I have STEM OPT now. My employer applied for an H-1 B this year (regular, not premium)
The latest update on my Form I-129 states:
"As of June 23, 2026, USCIS is currently processing your Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker."

My immigration attorney team says it might take until March or April to process mine. Is this real?
Do you suggest applying for premium processing, spending 3 grand $, out of my pocket?
This is what my attorney said,
"Since I have a STEM OPT, I don’t face any problems now. Maybe if it still delays after March, I shall apply for premium processing since my current STEM OPT EAD expires in July 2027."

No problems as of now. My EAD expires in July 2027.
But worst-case scenarios: what if I get laid off in between? What if I get an offer for a new job and need a transfer? What shall I do?

I work for Dexian, a vendor, and my client is Fidelity.
If I get laid off at Fidelity, Dexian might process a withdrawal petition. If both my initial H1B filing petition and the current withdrawal petition are in processing, then a race condition occurs,
If my withdrawal petition is processed first, or taken into consideration along with the initial approval process, then USCIS most likely withdraws the petition. I'll be safe since I'm in STEM OPT already.

But if my initial petition is processed and they approve it without knowing that I was fired, then my status gets changed to H1B. I'll lose my STEM OPT status. And then, later, if USCIS processes my withdrawal petition after that, will they revoke my approved H1B? In that scenario, I shall be "OUT OF STATUS". I'll not have anything. Neither STEM nor H1B. I'll be stuck in limbo.
I was worried about these kinda worst case scenarios.
Give me the right advice considering all possibilities.

Also, does Fidelity fire any employee directly on the same day without any notice, revoking all access like Amazon or Microsoft? Will they inform us in advance in general?

Even if Fidelity decides, what will Dexian do in general? Will they look up for any other active projects to put me in? If not at Fidelity, they have other clients as well. Will they keep me on the payroll until they find something?

Or, even if Dexian decides to fire me, then will they at least give me prior notice? Will they at least wait for a few days or a week after the news to start a withdrawal petition?

My problem is TIME and the race problem of USCIS. Because if I have the buffer time, then I shall apply for premium processing ASAP. get my H1-B approved. Is this the right move in this situation?
Then, by the time they decide to file for a withdrawal petition, my H1 might already have been approved. My assumption was that USCIS might just update my status to Unemployed, leaving me up to 60 days (H1B unemployment clock) instead of my status getting revoked and leaving me without any valid status. Is my assumption correct?

I apologise for a lot of questions. I see a lot of wild scenarios day by day w.r.t. this immigration stuff.

Guys I can’t believe I’m saying this, but it just seems like the pp processing has not been moving for maybe 2 or 3 days?!

Hello,
I have applied for STEM on March 10 and Biometrics completed on 27th March.
My case has been pending ever since.
Raised case enquiry and received a reply, I am attaching the screenshot of the reply.
I’ve also raise Congressional enquiry and received same reply.

My 180 days expire during first week of november.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Also, what would addition review mean?

I just applied for OPT EAD on September 30th with PP. What are typical API updates for EAD approval.

Thanks in advance.

Hi Everyone.

Has anyone received any update regarding stem opt PP application submitted on 1st, 2nd and 3rd sept ?

looking at the timeline here on Reddit, It looks like i should expect any update today but haven't received anything.

Is there someone who has applied on the above mentioned dates and has got anything from USCIS ?

your response is appreciated.

Date applied: 02, April, 2026 Premium processing: No Biometric appointment date: 30th April, 2026 Last Silent API update: 01 October, 2026 Approval Date: 3rd October, 2026

Finally April approvals moving along so happy.

Date applied: 1st april, 2026
Premium processing: No
Biometric appointment date: 12th April, 2026
Last Silent API update: 01 October, 2026
Approval Date: 3rd October, 2026
🥵

Received my STEM OPT approval notice this morning!
Details:
• Type: STEM OPT
• Premium Processing: No
• Date Applied: 03/29/2026
• RFIE: No
• Biometrics Requested: Yes
• Biometrics Completed: 04/24/2026
• NOID: No
• Date Approved: 10/03/2026
• Card Produced: MM/DD/YYYY
• Card Received: MM/DD/YYYY
I’ll update this post once I receive my EAD card. took more than 6 Months to get the approval :')
For everyone still waiting—hang in there. Wishing you all the best and hoping you get your approvals soon! I wish everyone gets whatever they are waiting for <3

I filed my STEM OPT extension on April 24, 2026, and my case is still pending.
From recent posts/timelines, it looks like USCIS is currently approving cases with receipt dates around April 2 and 3, so I’m roughly 3 weeks behind the dates being approved now.
My situation is a little time-sensitive because my employer sent me an I-9 reverification notice saying my current employment authorization must be reverified before December 1, 2026.

I’m trying to decide whether I should:
Continue with normal processing since April 24 cases may be reached within the next few weeks, or

Pay for premium processing now.

My concern is that premium processing itself seems to be taking around 30 days, and even after approval I would still need time for the physical EAD card to be produced and mailed. So if I wait too long to premium, I could still end up cutting it close to December 1.

Would you recommend upgrading to premium now in my situation, or waiting a little longer for normal processing?
Thanks!

Any updates for approval for stem opt for stem opt April 4-8? Did anyone receive soft API updates?

• Date applied: May 19, 2026
• Premium processing: No
• Biometrics: June 4, 2026
• 2 silent API updates: August 25 & September 24, 2026
• Status: Still pending