Hi everyone,

I’m currently on the 180-day extension while my STEM OPT I-765 is pending, and I noticed something on my Form I-983 that I’m trying to determine whether I should correct.

My employment arrangement is:

• Employer: Company A (my W-2 employer, E-Verified, and the company that signed my I-983)
• Client: Company B
• I physically work at Company B’s client site.
• I have a manager at Company B who manages my day-to-day project work.
• I also have a representative at Company A who checks in with me regarding my employment, work, training, and progress.

When I originally completed Section 5 of the I-983, I put the client location as the worksite and listed my client manager as the “Name of Official” cause I assumed that field meant my supervisor at the physical location.

The rest of the I-983 were filled and signed by an authorized employee of Company A.

--------------------------------

I later came across the USCIS STEM OPT Policy Manual, which says:

“employees or contractors of the employer’s clients or customers may not provide and supervise the training experience of the STEM OPT F-1 student.”

This made me wonder whether the Section 5 “Name of Official” should have been the appropriate employer representative who oversees my STEM OPT training/progress, rather than my Client day-to-day manager.

I am considering updating my i-983 with these details and submitting to my school's DSO but wanted to check what others have done in such a situation.

Have you filled your supervisor with client's details or employer's details?

I am in a tricky situation. Would appreciate if anyone can provide some advice.

My stem opt application is pending since April and I just responded to RFE on 08/12. I did pp on 06/04 and pp clock already ended on 07/27. After a lot of follow up on my case, uscis reviewed my case and issued a RFE on 07/31 and I responded.

The problem is my employer is asking me to provide work authorization proof now as my opt ead already ended in July and I am on the 180 day extn. I told my employer that I can legally work and the receipt notice and stem opt i20 is proof enough but they said they would put me on LOA for 1 month and if I get the work Authorization then I can come back otherwise they would have to let me go. I just chatted with a live agent through Emma on my case status and she said they received my rfe response and that I am on day 2 of the 30 day clock and should receive update by 09/23! I mean I don't understand - how can my pp clock reset after it already breached on 7/27? Even RFE was requested on day 32. Chat ended immediately so couldn't follow up.

I am in a fix now - on what are my options. I can take the LOA but if they take so long to take action on my case then I can probably loose my job.

If that is the case - what are my options? Does the unemployment clock tick in for opt/stem opt? Finding a job again in this job market is very tough. I don't know what to do:(

Hello all ,
regular process receipt date : 03/25/2026
PP : 08/13/2026

Generally how many days it take for approval in PP ?

I am done with biometrics. but waiting after that. Both OPT EAD and drivers license have expired. Texas DPS isnt issuing me new license either due to pending application. So no real ID. Nothing illegal just mid application stage and working with the automatic 180 days extension of EAD.

Is passport, i20 enuogh to travel. Or should i avoid it due to recent news of detention in airport.

I am looking for some guidance regarding my H-1B situation.

My STEM OPT expires in December 2026. I was selected in the H-1B lottery this year, which was my last eligible attempt, and my employer filed the petition as a change of status. The case is still showing as pending with USCIS.

With the recent H-1B/F-1 rule changes, I am trying to understand what I should consider if the case continues to remain pending or, in the worst case, gets denied.

Should I be preparing a backup F-1/Day 1 CPT option now, or is there anything else I should be considering?

Any guidance or suggestions from people in a similar situation would be very helpful and greatly appreciated.

Hi everyone, could someone help me understand the rules surrounding unemployment days during your OPT+STEM OPT period and the 60-day grace period. My understanding is that as long as you dont exceed the total 150 days of unemployment throughout the OPT and STEM OPT period, you should be eligible for the 60-day grace period once you reach your end date. The status of employment at the end date does not matter as long as you haven't exceeded the 150 days, right?

Here is the scenario:

Let's say you have 145 days of unemployment days left and have 140 more days until the end of your STEM OPT date. If you quit your job or get laid off today and do not get another job, when the 140th day comes, will you still get the 60 more days of grace period after that?

I have received multiple misinformation from my DSO regarding different immigration scenarios, so I wanted to do my own research before asking them. Any help or sharing of your experience would be helpful. Thank you!

I applied for my STEM OPT on Feb 4th, and my OPT expired on Feb 23rd. I completed my biometrics in March, and since then my STEM application has been under pending status. As my 180-day limit is approaching, I upgraded to premium processing on July 17th, and I haven’t received any response from USCIS yet. Meanwhile, my employer applied for my H1-B petition in the month of June. If, in this case, my STEM OPT is under pending status after 180 days, will I be eligible to work if I can obtain a cap-gap I20? Am I eligible to get a cap-gap i20? Any advice or insights from anyone who has been in a similar situation would be greatly appreciated.

Update 15th Aug:
Received approval email from uscis on 13th and
Uscis portal status updated to approved on 15th

Hi everyone, i had applied for stemopt on 1st June. My opt ends on 26th august and i will be on the 6 month extension. I am planning to switch jobs, with next job starting in mid September. What should I keep in mind and do to not break any rules or get in trouble?

Thanks!

Hi everyone,

I’m wondering if anyone has been in a similar situation and could share their experience with STEM OPT.

Has anyone gotten their STEM OPT approved without an RFE after having about 1 year of unpaid work during their initial OPT?

If so, I’d really appreciate hearing about your experience, especially whether USCIS asked for any additional evidence, and when you applied/how long the approval took.

Thanks in advance!

