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Boynton Beach · Lake Worth · Atlanta
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From the first marriage visa to the appellate brief, our attorneys cover the entire path.
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Schedule a consultation →STUDENT VISAS
Protect the status you crossed an ocean to earn.
An F-1 visa is one of the easiest immigration statuses to lose and one of the hardest to get back. A dropped course load, an unauthorized job, a late transfer, a missed reporting deadline: any of them can quietly end your status before you realize anything is wrong. As a student visa lawyer, our job is to keep that from happening: to help you maintain F-1 status, get your OPT and CPT work authorization right, transfer schools cleanly, and fix problems fast when they come up. We represent students and recent graduates from our offices in Boynton Beach, Lake Worth, and Atlanta.
THE BASICS
The F-1 visa is the main academic student visa. It lets a foreign national come to the United States to study full-time at an approved school (a university, college, or accredited language program) after the school issues a Form I-20 and the student is entered into SEVIS, the government's student tracking system. The visa stamp in your passport gets you to the border; your I-20 and your SEVIS record are what actually keep you in status once you are here.
Here is the distinction that catches students off guard: your visa and your status are two different things. A visa can expire while you are lawfully studying, and that is fine. What you cannot let lapse is your status: the set of rules attached to being an F-1 student. Fall out of status and you are no longer authorized to be here, even if the stamp in your passport is still valid. Most of the students who come to us in trouble did not do anything reckless; they simply did not know that one ordinary decision, made without checking, would break the rules.
Enrolling full-time each academic term (limited, defined exceptions apply)
Making normal progress toward your degree
Keeping your I-20 valid and updated (program, major, funding, dates)
Never working without authorization, on or off campus
Reporting address changes and keeping your DSO informed
Not traveling or transferring without the right steps first
Applying for extensions or program changes before deadlines, not after
WORKING ON AN F-1
F-1 students can work in the United States, but only through specific, authorized channels, and getting them wrong is one of the fastest ways to lose status. The two that matter most are Optional Practical Training (OPT) and Curricular Practical Training (CPT). Both let you work in your field of study, but they work very differently, and the timing rules are unforgiving.
OPT is temporary work authorization in your field, most often used after you graduate. Standard post-completion OPT gives eligible students a defined period of authorized work, and students in qualifying science, technology, engineering, and math fields can apply to extend it through STEM OPT. The catch is the clock: OPT has firm application windows and strict limits on how long you can be unemployed while on it. File late, or rack up too many unemployment days, and the authorization can collapse. As an OPT lawyer, most of what we do is protect that timeline: filing early, documenting the job relationship, and tracking the deadlines that USCIS will not remind you about.
CPT is different. It is training that is an integral part of your curriculum (an internship or practicum tied to your program), and it is authorized by your school's DSO, not by a separate USCIS application. It has to be curricular, meaning genuinely part of your studies, and it must be authorized before you start. "Day 1 CPT" programs, which offer work authorization from the very first term, draw heavy government scrutiny and can put your status and any future green card at risk if the CPT is not truly integral to a legitimate curriculum. A CPT attorney's role is to tell you the truth about a program before you rely on it, not after an immigration officer questions it.
| OPT (Optional Practical Training) | CPT (Curricular Practical Training) |
|---|---|
| Authorized by USCIS (you receive an EAD card). | Authorized by your school's DSO, tied to your curriculum. |
| Usually used after graduation; extendable via STEM OPT for qualifying fields. | Used during your program (internships, practicums). |
| Strict application windows and unemployment-day limits apply. | Must be integral to your studies and authorized before you start. |
| File early: the deadlines are hard. | "Day 1 CPT" invites scrutiny. Verify the program is legitimate first. |
VOCATIONAL STUDY
Not every student is on an academic track. The M-1 visa is for students in vocational or non-academic programs: trade schools, technical training, flight schools, culinary and similar hands-on programs. Like the F-1, it runs on an I-20 and a SEVIS record, but the rules are tighter. M-1 students generally cannot change their program of study the way F-1 students can, their practical training options are far more limited and only available after completing the program, and the total time allowed is shorter.
