Hi , I am currently on f1 opt and planning to travel to my home country and be back during January while my OPT EAD expires on feb 20.. Has anyone traveled while on opt and came back safely. ? I am really desperate to go also I am scared. So far I am having no luck in getting a job offer

Hi everyone,

I recently completed my Master’s degree in the US and submitted my initial post-completion OPT application while I was still in the country.

I found a position in Europe but had also applied for several jobs in the US. My plan was to obtain my EAD and keep the option of returning to the US open if one of those opportunities worked out.

I left the US just three days ago, and today I unexpectedly received a USCIS notice scheduling an in-person biometrics appointment in the US in two weeks.

My university’s international student office never mentioned that biometrics might be required for OPT, so I genuinely wasn’t expecting this.

My F-1 visa expires soon, and I’m now trying to understand my options:

1. Biometrics abroad: Is there any possibility of completing biometrics at a US embassy or consulate abroad, or requesting a biometrics waiver?
2. Returning on my current F-1 visa: I’ve already completed my degree, and my OPT application is still pending. Am I even eligible to re-enter the US in F-1 status at this point? If so, how risky would it be to return solely for the biometrics appointment?
3. Returning on B-1/B-2: Could I reschedule the appointment, obtain a tourist visa, briefly enter the US solely to complete biometrics, and then leave? Would entering in B-2 status jeopardize my pending OPT application?

If my OPT is approved and I eventually decide to return to the US for employment, I would need to apply for a new F-1 visa anyway.

Has anyone experienced something similar or found a workable solution? I’d really appreciate any advice or personal experiences.

Thanks!

I'm really struggling to find clarification on my OPT process and I've spoken to multiple lawyers and they have been LESS then helpful.

my timeline so far:

studied on F1 visa for four years

applied for opt after finishing school in october 2025, receipt date October 27th, 2025

after that, nothing I haven't heard back

my questions: what is my current status? I know I can be in the states while my application is processing, but since it's now been 12 months since I applied, does that still apply? am I overstaying/at what point is it considered overstaying? I really would like to avoid doing that lol

after I get an answer, I'm assuming IF it's approved, I'll get approximately 2 months of opt. if it's denied, what happens then - do I have any grace period to stay in the country while I apply for another visa? the same employer is happy to offer me a work visa, but I would prefer to apply for that while I'm in the country

thank you !!