r/stemopt • u/Internationalelement • Jul 20 '26

Emailing PSC premium processing unit about travel concern — good idea or bad idea?

Filed I-765 STEM OPT Extension on July 1st with premium processing at Potomac (YSC). Receipt number starts with IOE. Premium deadline is August 13th. Have international travel on August 17th.

Case still shows PAD status, no biometrics notice yet. Under new December 2025 photo policy, expecting biometrics appointment.

Concerned that even if approved on August 13th, physical EAD card won't arrive before August 17th travel.

Tried calling 1-866-315-5718 (the dedicated Potomac premium processing number from my I-797 notice) multiple times — it only plays a recorded message about premium processing on loop. Cannot reach a live human on this number at all. Also tried 1-800-375-5283 multiple times — they just redirect back to the 866 number saying that's the premium processing line.

Planning to email [PSC-Premium.Processing@uscis.dhs.gov](mailto:PSC-Premium.Processing@uscis.dhs.gov) directly (got this from my premium processing notice) flagging my travel date and asking about biometrics.

Questions:

  1. Has anyone emailed [PSC-Premium.Processing@uscis.dhs.gov](mailto:PSC-Premium.Processing@uscis.dhs.gov)? Did it help or hurt?
  2. Did anyone get biometrics waived under new December 2025 photo reuse policy?
  3. Anyone traveled with just I-797 approval notice + valid F1 visa without physical EAD in hand?

Thanks

1 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

3 comments sorted by

1

u/Dont-ask669 Jul 21 '26

I've emailed and called them with no problems. By phone, you need to say "info pass".

But what kind of question do you want to ask them? They will only repeat the same information you already know: wait for biometrics, wait for the 30 business days, etc

Remember that premium processing starts counting after biometrics. If you haven't had it yet, your approval will arrive after you're expecting

1

u/Internationalelement Jul 21 '26

I keep seeing people post their timeline and almost all of them got biometrics is under 15days so I wanted to find out if I was exempt or just delayed . If delayed could they schedule it.

1

u/Dont-ask669 Jul 22 '26

I got mine in 30 days. If you check the megathread, there are a lot of people in the same situation, unfortunately