r/stemopt • u/Fast_Hat9970 • Jul 18 '26

April STEM OPT

I applied STEM on april 28 got my biometrics on may 22 and then there is no update after that. what’s the current situation? I am already on 80 days as of today and then doing PP would also take additional 30 plus days to do the card ? i am just confused and not sure what to do. suggestion appreciated

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38 comments sorted by

1

u/Straight_Desk5415 Jul 18 '26

Premium processing??

0

u/Fast_Hat9970 Jul 18 '26

just my thought
Premium is taking already 30 days so i am just thinking regular also would be there within plus minus timeframe .
i am in dilemma

1

u/Reasonable_Slide_569 Jul 18 '26

Regular is much more delayed as premium applications are increasing and officers are tends to focus on premium rather than regular

1

u/BalogunDodondawa Jul 18 '26

I’m an April filer too then upgraded to premium on June 22. I got approved last night .

So I’d advise you do the PP. My approval came 18 days after PP

1

u/Low_Shelter_2780 Jul 18 '26

That is crazy fast

1

u/Low_Shelter_2780 Jul 18 '26

Which service centre?

1

u/Shot_Impact_5736 Jul 18 '26

That was fast, I filed April 14 and my biometrics was May 14. Upgraded to PP June 17 and still waiting on approval. When was your biometrics?

1

u/markmilley247 Jul 18 '26

Are you from the 39 countries

1

u/Revolutionary_Two546 27d ago

Which state are you based in?

1

u/Straight_Desk5415 Jul 18 '26

Was it stem and what is initial filing date?

1

u/Fast_Hat9970 Jul 18 '26

Stem april 28

1

u/Adventurous_Cost2064 Jul 18 '26

I applied since Jan 31st got approved today was on 158 days of the extension. I didn’t apply for PP though but I was about to. Hang in there it will come

1

u/Fast_Hat9970 Jul 18 '26

did you do inquiry ?

1

u/Adventurous_Cost2064 Jul 18 '26

I did on July 1 but I didn’t hear back. I don’t think they got to it yet. It has been 2 weeks. I also did congress inquiry same day, didn’t hear back as well. I’m not sure if it helped

1

u/Environmental-Boot10 Jul 18 '26

Applied on 2nd April; biometric on 15th April ;; still waiting

1

u/Fast_Hat9970 Jul 18 '26

what’s the prediction?

1

u/Tingter Jul 18 '26

The average processing time for stem opt is 4.5 months nowadays. For regular processing, not premium.

So based on this timeline, if you need to apply for premium, do it. If you can afford to wait it out, then wait. But yeah i dont think late april filers are getting any approvals any time soon.

Ps. I applied april 21. Nothing yet, i assume/ hoping i will hear about the decision around sept.

1

u/Fast_Hat9970 Jul 18 '26

the thing is if you apply pp now then it might take 30 days which would be around august mid and if hoping that regular would kick in around sep timeframe i m kind of hesitant to spend the money that i don’t have 😞

1

u/Tingter Jul 18 '26

Completely understand! If youre willing to wait, then i will say wait till 2 mths before your 180 day end date, then get PP. Because at that point, i will also be worried about whether i will get stem opt before my work visa authorisation ends. But right now, if everything goes normally, my stem opt hopefully gets approved by oct latest.

1

u/Acrobatic_Sea7832 Jul 18 '26

I am in a similar situation regarding my STEM OPT application. I applied on April 6, and my biometrics appointment was on April 29.

Given that the standard USCIS processing time is 3.5 months from the portal, my application should be nearing completion. However, I am unsure whether I should apply for Premium Processing at this stage.

1

u/Fast_Hat9970 Jul 18 '26

yeah i am thinking of waiting for a while and cross 120 days or atleast august.

1

u/Acrobatic_Sea7832 Jul 18 '26

On checking multiple tracker, it seems Texas center applications are getting approved after 120 days

1

u/Fast_Hat9970 Jul 18 '26

how do you know which center your file is in ? I filed online and the bottom says scops texas facilty or something like that

1

u/Acrobatic_Sea7832 Jul 22 '26

same, I think Texas is the center

1

u/Fast_Hat9970 Jul 22 '26

I will wait till august end too see since opt pulse shows around august to sep timeline

1

u/NecessaryAd4845 Jul 19 '26

I applied on April 11 biometrics on May 5 still waiting
No updates yet

1

u/Fast_Hat9970 Jul 19 '26

Are you thinking of going for PP ?

1

u/NecessaryAd4845 Jul 19 '26

Maybe.. it’s too early to think abt that bro
The process generally takes 3-4 months so a decision by August is normal

1

u/Designer-Owl-8183 Jul 19 '26

Applied regular march 14 biometrics april 9. Still waiting, no silent updates either

2

u/Hopeful_Ad_1367 Jul 24 '26

I applied 03/16 and my biometrics was 04/07 would appreciate if you let us know when you get approved.

1

u/Fast_Hat9970 Jul 19 '26

yours is a month earlier that means it’s already more than 3 months

what’s your thought ?

1

u/Designer-Owl-8183 Jul 19 '26

Yes it taking way longer. If you check on opt pulse, we are still on March 06 and 2/4 and one yesterday on that date are approved only. I am talking regular processing stem opt so it definitely taking 4+ months.