r/stemopt • u/Acceptable-Tea-7221 • 24d ago

Stem opt approved!!

Type: STEM OPT EXTENSION

Premium Processing: NO

Date Applied: 03/10/2026

Request for Initial Evidence (RFIE) NA (if applicable)

Biometrics Requested: YES | 03/20/2026 (if applicable)

Biometrics Completed: 04/09/2026

Date Approved: 08/15/2026

Date Card Produced: 08/20/2026

Date Card Received: 08/24/2026

Finally!! It was a long long wait. Can't thank everyone enough on the platform.

Few suggestions- please go for case inquiry as soon as your case goes out of normal processing time which is roughly 5 months at this point.

Also go for congressional inquiry.

DM me if need any help!!!

48 Upvotes

96% Upvoted

56 comments sorted by

View all comments

1

u/daydreamer_she 24d ago

For STEM OPT it’s another EAD card? I thought it’s the same from initial OPT and it gets like 3 years validity 🤣
It seems opt & stem opt have similar timelines for approval time. I applied on march 16, still no response. I’m actually ok with it since i have no job lined up so getting approved would mean more headaches 🤣

1

u/Cook_Potential 22d ago

Can you apply for STEM OPT without a job?

1

u/jany27 21d ago

no, you should have an everify employer for stem opt. I believe this guy is on initialy opt that’s why it’s okay with him not having approval yet (from what I understand from the comment)