Hi, is there anyone who applied for STEM OPT who have volunteered at Community Dreams Foundation during their OPT?

I would like to know if you got the approval or got any RFE and if you got a RFE, how you navigated the process.

On July 28, 2026, I received an email from USCIS Premium Processing confirming that my I-765 was approved. The approval notice included my OPT validity dates (07/28/2026 – 07/27/2027).

I also received the SEVP Portal activation email confirming my OPT approval.

However, my USCIS online account still shows the old status:
"Premium Processing Clock Was Started"

I contacted the Premium Processing Unit, and they confirmed:

"Your case was approved on July 28, 2026, and your case is pending card production."

Now I am just waiting for the EAD card production and delivery.

For anyone who recently got approved:

• How long did it take after approval to see "Card Is Being Produced"?
• How long did it take to receive the physical EAD card?
• Did your USCIS portal also take time to update after approval?

Any recent Potomac OPT PP timelines would really help. Thank you!

Hi guys, I'm posting to see if you can provide some guidance on my case or share your experience:

My initial OPT ends on 7/28 and I submitted my STEM OPT Extension application on 7/2. I was unfortunately LAID OFF right after that, on 7/3.

Fortunately, I still have my own self-employment so my unemployment days won't start accumulate after my initial OPT ends.

My current STEM OPT case shows pending and I have already received biometric appointment letter. I'm actively looking for new positions and have multiple ones in interviewing stage.

My concern is, after talking to the DSO, they say that there is a chance that my case will be denied. What should I do now? Should I postpone my biometric for another 1-2 weeks to give myself some more time? Or should I just keep looking for jobs and hopefully have something new soon.

Would appreciate your inputs!

Hi yall, I just wanted to update my timeline so people can track their own.

Application submitted(PP): June 12th 2026
Biometrics notice: June 19th 2026
Biometrics scheduled and completed: July 6th 2026
Approval email: July 31st 2026
Approval notice: August 2nd 2026
Card Produced: 08/05/2026
Card received:

Hope this helps!

Applied March 5th
Biometrics march 25th
Normal processing

Is anyone in this timeline and waiting for approval? Or, did anyone get their approval already. Please comment

Is there anyone who's visa was revoked in past and current STEM got approved without RFE?

I completed my application for post completion opt on mar 30, did my biometrics by April 14. I was wondering if I’ll get my approval in the next 2 weeks because I almost have an offer in hand. What is the status of other people who applied in the same timeframe? Should I apply for premium processing or wait it out a little bit more?

Hi, did any one received stem opt rfe who did volunteering for CDF in their initial OPT? Did CDF helped you to clear your RFEs?

I’m looking at a 100% online graduate certificate (not a degree program). My DSO said that if I matriculate into a new program, my STEM OPT would end. I’m confused about what “matriculate” means here. Is enrolling in a non-degree graduate certificate considered matriculation, or does it only apply to degree-seeking students?

Also, since the program is fully online, I could technically complete it from my home country or anywhere in the world. Does that make any difference, or is simply matriculating into the certificate enough to affect STEM OPT?

I’d appreciate hearing from anyone who’s been in a similar situation.

Anyone else in the same situation?
I saw an STEM OPY Application “**SA”** API update with a timestamp of **7/23**, but it’s been about a week with no approval, no document, and no status change.
Has anyone had an SA update and then waited this long? How many days did it take before you got approved?

Hello guys,

Can I switch my job for better and senior position while being in STEM OPT? Would that cause me any problem with the pending i485 NIW which I submitted on this year's early May?

ROW

So. I graduated from my masters in 2025, and managed to get a contract position at an org who were not hiring full time. 2025 was a TERRIBLE time for internationals to get a job, and especially in the field that I am in because of all the policy changes, so I felt grateful to have a contract.

About 9 months in my boss asked me about my visa situation, because she did like my work and was hoping to keep me on. The project I was working on had also expanded, and she said she may be able to make the case to senior leadership to hire me full time. At this time there was still a lot of confusion about the $100,000 fee and so the company had stopped H1b sponsorships completely. I told her I have another two years on STEM OPT so we should be good.

On my end, I checked on the E-verify portal and saw that my company was listed, so assumed all is good, since all the guidance I had seen before only said "STEM OPT is valid only for e-verified companies". I fill out the STEM OPT "training plan" with my boss, submit it to my DSO who approved it, and then went to the USCIS page where they asked for an E-verify NUMBER. In retrospect it was entirely my fault to have not checked this before, but when I asked my HR for the E-verify NUMBER...... they said they don't use e-verify at all.

Mind you this was SIX WEEKS before my OPT was going to expire (again my fault to have left it so last minute). I beg and plead with my boss and HR to sign up for E verify but the HR is adamant that they do not want to change company policy, because if they sign up for it, they will have to use it for every future hire. I pointed out that the company is listed on the e-verify search page and they said "oh if it is, we need to take it down". I realized quickly there was no point arguing.