Because the M-1 category is narrower, the mistakes tend to be about picking the wrong visa in the first place, or trying to use an M-1 like an F-1. As an M-1 visa attorney, we help vocational students choose the right category from the start and, where it makes sense, plan a clean change of status if their goals shift toward an academic degree.
CHANGING SCHOOLS
Students change schools all the time: a better program, a new city, a transfer from a language program into a degree. On an F-1 visa, though, a transfer is not just an academic decision; it is a SEVIS transaction with deadlines. Your current school releases your SEVIS record to the new school, the new school issues a fresh I-20, and you have to report and enroll within a defined window. Miss the sequence, let a gap open between programs, or fail to report to the new DSO on time, and a routine transfer can drop you out of status.
A student visa transfer done right is invisible: you move, your record moves with you, and nothing breaks. Done wrong, it can be one of the most common ways students unknowingly fall out of status. If you are considering a transfer, especially between different program levels or after a break in enrollment, it is worth a quick conversation before you commit.
CHANGE OF STATUS
Sometimes the student visa is not the starting point but a change of direction. Someone in the United States on a visitor visa decides to enroll in a degree program. A spouse on a dependent visa wants to study in their own right. In many cases you can change status to F-1 from inside the country by filing with USCIS, but timing is everything: you generally cannot start classes until the change is approved, and traveling while it is pending can cause the request to be treated as abandoned.
Just as often, the question is what comes after F-1. A graduating student on OPT may have an employer willing to sponsor an H-1B, or may qualify for another path entirely. A student who marries a US citizen may adjust status to a green card. The students who transition most smoothly are the ones who plan the next step before the current status runs out, not in the last panicked weeks. We look at the whole arc with you, so the F-1 chapter connects cleanly to whatever comes next.
Change of status from a visitor, dependent, or other nonimmigrant category. File before your program starts; do not begin classes until approved; be careful about travel while pending.
Where the path leads after graduation: H-1B sponsorship, a marriage-based green card, employment-based options, or further study. Plan the transition before OPT runs out.
WHEN THINGS GO WRONG
If you have already fallen out of F-1 status, you are not necessarily out of options. But this is the point where getting it wrong makes everything harder. When a student violates status (an unauthorized job, dropping below full-time without authorization, a lapsed I-20), there are generally two ways forward: apply to USCIS for reinstatement to F-1, or leave and re-enter on a new record. Which one is right depends on how the violation happened, how long ago, and whether the circumstances were beyond your control.
Reinstatement asks USCIS to forgive the lapse and put you back in status, and it is discretionary: the government does not have to grant it. A strong reinstatement request explains what happened honestly, shows the violation was not a pattern of disregard for the rules, and demonstrates that you are otherwise pursuing your studies in good faith. This is exactly the kind of situation where a student visa attorney earns their fee, because the difference between a granted reinstatement and a denial often comes down to how the story is framed and how quickly you act. The longer you wait, the fewer paths remain.
Fallen out of status? Do not travel, do not keep working, and do not file anything on your own first. Talk to an attorney quickly. Reinstatement options narrow the longer you wait.
TRAVEL & VISA STAMPING
Travel is where a lot of student cases get nervous, and often for good reason. Leaving the country while a change of status or reinstatement is pending can sink it. An expired visa stamp means a trip to a US consulate to renew before you can return, and consular appointments and processing can be slow and unpredictable. Even students who are perfectly in status can run into hard questioning at the port of entry.
The good news is that most of the risk is manageable with preparation. Before you travel, your I-20 needs a current travel signature from your DSO, your enrollment and funding documentation should be in order, and you need a realistic plan for renewing the visa stamp if it has expired. On OPT, you should carry your EAD and evidence of your job. We help students who are on complicated timelines (pending applications, prior status issues, gaps in enrollment) decide whether and when to travel, so a family visit or a conference does not turn into a border problem.
