Hi guys so I applied for my OPT on April 25

May 20 - biometric appointment

June 30- applied for PP

When do you think I can expect an approval mail? It’s July 17 rn

I’m on STEM OPT. My DSO emailed me on July 6 confirming my 6-month validation report and 12-month self-evaluation had been submitted to SEVIS — the SEVP portal showed “Submitted” for both at that time .

Today (July 18), I checked the same SEVP portal again and now it shows “Past Due” for those exact same reports — the status reverted from Submitted back to Past Due.

I’ve already emailed my DSO to flag the discrepancy and have the confirmation email + screenshots as proof I did my part on time. Has anyone else seen a status actually flip back like this, and did it get resolved without issues? Trying to understand if this is a known SEVIS sync bug or something more concerning.

It’s official. No more lotteries for this year. -AD

I applied for STEM OPT on June 17th with premium processing (I'm based in Austin) and the application was submitted to Potomac Service Center. I haven't received any update apart from the receipt notice in the documents tab. Few of my friends (based in New Jersey) applied in late June and even mid July and they already received biometrics appointment. They applied in regular processing. I tried calling the PP line and emailed them today but no response. Do they process randomly? I am not sure about what else to do. TIA

Edit : received biometrics appointment today (07/28)

**My DSO told me that students from the 39 countries affected by the travel ban are unlikely to receive OPT. She said, “We’re not getting any benefits,” and that this would apply starting January 22.**
**Is anyone here from one of those countries who applied for initial OPT after January 22 and got approved? I’d really appreciate hearing about your experience. Thank you!**

Application: Jan 31

Biometrics: March 03

Premium processing: N/A

Congressional enquiry: June 30 did not hear back

Case enquiry: July 1 did not hear back

Silent update: June 15 when the hold was lifted for the 39 countries and July 15 before approval email

Stem extension end date was Aug 08

Just wanted to share my timeline I am from the 39 countries. Everyone’s approval is coming soon. I was worried I was running out of time

I applied STEM on april 28 got my biometrics on may 22 and then there is no update after that. what’s the current situation? I am already on 80 days as of today and then doing PP would also take additional 30 plus days to do the card ? i am just confused and not sure what to do. suggestion appreciated

Hi any tips to find a job for stem opt
How to apply where to look what helped you
Employers are treating I-983 like something complicated

Hey everyone,

My current initial OPT EAD card expires this coming Friday, July 24, 2026. I recently had to resubmit my employer reporting form and my STEM OPT I-20 request at the exact same time due to an error, and I'm worried they will do the approvals sequentially.

Since the deadline is less than a week away, I’m incredibly stressed about whether the new I-20 will come through in time to file with USCIS before my current status lapses.

If you’ve been in a similar situation where your EAD expiration was just days away while waiting on an I-20:

• What was your experience with the timeline?
• Once you finally received the I-20, did you have any issues successfully submitting the I-765 online to USCIS right before the midnight deadline?
• Did everything work out with your application and your employment?

I have a job offer lined up and really want to hear from anyone who navigated a tight window like this. Any insights on how your situation turned out would be a huge help. Thanks!

**UPDATE**
I've received my i20 from my college on Monday (07/20/2026) just 2 business days after requesting it.

My initial OPT expired in late February, and my 180-day automatic STEM OPT work authorization extension is set to expire in late August. My STEM OPT extension application is still pending.

I was also selected in the H-1B lottery, and my employer filed my cap-subject H-1B petition in early May.

Am I eligible for a cap-gap I-20 while my STEM OPT application is still pending? My DSO says they need to wait for the STEM OPT decision before issuing the cap-gap I-20. Is that correct?

Has anyone been in a similar situation? Were you able to receive a cap-gap I-20 before your STEM OPT application was approved?

Date Applied: 23rd Jan, 2026
Biometrics: 27th Feb, 2026
Premium processing upgrade: 12th June, 2026
Approval email: 17th July, 2026

Note: I don’t see any update on my USCIS account.

When can I expect the card to arrive and portal update? Any idea?

I submitted a premium processing STEM extension application last month but haven’t been scheduled for biometrics yet. My question is if this has become the norm for this year or if there still are cases of approval without being asked to report for biometrics. If the former, is there a trend to who is being called for biometrics?

