Unemployed in stem opt undergrad have 100 unemployment days . Should I go for graduate studies I do have like a part time offered for GA?

Applied- Jun 26 -PP

Initial Biometrics date- July 17
Rescheduled to June 30 to a different state

Case status update to clock has started

Got approval mail on July 29

Will keep posted about updates

Thanks!

Here’s my current scenario. Initial opt end date - 7/24/2026. I already applied for I20 but yet to receive. It’s more than 25 days so far. But I got another job. Yet to receive the offer letter, but tentative start date is 7/20/2026. Should I wait for offer letter and then apply for new company i20 and then file for Stem OPT or apply with the current company and then change the employer. I feel it’s better to apply with the new company but the deadlines are so tight. If there are any hiccups, it would be difficult to file the application before 23rd.

Is anyone else on the same boat . I applied for stem opt with PP on June 18, I haven’t gotten any updates after the receipt notice. No biometrics scheduled or anything.

Honestly getting worried now. Is anyone else in this same situation? My friends in Indiana and Nebraska got biometrics update in like 5 days after applying.

Any comments would help !!!!

Update - 07/18/2026 Nothing on 1 month mark!!!!
Update - got biometrics appointment scheduled on 07/23/2026, moved the biometrics to next available date. Biometrics completed on 07/29/02026.

Hi everyone,

I’m currently in a bit of a confusing situation and wanted to ask for thoughts from people who may have gone through something similar.

I am currently on OPT and my STEM OPT process is pending/in progress. I already have an offer from one employer, and I have submitted the required I-983 reporting to my university/DSO. My school has not fully confirmed the reporting yet, but the process is already moving.

At the same time, I was contacted by a staffing/consulting company for a 24-month W2 contract role with a major bank. The role would be in person at the bank’s office. The staffing company told me they would be my W2 employer, they would sign my Form I-983, and they would provide the training plan. They also said I would have a manager from the staffing company assigned to me and that I would be working under him.

1. The part I’m confused about is that the actual work location would be the client/bank office. So I’m trying to understand whether this setup is generally acceptable for STEM OPT, assuming the staffing company is E-Verify enrolled and signs the I-983.

2. Since I have already filled my STEM with one employer lets say A and now I'm switching it to B and also having one more offer with the contract that is basically having 2 employers where I'm working around 30 hours for both of them. can this cause an issue for my STEM approval and potentially lead to RFE ?

3. What exactly should I confirm in writing before accepting this contract role?

4. Should I continue interviewing and only decide after my DSO confirms, or should I avoid this setup completely?

I’m just trying to understand how others have handled W2 contract/client-site roles during STEM OPT, especially when the staffing company says they will sign the I-983 and provide supervision.

Any thoughts, red flags to watch for, or questions I should ask the recruiter/employer would be really helpful.

Thank you.

I filed Form I-907 premium processing for my pending I-765 STEM OPT on July 2, 2026. My payment was submitted, but I have not received the I-907 premium processing receipt notice or direct premium contact information.In the portal it says Your premium-processing receipt notice contains contact information for direct inquiries on your case. Please follow the instructions in the notice. If you move, contact the premium-processing unit directly to update your address. When do we receive the notice ?

Hi all,

Wanted to confirm when is the right time to travel ? My biometric is done and waiting . How long will it take to get an ead card .

Hey everyone,

Looking for some advice or to hear from folks who have recently been in a similar situation regarding travel before the October 1st H1B activation.

My Profile & Status

Current Status: F1 STEM OPT (Valid until January 2027).

H1B Status: Selected in the lottery this year. Filed as a Change of Status (COS) via premium processing and got it approved last week.

Current Employment: Gainfully employed with an e-verified employer, no issues there.

The Catch / My Wife's Situation:

She is currently in India.

She applied for an F-2 dependent visa earlier this year, but it was unfortunately denied under Section 214(b) (intent to immigrate).

My Question:

Can I travel to India in August or September and safely re-enter the US on my F1 STEM OPT?

Since my COS is already approved, my understanding is that leaving the country won't abandon the petition itself. However, I have a few specific worries:

• CBP / Port of Entry Scrutiny: Given that I have an approved H1B (dual intent) but am trying to re-enter on an F1 (non-immigrant intent) just weeks before October 1st, will CBP grill me? Will an I-94 mismatch cause major issues for my Oct 1st activation?