Valid I-20 with a current DSO travel signature
Valid visa stamp, or a realistic plan to renew at a consulate
Proof of enrollment and financial support
On OPT: your EAD card and evidence of employment
Nothing pending (change of status / reinstatement) that travel could abandon
WHERE THINGS STAND
Student visas have drawn more government attention in recent years, not less. SEVIS record terminations, closer review of "day 1 CPT" programs, scrutiny of unemployment time on OPT, and heightened questioning around social media and travel have all made headlines. For most students doing everything right, none of this is cause for panic. But it does mean that the margin for error is smaller than it used to be, and that small, technical missteps get noticed faster.
What this changes, practically, is the value of getting things right the first time and fixing problems immediately. A questionable CPT arrangement, an OPT gap, a lapsed I-20, or an unauthorized job is worth taking seriously now, before it becomes a status termination. If you have received any notice about your SEVIS record, or you are unsure whether something you have done put your status at risk, the safest move is a quick, confidential review with an attorney rather than waiting to see what happens.
WHY DELGADO PURDY LAW
Student status is fragile and the timelines are tight, which is exactly why these cases should be handled by an experienced attorney directly, not passed to a paralegal with a review at the end. At our firm, one of our two founding attorneys handles your file, your OPT or CPT questions, and any status problem, from start to finish. When a deadline is days away, you are talking to the person who can actually make the call.
We also work in the four languages our clients and their families actually speak: English, Spanish, Portuguese, and French, including native Brazilian Portuguese that almost no other firm in Palm Beach immigration offers. Many of our student clients are the first in their family to navigate the US system, and being able to explain OPT, CPT, and reinstatement clearly, in a language everyone at the table understands, is part of doing the job well. We serve students from three offices across Boynton Beach, Lake Worth, and Metro Atlanta.
CLIENT REVIEWS
These are real Google reviews of this firm, not a selection sorted by case type. Each one links back to the profile it came from, so you can read the rest and check the count yourself.
“Thais is an amazing lawyer and person, and because she’s Brazilian too, our communication was great! During the process she was always there to answer the questions about my immigration process in minutes! She really helped me and clarified everything when I needed. I highly recommend her!”
Deborah Z.
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil · Boynton Beach
“Delgado Law Group has done a great job on my family’s immigration case. They have been much more professional and productive than our prior legal team. We really appreciate their support.”
Haydee Cedeño
7 months ago · Lake Worth
“Thais was awesome and has great communication. I was having trouble getting my wife’s visa with another lawyer. Thais stepped in and got it done right away. She made our case a priority and I highly recommend hiring her. She turned our stressful situation into an easy one.”
David R.
Honolulu, HI · Boynton Beach
“Amazing job on my case! Amazing service overall! Jackie knows her stuff and will fight hard for you and your case! I am satisfied and would highly recommend! Thank you Jackie and her office for everything.”
Mimi M.
a year ago · Lake Worth
“After two frustrating experiences with other lawyers here in Florida, we finally found someone who would give us all the legal and emotional support to face this difficult and long-awaited dream. Thais Arsolino helped us overcome the fears and challenges of our EB-3. She guided our process from start to finish with dedication. Thank you for being a fundamental part of this achievement for our family!”
Bruna Loyola
Florida · Boynton Beach
Translated from Portuguese.
Verify on Google, Boynton Beach profile“Ms. Delgado is the best lawyer ever. Helped my whole family and can’t thank her enough. God bless Ms. Delgado and her whole crew.”
Manuel Francisco
10 months ago · Lake Worth
“I would recommend this law office over any other in the South Florida area. The care and attention I have received here is unlike any other. When you call, you get to speak with the actual attorney, not an assistant or paralegal.”
Ryan B.
Miami, FL · Boynton Beach
“Thais was always available for my calls and messages. I was surprised at how quickly she and her staff responded to my concerns. I’m happy to say that my case is now over and I can move on with my life.”
Maria F.
Jupiter, FL · Boynton Beach
“No words for the professionalism. I recommend Purdy to everyone. I especially thank Thais, an undisputed professional.”
