Travel to USA with F1-OPT

F1 Visa
1

Hello,

My friend is planning to visit India later this year. She’s on F1-OPT (working currently). Does she needs an NIE approval to come back to USA ?

2

Should automatically qualify for NIE, refer below link.

https://studyinthestates.dhs.gov/2021/07/national-interest-exceptions-for-eligible-international-students

3

The article says
may qualify for an NIE only if their academic program or optional practical training (OPT) opportunity begins on or after Aug. 1, 2021

but her OPT started from June 1, 2021. Should that matter?

4

That should be ok as 1st Aug has already gone by.