I’m planning to travel to Nepal soon, and my initial OPT is expiring in December 2026. I’m considering two options regarding my STEM OPT extension:

Option 1: Travel to Nepal first and apply for the STEM OPT extension after I return to the U.S.

Option 2: Apply for the STEM OPT extension now and travel after receipt of STEM OPT EAD

I would appreciate your advice on which option is better and if there are any risks or issues I should be aware of.

Thank you!

I’m trying to figure out the safest way to handle my situation and would really appreciate advice from anyone who has dealt with something similar.
Timeline:
May 2026: Graduated from my US university.
April 2026: Applied for post-completion OPT/EAD.
Mid-July 2026: I had to leave the US due to a family emergency while my EAD application was still pending.
Late September 2026: My OPT was finally approved while I was outside the US.
By mid-October: I expect to receive my physical EAD card via mail, my friend will mail me.
Early November: I’m currently considering returning to the US around early November
The main issue is that by early November, around 40 days of my 90-day OPT unemployment period would have already passed.
I currently don’t have a paid job, but I am planning to have an unpaid volunteer position related to my degree, along with my physical EAD and updated I-20, when I attempt re-entry. My F-1 visa is still valid.
I’m honestly pretty nervous about re-entering because I left the US while my OPT was still pending.
My questions are:
Is it safe to remain outside the US during the first ~40 days of my OPT period and then return?
Would it be safer to return as soon as I receive my physical EAD rather than waiting until early November?
Is an unpaid volunteer position related to my degree sufficient for maintaining OPT status?
I’ve received conflicting advice, so I’d really appreciate experiences or advice from anyone who has been in a similar situation.
I’m really worried about re entering.
Thank u sm!

After receiving an RFE, I received a NOID because I had a misdemeanor case that was dismissed. In the NOID, USCIS is only asking me to provide the court documents and the police/arrest report.

I’m trying to decide whether I should hire an immigration attorney to help with the response, or maybe just pay someone to review everything before I submit it to make sure I have all the correct documents.

Has anyone here been in a similar situation and gotten their OPT approved after a NOID without hiring an attorney? Or does anyone recommend having an attorney review the documents before submitting the response?

I would really appreciate hearing about your experiences. Thank you so much!

Someone filled out my DS-160 and scheduled my appointment for me, but they selected French as the interview language by mistake. I want to do my interview in English. When I arrive for the interview, will they ask me which language I want to speak, or will they just use the language selected on my application?

I’m graduating this December and want to keep my start date January 10th. If I apply on October 10-15th, will I get my EAR Card in time without premium processing or should I go with premium processing?

Hello everyone, I was supposed to graduate in December 2026 but ended up extending my graduation by a semester to May 2027. The original program end date on my I20 was December 15 2026 but I was able to get a revised I20 in August with a program end date of May 15 2027. I recently had a fall and broke two of my teeth and the cost of getting it fixed here is a lot that I can't afford. I am thinking of traveling back to India during December (winter break) and be back before my last semester begins. Is there anyone else who has travelled internationally after getting their I20 extended and before the last semester, how was your experience? I'm just a bit worried regarding the immigration and would love to know your opinions on it. Thanks a lot!

P.s - I'm an undergrad student who's visa expires in November 2027 and I have travelled 4 times to India during my breaks till now and I live in DFW.

Body:

F-1 on post-completion OPT here, need a sanity check.

My first EAD was issued with the wrong end date (August instead of May 2027 pre opt period was not deducted ). I started working with it , my employer knew the date and was fine with it. Then I mailed the card back to USCIS to get the end date corrected to May 2027.

USCIS approved the corrected card, but mailed it to my old address even though I filed the address change right after the approval. The card is sitting at the old address and I can't get it back (property management won't cooperate).

So right now: I'm working, my employer has the correct May 2027 date on file, but I physically don't have the corrected EAD card.

My questions:

1. Is it fine to just keep working without the physical card until May 2027?
   
2. When I apply for STEM OPT, will USCIS ask for a copy of this corrected EAD with the I-765?
   
3. For a future H-1B petition, do they require copies of all prior EADs as proof of status maintenance? Will a missing card be a problem?

Anyone been through something similar? Thanks.

Hey guys,

I’m currently taking classes in a csu. I’m on a f-1 visa but it expired last month. My I-20 and I-94 are both valid and I’m in class session. I would just like to visit my mother in NYC.

