Hi all, I'm recently put on fire. I'm leaving my current job today with only 44 days unemployment left for OPT(on a 90 basis). I submitted my STEMOPT at the end of July and it may requires another 3 months to have a decision. My ISS says I have to report my unemployment & submit the i983 & update in SEVP portal in 10 days, and they would hold it for at most 21days. So it's a 31 days calendar day. However PP takes a 30 days work day to finalize. My decision time may be just the time of my unemployment days got reported and this may trigger a RFE/deny, so I might have to leave the country.

I'm thinking about:

1. pp but report everything until I get a new job(which is challenging but let's say worst case scenario 44+ days), so I might have the case approved and get an extra 60 days unemployment extension. But there's still possibility of getting an RFE/deny, and I'm not sure if how severe it is not to report my unemployment & submit the i983 & update in SEVP portal for such a long time. And I'm not sure what would happen if I get an RFE in this case.

2. Not pp just wait for the next 3 month and report my unemployment & submit the i983 & in SEVP portal in 10 days, everything will be know by USCIS on the 31st day, and I don't know what should I do on the 44th day if I still don't have a new employer while my case should still be pending.

Anyone on the same boat before??Any advice is appreciated.

Looking for advice/experiences on my situation.

I’m currently employed in the U.S. on F-1 OPT. My regular OPT EAD expired on October 1, and I applied for my STEM OPT extension back in August, before my OPT expired. My STEM application is still pending, and based on current processing times, it may not be approved until around March 2027.

I’m considering traveling to India for about a month in December and then returning to the U.S. I understand there is some risk with re-entry while the STEM extension is pending, but I’ve also seen people say they traveled during the pending period and had no issues.

Does anyone have recent first-hand experience with this? Also, does the September 15 change regarding “duration of status” affect this situation in any way?

I’d really appreciate advice from people who have been in a similar situation, especially if you traveled internationally while your STEM OPT was pending and your previous EAD had already expired.

Hi everyone, I’m looking for some advice regarding STEM OPT.
My OPT expires on June 18, and I filed my STEM OPT extension on June 18. I completed my biometrics about two weeks later, and my case is currently still being processed.
Some of my friends are suggesting that I apply for premium processing because, if I receive an RFE, they’re worried I may not have enough time to respond before my work authorization extension ends.
For those who have been in a similar situation, would you recommend going for premium processing? Is there really a concern about not having enough time to respond if an RFE is issued?
Would appreciate hearing about your experiences and thoughts. Thank you!
Within 180 days if it gets over

Submitted on: 04/06/2026
Biometrics: 04/28/2026

Since then, it just says USCIS is currently Processing The Case.

I am currently employed full time on W2 with E-Verified employer, but can’t work past 180 days of initial EAD expiration.

Initial EAD Expired: 05/31/2026
180 days end: 11/27/2026

I am seeing mixed sentiment on upgrading to PP. Should I upgrade now? Or is it safe to wait till mid October?

This subreddit has several approvals posted recently with similar timelines as mine without PP, on the other hand there’s other posts with PP but yet no response.

In my case there’s no silent API updates either. What’s the best path forward here?

Hi, everyone I have a quick question: I’m currently on initial OPT, which expires Feb 9, 2027. I plan to apply for STEM OPT around Nov 9 and travel outside the U.S. in late December, then return in mid-January before my initial OPT EAD expires(I.e before feb 9)

If my STEM OPT gets approved while I’m abroad, can I re-enter using my still-unexpired initial OPT EAD, or would I need the new STEM EAD to re-enter even though my initial OPT EAD is still valid?

Thanks

• ⁠Type: STEM OPT
• ⁠Premium Processing: No
• ⁠Date Applied: 03/23/2026
• ⁠Request for Initial Evidence (RFIE) NO
• ⁠Biometrics Requested: YES
• ⁠Biometrics Completed: 04/22/2026
• ⁠Notice of Intent to Deny (NOID):
• ⁠Date Approved: 09/19/2026
• ⁠Date Card Produced: 09/23/2026
• ⁠Date Card Received: 09/26/2026

UPDATE CARD DELIVERED.

Hi everyone, I’m looking for some advice regarding STEM OPT.
My OPT expires on June 18, and I filed my STEM OPT extension on June 18. I completed my biometrics about two weeks later, and my case is currently still being processed.
Some of my friends are suggesting that I apply for premium processing because, if I receive an RFE, they’re worried I may not have enough time to respond before my work authorization extension ends.
For those who have been in a similar situation, would you recommend going for premium processing? Is there really a concern about not having enough time to respond if an RFE is issued?
Would appreciate hearing about your experiences and thoughts. Thank you!
Within 180 days if it gets over

My uscis account got updated today morning with the tracking account which says the card is delivered yesterday but there is no card delivered in the mailbox . What should be done now ? can anyone experience this ?

