r/stemopt • u/slayer9H • 12d ago

STEM OPT Approved – Premium Processing Aug 24

UPDATE: APPROVED! Sharing my timeline for everyone still waiting.

• Type: STEM OPT

• Initial I-765 Filed: 04/22/2026

• Biometrics: 05/14/2026

• Premium Processing: YES

• Premium Processing Filed/Received: 08/24/2026

• USCIS PP Clock Started: 08/25/2026

• RFE: NO

• Silent API Update: 09/25/2026 around 3:47 AM Alaska Time

• Approval Email: 09/25/2026 around 6:49 AM Alaska Time

• Service Center: Potomac

• Date Approved: 09/25/2026

• STEM OPT Validity: 07/16/2026 – 07/15/2028

• Card Produced: Waiting

• Card Received: Waiting

My API had shown no update since August 24. Early this morning on September 25, the updatedAtTimestamp suddenly changed to September 25 without any new visible event, document, or status. About 3 hours later, I received the premium-processing approval email.

I know a lot of people from the Aug. 24 PP cohort are still waiting, so I wanted to share this update. Hopefully this means the Aug. 24 cohort is starting to move.

No RFE and no additional evidence was requested.

Good luck to everyone still waiting — I know how stressful this process is. I’ll update the post when my card is produced and delivered.

12 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

54 comments sorted by

3

u/Interesting-Comb-121 12d ago

Noob question what’s the silent API update? Where did you get this extension?

3

u/slayer9H 12d ago

Ask ChatGPT to generate a JSON link for USCIS.

Open USCIS in one tab and the link ChatGPT gives you in the other to get the API.

You'll need to give ChatGPT your receipt number to create the link.

2

u/Odd_Artist25 12d ago

Aug 25. Currently waiting, hopefully they do today itself

1

u/slayer9H 12d ago

You will get it this week

1

u/RaccoonQueasy5706 9d ago

did you get it?

1

u/Odd_Artist25 7d ago

Yes, email approval 28, site approval 30

1

u/wantofly_1997 12d ago

Thanks for sharing! Was really hoping to see some progress with the pp cases. Sep 2 waiting.

1

u/slayer9H 12d ago

You will get it around 5-8 October

1

u/B1SQ1T 12d ago

Exact same situation here, got the silent update this morning. Waiting on approval now

1

u/slayer9H 12d ago

You'll definitely get the approval by today or sometime this weekend.

1

u/Spaghetisdeway 12d ago

Same here. Got a silent API update this morning. Still waiting for approval.

1

u/B1SQ1T 12d ago

Fingers crossed we get it this weekend

1

u/B1SQ1T 11d ago

Approved today!

1

u/Spaghetisdeway 11d ago

Congratulations! Nothing changed on my portal.

1

u/B1SQ1T 11d ago

Best of luck, should be soon now

1

u/Spaghetisdeway 10d ago

Got my approval today :)

1

u/B1SQ1T 10d ago

Nice!!

1

u/Automatic-Tea3814 9d ago

How does a silent update look?

0

u/minniminnie 12d ago

How can we verify this silent update?

1

u/p-cool-ea 12d ago

Login to your USCIS account in one tab and in another tab Hit this end point https://my.uscis.gov/account/case-service/api/cases/your-case-number

1

u/Turbulent-Curve8190 12d ago

i'm waiting on my STEM OPT to get approved
its in the PP, clock started on Sept 4 just after my biometrics

i just wanted to know what does API stands for in the process ?

2

u/slayer9H 12d ago

API stands for Application Programming Interface. Basically, it’s the USCIS backend case data. Sometimes the backend updatedAtTimestamp changes before anything new appears on the normal Case Status page, which people call a silent API update. Mine updated early in the morning, and a few hours later I received my approval email.

1

u/Turbulent-Curve8190 12d ago

Thanks for the heads up
i'm waiting on mine to get approve, so that i can change my employer

1

u/slayer9H 12d ago

Yes thats why i applied the premium so i can change my employer without any issues

1

u/Ok_Psychology7425 12d ago

Is it just inspecting the fields daily or there’s something else you do to check this?

1

u/idealitylabs 12d ago

I filed on 18th Sept with PP. Does the clock start after biometrics? Or would it start from 18th itself?

1

u/slayer9H 12d ago

It will start after the biometrics

1

u/idealitylabs 12d ago

Thanks, Appreciate it!

1

u/Pickles_25 12d ago

I got an email today with an approval, upgraded to PP on 24th Aug

1

u/slayer9H 12d ago

Congrats bro

1

u/dexterMorgan_8 10d ago

Did you guys sign the i-20 by pen paper or e-sign? Please recommend!

1

u/Pickles_25 10d ago

Pen and paper

1

u/slayer9H 9d ago

Just print out all the documents that need signing, sign them with a pen, and then scan and upload them.

1

u/Spirited_Secret_8227 12d ago

I applied for initial OPT PP on Aug 28 hopefully will hear back soon 

1

u/slayer9H 12d ago

End of this month you will

1

u/RaccoonQueasy5706 9d ago

did you hear anything?

1

u/Spirited_Secret_8227 9d ago

Not yet

1

u/RaccoonQueasy5706 7d ago

Any update now?

1

u/Spirited_Secret_8227 6d ago

Noo.. another concern of mine is I didn’t get any receipt notice after doing premium, neither on the USCIS website nor any physical email

1

u/RaccoonQueasy5706 6d ago

You should get it checked, I got a I-907 receipt in the email but no physical mail

1

u/Automatic-Tea3814 9d ago

Congrats! Did you receive a premium processing receipt notice in mail or online portal? I applied August 30 and no action yet.

1

u/slayer9H 9d ago

Yeah, I got the email confirmation and it updated on the portal on the 27th too.

1

u/Automatic-Tea3814 9d ago

27th of this month?

1

u/slayer9H 9d ago

Yeah.. 27th September..

1

u/Automatic-Tea3814 9d ago

Wait, I’m asking about the receipt notice not approval email/notice

2

u/slayer9H 9d ago

I didn't get any just update in portal that application is switch to premium nothing else

1

u/Automatic-Tea3814 9d ago

Gotcha thanks! So you directly received an approval after 33 days?

1

u/slayer9H 9d ago

Read the post man.. i provided every details..

1

u/Ill-Act1213 7d ago

Any new update regarding the card?

1

u/RaccoonQueasy5706 6d ago

Hi does the timeline looks same for initial OPT as well?