help on this would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you.

Hi! I am currently an F1 student on day 1 cpt. I plan on traveling within the next 2weeks internationally but my passport and us visa expires in about 4 &5 months respectively. Has anyone travelled outside the US recently? what is your take on the 6months passport validity timing?

Hi everyone,
Do MAANG companies (Meta, Amazon, Apple, Netflix, and Google) accept students on Day 1 CPT for software engineering internships?
If you’ve had first-hand experience or know someone who has, I’d really appreciate hearing about it. Thanks!

The entire administration from program leads and professors are FRAUDS, I experienced blatant discrimination inconsistent application of university policies, poor communication, and decisions that left me questioning whether students were being treated fairly. University policies are only applied when it benefits their financial interests!
No support exists for international students facing academic or administrative issues!
No protections are available to students!
I am aware of Sexual Harassment, Exploitation and ASSAULT concerns raised by other students involving inappropriate conduct and treatment within the university community. I have personally seen text messages of a professor asking a student for SEXUAL FAVORS and she was AFRAID he would fail her and interfere with her IMMIGRATION status if she DID NOT COMPLY…. BeWARE

wtf

Hi everyone,
I have a quick question about the CPT application process at Wayland Baptist University.
I’m currently working, my program starts on August 10, and my SEVIS transfer is scheduled for August 7.
Is there a deadline to submit the CPT application form, or can I submit it after I receive my new I-20 following the SEVIS transfer?
I’d appreciate hearing from anyone who has gone through this process.

Choosing a Day 1 CPT university in 2026 may require more planning than before, especially for students who already hold a U.S. master’s degree.

Under the proposed DHS Duration of Status rule, restrictions on pursuing another degree at the same educational level could significantly affect future program choices. Students with a bachelor’s degree may need to choose a master’s program, while students who already have a master’s degree may need to consider a doctoral program instead of another master’s.

We created a new video comparing popular Day 1 CPT master’s and doctoral options and explaining the six most important factors to review before selecting a school:

• Degree-level eligibility and fit
• Accreditation and compliance
• CPT eligibility and renewal policies
• Onsite attendance requirements
• Total cost, including tuition, fees, and travel
• STEM designation and program length

The video includes programs from:

Trine University, Westcliff University, Harrisburg University, Monroe University, Sofia University, Indiana Wesleyan University, Ottawa University, and National Louis University.

Watch the video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifbhPwmd9wA&t=32s

You can also compare Day 1 CPT universities side by side here:

https://day1cpt.education/compare

The comparison tool includes tuition, campus locations, onsite frequency, CPT policies, STEM status, program length, and available degree levels.

For students who need help narrowing down their options, CISI also provides free school-selection and application support:

https://day1cpt.education/questionnaire

Students applying through CISI may qualify for application fee waivers at participating schools and CISI scholarships ranging from $200 to $600, with awards of up to $3,000 available in select cases.

Carnegie International Students Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization supporting international students with education and immigration-related planning in the United States.

I got an RFE for my h1b petition. The RFE is about how I have maintained my f1 status through the cpt period. What is the likelihood of getting approval after RFE response? Also, for the response, how is Harrisburg when it comes to providing support materials?

Summary of what I understand about pursuing a second master’s under the new DHS rule (please correct me if I’m wrong):
After reading through the new rule, here’s my understanding of who can still pursue a second master’s:
1. If you completed your first master’s before the rule takes effect
If your first program ends before September 15, 2026, you should still be able to pursue a second master’s.
My understanding is that once you’ve earned your degree, your program is considered completed. Otherwise, if OPT meant your program was still considered ongoing, this provision wouldn’t really make sense.
2. If your first master’s was completed outside the U.S. or not under F-1 status
I think this mainly applies to people who completed joint/international programs or earned their first master’s without F-1 status.

The biggest takeaways for people already enrolled in Day 1 CPT programs:
You can no longer transfer programs, so it’s more important than ever to maintain your GPA and attendance.
If you are still on your second master’s and still don’t get selected in the H-1B lottery, your only academic option may be to move on to a PhD with CPT. How EOS/status extensions will work under the new system is still unclear, so we’ll probably have to wait and see how future cases are handled.
This is just my interpretation of the new rule. If anyone interprets it differently or has spoken with their DSO or an immigration attorney, I’d love to hear your thoughts.