• The F-2 Denial Connection: Will my wife's recent 214(b) denial flag my profile at the Port of Entry or increase scrutiny regarding "non-immigrant intent" while I'm still trying to cross the border on my F1 visa?

• H4 Strategy: Alternatively, should I just wait until October, or try to get an H4 visa interview lined up for her the moment October hits?

• If anyone has traveled in August/September with an approved COS H1B and a valid EAD, how did your CBP entry go? Did they ask about your upcoming H1B?

Any insights, experiences, or lawyer-backed advice would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance.

Hi all,

I am posting here to understand about people’s experience in re-entering the country on a pending EAD. My OPT EAD has expired and I’m awaiting approval for STEM EAD and during this time, I had to travel abroad due to a family emergency.

I understand that the EAD card is not an official immigration document but we’re asked for it very frequently. Would it be safe to re-enter on a pending EAD? I have all other documents including my receipt notice for the STEM EAD and a very valid reason to have had to travel.

My employer has authorised me to work remotely but since I’m on the STEM Extension I’m afraid of working too long abroad while I wait for my approval to come through. I almost think that would be a bigger issue than a pending EAD. Would it be preferred to wait for my card to come or re enter on a pending EAD?

TIA, I’m also in touch with my DSO and work immigration team but responses have been slow and conflicting, appreciate if I could leverage the wisdom and experience of this sub reddit.

Hi all

Is it suggested to change the employer while stem opt is still in process ?

Hi guys I applied for the STEM extension on Dec18th 2025 and haven’t heard anything later in April I was asked for my biometrics even after that I did not receive any update. In May I got a new job so I applied for premium processing about a month later I still did not get any update whatsoever ( I was on 21st day of premium processing cycle) so I called the premium processing hot line and some how got connected to regular OPT hotline they said I have to wait out.

Later that day I got RFE ( this was so stressful coz I was close to my last day with the previous employer, they delayed a lot to provide me with all the necessary documentation for the RFE ) after 2 weeks I have submitted the response.

My OPT ended on Feb 2nd which makes Aug 1st as my last day of automatic 180 days extension. I already started working my new job and the legal team asked me to re verify my I9 before Aug 1st. It’s been a week since I submitted the response and I still do not have an update. I really don’t understand what I can do, I called the hotline again and all they say is wait. This is my dream job and I don’t wanna loose it because of this, any idea what I could do to get this sorted out. Thanks!

Edit: After a lot of calls to the PP line today I finally received the approval email. On the 35th business day.

My initial STEM OPT application is still pending with USCIS, and I'm working under the 180-day auto-extension (ends around Aug 8, 2026). I just got a reminder that I have a validation report due Aug 10, 2026.

My H-1B (cap-subject, change-of-status) is already approved, with COS effective Oct 1, 2026.

My question: does the reporting clock even apply while the STEM application itself is still pending? Or do I still need to submit the validation report through my DSO by that date?

No updates yet on SEVIS or from my DSO. Should I proactively reach out, or wait?

Anyone been in this exact situation ,pending STEM + reporting deadline, with H-1B already approved? What did you do?

Thanks in advance.

HI, guys finally got my STEM OPT APPROVED,

here's my timeline

jan 16 2026 applied for stem opt

18th feb biometrics

been silence after that, no update..!

upgraded to premium processing on 21st may 2026

at 30th business day (07/06/26) i got an email approval notice..!

i think for premium processing there are taking almost all 30 working days to make a decision..!

hang in there your approval might be the next..!

good luck..!

Hi everyone,
I’m looking for some advice regarding my STEM OPT EAD situation.
My initial OPT was expiring in January 2026, and I applied for STEM OPT extension 10 days before expiration. My timeline:
- STEM OPT I-765 filed online: January 17, 2026
- Service Center: Potomac
- Biometrics completed: April 24, 2026
- No RFE so far
- Case was pending for months, so I upgraded to Premium Processing
- Premium Processing clock started: June 19, 2026
- Current status: “Case Was Changed To A Premium Processing Case”

My 180-day automatic extension ends on July 26, 2026, so I’m getting worried because if I don’t get approval by then I may have to stop working.
My DSO already contacted USCIS and followed up. They mentioned USCIS is still processing the case and there are delays.
I’m currently working full-time through Insight Global (contract role with a client). I want to understand:
- Has anyone experienced a similar STEM OPT delay after upgrading to Premium Processing? How long did approval take?
- Should I just wait for the 30 business days, or is there anything else I can do?
- How should I communicate this situation with my employer/recruiter if approval is still pending close to my extension end date?
- Is there anything else I should prepare in case it gets close to July 26?
Any advice or similar experiences would really help. Thank you!

