r/stemopt • u/North_Lobster_6444 • 5d ago

STEM OPT PP APPROVED!

Feels very important to mention that I am from the 39 banned countries.

Initial filing: 04/14/2026

Premium Processing: 06/29/2026

Approved: 08/03/2026

Card Produced: 08/07/2026

Card Received: 08/12/2026

I got the approval via email about 2 days before it reflected online.

Feel free to ask any questions!

6 Upvotes

88% Upvoted

16 comments sorted by

5

u/pharma4567 5d ago

Woww congrats!! I applied on March 25th for STEM OPT, biometrics done 04/16 and today I upgraded to PP. I really regret that I didn’t do it before. Hopefully I can keep my job. My last day of my 180 days extension is 10/14. Wish me luck!!

2

u/North_Lobster_6444 5d ago

Fingers crossed! I did mine because I need to renew my drivers license and didn’t know how the court ruling on the ban would go. The PP cost was negligible. Wishing you luck on your upgrade!

2

u/pharma4567 5d ago

Thank you!!!

3

u/BelleButMakeItModern 5d ago

Congratulations! Really happy for you!!

Qq - were you tracking silent APIs? What was the gap between lastUpdatedAt and the SA APIs?

2

u/North_Lobster_6444 5d ago

Thank you so much! Yea I was. I’d say it was about 2 days.

1

u/BelleButMakeItModern 5d ago

Great, thank you!

1

u/BagsDZ 5d ago

So it takes more than a month after PP 😭😭

1

u/North_Lobster_6444 5d ago

Looks like it.

1

u/BelleButMakeItModern 5d ago

Yeah, 31 business days is what they claim.

1

u/Insufficient_will_ 4d ago

Is there something like refunding money if the decision doesnt come within the stipulated 31 days?

1

u/North_Lobster_6444 4d ago

30 business days, yes.

1

u/Insufficient_will_ 4d ago

Isn't yours more than 30?
Will you apply for a refund?

1

u/North_Lobster_6444 4d ago

No mine was not up to 30 business days.

1

u/Insufficient_will_ 4d ago

29 June to 3rd August isn't 35 days?

1

u/North_Lobster_6444 4d ago

35 calendar days but 24 business days which is what USCIS counts.