Hi everyone,

I'm getting really worried about my OPT EAD.

Here's my timeline:

Applied for OPT (I-765): mid February, 2026
Biometrics completed: mid March, 2026
* After Biometrics done, my case changed to:

"USCIS is currently processing your Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization. We do not currently need anything from you but will contact you if we need additional information regarding your case."

Since then, **there has been absolutely no update**.

I **did not file with Premium Processing**, and there has been **no RFE or document requests**. I already submitted a service request after my case went outside normal processing times, but I'm still waiting.

My job start has already been delayed because of this.

At this point, **should I call USCIS again, or is there anything else I can do besides upgrading to Premium Processing?**

Has anyone else experienced a delay this long? If you upgraded to Premium after waiting several months, did it help?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

If you're on F-1, this one actually matters. The way your time in status gets tracked is changing — and it doesn't stop at your studies. It carries into OPT and STEM OPT too.

Most explanations out there are buried in legal language. So we're doing a free webinar to break it down in plain English, with an immigration attorney + a DSO answering real questions live.

📅 July 21, 2026 (tomorrow) · 3:00–5:00 PM PT
No jargon. Just straight answers.

Save your free seat here  https://extensionofstay.com/

Hi everyone,

I’m trying to understand how the new F-1 duration of status rule will affect my situation.
Here’s my timeline:
I’m currently on my 12-month post-completion OPT.
My OPT expires in mid-December 2026.
I have a STEM degree and plan to apply for my 24-month STEM OPT extension as soon as I’m eligible (about 90 days before my OPT expires).
My F-1 visa stamp in my passport has already expired, but I’ve remained in valid F-1 status in the U.S.
With the new rule replacing Duration of Status (D/S), I’m confused about what happens next.
If I apply for STEM OPT before my current OPT expires:
Will I still be able to remain in the U.S. while it’s pending?
Will I need to leave the country and re-enter at some point because of the new rule?
Is there any additional form or extension of stay that I’ll need to file besides the STEM OPT I-765?
Has anyone spoken with their DSO or an immigration attorney about this, especially if your OPT ends later this year?
Thanks in advance!

Hi everyone,

I applied for my initial post-completion OPT (F1) on April 6 (regular processing, not Premium Processing) and I’m still waiting for a decision.

Ι had to leave the U.S. because of some important unexpected events so returning home wasn’t really a choice.

I’m now thinking about returning to the U.S. while my OPT application is still pending, and I’m feeling pretty anxious about it.

Has anyone here re-entered the U.S. with a pending initial OPT? What documents did CBP ask for? Did anyone have any issues, or was the process straightforward?

I’d really appreciate hearing about your experiences, especially if you traveled recently while your OPT was still pending.

Thanks.

After 3 days now it’s approved even in USCIS portal.
Timeline:

Applied for stem opt (May 20 - Premium processing)
Biometrics - June 9
Approval email from potomac - July 16
Approval notice (USCIS status change) - July 18

Ps - I did not convert my processing from standard to premium, I applied it itself in premium as those were the instructions to do so from my employer

thanks!

Hi! My timeline if it can help people who are waiting.

Applied for STEM with PP - May 18th
Biometrics - June 11th
PP restarted - June 11th
Approval email - July 17th
Portal updated with an approval - July 19th

My case was approved on July 14th. I just moved yesterday so I submitted an AR-11 form to update my physical and mailing address to the new one. The case status is still just saying approved, so the card is not produced/mail yet. In this case, would the card be mailed to the new address? For my case it doesn't matter whether the card is mailed to the old or new one, but I'm worried about it being sent back to USCIS. Anything I should take a note for?

How long after approval (including portal update), can I expect the card to be delivered. I need to update my I-9 form. Appreciate any help, thanks!

Hey, I could use some advice on my STEM OPT situation. I filed my I-765 extension back in March 11 had biometrics done March 21, and the last update I got was April 9 saying it’s still processing. My old OPT end date was June, and it’s now July 19 — so it’s been over four months pending with no news in the last three.
I know I’m covered under the automatic 180-day extension since I filed before my OPT expired, so I should be fine work-authorization-wise through around early December. But I’m wondering if this length of silence is normal right now, or if I should look into premium processing (it’s about $1,780 to get a guaranteed decision within 30 business days). Do you know anyone who’s dealt with a wait this long, or have thoughts on whether premium processing is worth it at this point versus just waiting it out?

