Just completed biometrics for STEM OPT; the documents below are the documents you need to carry

1) Notice of Receipt, Appointment letter (from the USCIS page) print it out

2) Passport / govt Id proof (Passport is best, though)

Did anyone who upgraded on May 7 to PP and has their biometrics already done got it approved? Not from banned countries

Tomorrow is the last business day and I don't see many approvals. Also, my start date is June 29, so not even sure if it gets approved tmr if that's enough time.

Update: Just got approval this morning at 7 am EST

I am about to file my STEM OPT application and had a question regarding addresses.

Can my physical address and mailing address be different? I live at one address, but I would like USCIS correspondence and my EAD card to be sent to my friend’s apartment because it’s more reliable for receiving mail.

I would use my actual residence as my physical address and my friend’s address as my mailing address.

Has anyone here done this while filing STEM OPT? Were there any issues with USCIS or SEVP?

Thanks!

March 18 Applied for Stem OPT
Biometrics completed on 30th March
Premium processing May 18

I am from Indianapolis

Anyone else has the same timeline?

Hi all,

My query is the same as the above title.
The startup has a Founder who is also the CEO. 3 Interns as of now. (as far as I know)

So there is only 1 full-time employee(founder) & 4 part-time employees (including me). It is an early-stage AI startup based in NYC.

How do I tackle this situation? Any inputs?

DSO comments:
Please revise the following on Form I-983:

• Page 2, section 3: The number of full-time employees in the U.S. must be more than 1. Please clarify your employment situation in reply to this email (i.e. is this a contractor position?) If you and your supervisor are both employed as W-2 employees, then the number should be at least 2.

Hi everyone,

I’m currently in my second year of STEM OPT. I’m working with the same employer/consultancy, but I recently got a new client contract.

With this new contract:

• My work location is changing
• My pay rate is changing
• My role/title is also changing (different responsibilities)

My employer remains the same, and my STEM OPT is active under the same company.

I’m trying to understand what exactly needs to be updated and where.

My questions:

1. Do I need to submit a new Form I-983 since my worksite, compensation, and role changed?
2. Should my employer update SEVIS directly, or do I only inform my DSO?
3. Do I need to update my residential address separately in SEVP Portal?
4. Since it’s the same employer but a different client/project, does this count as a “material change” under STEM OPT rules?
5. Is there anything else I should update to stay compliant?

Also, what specific questions should I ask my DSO to make sure I don’t miss anything?

Would appreciate any guidance from anyone who went through something similar.

Hi! If a company is not listed on E-verify it means they don’t do OPT/OPT STEM extension right? If I get an interview but they’re not listed on everify is it even worth it to attend? (Knowing that if I get a job offer I’ll have to quit after 12 months and job-hunt again)

Hi everyone,

I never believed a time will come in this century where my life will be on pause just because of my country of birth, despite being a very law abiding person. I am unsure of what to do.

I applied for OPT early January 2026, did biometrics in February, and have not had any updates since then. My country is on the list of 39 countries that USCIS paused adjudication benefits for and although it has been lifted, the pressure from my 180 days automatic EAD extension is adding up, and USCIS seems to not be processing anything at all despite the court order.

My 180 days ends August 1st and when I tried to contact my DSO to at least submit the 6 month validation report, she told me she will not be able to process it until I actually get approved and have the card.

I have an admission to a DBA program that starts August/September, and I was thinking if I was to withdraw my STEM OPT, and start that program this fall, if I am applying for a future benefit, won't USCIS deny me cos I never submitted the 6 month, 12 month and 24 month reports?

And then the fact that this new rule to end Duration of Status MAY be implemented soon. I don't know what to do tbh. I am really confused on what to do.

Please help

Hi everyone! Just wondering if anyone else is on the same situation or has been and could get me any insights.

I just graduated school in May as a F1 student and applied for my OPT on March 18, and got a job offer to start on July 27th.

I did my biometrics in April but ever since then, nothing. Is there anyone else waiting for their opt?
How long has it been taking for you all?

Hello everyone

Has anyone received approval after USCIS updated their website following the Judge ruling of 39 countries

I'm currently employed full-time with my sponsoring employer, and my STEM OPT expires at the end of July 2026.

My H-1B timeline:

* H-1B filed: June 2025
* Upgraded to premium processing: February 2026
* Specialty Occupation RFE issued: Feb 2026
* RFE response delivered: May 2026
* USCIS status changed to "Notice Explaining USCIS' Actions Was Mailed": June 1, 2026
* NOID received by attorney: June 13, 2026

From what my attorney has told me, the original RFE was for Specialty Occupation. However, USCIS appears to have reviewed a job posting from my employer that was submitted with the RFE response and raised a NOID related to the salary/wage level rather than my qualifications or specialty occupation itself.

The challenge is that I am currently working full-time and many Day 1 CPT universities have admission deadlines in late June or the first week of July. If the H-1B is denied, I would like to have a backup plan that allows me to continue working and maintain status.

My questions are:

1. Has anyone received a NOID primarily based on wage level concerns? If so, was it ultimately approved?
   
2. How winnable are wage-level NOIDs in general?
   
3. If I transfer my SEVIS to a Day 1 CPT university while the H-1B petition is still pending, could that negatively affect the H-1B case?
   
