F-1 Visa Faces Border Trouble Despite Following Legal Grace Period Rules

Los Angeles/ July 03, 2025
NRIpress.club/Ramesh/ A.Gary Singh

A recent incident involving a Canadian international student has raised concerns about how Customs and Border Protection (CBP) handles legal visa holders — even when they follow the rules.

The student had completed her studies in May under an F-1 visa and decided not to apply for Optional Practical Training (OPT). Instead, she used the standard 60-day grace period, as clearly outlined on her I-20 form, to remain in the U.S. legally until early July. She and her husband intended to return briefly to Canada before coming back to the U.S. as visitors for three weeks to close their lease and wrap up remaining personal matters.

But when they tried to re-enter, a CBP officer accused them of overstaying, falsely claiming that no 60-day grace period exists and that students must leave immediately after finishing classes — even suggesting arbitrary limits like “a week or ten days.”

The student politely referenced her I-20 and quoted DHS guidelines, but the officer dismissed her explanation and warned her not to trust schools or lawyers — despite her never mentioning either.

Eventually, she was permitted to enter, but the experience left her unsettled and questioning whether she would feel safe returning to study in the U.S. in the future.

If Canadian students face this kind of treatment despite clear documentation, it raises deeper concerns about how others from less-privileged countries may be handled at the border.

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