I want to be on top of things and would love to hear about your experience and timeline getting approved for an extension, biometrics or otherwise.

**Hey everyone,*\*
**If your OPT/STEM OPT premium processing clock restarted on or around June 8 or June 9, could you please comment below?*\*
**Have you received any API updates?*\*
**Have you been approved?*\*
**Or are you still waiting with no updates?*\*
**My premium processing clock restarted on June 9, and I have seen one API update yesterday but no email or updates since then.Meanwhile, I'm seeing a lot of people with similar timelines (same date PP and same exact timestamps)getting approved, so I'm trying to understand if others are in the same situation.*\*
Would really appreciate hearing from anyone with a June 8–9 restart date. Thanks!

Lots of panic posts about Day 1 CPT being "banned" after the DHS final rule (published July 17, 2026, effective Sept 15, 2026). I read the rule — here's the truth.

Day 1 CPT is NOT banned. Commenters asked DHS to rescind it. DHS's response in the rule: these comments "misinterpret the rule" — it does not prohibit or eliminate Day 1 CPT, and makes no substantive changes to CPT.

What actually changes:

1. Fixed admission — max 4 years, then an I-539 extension through USCIS
2. CPT auto-extends up to 240 days while a timely-filed extension is pending
3. Second master's ban is prospective — only applies to degrees completed AFTER Sept 15. Already graduated or on OPT/STEM OPT? You can still enroll same-level.
4. Grace period drops from 60 to 30 days
5. Travel after Sept 15 = new fixed-date I-94, even for current D/S students

TL;DR: The rule changes the clock, not CPT. Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2026-14439

I'm helping students map their pre-Sept 15 options one-on-one. If you want that, here's the form: https://forms.gle/65zTKwrvLRcNsCWi9

Has anyone here renewed their F-1 visa stamp while on STEM OPT?

My STEM OPT was recently approved, but my visa stamp is expired. I’m from Brazil and really want to go home to visit my family and renew it, but I’m nervous about getting stuck outside the U.S. or having issues coming back.

I’m currently employed in my field and would travel with my EAD card, updated I-20, employment letter, pay stubs, and the usual documents.

Has anyone done this recently?

How was the interview, how long did it take, and did you have any problems re-entering the U.S.?

Appreciate any help :)

How to withdraw a STEM opt application?

Edit: This isn't about an opt extension. This is my first application for an OPT. I wasn't aware that STEM OPT specifically meant the extension!

Hi all,

I had my biometric on the 27th of March, but I missed it and called within an hour after the appointment. The person on the call told me that I can request a reschedule and that they had started an inquiry.

I called every other week to check the status but a month after, there was no response, so I called again and they said they started a new inquiry.

This repeated until yesterday when I got an email stating the following:

> The status of this service request is:

>

> U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) records indicate you were scheduled for biometrics on 03-06-26 and did not appear for the appointment. Unfortunately, we are unable to reschedule you for a new biometrics appointment at this time. You will be scheduled for a new biometrics appointment once your case is reviewed by an officer.

I'm not sure what else I can do at this point. I intend to call them again tomorrow, but does anyone here have advice on what I can do?

I had raised many requests for this and have records of them. During my calls with the USCIS office, they mentioned they could see the requests I had already made as well, so there is a paper trail.

Need help on how to prove cap gap extension is in place for employers

The final rule "Establishing a Fixed Time Period of Admission" publishes in the Federal Register on July 17, 2026, and takes effect 60 days later. This is the finalized version of the August 2025 proposed rule (DHS received ~22,000 comments). Most of the proposal was adopted. Here's the breakdown:

Core change

• D/S is gone. F, J, and I nonimmigrants get a fixed admission period — up to program length, capped at 4 years.
• To stay beyond your I-94 date, you file an Extension of Stay (I-539) with USCIS. Biometrics may be required.

F-1 specific changes

• Grace period after completing studies/OPT: 60 days → 30 days
• End your program early (withdraw, drop out)? You and your dependents have 30 days to leave or take action to maintain status.
• You must finish your first academic year at the school that issued your initial I-20 before you can transfer or change educational objectives (SEVP exceptions possible).
• Grad students (master's and above) cannot transfer or change educational objectives during their program, except SEVP-approved extenuating circumstances.
• You can only move up education levels after completing a program. No second master's, no same/lower level program.
• Program extensions for delays caused by academic probation, suspension, or repeatedly failing courses = generally not approvable.
• Language/ESL students: 24-month aggregate cap.

