In case anyone is thinking to apply for reinstatement instead of Change of Status.

Applied on Jan 25, 2025, got approved on April 20, 2025!!

Filed online myself, didn’t use lawyer!!

was in TPS the whole time when I was out of F1!!

Provided some supporting docs!! 

Congratulations!!!!!!!

Good luck. Hopefully many more TPS holders will find a way to stay legally. While going home show the same enthusiasm when you were heading US. Khaobadi has been posting many youtube videos showing returnees are doing much better than we can think of. Just do not feel guilty going back and do not be ashamed of being an entrepreneur.
Back home people think in 8-9 years you must have earned at least million dollars. You may have read many threads " अमेरिकामा बसेर अमेरिकी बन्न नसकेको " " हाम्रोमा धोति भाईले ठिक गर्छन गाडि" " मैले यो बर्सको यो गाडी किने" and so on. If you hear such comments, you need to keep both of your ears open so you can hear from one ear and let it pass right away from other ear. I used to call them " पधेरनि brand". Some of your relatives and friends may be looking for interest free money. If you want to be in good relationship never loan.

Username619 Can be specific what supporting documents did you provide and what reason did you give for ur 2years out of status??

F1_Reinstatement_Request_Letter.pdf
TherapistLetter.pdf
TPS_Approval_with_I_94.pdf
SEVIS_FEE_1901_payment_confirmation.pdf
i20.pdf
financialBankLetter.pdf
Full_Scholarship_2025_Graduate_Assistant.pdf
payStub1.pdf
payStub2.pdf
tpsEAD.pdf
I94_Official_Website_(1).pdf
newPassport.pdf
oldPassport.pdf
bachelorDegreeCertificate.pdf
currentUniversityTranskript.pdf
fullTimeSpringClassSchedule.jpg
CurrentSchoolGraduationDate.jpg - 2027

these are the docs i submitted, i dont think so you need all of the above docs though

and yeah i was out of F1 for almost 2 years, sevis terminated - was in TPS whole time

@suggestions i539 online filing - $420
sevis i901 fee - $350

so yeah $770 in total

Thankyou for sharing username .

I believe applying for an assistantship or graduate school on short notice might be challenging. Do you think requesting an I-20 for an Associate in Science program could affect the I-539 application, especially if someone already holds a master’s degree from the U.S.? How likely I 539 will be denied? It is better to wait a few weeks for the Afghanistan TPS decision or start I20 process soon from graduate school ? Suggestions please

what afghan decision are you talking about ? Decision is already out, they terminated it. Everything is risky right now, but I know some people who have been doing 2-3 different masters in US, as long as you explain it clearly in the letter, provide docs, should be fine man…but again this is just my $0.02

Thank you username619 for your advice. I will apply to the School, try to get the I-20 soon, and use Premium processing for I 539 -just to be in safe side.

np, good luck, hope things work out for you!!

@Username, Afghanistan ko arko lawsuit chali racha ahile. 60 days ko rule follow nagari cancel gardya bhanera cha. Yo rokdiyo bhane Dec samma badhna parne ho

W

@Username, looks like they are going to remove OPT after the graduation. If you're planning to go back to college and work on the OPT afterwards, you might want to re-consider your plan.

Lol you think we have other options beside that, there’s no choice beside going to F1, let’s see what happens, if it stays good, if not, it is what it is…ofc there will be lawsuits if that happens, let’s see what the fate holds

OPT is not a law, so it’s least likely for there to be a lawsuit. There might be big companies opposing the move though. If they move through formal rule-making process, they can end it. They can even create delays in approval and create unnecessary hassle.

I’m not discouraging anyone to go back to F1, however. This can be a good option if you’re genuinely interested in research and continue in academia, but might create lots of challenges if you’re looking for OPT once you graduate especially with the current political climate.

lets see what happens, hoping bigger companies will stop that or lawsuits....F1 future is uncertain, looks like a federal court just temporarily blocked the trump banning forein students in harvard, so i am hoping similar things for OPT if they try to ban

OPT is not a legal statute, so there is not going to be the lawsuit. Administration can cancel it by going though rule-making process. Harvard is completely different case altogether. I'm not sure why all of a sudden they are going after international students. Many of them are the brightest mind from all over the world.

I'm just trying to understand the end-game here. Is the final outcome going to be getting rid of all the foreigners here on the visa and close the country completely?

I don’t think it will be that easy to close the country, courts, lawsuits, it won’t be that easy….not sure wtf this admin is thinking, foreign students brings billions of dollars, funds uni as well….yeah there might be some bad apples, but that happens everywhere