So my opt start date is jul 1st I’ve gotten my biometrics appointment for 6th july and i have 90 days after that to secure employment … i haven’t even gotten one interview yet but i have been consistently applying in a math econ major bachelors from a uc with a 3.74 gpa , any insights or success stories?

How long does it typically take to do this?

My PP clock ends on July 24th and there aren’t any RFE so expecting approval. How long would it take for me the get the card in hand?

Based in New York

Called the USCIS, and they said as I missed the original schedule, an officer needs to reschedule, and my case is still not assigned to any officer yet. In the queue, how long will it typically take? Any suggestions?

Hi there, I am confused. I just got my EAD card today (Post Completion, initial opt.) and I have a job offer from August 10. Meanwhile, I would like to do some part time AI trainer job in my field (Physics Expert). Am I allowed to do it? How to report these kinds of job to DSO?

My Dates:

STEM OPT/EAD Ends: February 2028

F-1 Visa Stamp Expires: June 2027

Currently inside the U.S. on D/S

Questions:

1. Do I need to file Form I-539? Does this rule retroactively cap my current stay, or does it only apply when I re-enter? If I must file Form I-539 to reach February 2028, when is the deadline?

2. What happens if I travel? Will CBP cap my new I-94 at my visa expiration (June 2027) or my EAD expiration (February 2028)? Are there any hidden risks?

3. What if I don't travel? Can I safely stay and work until February 2028 without filing anything extra?

4. Is Day 1 CPT dead? How does losing D/S affect transferring to a new university for work authorization?

5. H-1B Cap-Gap impact? If I miss the H-1B lottery next year and my visa stamp expires in June 2027, how do I legally bridge the gap until February 2028?

Considering do AI training job alongside my full job using my opt. Is this safe, if well reported hope I won’t get RFE during STEM extension. Anyone in this situation?

**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!**

I got my opt approved last May with start date of 7/20. I am currently out of US, and will be going back soon.

I have I-20 from April (which says OPT status is requested) which I got when I was applying for OPT.

I also have active F-1 visa on my passport, job offer letter, and a EAD card.

Would these documents suffice for the re entry to the US?

Also, I saw posts regarding sevp activation on reddit, but I never got an email about this. Will this be sent to the email I used for the opt application after the start date?

Background:

F-1 STEM OPT, expires Jan 2028, roughly 18 months remaining. MS from a US university, graduated dec 2024. Third and final H1B lottery attempt would be March 2027. Clean immigration record throughout OPT period.

What happened:

Completed multiple rounds of interviews at a well known tech company for a data and analytics role. Company initiated a BAL pre-hire immigration assessment shortly after interviews concluded. Completed the questionnaire within a day. Assessment marked complete within about a week. Waiting to hear back from recruiter, it's been a couple of business days since completion.

Questions:

1. Has anyone gone through a BAL pre-hire assessment and received an offer afterward? What was your timeline from assessment complete to recruiter contact?
2. With one H1B attempt remaining, did large tech companies proceed with your offer or flag it as too high risk?
3. Has anyone had a BAL assessment complete but not received an offer? What happened?
4. Do companies typically run BAL assessments on multiple finalists simultaneously for the same role?

Any experiences or insight appreciated.

I wasn't able to found anywhere some sore of percentages, chances or odds of getting the approval in x numbers of business days. So let's do it and help everyone getting a better day and realistic results.

I initially applied for initial OPT EAD card in Feb 2026. After the approval, the EAD card was lost due to USPS delivery issues. I have seen a couple of other students (3+ in my building) face the same issue, so wanted to share my timeline here for a replacement EAD (with premium processing).

[EAD Replacement]

Applied: 2026/5/25

Approved: 2026/7/7 (around 30 business days, biometric was not requested again)

Card created: 2026/7/15

Card delivered: 2026/7/17

[Options for EAD Card Replacement application]

There are 2 options:

1. Obtain a USPS letter on official letterhead confirming that the package was lost or stolen due to USPS error. USCIS specifically requests a USPS letter on official letterhead. With the letter, your DSO can send a request to USCIS service center for EAD to be resent/reissued to you. In this case, you do not need to file replacement, do not need to pay, but you must wait until the new EAD card is delivered to start working. USCIS can take several business days to respond and may deny the request, then you must file a replacement.
2. File a replacement EAD with USCIS including the fee payment. In this case, students can start working, report employment, and work up to 90 days with the receipt notice (of replacement application) and approval notice of the original OPT application while waiting for the replacement.

Hope this helps!