I went from F1 → OPT → H1B → job loss. I’m still within my 60-day grace period but don’t see any solid job leads.
A friend said he enrolled in a second Master’s at a CPT school and used that to maintain status while job hunting. I always thought that was a loophole, but now that I’m in the same boat, I kinda get why people do it.
If you do that — like go from H1B back to F1 — does it mess up your immigration record? Do you need to leave and re-enter to activate the new I-20? And how do schools even justify giving CPT from Day 1?
Would love to hear any success stories or horror stories. Trying to figure out if I should enroll in a school ASAP or just pack my bags…
Hey — sorry you’re in this tough spot. I’ve seen a few people go through this transition (H1B → F-1 with Day 1 CPT) to maintain legal status while regrouping after a job loss.
It is possible to re-enroll in a Master’s program, but there are a few important things to consider:
Status reset: You technically go from H1B back to F-1, but this may require consular processing (leaving the U.S. and re-entering to activate the new I-20), unless you’re able to change status within the U.S. via USCIS — which can take months.
CPT from Day 1: Only allowed if the program requires practical training as an “integral part of the curriculum.” That’s how some schools justify it — but this needs to be backed up by actual structure, not just a loophole.
Record impact: If the school follows SEVP guidance and you maintain your academic and attendance obligations, it shouldn’t negatively impact your immigration record — but it’s always wise to document everything and speak with an immigration advisor.
It’s a stressful fork in the road, but you’re not the first to go through it. Hopefully others here can share how it played out for them — both good and bad.
Wishing you clarity as you figure out the next step.