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Surprise USCIS Checks Hit F-1 STEM OPT Students: What You Need to Know

F-1 students on OPT and STEM OPT extensions are facing a new wave of immigration scrutiny. Since late 2024, immigration attorneys across the country have reported a sharp rise in surprise USCIS site visits—with officers showing up at workplaces, remote work locations, and even students’ homes to verify compliance with training plans and employment rules

While USCIS has not issued a formal announcement, the increase is significant enough that both students and employers should prepare.

What’s Behind These Surprise Visits?

The recent uptick is driven by enhanced enforcement efforts from the Fraud Detection and National Security (FDNS) unit of USCIS. These visits are intended to verify:

• F-1 status maintenanceValid employment tied to the student’s field of study
• Compliance with the Form I-983 training plan
• Accuracy of reported work locations and employer information

Under long-standing DHS guidance, officers already have the authority to conduct unannounced site visits for F-1 OPT and STEM OPT students. The recent surge suggests USCIS is now actively exercising that authority.

These inspections may be triggered by:

• Random selection
• Third-party complaints
• Inconsistencies or suspected fraud
• Gaps in student reporting or employer oversight

What Officers Are Requesting During Visits

USCIS and ICE officers are now asking students to provide documentation on the spot, including:

• Official school transcripts
• Job offer letters or employment verification
• Recent pay stubs and bank statements
• Signed and compliant Form I-983 training plans

They may interview both the student and their employer to confirm that the work performed matches what is listed on the I-983 and that the student is maintaining lawful status.

Where These Visits Are Taking Place

Site visits are no longer limited to traditional office environments. Officers are appearing at:

• Work offices

• Remote or hybrid work locations

• Students’ home addresses (if listed as the worksite in SEVIS)

USCIS and ICE are legally permitted to inspect these locations and conduct interviews.

Industries Seeing the Most Enforcement

Immigration attorneys note that inspections are especially common in:

• Tech
• Consulting firms
• STEM-focused employers

These industries rely heavily on STEM OPT workers, making them more visible to enforcement trends.

Why This Matters

This rise in unannounced visits signals a broader federal focus on international student compliance. Both students and employers must be more diligent than ever in meeting reporting and record-keeping requirements.

Students should ensure:

• Their address and employer information in SEVIS are up-to-date
• Their work clearly aligns with their field of study
• Their I-983 is accurate and consistently followed
• All required documents are readily available

Employers should review their training descriptions, supervision plans, and reporting obligations to avoid discrepancies that could trigger further scrutiny.

Need help navigating these updates?

The growing number of surprise site visits highlights how critical it is for both students and employers to stay compliant with F-1 OPT and STEM OPT rules. Ensuring your documents, training plans, and reporting practices are accurate can help you avoid violations during an unexpected inspection.

Set up a consultation with the Law Office of Jacqueline Lentini, LLC by calling 630-262-1435 or emailing jacki@lentinivisas.com.