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Ask A DSO

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International students: Stay, work, and build your U.S. career with DSO‑led visa + job roadmaps

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13 contributions to Ask A DSO (Free)
Intro and question
Hi everyone! I’m Palak Faguniya, excited to join this community and learn from experts like Dr. Josh, as well as connect with others here.I have a question I’m curious about: Is there any link between global geopolitics and the visa process for students and If so, how can one best navigate it?
1 like • 11d
Welcome @K Palak Faguniya! Glad to have your join us. There's a TON of links between geopolitics and the visa process. The U.S. is known to have lower visa pass rates in certain countries, for example. Some of the reasons for this might be if the U.S. has designated the home country as a state sponsor of terror. On a more practical level, the U.S. also tracks the amount of students who overstay their status, so countries with higher overstay rates are also scrutinized more closely. On another note, the U.S. does sometimes offer economic hardship or Special Student Relief for countries where incidents occur like natural disasters, civil wars, etc. So yes, international education and visa related issues are directly tied to geopolitical issues, in many ways!
Happy Thanksgiving! 🦃
Today I’m especially grateful for the work I get to do — supporting international students who are out here chasing big goals, navigating complex systems, and building new lives far from home. Every message you send… every “thank you,” every update, every success story… it means more than you know. Your kindness, your trust, and your belief in what we’re building together fuel me every single day. This community isn’t just a resource — it’s a family. And I’m deeply grateful for all of you who allow me to be a small part of your journey. Now it’s your turn — what’s something you’re grateful for today? Drop it below 👇 I’d love to read them. 🧡 Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.
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Happy Thanksgiving! 🦃
Ways to reenter
Hello Sir, I came to the U.S. in August 2023 and completed my master’s degree in May 2025. I went back to India on May due to Family Emergency .I would now like to return to the U.S., as I still have 3 years remaining on my OPT. Could you please advise me on the process to reenter or the ways .
0 likes • 19d
Hi @Rushikesh Mujumdar. Did you get approved for OPT before you left? If not, then you likely wouldn’t be able to add it on now, unfortunately.
Help Shape the Future of Our Community
Hey everyone — quick favor 🙌 I’m working on making Ask A DSO even more useful, engaging, and fun for you. To do that, I put together a super short 5-question survey (takes less than 2 minutes). Your answers will help me: ✅ Build new resources that actually match where you are in your U.S. journey ✅ Add more of the topics and activities you love ✅ Make this space feel even more helpful and connected Every response genuinely helps shape what comes next — and you’ll see the changes reflected right here in the community. 👉 Take the short survey here: https://forms.gle/arAtt7u89xCSgaLV7 Thanks for being part of this movement — together we’re building the roadmap international students wish they had from day one. 🌎💪 Always on Your Side, Dr. Josh
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Planning OPT, Nursing, and Green Card Path — Need Guidance
Hey everyone 👋 I’m currently an international student from Bangladesh studying Computer Science in the U.S. I plan to graduate in May 2026 and already have a tech internship lined up for Summer 2026 (which I’d like to use my OPT for). However, I’m planning to switch to an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program starting Fall 2026. My long-term goal is to become an RN, get sponsored for a green card (EB-3 Schedule A), and later pivot into health tech entrepreneurship — blending my tech and healthcare backgrounds. Here’s where I’m confused and would really appreciate some clarity: - If I use my OPT for my tech internship in Summer 2026, can I still apply for OPT again after completing my ADN nursing program? - Would there be any CPT opportunities during the ADN program that could help me work legally in the meantime? - Is this switch considered a higher or lower educational level in SEVIS terms? I’d love to hear from anyone who’s gone through a similar transition (tech → nursing), or DSOs familiar with F-1 to EB-3 (nursing) pathways. Thanks so much for your guidance 😊
 Planning OPT, Nursing, and Green Card Path — Need Guidance
0 likes • Nov 4
Hi @Ajharul Islam Aunik, great questions and I admire your level of planning! OPT is only available as you go up to a higher program level. If your current Computer Science program is a Bachelor program, it would be unlikely that you could then go 'down' to an Associate's program and do OPT. However, if your CS program is also Associates, then OPT is still an option, but you can only use it once per program level. So you would need to decide which internship you'd rather do- the tech one, or the nursing one. In terms of whether the ADN program would offer CPT, that would depend on the school where you do the program and what CPT options they offer.
0 likes • Nov 4
Thanks for clarifying @Ajharul Islam Aunik . OPT is only available as you move up to a higher program level. Completing an Associate’s degree after a Bachelor’s wouldn’t make you eligible for another year of OPT, since that would be considered a lower-level program. This is regardless of whether you do OPT at the Bachelor's level or not. The idea is basically that the gov't is incentivizing going up a level only (e.g. Bachelor's to Master's). For your case: this means that you can do OPT with the tech company. You might as well, since you won't have Bachelor OPT after this again anyways. With the ADN program, however, you could still do CPT- OPT at a higher program does not disqualify you from CPT at a 'lower' program level.
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Josh Schoonover
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@josh-schoonover-6553
Helping current & prospective international students live their American Dream.

Active 6h ago
Joined Aug 24, 2025
Long Beach, CA