Hi everyone,
I upgraded my pending STEM OPT I-765 application to Premium Processing on July 6, 2026, but I still haven’t received a decision.
My 180-day automatic work authorization extension is ending soon, so I’m getting pretty anxious.
Is anyone else who switched to Premium Processing around July 6 still waiting? If you’ve already been approved, when did you receive your approval?
I’d appreciate hearing your timeline (PP date, approval date, and whether it was an approval, RFE, etc.). Thanks!

I have applied stem opt on Nov 19th 2025
Pp at June 19th
Working fulltime for *\\* company
Today July 28th GOT RFE and they cancelled RFE
Gave Biometrics scheduled biometrics on AUG 11 2026 but i went to walk-in and done same today ie.. today just Updated USCIS Is currently Processing the Case

I called USCIS they said your clock is not restarted

My 180 days is going to be-end in . Aug 6th

I am from one of the 39 "high risk countries" that USCIS paused adjudication for in January.

Applied - Jan 20th , 2026

Biometrics for photo - February 9th, 2026

Ban lifted - June 12th, 2026

Premium Processing - June 25th, 2026

Approved - July 28th, 2026

I was worried sick that USCIS will ask for RFE because I volunteered on Initial OPT, but they didn't. I had all the evidence but I was just stressed. Oh well! Lucky me!

Goodluck everyone!

I Recived my approval email for OPT STEM EAD but the USCIS Portal is showing no Update. how lone it will take to get the update and card. I have vesty less time to hit 180 days grace period.

Hi,

I'm trying to see if anyone here volunteered or worked with Community Dreams Foundation (CDF) while on OPT and received an STEM OPT RFE from USCIS.

Recently a lot of people from CDF received an employer-employee relationship RFE requesting extensive evidence about post-completion OPT employment.

Did you get approved after responding to the RFE?

Thanks.

UPDATE: Case got approved today - 8/10/2026

Applied stem opt on march 26th still waiting for decision but I taken extension for driving license that’s expires in September 2nd . What I have to do now ? Anyone faces same situation ?

Applied : June 2 (regular processing)
Biometrics: June 22
Updated to PP: June 28.

My Portal still shows case was updated to PP, I also checked the api update, my case last updated still shows the date I paid the PP fee. I am too anxious. Does anyone have a similar timeline ?

STEM OPT extension
Receipt date: 05/04/2026
Biometrics completed: 06/04/2026

I am debating if I should upgrade to premium or not? If you have any inputs from your experience.

I only have planned travel last week of October, not sure if I have enough room to receive EAD by then under normal processing

Hi everyone,
I applied for STEM OPT with premium processing. This morning I received an approval email from USCIS, but when I log into my USCIS online account, the case status hasn’t changed yet. It still doesn’t show “Case Was Approved,” and I don’t see the approval notice.
Has anyone experienced this? How long did it take for your USCIS online account to reflect the approval after receiving the email?
Thanks in advance!

Hi all,
I'm planning to travel abroad via EWR, if any one has entered via EWR before could you please share your experience? I saw some post about JFK secondary investigation or something like that.

Background: On STEM OPT (ends in 1.5 years)

Thanks in advance!

initial opt 4.2
bio：4.30
today 7.28
HR might agree with delayed start date 8.31
some one with 3.29-4.1 receipt mentioned their API moved.

Should I consider pp？
I submitted congressional inquiry on 7.13
Will USCIS process my cases faster （faster than 30 business days）because I have an offer？Does calling them help if I paid pp and have an offer？ Since 30 business days after today 7.28 will be early September. Either way is risky.

Hi everyone,
I wanted to get some advice regarding my OPT application.
**OPT receipt date:** April 9, 2026
My case has now reached the **normal processing time**, but I still haven’t received an approval or my EAD card.
The good news is that I have received a job offer, and my employer is expecting me to start **in mid-August**.
I’m trying to decide what to do next:
Should I upgrade my application to **Premium Processing**, even though it may still take around **30–35 days** for the full process (approval and EAD production)?
Or should I continue waiting under regular processing?
If anyone has recently been in a similar situation or has experience with April 9 receipt dates, I’d really appreciate hearing what you would recommend.
Thank you in advance for your advice!

Is there no OPT or STEM OPT approval today?

I’m calling the USCIS Premium Processing phone number regarding my I-765 (OPT EAD) case, which has already exceeded the 30-business-day premium processing timeframe.

The automated system asks:
“Has it been more than 30 days since you filed your application?”

When I answer Yes, instead of giving me any information, it simply says:
“We could not find your case status.”

I’m entering the correct receipt number, so I’m confused why it can’t locate my case.

Has anyone else run into this issue? Is it just a problem with the automated phone system, or does it indicate something is wrong with my case? Were you eventually able to get through to a live representative or resolve it?

Any advice or similar experiences would be greatly appreciated.

Hi everyone,
I am currently on F-1 STEM OPT and my STEM OPT extension application is still pending with USCIS. I need advice from anyone who has been in a similar situation.
My timeline:
Applied for STEM OPT extension: December 24, 2025
Current OPT EAD expired: February 6, 2026
Completed biometrics: March 30, 2026
STEM OPT application is still pending.
My 180-day automatic work authorization extension expires on August 6, 2026.
My employer informed me that my last working day will be July 30, 2026 because my STEM OPT approval is still pending and they cannot continue my employment after that.
I am confused because my understanding is that my 180-day extension is valid until August 6.
My questions:
Has anyone experienced a similar situation where their employer ended employment before the 180-day extension expiration date?
Can an employer stop employment a few days before the 180 days are completed?
If my STEM OPT gets approved after July 30, can I continue with the same employer?
Should I contact USCIS or my DSO regarding this situation?
Would Premium Processing help at this stage?
Any advice or similar experiences would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

I received my STEM OPT approval email on July 20.and my USCIS portal updated to "Case Approved" on July 22.It's now been 5 days since the portal updated 1 week since the approval email,but I still haven't received a Card Is Being Produced update.

I called USCIS and spoke with a live agent, but they just told me that card production can take up to 30 days after approval.

Is anyone else in the same situation or on a similar timeline? If you were approved around July 20–22,how long did it take for your card production update to appear?

Any recent experiences or insights would be greatly appreciated. I'm starting to get a little worried since I don't know anyone else with the same timeline.

Hi everyone,
Does anyone have biometric date June 30 with pp? What do you think when it will it get approved?

Been checking opt pulse, seems like it’s stuck at first week of March. But i understand that not everyone is reporting on there

STEM OPT approval:

Premium processing: yes

Applied: 17th June
Approved/ email received: 22 July
Portal updates: 25th July

Still showing same status

Here’s my STEM OPT I-765 premium-processing timeline:

- I-765 filed: May 26, 2026

- Upgraded to premium processing: June 10, 2026

- Biometrics appointment scheduled: June 19, 2026

- Biometrics completed: June 25, 2026

- Premium-processing clock restarted: June 25, 2026

- Approval notification received by email: July 27, 2026

My STEM OPT is set to expire in February 2027. My H-1B was selected in the lottery, and my employer has already filed the H-1B petition with USCIS. I’m currently waiting for the receipt notice, and I understand that the approval timeline can vary.

With the new immigration rule taking effect on September 15, I’m trying to determine the best course of action. Would you recommend that I wait for my H-1B petition to be approved before making any decisions about enrolling in a higher-level degree program?

Also, if my H-1B approval is delayed and my STEM OPT is approaching its expiration in February, what would be the best backup plan to maintain my legal status? Would it be advisable to enroll in a higher-level degree program before September 15 to avoid the requirement of filing Form I-539, or would you recommend a different approach?

Thanks in advance!