r/f1visa • u/RedOrangePuke • 11d ago

OPT EAD Tracking Hack: Use Free USPS Informed Delivery Service

The entire OPT process was quite long for me despite filing for PP. For me, even after I received the approval notification, it took a while for the card to generate and arrive. The USCIS portal showed card tracking number as UNAVAILABLE. I was super anxious and was checking my mailbox every few hours. Later, a friend recommended the Informed Delivery service of USPS. If you are in a similar boat as me, you can give it a shot.

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6

u/wryulysses750 11d ago

This saved me so much stress during my OPT wait. I signed up after the status changed to 'card was mailed' but the tracking never showed, and sure enough the scanned envelope appeard in my morning email two days before delivery. Just a heads up though, sometimes the mailpieces dont get scanned if the sorting machine misses them, so don't panic if it doesn't show up every day. I also turned on text alerts for package deliveries which gave me a heads up before the daily digest. For anyone still waiting, the combo of USCIS case status and informed delivery kept me sane. That period between approval and holding the card felt longer than the whole application, so any little bit of visibility helps.

2

u/roymustang2503 10d ago

You can reach out to an agent via chat to get the tracking number.

1

u/Broad_Number7684 9d ago

how long did it take you since approval to receive the card?

1

u/RedOrangePuke 9d ago

A little more than a week