I graduated from OLD_SCHOOL in Summer 2017 and applied for OPT with a start date of 10/02/2017 and successfully got the EAD card. Later, I talked to my Master's Thesis Supervisor about a volunteer position since I had no job offer at that time and I was also planning to start Ph.D. He agreed and provided me the offer letter (dated 10/09/2017) and other documents. I also sent those documents (offer letter, F-1 Form, job description, etc.) to OLD_SCHOOL international office on 10/11/2017 and got back an acknowledgment email saying they will process my request to record employment information (I still can access those emails).
Now I am almost done with my Ph.D. in NEW_SCHOOL and got a job offer. Therefore, I need to apply for OPT and need to fill out my previous CPT/OPT details. Last week, my current DSO from NEW_SCHOOL looked into my SEVIS record and found no employment information from 10/02/2017 until 01/03/2018 (my Ph.D. start date). This, unfortunately, exceeds the 90 days of unemployment permit as well, making it 93 days. Then I talked to OLD_SCHOOL international office and they could not give me any valid reason except saying the offer letter you provided did not have a specific start date, that's why previous officials could have missed that. Then I told them that I did not get any such email (for example - to correct the letter) once I submitted my employment information to them. How could I know that there was an issue and they did not update my record? Then they asked me to contact my current DSO and try to update the SEVIS record since the current DSO has the capability of add/edit/update previous employment information.
Fortunately, my Master's supervisor is also ready to provide me any needed additional documentation to approve my voluntary works. On the other hand, my current DSO saying that I should first apply for the Ph.D. OPT and there is a possibility that it would be approved without any issue. However, she mentioned that I need to keep/collect the evidence of my side so that she can submit a correction request later. She suggests that we should not file for a correction request since it will take around 1 month whereas I need my OPT as soon as possible (because my employer expects me to start asap and the processing is also taking a huge time for covid).
At this point, could you please help me to choose the better option? I mean, should I file a correction request first? Could my Ph.D. OPT be denied? Or any thoughts?
N.B. My SEVIS records look good and there is no flag, termination, or something like that (based on current DSO). I also traveled to my home country and returned without any issue. I also had an internship last summer without any problem. I never got any mail or notification regarding that 93 unemployment issue.
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source https://www.reddit.com/r/immigration/comments/m4oxyj/my_previous_school_dso_did_not_update_my/