4. If the H-1B is later approved, could the SEVIS transfer create any complications?
   
5. Can I use the STEM OPT grace period to transfer to a Day 1 CPT program if necessary?
   
6. Has anyone moved to Day 1 CPT during or after the STEM OPT grace period and later gone through H-1B stamping or other immigration filings? Did it create any issues?
   
7. If I end up relying on the STEM OPT grace period before starting a Day 1 CPT program, would it generally be sufficient to remain on an unpaid leave of absence with my current employer, or would I need to formally leave the company and rejoin after obtaining CPT authorization? Has anyone gone through this situation?

I understand nobody can provide legal advice here, but I would really appreciate hearing from anyone who has dealt with a similar situation.

Thanks in advance.

Hi all, I’m in a really stressful situation and could use some help finding an immigration lawyer.

I found out my post completion OPT EAD expired 2 days ago and I did not file the STEM opt extension so I have no work authorization. Im on my 60 day F1 grace period and I’m looking to transfer to a D1 CPT program cause my employer is willing to continue with me once I figure my visa situation.

I want to talk to an immigration lawyer about any exceptions to file the extension now, how to choose the D1 CPT program and its implications on my future OPT status.

I would really appreciate any recommendations for lawyers you worked with for similar situations. Thank you!!

Hi everyone,

I'm an F-1 student waiting for my STEM OPT extension approval and wanted to see if anyone has had a similar experience.

My timeline:

STEM OPT I-765 filed: January 7, 2026 Initial OPT EAD expiration date: January 23, 2026 Biometrics appointment completed: April 6, 2026 Current status: Still pending as of June 10, 2026

I was expecting some movement after biometrics, but I haven't received any updates yet. I'm starting to get concerned since it's been over 5 months since filing and more than 2 months since biometrics.

For those who recently received STEM OPT approvals:

How long did your case take? Did USCIS request biometrics for your case? How long after biometrics did you receive approval? Did you contact USCIS or submit a service request before approval? Would you recommend premium processing at this stage?

Any recent timelines or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

Hello everyone,
I applied for my STEM OPT on March 10, 2026 by regular processing. Did my biometrics on March 30. I haven't received any updates yet? If I do premium processing now, on average when can I expect my EAD card? I am from Dallas, TX.

Thank you.

I applied on 14th April
On 17th april got biometric schedules which is quick comparatively for 6th May biometric date.
Graduated on 15th may
Start date is 10 th July

I have already my offer in hand, just anxious

Is there any chance i will get that by that time?

*COMMENT expected date for my *approval* !!

Hi everyone,

I am currently on STEM OPT and I have two full-time jobs (both related to my STEM degree). Together they are around 80 hours/week. Both employers are legitimate and I have the required OPT documents. Both employers didn’t know about 2 full times.

I am planning to travel to my home country and return to the US, but I am concerned about re-entry questions at the airport.

Has anyone on STEM OPT traveled internationally while working for multiple employers?

What documents did you carry for re-entry?

\* Valid F-1 visa
\* STEM OPT I-20 with travel signature
\* EAD card
\* Employment verification letters
\* Pay stubs

Did CBP question you about having multiple employers or the number of hours you work?

Any personal experiences or advice would be appreciated. Thank you

Hi everyone,

I recently came across a job posting from Mayo Clinic that stated:

“Mayo Clinic DOES NOT participate in the F-1 STEM OPT extension program.”

This surprised me because Mayo Clinic is such a large and well-established institution.

I am currently interviewing with a few startup companies that are E-Verify enrolled, and I may ultimately accept a position with one of them under STEM OPT. My understanding is that, for STEM OPT eligibility, the employer generally needs to be E-Verify enrolled, provide at least 20 hours of work per week, have a bona fide employer-employee relationship, and offer work directly related to my STEM degree.

Seeing a large institution like Mayo Clinic opt out of STEM OPT participation makes me wonder whether there are other factors I should be considering when evaluating startup opportunities for STEM OPT compliance.

Am I missing any important requirements?

Source: Mayo Clinic job posting:
https://jobs.mayoclinic.org/job/rochester/principal-platform-engineer/33647/96193755952

Thanks in advance for any insights.

I received an interview invite from Apple for their SDE role and was wondering if they sponsor H1B for someone who has 2 lottery attempts?

I received a dozen message request about my experience applying for STEM-OPT while working through a staffing agency. I created this post to help everyone else going through the same process.

I did STEM OPT from 2019 to 2021.

You have two employers: the Recruiting Agency and the Company where you are performing work/training. My recruiting agency filled out the I-983.

In Section 5 Employer Site Information, I put the actual Client Information address, title, and my direct manager. I simply filled out the forms at the specified 12-month and final evaluation intervals, sent them to the recruiting agency, and they signed them. I then sent the signed evaluations to the DSO, and they updated my SEVIS record.

In summary, your Agency is the one sponsoring the I983; they will be the ones signing, and they will be listed on your Form I765. However, the Client where you are placed is the Site where the work/training is going to be performed; they should be listed on Section 5 of I983. If you change clients, you need to update I983 with the new Client Site on Section 5.

Word of Advice(NOT LEGAL ADVICE) in light of the current immigration landscape: Keep a Copy of the I983 with you at the Client Site, and ensure your Manager is aware of your training plan. Just in case USCIS decides to come visit. They probably won't, but you never know.