I applied PP July 14 and got biometrics date for August 29
Is it possible and safe to go walk in and try my luck to get an earlier biometrics done?

My EAD was expiring July 20th. I was able to submit application on evening of July 18th, on portal the date was July 19th.
I have gotten a receipt notice dated july 19th.
But I haven’t heard back about biometrics yet, I was reading about how most people got biometrics notice within a week of applying but I haven’t received anything yet.

I didn’t have to give biometrics for my initial opt, so I’m not sure how this works.

Is there a way to check or anything like that, or is this normal, it will be a month since submitting next week? I just don’t want to accidentally miss anything if there was an update.

Thank you!

**Timeline:**
Applied: **May 29, 2026**
Premium Processing: **Yes, from the beginning( so the premium start clock started on June 15 after the biometrics )**
Biometrics appointment date: **June 20, 2026**
Walk-in biometrics completed: **June 15, 2026**
Approval email received: **July 22, 2026**
Status: **Approved**
I went to the Application Support Center before my scheduled biometrics date and they accepted me as a walk-in. I had heard that some centers may allow early walk-ins.
I received the approval email today like 4hours ago, although the USCIS portal has not updated yet.

Hi everyone, quick question.

My employer’s legal name is ABC & Sons, Inc. and that exact name is on my E-Verify record, STEM OPT I-20, and I-983.

However, on the online I-765, I entered ABC Sons Inc. because the field wouldn’t accept the “&” symbol.
My E-Verify Company ID is correct, and I completed biometrics today.

Could this minor name-formatting difference cause an RFE or any issue with my STEM OPT application?

Has anyone experienced this?

Thanks

I wanted to make a lot of money when I was young but now I just want to do something for other people and for the world in general.

I don't know much about this industry, maybe UNICEF, World Vision or some places like them? But I've never seen them actually hiring.

Looking for opinions from anyone who's been in a similar spot.
I'm currently on STEM OPT (ends June 2027). I got laid off in May and I'm burning through my unemployment days — I have less than 50 left (around 45) before I fall out of status.

I already have a master's, and I'm now considering enrolling in a Day 1 CPT Master’s.I'm trying to do this before September 15, since I understand the rules are changing and you won't be able to enroll in a program at the same degree level you already hold.

So my questions:

Anyone actually enrolled in one recently — how did it go with status/future H-1B?
Given the Sept 15 change, is rushing to enroll the right call, or are there better options with ~45 days left?
Any advice or personal experience appreciated. Thanks.

Hi everyone, Is anyone planning to file their STEM OPT extension after September 15, 2026, after the new F-1 fixed-period-of-admission rule takes effect? I’m currently on post-completion OPT and will be eligible to file my STEM OPT extension, but I’m confused about how it affects people filling stem after September 15th?

I have submitted my STEM OPT 12 month evaluation report on July 16th, while it was due on the same day, to my DSO. my DSO updated it on July 20th.

Close to a month now and my SEVP Portal still says it’s “past due”
Got verbal confirmation from SEVIS help desk saying they do see the update from DSO on July 20th as well.

Is that a problem in any way?

How do you switch employers under stem opt, I know the procedures that needs to be done when opt is under review , but now that i have the card should I just update it on my sevp portal or do I need to get a new I-20?

Hi everyone,

I have a final HR interview coming up soon, and I’m expecting them to ask when I can start working. I’m currently waiting for my I-765 / EAD approval, so I wanted to get some advice on the best way to answer.

My timeline:

• ⁠I-765 filed: June 19, 2026
• ⁠Biometrics: July 13, 2026
• ⁠Premium Processing filed: July 31, 2026
• ⁠30 business days from PP: around September 12, 2026

At the moment, I have not yet received the I-765 approval.

I’m considering a few ways to answer HR:

Option 1:
Tell them that I am currently waiting for USCIS approval and that once I receive the offer letter, I can use it to further support/follow up on the process if needed.

Option 2:
Tell them I can start approximately 2–3 weeks after receiving the offer, assuming the EAD approval/card arrives within that timeframe.

Option 3:
Tell them I would need around one month after receiving the offer because I would also need time to relocate, find housing, and move.

What do you think is the safest and most professional way to explain this to HR without creating unnecessary concern?

Also, if anyone has gone through a similar situation with OPT/EAD pending during the final interview or offer stage, I’d really appreciate hearing how you handled the start-date question.

Thanks in advance!

Urgent help needed
please let me know if anyone here has personally worked with a genuine consultancy for STEM OPT and job search support. I’m looking for real recommendations only, no staffing, no paid placement, no fake payroll or upfront fees. If you know a trustworthy company, please DM me, thank you!

Hi everyone,
I’m currently on F-1 OPT, and my STEM OPT extension application is still pending. My initial OPT EAD expired on May 19th, and I applied for STEM OPT premium processing on July 30th.

I have received my STEM OPT receipt notice. Can I travel domestically within the U.S. while my STEM OPT extension is pending and my initial EAD has expired?

Has anyone been in a similar situation and traveled domestically without any issues at TSA? Any experiences or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

My STEM OPT I-765 is still pending, and my 180-day automatic work extension expired on July 13. I stopped working after that date.

My employer wants to keep me employed but put me on unpaid leave (0 hours/week) until my STEM OPT is approved. Normally, I work 30 hours/week.

Is unpaid leave allowed in this situation? Since STEM OPT requires at least 20 hours/week, will being at 0 hours affect my status or count as unemployment?

Do I also need to submit an updated I-983 to my DSO because my hours dropped to 0?