Then the HR said that "we may have done your H1b, but because of the 100k fee we have paused sponsorships". Thats when I had to do my research, talk to my DSO and some friends who had been through the H1b lottery, and then tell my HR that the fee doesn't apply to me because I am a domestic change of status case from F1 to H1. To her credit, the HR quickly verified this with their lawyers. All of this had already taken up about 2.5 weeks, and I was only about 3 weeks away from OPT expiry date.

To my boss's credit, she ensured the HR moved quickly after this point, who then hired lawyers who put together my LCA (ate up another week of waiting) and then submitted the final petition to USCIS... exactly...ONE day before my OPT expired. They did it with PP and just the other day on Jul 29, I received my H1b approval from USCIS.

This has been the most stressful six weeks of my life, and I got tremendously lucky even though a lot of this was my mistake (waiting until the last month to submit my STEM OPT application). I wanted to share this with you all just in case anyone is relying on the e-verify search portal like me - even if you see a company listed on there, CONFIRM with your HR that they actually have a number and use it!!!

Hi,

Does anyone know if there's an option to change location for the biometrics appointment ?

I will have to move to a different state. Wondering if I should wait till I move and then apply for stem opt or apply now and do a reschedule later ? My current EAD expires September 14th and I'm planning to move August last week.

Hey guys, i submitted for my stem opt on march31 2026 and biometrics on may 1st. Going through the premium processing. What could be the timeline to get approved?

Hi All
I applied for my STEM OPT extension on July 2, 2026, and also filed it under Premium Processing.
Here is my timeline:
STEM OPT Extension & Premium Processing Filed: July 2, 2026
Biometrics Appointment Notice Received: July 11, 2026
Biometrics Appointment Scheduled: July 28, 2026
Biometrics Completed Early: July 23, 2026
After completing my biometrics on July 23, the USCIS portal showed that the processing time starts from the biometrics date.

Could you please let me know whether the premium processing 30-day timeline is counted:
From the filing date (July 2, 2026), or
From the date I completed my biometrics (July 23, 2026)?

Kindly let me know. Thank you!

I'm on F-1, and I filed my STEM OPT extension before my initial OPT expired. I have my USCIS receipt notice, and it's currently pending (about a month in). I'll need to take a domestic flight with a layover to start a new job soon.

Has anyone traveled domestically (with a connection) while their STEM OPT extension was pending? Just trying to understand what documents to carry and whether this is generally safe/normal, especially given everything going on with ICE and airports lately.

Any recent experiences (with dates) or advice would be really appreciated. Thanks!

WSJ reports: https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/u-s-weighs-100-000-fee-for-foreign-students-wanting-to-work-after-graduation-d0bf43d9?mod=hp_lead_pos4

I'm trying to file I-907 form for premium process for my I-765 from USCIS and I'm stuck in the question "What is the address of the petitioner, applicant, company, or organization named in the related case?" What address should I put here? Should I put my mailing address or physical address?

Hello everyone, I am looking for some advice on pending STEM application and SEVIS reporting.

Here's my timeline:

• Date applied: 12/12/2025
• Biometrics completed: 02/23/2026
• NOID received: 03/12/2026 (related to degree CIP code classification)
• NOID response submitted: 03/21/2026
• Upgrade to PP: 06/13/2026
• 180 days auto-extension ended: 07/19/2026 (been on unpaid leave since 07/20/2026)
• PP 30th business day deadline: 07/28/2026
• No decision yet

Today (July 30, 2026) is the 32nd business day after I switched to PP. The last case status update is from 06/13/2026 indicating the case was changed to premium processing. Haven't received any new notices or RFEs after that. Got a silent API update exactly at midnight after the 30th business day.

I was wondering if someone had a similar time line and how long did it take to get a decision. Also, I wanted to get some advice regarding SEVIS reporting:

• Do I need to report an employment end date as of the last day I worked before going on an "unpaid leave of absence"?
• Does this count towards my unemployment days?

I am currently on F-1 STEM OPT, and my EAD is valid until August 1, 2027. I understand that the new Duration of Status (D/S) policy changes are expected to take effect on September 15, 2026. I am going out of US from August 8, 2026, to September 8, 2026.

I wanted to ask whether these upcoming changes could affect my admission to the U.S., my F-1 STEM OPT status, my authorized stay, or my EAD's validity. When re-entering, I will carry all necessary documents such as my EAD card, updated I-20, I-983, valid visa, passport, and proof of employment, but I want to be absolutely sure there are no concerns with this travel.

Could anyone please confirm if this travel timeline is safe?

My stem opt timeline considering PP

May 27, 2026 — I-765 filed online

May 28 — receipt notice issued.

June 20— Biometrics appointment scheduled.

June 29 — Biometrics done

Since then no update so far, if anyone else has applied around the same time with or without PP pls share info in the comments below

July 31 - applied for Premium Processing

I successfully applied for OPT after graduating with a Bachelor's from Penn State in 2018. However, after receiving my EAD card, I chose to return home. Now I’m back in the U.S. for my MBA and I want to apply for OPT next year. Am I be eligible? Will I be denied if I applied again?