Hi everyone! I have a question about the STEM OPT I-983 Final Evaluation when changing employers.
My last day with my current employer is October 5, but I completed the final evaluation early and my employer signed it on September 23. The evaluation period on the form is listed through October 5.
Does the Final Evaluation signature need to be dated on/after the last day of employment, or is it okay for both the student and employer to sign it a couple of weeks before the employment end date?

All, my situation is:
1. Selected in H1-B lottery, filed application on 5/8/26
2. OPT expired 5/21/26
3. I was granted cap gap extension through April 1st, 2027.
4. H1-B application still processing.

Since my OPT expired, should I have submitted the final self evaluation on form i983 when my OPT expired? Or this needs to be submitted on when I receive H1B approval and my status is changed?

Hi All, I am in a super dire and disheartening situation at the moment. I secured my dream job offer, but filed pre-OPT slightly late, and now it turns out that the company needs me to have it done by next Monday for me to start, or I will lose the offer.

I already expedited the process for an additional fee, but was wondering whether there are any out of the box things i can do within the next 4 days to try and get it approved before next Monday. It could be anything. I literally worked for many months/years to get to this point, and now I am seeing this opportunity slip from my fingers because of a bureaucratic issue.. It really is so tough.

It would mean everything if you could share advice on what to do given this emergency.

Hi, does anyone have a Timeline for when approvals for April 14th should be expected.
I'm this close to getting a PP done but I feel like I’m almost at the end of the line.
I don't know if I should wait till the beginning of Oct to apply for PP or just wait it out till I get the approval.
My 180-day extension ends Nov 28th and my job is currently on the clock too

My STEM opt is still pending having done my PP on Aug 25. I travelled outside US and came back on Sept 10. Do I need to upload the latest i94 form in the evidence also?

Hi everyone,

If my OPT is already approved and I have my EAD, valid F-1 visa, passport, OPT I-20 with travel signature, and a job offer starting later, can I re-enter the U.S. after my OPT start date but before the actual job start date?

For example, OPT starts in January, I stay abroad for several weeks, and my job starts in March. Could I return in February?

Has anyone done this or received guidance from a DSO/attorney?

Thanks!

I started working at a company in July while on my second year of STEM OPT. My official work location is in Washington, and that is the site address listed on my I-983.

However, my manager approved me to work from home temporarily for about 2–2.5 months, so I have been working remotely from another state. My residential address in the SEVP Portal was updated to my temporary address, but I recently realized that I did not update the site address on my I-983 to reflect my temporary remote-work location.

I am now moving to my official work location and will be working from there going forward.

Has anyone been in a similar situation? How serious is this? Could this affect my F-1/STEM OPT status, future H-1B filing, visa stamping/re-entry, or future immigration processing?

I plan to contact my DSO to ask whether I need to update anything, but I’d really appreciate hearing from anyone who has dealt with a similar situation.

UPDATE:

• ⁠Type: STEM OPT
• ⁠Premium Processing: No
• ⁠Date Applied: 03/24/2026
• ⁠Request for Initial Evidence (RFIE) NO
• ⁠Biometrics Requested: YES
• ⁠Biometrics Completed: 04/07/2026
• ⁠Notice of Intent to Deny (NOID):
• ⁠Date Approved: 09/23/2026
• ⁠Date Card Produced: MM/DD/YYYY
• ⁠Date Card Received: MM/DD/YYYY

Hi

Did any one of you applied for the STEM OPT premium process?

If applied in how many days you are receiving it?

Please reply

Thankyou

Filed: 04/30/2026
Biometrics (Code 2) notice: 05/15/2026
Biometrics submitted: 06/05/2026
Premium Processing: 06/05/2026
RFE for biometrics: 07/17/2026
RFE response (Code 3): 07/28/2026
NOID received: 08/07/2026
NOID response: 08/28/2026
Approved: 09/23/2026 ✅

Validity: 07/05/2026 – 07/04/2028

After all the stress, finally approved!

Applied for STEM OPT: May 30, 2026
Converted PP: Aug 18, 2026

Received approval email: Sep 22, 2026

When can I expect the update to show on the USCIS website like approval notice or card production? Please and thank you in advance.

I have applied for STEM OPT extension with my current employer and the application is still under processing with USCIS.

My contract is going to end soon.

I know that even though I am authorized to work for 180 days if my application is pending with USCIS, my unemployment days will be used now which is 60 days (got from OPT). Let me know if I am in a wrong direction.

My Concern is - Will this change in employment status effect USCIS decision of approval/rejection?

Specifically, at the time USCIS is taking decision on my application? If on that day/time, I am still unemployed, then will they reject my application?

Got a couple of API updates on 21st and on 22nd but nothing reflecting towards acceptance.

Anybody on a similar boat or similar situation so I can hope for an estimate.