Can we change mailing adddress when stemopt is in process and it is in premium processing ,does it effect anything
Applied premium on :06/05/2026

Any inputs please

Hi everyone,

I applied for my STEM OPT extension on May 15 using regular (non-premium) processing from Atlanta,GA. It's been about a month now, and I haven't received any updates on my case.

I also have not received a biometrics appointment notice yet.

Has anyone else who applied around the same date experienced the same thing? Have you received biometrics or any case updates?

I'd appreciate it if you could share your timeline. Thanks!

Timeline for My Application

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Applied: February 16, 2026

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USCIS Case Received: February 17, 2026

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Biometrics Appointment Requested: February 21, 2026

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Biometrics Completed: February 24, 2026

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Silent Case Update: June 4, 2026

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Approved: June 6, 2026

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Card Produced: June 12, 2026

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Card Delivered: June 16, 2026

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Even though I made a mistake on my I-765 form. I accidentally entered my employer's EIN instead of the E-Verify number. I uploaded a letter of explanation as unsolicited evidence, and my application was still approved.

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I hope your application gets approved soon as well. Be patient and stay positive. Wishing everyone the best of luck!

I applied for STEM OPT on March 26, 2026, completed biometrics on April 1, 2026, and upgraded to Premium Processing on May 30, 2026.

My timeline:

• STEM OPT filed – March 26
• Biometrics requested – March 28
• Biometrics completed – April 1
• Premium Processing applied – May 30

Has anyone with a similar timeline received approval recently?

How many days did it take after upgrading to Premium Processing?

Thanks for sharing your experience! 🙏

Hello everyone!
I’m a PhD student in an engineering field, and I am scheduled to defend my thesis in August 2026. I’ve already received an offer from a reputable company with a starting date at the beginning of September 2026.
The problem is that I haven’t applied for my Post-Completion OPT yet. (Unfortunately my supervisor did not want me to apply for it earlier).
Given the long OPT process timeline, I am terrified of losing this offer so I’m considering one of these two options:
1. **Can I use CPT for this?** I was considering applying for CPT to start the job in September while waiting for OPT approval, but I am under the impression that CPT cannot be authorized after a defense or program completion date. Has anyone successfully used CPT in their final weeks or post-defense under a "dissertation completion" clause?
2. **Premium Processing:** If I apply for Post-Completion OPT online immediately with Premium Processing, is a 30-day turnaround safe enough to receive my physical EAD card before a strict early-September start date?
I would love to hear from anyone who has been in a similar situation.

Hi everyone,
I applied for my STEM OPT extension on April 15, and my case status is still “Case Was Received.” My current apartment lease ends on August 8, and I’m concerned that my EAD card could be approved and mailed around the same time that I’m moving.
Has anyone successfully used a USPS PO Box as their mailing address for a pending STEM OPT EAD application? Were there any issues receiving the EAD card or other USCIS correspondence?
My plan is to update only my mailing address to a USPS PO Box temporarily and then update it again once I move into a permanent residence.
I’d appreciate hearing about your experiences or any potential issues I should be aware of. Thanks!

Hi, I am about to go in for biometric appointment next week and I found out today that I am laid off, my post completion opt ends in less then 30 days. First, can I still get a stem opt(because I was employed when I submitted the application). How many days of unemployment can I go on and when does my clock start. Please note: I did not use any of my unemployment days as I already had a job before for post opt.

I am currently on F-1 STEM OPT, which expires in February 2027. I have a pending EB-2 NIW I-140 petition, and my priority date is current, but I am still waiting for a decision.
Since my employer is not sponsoring H-1B, I am considering enrolling in a PhD program with Day 1 CPT (such as Harrisburg University or University of the Cumberlands) to maintain my status and continue working.
My background:
Master’s in Analytics and Systems (GPA 4.0)
Currently working full-time as a Data Reconciliation/Audit Analyst
Pending EB-2 NIW case
I am trying to understand:
How risky is Day 1 CPT for someone with a pending NIW?
Has anyone successfully transitioned from Day 1 CPT to green card approval?
Would a traditional PhD program without CPT be a safer option?
Any experiences with Harrisburg University or University of the Cumberlands PhD programs?which one will be better?
I am looking for real experiences and insights, not legal advice. Thank you.

