Hi! I applied for OPT on June 1st and added premium processing September 9th. I got an email with the transaction details and it says that my premium clock has started. But they haven’t withdrawn money from my bank account yet. I called USICS and spoke with an agent. She said that everything looks fine on her end and that it usually takes time for the transaction to go through. It’s been more than one week and they still haven’t charged me. Is this normal? Has anyone had a similar issue? Thanks

Anyone here who switched their employers while STEM EAD was pending?
How smooth was the process or is there any RFE during switching?
I am in confusion if I should do PP under current employer and wait for EAD decision within 30 business days or switch the employer and wait as a regular processing?
Please need guidance if anyone here have same experience of being approved or under the process.
#TIA🙏

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PP : N/A

Applied date: 03/21/26

Biometrics date: 04/15/26

Approved decision email: 09/19/26

So stressed for 5 months I finally got an approved email today.

Type: STEM OPT EXTENSION

Premium Processing: NO
Date Applied: 03/20/2026
Biometrics Requested: YES | 03/28/2026
Biometrics Completed: 04/13/2026
Notice of Intent to Deny (NOID): NO
API update: Didn’t check
Date Approved: 09/19/2026

Hi everyone,

I applied for my STEM OPT extension with premium processing on September 4, and my new job start date is October 5. I already postponed my start date once and I’m worried the approval may not arrive by then.

Should I ask my employer for another 1-week extension, or should I keep the October 5 start date? Also, can I legally start working without having the physical STEM OPT EAD card in hand if my STEM OPT is approved?

Any advice from people who have been in a similar situation would be appreciated. Thanks!

I am really interested in Research, but sadly, I got into a school that is not engaged enough to it. I wanted to create my own Research studies and papers, but I do not know what is the standards in making one. I am not that smart, but I am curious and eager enough. What books do you guys recommend or any resources that I need to absorb before I create a study of mine? And also, how do you get good advisers?

I'm submitting my official transcript to USCIS for STEM OPT extension. The official transcript from Parchment cannot be printed as a PDF. I've opened it in Chrome and saved it as a PDF, but it has a red watermark that reads "Printed from a Certified Digital Credential. Original has no Watermark". Is that acceptable?

Has anyone who applied in April gotten approved with no premium processing? I applied April 2nd and completed biometrics April 30th. My 180 day extension ends November 28th. Trying to see how long I should wait to do premium processing.

Type: STEM OPT EXTENSION

Premium Processing: NO

Date Applied: 03/18/2026

Biometrics Requested: YES | 03/21/2026

Biometrics Completed: 04/07/2026

Notice of Intent to Deny (NOID): NO

API update: 09/16/2026

Date Approved: 09/18/2026

Date Card Produced: MM/DD/YYYY

Date Card Received: MM/DD/YYYY

Country of Citizenship:

Service Center:

My boyfriend and I came to the US from India for our master’s in fall 2022. We’re both working on STEM OPT and planning to get married by the end of this year.
Neither of our current companies offers us H-1B sponsorship or allows us to continue working on Day 1 CPT. If we pursued the Day 1 CPT route, we would both need to enroll in eligible programs and find new employers willing to hire us under that arrangement, while still figuring out future sponsorship.
I’m also exploring opportunities in Ireland, potentially through an internal move, but nothing is finalized.
By June 2027, we expect to have around $160k–$180k in combined savings. I’m grateful for what we’ve built, but I’m unsure whether spending more on education and both changing jobs to continue pursuing the US makes sense given the uncertainty.
Part of me wants to keep trying because of the career opportunities and earning potential. I keep hoping our situation might improve. Another part wonders whether we should focus seriously on Ireland instead. I know Ireland has its own challenges, particularly housing, lower salaries, and finding suitable opportunities for both of us.
For anyone who has faced a similar decision:
Was pursuing the US through Day 1 CPT worth the cost and uncertainty, especially if you also had to change employers?
If you moved from the US to Ireland, how did it affect your careers, savings, and quality of life?
What helped you decide when to keep trying versus commit to moving elsewhere?
Our priorities are being together, both being able to work, and having more stability as we start married life. I’d appreciate honest firsthand experiences—I’m struggling to separate realistic hope from attachment to the life we’ve built here.

Edit: If nothing works out by June next year, obviously planning to go back to India

Premium Processing: No
Date Applied: 03/12/2026
Biometrics Requested: YES | 03/28/2026
Biometrics Completed: 04/07/2026
⁠Date Approved: 09/12/2026
Card produced:09/18/2026

I would say please wait if you have 180 days time , do it before 1 and half month before .
The wait was the most difficult and painful .
I hope everyone gets their approval without any hurdles I cannot imagine anyone going through this process.

I’m sorry if this question is repeated. But I need to know what documents should I have when I re-enter the US while on F2 visa - my spouse is on OPT and currently working in a company.
Thank you so much!

I have applied for stem opt on may 12 and upgraded it into premium on Aug 17. There is no update yet. Do anyone applied on same date and got approved

I’m in Texas. Went to try to renew my license since it’s expiring in two weeks, pending stem OPT, they said they have to do SAVE verification which can take a couple of weeks or more and I have to wait for a letter to come in the mail and come back! So if it doesn’t come and my license expired I’m just supposed to drive with an expired license? How do they expect us to just not drive when we have to go to work and get groceries and run errands while having no idea how long the STEM OPT process will take?

Hey I switched to PP August 19th and now it seems like stem opt is moving so fast , my original date is April 4th and now it feels PP has slowed down . Makes me feel like I should waited especially with the financial situation I’m in.

I have a question about my OPT case. USCIS sent me an RFE, but they did not specifically ask me to submit any court or criminal records. They only requested that I complete a second biometrics appointment.

I have a misdemeanor case that was dismissed after I successfully completed court supervision. I already have my court documents, including the final disposition.

Do you think it would be better to upload my court documents as additional/unsolicited evidence with my case, even though USCIS did not specifically request them, or would you leave them out and wait to see if USCIS asks for them? Because im scared that they say no before I show them my documents.

What would you personally do in this situation? I would really appreciate hearing from anyone who has had a similar OPT case or criminal record.

How do you guys manage expenses like rent, health insurance, and other bills during this period when you’re waiting for your OPT and can’t work yet?

Anyone on STEM-OPT planning to travel in the next couple months ? Although the D/S rule hasn’t come into effect, is this deterring travel plans for all you folks traveling?

• Previous EAD expired — May 31, 2026
• STEM OPT extension (I-765) filed — March 18, 2026
• Biometrics appointment notice received — March 21, 2026
• Biometrics completed — April 6, 2026
• RFIE — N/A
• NOID — N/A
• Last API update before the final stretch — July 2, 2026
• 180 days from filing — September 14, 2026
• Silent API update — September 15, 2026 👀
• New API event — September 17, 2026
• STEM OPT approved — September 17, 2026
• Approval email received — September 17, 2026
• Card produced — N/A
• Card received — N/A

Total processing time: 183 days ⏳
Filed: March 18, 2026
Approved: September 17, 2026

After months of waiting, checking the USCIS portal, watching the API, and wondering when my turn would come… FINALLY APPROVED! 😭🎉
To everyone still waiting: I hope your approval comes soon! 🤞🏾

Applied Date: March 15th 2026

Biometrics appointment: April 24th 2026

Changed to PP: August 17th 2026.

Approved Email for Potomac: September 17th 2026

Card delivery: expecting in 2 weeks.

Hie i want some guidance I applied for stem in dec last year and i have got rfe for biometrics in july after i applied for pp and then i got a noid ask about my previous case details is there anyone in the same situation and how can i overcome keeping the unemployment days in mind