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Aug 27 •
🎉 Welcome to Ask A DSO (Free)
Welcome to your new community — a space built for international students who want clear, reliable guidance on studying, working, and thriving in the U.S. I’m Dr. Josh Schoonover (most students just call me Dr. Josh), and over the last 9+ years I’ve helped: - ✅ 4,000+ students secure visas - ✅ 3,000+ OPT/STEM OPT approvals - ✅ 1,600 H-1B approvals - ✅ 400+ green cards Now I’ve built Ask A DSO (Free) so you don’t have to scroll Reddit, Facebook, or random chats wondering if the advice is correct. Here, you get clarity, connection, and community. 🌟 How It Works - Modules: Check the classroom for guidance on visas, career prep, student life, and your American Dream. - Community Threads: Every week you’ll see prompts to share wins, challenges, and questions. - Monthly Live Training + Q&A: Join me live each month for rotating topics (CPT/OPT basics, avoiding status violations, networking, and more). - Replay Notes: If you miss a session, you’ll still get text-based recaps. ❌ What CORE Isn’t CORE is your foundation. It’s not full advising, video tutorials, or 1:1 support — those live inside PRO & VIP. Think of this as your launchpad. 🚀 Start Here 1. Introduce yourself below — share your school, major, home country, and one goal you have for your U.S. journey. 2. Engage in the weekly thread — answer the question of the week and learn from other students. 3. Explore the modules — start with Visa Status Basics to build your foundation. 💡 Pro Tip The more you engage, the more you’ll get out of Ask A DSO (Free). Ask questions, share wins, encourage others. This is a global community of students chasing their American Dream... And you’re part of it now. Welcome aboard. Let’s build your future together. — Dr. Josh
4d •
Free Workshop: CPT & Internships: An International Student's Playbook
Community, 🚀 Join 160+ international students who are learning how to nail the interview and land the job! I’ll be breaking down exactly how CPT & internships fit into your U.S. career journey — the proven playbook that helps you avoid costly mistakes and turn opportunities into real offers. Walk away with a clear, step-by-step strategy to secure internships, impress employers, and position yourself for long-term success. Plus, I'll have a special bonus for those who attend live 🎁 📅 Don’t miss it: Today, September 23rd at 3pm EST / noon PST. Register for free here: https://www.linkedin.com/events/cpt-internships-aninternational7371892540305981440/
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7d •
🚨 Major H-1B Update 🚨
The Trump administration just raised the H-1B application fee to $100,000. 👉 This does not affect current H-1B holders. 👉 But it will have a huge impact on how many employers are willing to sponsor moving forward. The only “good” news? This was done through executive order—so a future president could roll it back. But for now, international students should be ready with alternative plans for work authorization and long-term strategy. 💡 Need help building your backup plan? ODM me “H1B” and let’s talk about working together directly. Your American Dream doesn’t end here—it just means we have to get more strategic. 🇺🇸✨
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17d •
Need Advice – OPT Denied, SEVIS Correction vs New Initial I-20
Hi everyone, I’m an F-1 student at Northeastern (MS in Software Engineering, program ended May 2025). My OPT was denied on Sept 3, 2025 because USCIS said my application was filed outside the 30-day I-20 window. Right now, my SEVIS is still Active, but my DSO says they must: 1. File a correction to mark OPT as Denied → SEVIS will flip to Completed. 2. Then file a second correction (Completed → Active) if I show an admit letter for a new program (Graduate Certificate at NU or transfer to another SEVP school). They told me approval of the second correction isn’t guaranteed, and while it’s under review I’d technically be out of status. If denied, my backup option would be a new Initial I-20, but that means starting a fresh SEVIS record and waiting one academic year for OPT. My questions: - Is this two-step correction process (Active → Completed → Active) standard? - If a SEVIS record is already “Completed,” can the DSO file the second correction directly? - What are the risks of relying on the correction route vs. just starting over with a new Initial I-20? - Has anyone here gone through a similar situation and successfully kept their OPT eligibility? Any insights from DSOs or students who have experienced this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks,Shubham
19d •
📢 Policy Alert: Major Visa Change 📢
The Department of State has just announced a big shift: ❌ Nonimmigrants can no longer apply for a visa at a third-country embassy. ✅ You must now apply in your country of residence. This is effective immediately. It means that the long-standing strategy of booking earlier visa appointments in a different country is no longer an option. ⚠️ It’s not yet clear whether students who already have third-country appointments will be allowed to proceed as scheduled. 👉 What this means for you: - Expect longer wait times at home-country embassies. - Plan ahead and schedule your appointment early. - Stay alert for further clarifications—we’ll share updates as they come. I’ll keep you posted as more details are released. In the meantime, use this thread to ask questions and share your situation so we can support each other. Always on Your Side, Dr. Josh
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