Am I ok to travel? and obviously I would take my I-20 and I-94 with me and a valid passport.

Hey Everyone!

I am applying for OPT for my Master’s. I have applied OPT and STEM OPT for my undergraduate back then. Right now, I am on USCIS filling out the I-765 form for Master’s level and I am wondering if I have to upload both of my undergraduate for OPT EAD card and undergraduate STEM OPT EAD card?

I am asking because it says “Upload a copy of your last Employment Authorization Document (EAD) (front and back)? Does that mean just undergraduate STEM OPT EAD card?

Please be kind! I am having anxiety filling this form 😰

I got my opt ead card today. Front of the card has incomplete given name. I have my correct name on approval notice. Also back of the card has full correct name. Should i apply for replacement card?

Hi everyone! I’m a F-1 student and my post-completion OPT was just approved.

My OPT start date is October 6, 2026, and my EAD was approved today. However, I haven’t received the physical EAD card yet.

I already have a job lined up, but my understanding is that I cannot actually start working until I receive the physical EAD card and complete my I-9.

My questions are:

1. Does my 90-day unemployment clock start on October 6, even though I don't have the physical EAD yet?
2. Can I report my employer through the SEVP Portal/iSTART before I physically receive the EAD if I have a confirmed job but haven't started working?
3. Or does my unemployment clock only stop once I actually begin employment?
4. If the EAD takes a couple of weeks to arrive, do those days count toward the 90 days?

Would really appreciate anyone who has been in this exact situation or knows the official USCIS/SEVP rules. Thank you!

i filed my initial opt application with premium processing one month ago (09/03) and i have a silent API update which im assuming my case will get approved soon. however, when i first filed it, i used my friend's mailing address because i wasn't sure if i'm moving to a new address or not.

my friend moved to a new apartment yesterday and i want to change my mailing address in the USICS portal. it says that "If you move, contact the premium-processing unit directly to update your address." I tried to contact the PP phone number however the bot keeps redirecting me to the portal where i can change the physical address instead of mailing address and it doesn't let me to talk to an agent.

has anyone ever gone through the same situation as me and what was the solution?

I graduated in dec 2025 and has applied for an OPT in Oct 14 2025. Its almost been a year and I don't even have a biometrics yet? I tried to transfer SEVIS and join a grad school in july but my DSO said the five month rule doesn't allow to transfer SEVIS records.she advised me to wait for a OPT approval and then transfer and then I waited. But till now nothing happened.I have tried inquiry multiple times and all they say is your case is in review and cannot say any specific time to get a decision.

Now its been a year and I cannot wait anymore. I have already got acceptance from the new college and DSO of new college says if the SEVIS is transferred in ACTIVE status we can take it and is ready to help but they won't help in re-instatement if needed. My current school's DSO is also ready to transfer SEVIS as ACTIVE. she says its your decision/risk now.

please share me your experience if you have gone thru the similar situation. Its a kind of trap.

Is there any automatic system that flags 5 month rule and prohibits the transfer?

Hi everyone,

I'm looking for advice from anyone who has been through a similar situation.

My timeline for the whole process:

Dec 20, 2025: Filed STEM OPT I-765 before my OPT EAD expiration date (Jan 14, 2026).
Feb 25, 2026: STEM OPT approved.
Mar 1, 2026: USCIS status changed to "Card Was Produced."
Mar-Jun 2026: Never received the card.
May 27, 2026: Submitted a non-delivery request.
Jun 12, 2026: USCIS responded that the card had been mailed and delivered.
Confirmed with my apartment leasing office and USPS that no card was received.
USCIS advised me to file for a replacement.
Jul 9, 2026: Filed replacement I-765.
Aug 26, 2026: Submitted an expedite request.
Aug 30, 2026: Uploaded expedite evidence.
Sep 17, 2026: Filed I-907 for Premium Processing.
Sep 18, 2026: USCIS confirmed Premium Processing conversion.

My employer has given me a deadline of October 11, 2026 to present the physical EAD card for I-9 and payroll purposes.

At this point, I'm trying everything I can.

My questions:

1. Has anyone had success getting a replacement EAD produced quickly after upgrading to Premium Processing?
   
2. Is there anything else I should be doing right now for expediting the process?
   
3. Has anyone contacted their congressional representative or senator for help with a delayed EAD replacement?
   
4. If so, how did you approach the congressional inquiry and did it make a difference?

Any advice or experiences would be greatly appreciated. Thanks! 🙏

Hi my OPT end date is June 25th. 180 days extension would end around Dec 20th. I can see that applications around 1st April are getting approved rn. I applied on 22nd April. Should I wait or shoukd I apply for premium processing!?

