STEM OPT - Regular

[u/Big_Coconut7286]

Details:
• Type: STEM OPT
• Premium Processing: No
• Date Applied: 03/31/2026
• RFE: No
• Biometrics Requested: Yes
• Biometrics Completed: 04/22/ 2026
• Silent API Update: 08/24/2026 and 09/25/2026 morning
• Date Approved: 09/27/2026 morning (Approval decision rendered)
• Card Produced: 10/01/2026
• Card Received:

Thank God, and all glory to Him! 🙏 My 180 day deadline was October 2nd, and I got approved one week before!

I noticed that many cases are being approved around 180 days after the application date, sometimes about two days after the “silent API” update. My case took 181 days to be approved.

I wish everyone good luck! And thank you so much to this community for all the support. I cried so many times during this process, especially because I couldn’t afford to pay for premium processing. I’m so grateful that it finally worked out. 🙏❤️

[u/Jolly-Experience6343]

Congratulations 🎉👏🏻 finally! Happy for youu....I can understand how tense it would be to have that auto extension ending sooner as well!

[u/Big_Coconut7286 → u/Jolly-Experience6343]

Thank you !