Many F-1 students face OPT rejection due to reasons like missing documents, late applications, or errors in the I-765 form. If your OPT is denied, what should you do next?
Has anyone successfully overcome an OPT rejection? What worked for you?
As long as you haven’t passed the ddl of OPT application, you can resubmit it again.
OPT denial is stressful, but you do have options, especially if you act quickly within your 60-day grace period.
Next Steps After OPT Denial:
Reapply (If Eligible):• You can’t reapply for OPT if your denial was due to missing the deadline or filing too early/late.
• But if it was denied due to a correctable error (like missing a signature), you might be able to file a Motion to Reopen (I-290B) — although it’s risky and takes time.
Transfer to Another School (Day 1 CPT):• This is one of the most common paths. You can apply to a Day 1 CPT school and transfer your SEVIS record before your grace period ends to maintain F-1 status and continue working.
• Make sure the new program is different enough to justify academic progression.
Other Visa Options:• O-1 Visa: For individuals with extraordinary ability (hard to qualify right after OPT, but possible for some).
• B-2 Visa: As a temporary stay option (not ideal for work).
• H-1B Cap-Exempt: If you get a job with a university or nonprofit org.
• Green Card via Employer (EB-3): Some students explore this early, though timing and status are tricky.
If your OPT is denied, you can reapply within your 60-day grace period, but make sure to fix the issues stated in the denial. Transferring to another school or exploring options like Day 1 CPT or O-1 visas are also worth considering. I successfully reapplied during the grace period after correcting errors—anyone else had luck with this?
Yeah, I’ve seen this happen to a couple of friends — one of them got denied due to a super small mistake on the I-765 form 
What worked for them:
They immediately contacted their DSO and SEVIS helpdesk to understand if a reapplication was possible.
Since the grace period was still active, they enrolled in a new program at a Day 1 CPT school to stay in status — not ideal, but it bought them time.
One person even appealed the decision with the help of an attorney, though that’s a longer shot.
If your OPT was denied close to your program end date, the safest path might be to transfer to another school ASAP and reapply later. But you really have to move fast — the 60-day clock doesn’t stop ticking 
If anyone’s looking for a list of schools that allow quick enrollment and CPT from the start, happy to share — just DM me.
Good luck to anyone going through this — it’s stressful, but not the end of the road.
Reapplying sounds like a good option, and I agree—having a backup plan with other universities is definitely smart. Appreciate your input!
It’s really helpful to know there are still options even after an OPT denial. Reapplying within the 60-day grace period sounds like a smart move—glad it worked out for you after fixing the errors. I’d love to hear more success stories too! Has anyone else tried Day 1 CPT or transferred schools to maintain status?
Since some schools’ grace periods begin immediately after your regular OPT expires, it’s crucial to confirm your SEVIS status with your school after receiving a denial letter.