Lailson Lesbao
Brazil · Boynton Beach
Translated from Portuguese.
Verify on Google, Boynton Beach profileThese are real reviews from real clients, published with their permission. Every immigration case turns on its own facts. A prospective client may not obtain the same or similar results.
STUDENT VISA FAQS
Your visa is the stamp in your passport that lets you travel to a US port of entry and ask to be admitted. Your status is the set of rules you agree to follow once you are here: full-time enrollment, no unauthorized work, a valid I-20, and accurate SEVIS reporting. A visa can expire while you remain lawfully in status, which is fine. But if you break the rules of your status, you can fall out of status even though your visa stamp still looks valid. Protecting your status, not just your visa, is what keeps you in the country.
Yes, but only through authorized channels. Limited on-campus work is generally allowed. For off-campus work in your field, you use CPT (Curricular Practical Training) during your program, authorized by your school's DSO, or OPT (Optional Practical Training), usually after graduation and authorized by USCIS. Working without proper authorization, even a casual side job, is one of the fastest ways to lose F-1 status and can affect future immigration benefits. Always confirm authorization before you start any job.
CPT is training that is an integral part of your curriculum, like a required internship, and is authorized by your school before you begin. OPT is temporary work authorization in your field, most often used after you graduate, and it comes from USCIS as an EAD card. CPT is tied to your program; OPT is tied to your degree and has strict application windows and limits on unemployment time. Many students use CPT during school and OPT after, but the rules for each are different and easy to get wrong.
Be very careful. "Day 1 CPT" programs offer work authorization from your first term, and some are legitimate while others draw serious government scrutiny. CPT must be genuinely integral to your curriculum. If it is not, relying on it can put your current status and any future green card at risk, because immigration officers may later find the work was unauthorized. Before you enroll in any program marketed around day 1 CPT, have an attorney review whether the arrangement is legitimate for your situation. It is far cheaper to check first than to fix it later.
You are not necessarily out of options, but you need to act quickly and carefully. Depending on how the violation happened, you may be able to apply to USCIS for reinstatement to F-1 status, or it may be better to leave and re-enter on a new record. Reinstatement is discretionary, so how the request is presented matters a great deal. Do not keep working, do not travel, and do not file something on your own before getting advice. The wrong first move can close doors that were still open.
Yes, but a transfer is a SEVIS process with deadlines, not just an academic choice. Your current school releases your SEVIS record to the new school, the new school issues a new I-20, and you must report and enroll within a defined window. If a gap opens up, or you miss the reporting deadline, a routine transfer can drop you out of status. This is especially important when moving between program levels or after a break in enrollment, so confirm the steps before you commit.
An M-1 visa is for vocational or non-academic students: trade schools, technical and flight training, culinary programs, and similar. An F-1 is for academic students at universities, colleges, and language programs. M-1 rules are tighter: it is harder to change your program, practical training is far more limited and only available after you finish, and the total time allowed is shorter. If your goals shift from vocational training toward an academic degree, a change of status may be possible, but it should be planned carefully.
Sometimes yes, sometimes no. This is a question to ask before you book a ticket. If you have a change of status or a reinstatement request pending, leaving the country can cause it to be treated as abandoned. If your visa stamp has expired, you will need to renew it at a US consulate before returning, and appointments can be slow. Even students in good standing can face tough questioning at the border. If your situation is at all complicated, get advice on timing before you travel.
Student cases are usually handled as a flat legal fee within a defined range, separate from any government filing fees, so you know the cost before you commit. The exact figure depends on what you need: straightforward OPT guidance costs less than a contested reinstatement. We quote a real number at the consultation once we understand your situation. A 30-minute consultation is $100 by phone or video, or $250 in person, and if you retain us, that fee is credited to your case.
RELATED PRACTICE AREAS
READY WHEN YOU ARE
Schedule a consultation and we will review your F-1 situation, get your OPT or CPT right, or move quickly if your status is at risk. We will do it in English, Spanish, Portuguese, or French, with a senior attorney on your case from the first call.