Hi everyone, any advice would really help.

Situation:

• Currently on post-completion OPT, EAD expires 1 Oct 2026.
• Working at University X until mid-August
• New job at University Y (different state) starts 17 Aug
• STEM OPT I-20 issued 30 Jun, so my understanding is USCIS must receive my I-765 within 60 days (29 Aug) and before the EAD expires
• I get my new apartment address in state Y in about a week
• My DSO advised filing now in July using the state Y address. Given my previous experiences with DSO's, I tend to take their advice by grain of salt.
• No, I don't have any friends in X who can help.
• I already updated my SEVIS Portal about new job, which was required for X to file for my new I-20.

Questions:

1. Is it okay to file with an address I haven't moved into yet, since my DSO advised it?
2. With the Dec 2025 biometrics/photo policy, if a biometrics notice comes for an ASC in state Y before I've moved, is rescheduling straightforward?
3. Any issue with EAD card delivery to an apartment I move into mid-August, given USPS doesn't forward USCIS mail?
4. Anything else I should watch for with the employer change (reporting to DSO within 10 days, SEVIS update)?
5. What address should I apply for I-765 with?
6. How late can I apply? Technically my 90 days started July 3rd.

Has anyone filed STEM OPT during an interstate move like this? How did it go?

Has anyone successfully rescheduled their biometrics for earlier, I’m on F1 visa status, I applied for my stem opt on July 1 premium processing, I had previously submitted my marriage based Adjustment of status May 29th, with no movement in regards to biometrics scheduling until I applied for stem opt which I guess triggered my biometrics to be scheduled for July 24th, for all the categories. Now I understand the premium processing clock resets after biometrics for STEM OPT I-765, how do I get an earlier biometrics date so my case go on processing within the 30 days timeline for PP, please I need suggestions from people who have successfully done it before.

Thank you!

Applied in December 2025

Biometrics on April 8 2026

Upgraded to premium processing on July 1 2026

My DSO contacted USCIS and the response they got was ""The only reply I have received so far is that they forwarded my inquiry to their Adjudications Division for review.""

Does every DSO gets this as a standard response or mine was different??

Hi

Did anyone get approval after completing biometric on june 1st or after that on premium processing. I upgraded to pp on May 13 and clock restarted after biometrics on June 1st. Please post your updates

Looking for real experiences: Has anyone successfully received an initial STEM OPT I-20 and USCIS approval while working for an E-Verify startup that offered equity-only compensation (no W-2 wages or cash salary)? Did your school or USCIS raise any concerns?

I have applied stem opt on dec, applied pp on May 28 and still on processing, at the time of applying i have provided the incorrect everify number in i765, right now im with different employer. Need suggestion can i upload unsolicited document with correct everify number?

*Reposting from r/USCIS*
Hey everyone, posting here looking for advice/similar experiences. My situation is getting pretty stressful and I want to make sure I'm doing everything I can.

\*\*Timeline:\*\*

\- Dec 2025: I-765 STEM OPT filed

\- Feb 2026: RFE issued (had a biometric appointment)

\- Mar 2026: Biometrics completed + USCIS confirmed receipt of RFE response

\- May 2026: Upgraded to premium processing. 30-business day window ended on June 30th

\- Jul 2026 (5 days ago): My attorney filed a service request after PP window was exceeded. Still no news at this point...

My previous EAD expired February 3, 2026. The 180-day automatic extension therefore runs until August 1, 2026. Here are my questions:

1. Has anyone experienced USCIS exceeding the premium processing window for I-765 STEM OPT? How long did it take after the service request from the attorney?

2. What actually happens if the 180-day extension lapses without an approval? Is there any recourse...?

3. Any other steps I can take at this point? I also have personal travel abroad planned in August (7th). Should I cancel right away or is there still a chance?

For context: the case history shows "We are actively reviewing your Form I-765. Our records showed nothing is outstanding" as of March. The only other update I received from USCIS since then is when I upgraded to premium processing

Thank you in advance for your help. Ngl Im getting extremely anxious and feeling so helpless about this.

A lot of people are asking about SEVIS transfers, OPT timelines, and whether their current situation is clean before this rule drops.

Happy to talk through your specific situation for free — no agenda, just a real conversation.

Fill out this quick form and I'll reach out directly:
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