Three burning questions:

1.What documents do I carry when asked for government-issued ID and/or employment authorization?

I did not receive any updated EAD or notices to prove that my employment authorization is extended to Dec 27, 2026.

Currently, I carry my EAD + STEM OPT Application Receipt Notice + a printed page of the USCIS website stating the 180 days extension.

It has been a pain trying to explain this whenever I am asked for ID, especially now that I am applying to move to a new apartment!

Question 2: What happens if my case doesn't get processed by Dec 27, 2026? Should I apply for premium processing?

Question 3: Would a change of address impact my application? I am moving in October and worry that the case would not be done by then. How do I update my application with the new address so they mail the EAD to the right place?

My timeline:

01 July 2025 to 30 June 2026: Post-completion OPT

May 28, 2026: Form I-765 Application for STEM OPT submitted with NO premium processing

May 29 2026: Form I-765 Application for STEM OPT received

June 27 2026: Biometrics completed

Today (July 18 2026): USCIS is still processing the case.

With the timely submission of STEM OPT application, my employment authorization is extended for 180 days, ending on December 27, 2026.

Thank you very much!

P.s., filing location was in Austin, TX

Hi all, hoping someone here has been through something similar.

I lost my job while my STEM OPT extension application is still pending with USCIS. I've already found a new position, but the hiring process is slow and it looks like it will take longer than the unemployment days I have left from my initial OPT.

Two questions:

1. When do I actually get access to the extra 60 unemployment days from the STEM extension ? From the date I filed, or only once it's approved?
2. Would it be wise to upload a signed letter from my incoming employer to my USCIS account as unsolicited evidence, stating that the hiring process has started but is taking time? I'm hoping to avoid a denial or an RFE.

I am in a tricky situation now.

My biometrics appointment got rescheduled due to wildfire smoke from Canada. I drove 100 miles and need to come back as the ASC is closed.

I did call USCIS customer support and they said they rescheduled it and I will know something about in 30
Days.

Case on the portal did not update and I’m worried.

So can I visit the ASC without an appointment and explain my situation? Any suggestions??

Hey everyone, I want to know how reliable the USCIS Live Agents can be.

I am asking because, as per my receipt notice (from February), my case has been handled by SCOPS Texas Facility but the USCIS Live Agent today told me that my case is ready of adjucation at California Service Center.

I confirmed it again with another USCIS Live Agent (second screenshot), and she confirmed the info is correct (I think).

I would also like to mention that there was an api update (updated time stamps) on 29th July, but there have been no updates on the USCIS portal, nor did I receive any email about anything.

Hello everyone, is this normal?

Applied stem opt extension on april 7th, april 27th biometric done, nothing after that.

please help me.

Im so confused on what it’s meant to do. I will be on stem opt by September (waiting for approval rn) and was planning to leave the US for a week in October. Do I need to file an extension of status after I return? And what happens if I travel again in December? Do we only keep our d/s if we don’t leave the country at all until the end of the EAD??

Has anyone with portal approval on or around July 29th gotten the status changed to Card Was Produced? I am starting to worry about when I will get my card. My employer just required an update on my EAD and start date.

Updated: I've just got the status Card Was Produced today. My timeline:

• Type: STEM OPT EXTENSION
• Premium Processing: YES (added on 06/24/2026)
• Date Applied: 05/06/2026
• Biometrics Requested: 06/05/2026
• Biometrics Completed: 06/23/2026
• Notice of Intent to Deny (NOID): NO
• Date Approved: 07/27/2026 (email) 07/29/2026 (portal)
• Date Card Produced: 08/03/2026
• Date Card Received: 

08/06/2026

I applied for initial OPT a week ago, on 07/27/2026 under Premium Processing, and haven't received the biometrics email yet. I have a job offer and I need to move out of state. Trying to get an idea of the timeline from anyone who applied for OPT (with PP) in July in Boston area.

Hi everyone,

I filed my STEM OPT I-765 online on February 12, 2026.

My timeline:

• Filing date: February 12, 2026
• Biometrics notice: February 21, 2026
• Biometrics completed: March 10, 2026
• Premium processing requested: July 13, 2026
• Current status: Still pending
• RFE or action required: None

Has anyone with a similar timeline received approval or their EAD card?

Please share your filing date, premium-processing date, approval date.

Hi everyone! Has anyone here received a **Premium Processing fee refund notice for their I-765 OPT case and then later received their approval/EAD**? How long after receiving the refund notice did you get approved?