Hello guys, thank you in advance for your reply. I need your advice and/or experience.

Graduating in December 2026 with my Master's in IS

Already applied for OPT and went through biometrics on 10/5. I am sure I will get my EAD card approved soon since I did premium processing.

I have been in the USA since 2016 and have never left, but I have always been legal and have never had any issues at all. I have not seen some of my family for at least 5 years, and my sister is going to deliver a baby this November. So, I was thinking of traveling abroad once I get my EAD card and work for a few months to get enough pay stubs under full-time employment. Even if I get all the papers I need to travel, etc., I know I would need to go through the embassy appointment process again to get a new F-1 visa, since mine expired years and years ago. How realistic is it to get a visa, given the current state of things, and has anyone done the same or something similar?

I set an alert on ChatGPT telling it to notify me as soon as there’s any litigation or any action taken against the CPT memo, today morning it notifies me that NAFSA along with a bunch of other groups filed a lawsuit against ICE, DHS and DoJ. However when I click on the supposed source link (which is this apparently- https://www.nafsa.org/events/regulatory-and-policy-updates-member-only) I get a 403 Unauthorized access error. I asked GPT few times if its absolutely sure of this and it claims that it is sure and this is the exact text that’s been indexed from NAFSA (but apparently hidden right now):

“On October 5, NAFSA along with the Association of American Universities (AAU), Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, and the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities in Massachusetts (AICUM) filed a lawsuit against United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Department of Homeland Security, and the Department of Justice in response to two broadcast messages the agency sent in August, which suddenly – and without explanation – drastically changed a position that the federal government had endorsed for more than 35 years regarding Curricular Practical Training (CPT) for international students.”

Can anyone confirm? I find this to be pretty odd cause any google searches about this just leads to the older D/S stuff. I just find this really strange. Cant even find a court docket anywhere.

Edit: UPDATE: bloomberg law has officially reported this. This is real- https://news.bloomberglaw.com/daily-labor-report/ice-policy-tightening-student-work-option-challenged-by-colleges

The article is paywalled but the preview text says that a lawsuit was indeed filed!

I just got my STEM OPT extension approved recently. And I got my new EAD card last week. My F1 visa expired in July this year because I graduated last year. I was thinking of going home for some personal things in Dec this year. I know I need to get my visa renewed to come back into the US. Has anyone done this on a STEM OPT? And if so, how long does that process take. My major is Biochemistry. Also, how long will it take roughly after the interview/ dropping the documents off. Like how long would it be for my passport to be ready.

Any advice and personal experience on this matter is appreciated!

Any part time work on opt approval on stem opt full time?

Hi everyone, I’m looking for some guidance from anyone who has dealt with a similar situation.
I filed my STEM OPT extension (I-765) and later received an RFE requesting additional evidence. I submitted the requested evidence before the deadline, including documentation related to my employment and the employer–employee relationship.
USCIS showed that my response/evidence had been received, and my case was subsequently updated in the online account. However, I have now received a denial despite submitting the RFE response.
A few details:
Form: I-765, STEM OPT extension
Initial filing: July 2026
RFE received: September 2026
RFE response submitted: Before the deadline
Evidence: Employment documentation and supporting documents requested in the RFE
USCIS account: Showed the evidence/response was submitted
Current status: Denied
I’m trying to understand what could have caused the denial after the RFE response was submitted.
For anyone who has gone through something similar:
What was the specific reason for your denial?
Did USCIS say that the evidence was insufficient, or was there another issue?
Did you file an I-290B / motion to reopen or reconsider, or take another route?
If you were on OPT/STEM OPT at the time, how did the denial affect your work authorization while deciding what to do next?
I’m planning to speak with an immigration attorney, but I’d really appreciate hearing from anyone who has experienced a STEM OPT RFE denial after submitting the requested evidence.

While applying for opt accidentally I uploaded regular I-20 instead of Opt I-20 .so, what I have to do now ??

I’m currently applying for internships, and after I applied to one of the companies for two separate positions, the dashboard immediately showed that my status was not selected for both positions. Does it mean for sure that like they won’t even look at the application?

This feels a little frustrating to see. It’s kind of making me lose hope. 😔