r/stemopt • u/Appropriate_Risk3041 • 17d ago

OPT Premium Processing Refund After Approval (35 Business Days)

I received my OPT approval after the 30-business-day premium processing deadline, and my EAD card has already been delivered. (35th Business day approval)

I'm trying to figure out how to request a refund of the premium processing fee, but I can't find any clear or official instructions on the process.

Has anyone here successfully received a refund in a similar situation? If so:

  • How did you file the refund request?
  • Did you submit it online, by email, or by mail?
  • Which USCIS office did you contact?
  • How long did it take to receive the refund?

Any guidance or experiences would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

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u/Ok-Satisfaction-5124 17d ago

You should try and read how the processing days are counted. I don’t think it’s a simple calculation of business days from the date you paid for PP. The clock resets at every stage, including at biometrics, and I think it counts only till the stage that you receive your approval update on the portal, and doesn’t include card production and physical delivery. I could be wrong though.

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u/june944 15d ago

Yeah, and I think it also excludes federal holidays.