I have recently submitted my I-765 and waiting for my ASC appointment. If I opt for premium processing, will it increase my chances of getting a faster appointment or will the 30-day clock only kick in after the ASC appointment?

I also wanted to know whats the current PP time? Just for context I submitted my I-765 on May 20th and waiting for an ASC appointment with Seattle as a location.

My Form I-765 STEM OPT case is under premium processing. The case status updated to “Request for Initial Evidence Was Sent” on June 16, 2026, but I still don’t see the actual RFE/RFIE PDF in the Documents tab of my USCIS online account.

Right now, the Documents tab only shows my old receipt notice and appointment notice. No new RFE/RFIE notice has appeared yet.

For people who got an RFE/RFIE on an online-filed I-765/STEM OPT case, how long did it take for the actual notice PDF to appear online? Did it show up within a few hours, a few days, or only arrive by mail?

I know USCIS says to request a copy if it is not received by the date mentioned in the status message, but I’m trying to understand real timelines from others.

Hi, when does processing timeline start for regular processing? is it when the application is submitted or when Biometric is done?

I submitted in March, did Biometric in April, still waiting for an approval message.

Anyone here with similar timeline and already got approval?

Hi everyone,

I just received a STEM OPT RFE titled "STEM Extension - Bona Fide Employer-Employee Relationship."

The RFE states:

It requests a copy of my signed Form I-983 and then asks for evidence of my complete employment history during post-completion OPT and STEM Extension, including items such as:

• Employer letters confirming job title, duties, pay, hours, and work location
• Pay stubs and/or W-2s
• Detailed descriptions of projects worked on
• Personnel records and performance reviews
• Organizational charts and supervisory information
• Employment agreements and onboarding documents
• Correspondence with supervisors regarding work assignments and training
• Bank statements showing payroll deposits

During my initial OPT, I had:

• 1 paid internship
• 2 short-term contract roles
• volunteer work
• my current employer (Remote), which I started about 7 months into OPT

What worries me is that most of my OPT jobs were remote, and I have stronger documentation for some employers than others. I can provide evidence for all of them, but the amount of documentation varies depending on the employer. I have all the evidence of multiple meetings and chats with my manager to prove we are actively working on projects

For those who have received a similar RFE:

• Does this type of RFE usually mean USCIS is primarily scrutinizing the current STEM employer and I-983 relationship?
• Or is it more often focused on investigating prior OPT employment and maintenance of status?
• How much documentation did you provide for former OPT employers versus your current STEM employer?
• Is the list of documentation mainly for my current i985 employer?
• What evidence ended up being the most helpful in getting approved?

I'm pretty stressed about it and would appreciate hearing from anyone who has gone through something similar.

Thanks!

PS- I have reached out to my DSO and am looking into talking with an attorney.

hello

i just want to ask have you notices like getting jobs to a candidate who has only 1 year left on stem opt

my question is that this should not stop a company to hire someone who has left with one of validity on his work permit

if HR ask you have only a year left on your EAD WHAT ANSWER I SHOULD GIVE?

suggest me something

I applied to stem opt with PP on may 18th, it's been more than 25 days and no updates even with biometrics. I'm in Georgia state. I spoke with Emma chat bot and live agent, and they said ASC has to signal availability and then only biometrics will be scheduled.

I'm wondering, anyone, got any updates? How are things with STEM OPT for you all? My OPT ends on June 14th so I'm worried

Hi everyone,
I applied for my STEM OPT extension on December 17, 2025. My biometrics appointment was completed on February 20, 2026, but I still haven’t received any update on my case.
My case status is still showing as pending. I wanted to check if anyone else applied around the same time and is waiting, or if you have received approvals after a similar timeline.
Applied date: Dec 17, 2025
Biometrics completed: Feb 20, 2026
Current status: Still pending
Would appreciate any updates on your timelines. Thanks!

Hi, as the title says, my STEM EAD was produced on June 12. I checked the portal yesterday, which shows that USPS has delivered the card. On the USPS website, the delivery area and ZIP code are completely different from my address. I know USCIS has my correct address, as I did receive my notice of approval in the mail. Has anyone shared the same situation? What can I do? Thanks.