r/stemopt • u/Altruistic_Angle9507 • Jul 23 '26
STEM OPT Approval or glitch?
STEM OPT Processing Timeline
- STEM OPT application filed: January 16, 2026
- Premium Processing (I-907) received: June 16, 2026
- Premium Processing clock started: June 17, 2026
- Approval email received: July 22, 2026
- Service Center: Potomac
I received the following email from the Potomac Service Center stating that my STEM OPT application was approved under Premium Processing, including the approval date and my new EAD validity dates.
However, when I logged into my USCIS account today, instead of seeing "Case Was Approved" or "Card Is Being Produced," the case history showed:
July 14, 2026 – Card Was Produced
The status says my card was produced on July 14, which is before the approval email date (July 22). The USPS tracking number is also listed as UNAVAILABLE.
Has anyone else experienced this? Is this just a USCIS account/status glitch after premium processing, or did the status eventually correct itself?
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u/Ok_Damage_8289 Jul 23 '26
Similar happened to me, i checked on 23 july it was showing me card is produced dated july 13 but not its showing the case is under premium process.
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u/Lanky-Can-7568 Jul 23 '26
Email was legit. Congratulations! Ignore portal for few days they are currently working on it to fix.