OPT student says immigration officer asked to see office email as evidence of their employment. (AI image)
They were asked to show their I-20, the official document issued by a US school or university to an international student who has been admitted to an F-1 program; OPT card and other documents. I did not carry a physical copy of my I-20. They asked us many questions about our college and other details,” the student wrote, adding that foreign students must carry all immigration documents, I-20, OPT card, passport with a copy of visa when they are traveling even to a neighboring state.
The student said the group consisted of OPT and STEM-OPT students, all based in Dallas. The officer told me that this was a serious issue and that it could be considered a crime. “Two of my friends are working, and the officer asked them to show their office Outlook or Teams to prove that they are currently working.
An OPT student has shared the questions they faced from an immigration officer when a friend’s group went to New Mexico for the long weekend earlier this month.