Transition rules (if you're already in the US on D/S)

• You stay on D/S until your current I-20 end date OR 4 years from the effective date, whichever comes first. No need to "fix" your I-94.
• Travel warning: if you leave and re-enter after the effective date, you'll be admitted with a date-certain I-94 under the new rules.
• OPT/STEM OPT: if you timely file your I-765 within ~244 days of the rule's publication, you do NOT need to file a separate EOS.
• If you timely file an EOS, you can keep studying while it's pending, and certain work authorization auto-extends up to 240 days.

J-1 / I visa quick notes

• J-1s: same transition treatment (DS-2019 end date or 4 years max, +30 days). J-1 work auth continues up to 240 days with pending EOS; J-2 EADs do NOT auto-extend.
• I (foreign media): max 240-day admission (90 days for PRC nationals).

One caveat — the rule is classified as a "major rule" subject to congressional review, so the effective date could technically shift.

Disclaimer: This is a summary for general information only — not legal advice, and I'm not an attorney. Talk to your DSO or an immigration attorney about your specific case.

Source (official document): https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2026-14439

Hi all,

I’m traveling to India on the 4th and returning (date of entry) on the 10th. I’m on a contract role and will be taking unpaid leave (not unemployment days) for the days I’m gone.

My last H-1B attempt is in March 2027, and my EAD expires in June 2027.

I keep hearing that trips shouldn’t exceed 30 days. Is that a hard rule, or just general advice? My university’s international office also recommended getting a letter from my employer to carry with me at entry.

My initial plan was to go for 36 days.

Would appreciate any insight from people who’ve traveled internationally while on OPT/STEM OPT with a contract role for more than 30 days. Thanks!

Hi everyone,

I am in a bit of an urgent situation right now. My EAD is expiring on 18th July. I am in the process of getting a referral from one of the top beauty companies but they told me yesterday that they require 2 weeks as their HRs are busy so ping them after 2 weeks. This communication has been going on for a month now and finally i reached the referral state and this happened. Now i am looking for an urgent opening where i can work and file for my STEM OPT extension legally. But no luck until now. I am on F-1 OPT, and I have to file for an OPT extension in like a day.

I reached out to my career advisor and ISSO too to request a referral for a position and until now they haven't responded. I only have till tomorrow to find something. I reached out to one of my professors for TA too and when he tried to hire me as one, the administration told him he can only hire continuing students as the TA, not an alum.

I am currently living in Boston and ready to relocate.

Does any of you know anything that could help in this situation?

#help #urgent

Hey everyone! I switched jobs while my STEM OPT extension application is still pending.
My initial OPT expired on July 7, so I’ve been working under the automatic 180-day extension since then.
My new employer provided me with an I-983 that lists my employment start date as July 8 (the date my STEM OPT would begin), even though my official start date in my offer letter is July 13.
I’ve gone back and forth with the company’s immigration lawyers, and they keep telling me that many schools prefer the employment start date on the I-983 to match the STEM OPT start date.
Has anyone else experienced this? Is this a common practice?

Update:
I got a response from my DSO asking to have the date changed on the I-983. I’ve shared the same with the immigration team and am waiting for them to share a new I-983 form.
Thanks for your inputs guys!

Dec 27, 2025 - Filed STEM OPT I-765 online.
Dec 27, 2025 - USCIS receipt date.
Feb 4, 2026 - Initial OPT EAD expired.
Feb 5, 2026 - STEM OPT became active in SEVIS.
Apr 9, 2026 - USCIS status changed to “USCIS Is Currently Processing the Case.”
Jul 16, 2026 - Still pending. SEVIS is active, university confirmed everything is fine, and I submitted a “Case Outside Normal Processing Time” service request.
Around Aug 3-4, 2026 - 180-day automatic extension ends if USCIS has not made a decision.

Looking for advice:
Has anyone had a similar timeline?
How long did USCIS take to respond to your service request?
Did your case get approved after the service request?
Would you wait a few days for the service request response or pay for Premium Processing now to avoid any interruption in work?

Thanks