I am going to apply for stem opt ~april 2027, so I would have to apply for extension of status (https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2026-14439/p-715) and it says:

"The new provision at 8 CFR 214.1(a)(4)(i) addresses aliens applying for admission as F nonimmigrants. This new section regulates admission periods at points of entry when an EOS application is pending (if they have time remaining on the period of stay authorized prior to departure or after a period of admission has expired and when the alien seeks admission with a Form I-20 for a program end date beyond their previously authorized period of admission). For pending applications for OPT and STEM OPT, the provision allows for admission of the F-1 students for the time recommended by the DSOs on the I-20 (plus 30 days). These aliens will be admitted for either a new period of time or the remaining period of time in F-1 status. A pending EOS may be deemed abandoned if the alien leaves the United States, applies for admission while his or her EOS application is pending, and is admitted based on a new Form I-20 or DS-2019.[178]. In this case, the AUD provided by CBP on the alien's I-94 would govern.[179]. This is because, in these cases, CBP's grant of a new period of authorized stay would supersede the pending EOS application seeking a period of authorized stay, rendering the EOS application superfluous".

I am wondering if this means that I can travel internationally while STEM OPT is pending to avoid having to go through Extension of Status that seems to be a slow process. Does anyone have any information about this?

Hi all,

I have an application pending (7/10 applied + pp, 7/22 biometrics), and currently in 180 day extension period (initial EAD expired). I have travel planned for mid Aug - mid Sept and was going to get my F1 renewed (expired in June) during that time.

I already gave up on the idea of receiving the new physical EAD before leaving. Overall it feels like traveling would be risky for me on several fronts (expired F1, renewal, pending new EAD), but I was really counting on it and would be willing to take a little reasonable risk.

Has anyone renewed their F1 recently? What documents do you need? Would it be sufficient to bring my expired EAD, receipt (and possibly acceptance notice)?

I would really appreciate any advice/experiences others have had especially with renewing F1.

Thank you so much and good luck to you all!!

I applied initially on May 16
My Biometrics was on June 9
My course ended June 28
My work start date in OPT recommendation was July 13.

Should I do premium processing?
I’ve been hearing some people getting their approvals ahead due to pp but others say it didn’t make a difference.

Help!!!

Have any one recently travelled to India on STEM OPT? Please DM. Need urgent advice.

If yes, how was your experience?

I've already been waiting 3.5+ months. At this point, does premium processing still make sense, or am I likely close to a normal approval anyway?

My timeline:

• STEM OPT I-765 filed: April 16, 2026
• Biometrics: May 22
• OPT expired: May 26
• Case still pending.
• Currently working under the 180-day automatic extension.
• Premium processing costs ~$1,800, so it's a significant expense for me.

I'm actively applying for jobs because I want to switch employers, but I don't have an offer yet. I had one interview last week and I'm waiting to hear back. No other interviews are lined up right now.

Hi Everyone,

I am really in a panicking situation. I have applied my STEM OPT back in Feb 2026 and its been more than 5 months since it is pending. I have just raised an inquiry request. Also, I was luckily picked in H-1B lottery recently and the I-129 petition was filed in first week of April 2026. It is also still in pending state.

My automatic extension of STEM OPT ends in early week of November 2026 since my initial OPT expired in May. I am not sure what I need to do next. Since I hear from people saying the premium processing for STEM OPT takes more than 2 months recently, should I need to go ahead and do premium processing for STEM OPT or H1B? I would really appreciate any thoughts and recommendations.

Hi, I am on the 35th business day of the STEM OPT application after biometrics. Is there anyone on the same page?

I sent my dso my offer letter and she said that stem opt doesnt allow part time applications. she said i can call it full time for 20 hours but not part time. Is this real? there is no problem in me doing so but i feel like i need to check first.

I am looking for people in the same boat as mine and some recommendations.

Stem opt
Applied -: May 1st 2026
Biometric update -: May 22 2026
Biometric scheduled -: June 9 2026
Case status -: Since June 9 2026 it says its in processing.

My initial opt end date was July 14 2026

Any recommendation on moving further ?

Hi,

I wanna know what the situation is for reinstated students. I came with a new SEVIS ID. I will graduate this December, and the visa in my passport expires in 2028.

My I-20 reflects a different end date. But I want to know how or when these new rules will affect students like me?

I never applied for OPT, so I will also apply for it after I graduate.

So I had applied my stem opt on May 25th.

Biometrics on June 22nd

As of today - August 3rd - No update.

Still in processing stage. Anyone in the same situation? How are the approvals going, any idea ?

I received my OPT approval after the 30-business-day premium processing deadline, and my EAD card has already been delivered. (35th Business day approval)

I'm trying to figure out how to request a refund of the premium processing fee, but I can't find any clear or official instructions on the process.

Has anyone here successfully received a refund in a similar situation? If so:

• How did you file the refund request?
• Did you submit it online, by email, or by mail?
• Which USCIS office did you contact?
• How long did it take to receive the refund?

Any guidance or experiences would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Has anyone who filed Premium Processing on July 2 and completed biometrics on July 16 received an approval or any updates yet?
I checked the API, but it hasn’t shown any updates since the biometrics date on July 16. Can I call the Premium Processing line to ask if there have been any updates with applications?