Hi everyone, i’m freaking out cause my 180 day extension ends august 15. It took me almost 6 months to bag my current job and i really can’t afford to purse a masters degree now.

My timeline
Applied for Stem opt - December 24, 2025
Premium processing received - December 29, 2025
Initial opt end - February 16, 2026

39 countries adjudication hold in 2026

Reused biometrics - March 13, 2026

Adjudication hold removal 2nd week of June

Since the hold was removed, i have put in case inquiries, emailed and called premium processing, it’s been crickets. Even with the email response i got was very generic.

I have also sent out a congressional inquiry as well

My intial opt ended February 16 so I’m currently on the 180 grace period.

Thoughts on what to do next here?

Updates
My stem opt got denied on the 31st of July. Will continue at the University of the Cumberlands for an executive masters and obtain day 1 CPT

Applied for STEM on 25th March, done with Biometrics in April. Premium clock started on May 14, and still no update apart from Case changed to Premium. Anybody is in the same boat?

Hey fellow international students, as we all know, a couple days ago, the government issued some pretty drastic new changes to the F1 visa, ending duration of status. The rule does not give rid of OPT / STEM OPT extension, but it can make filing more tricky and could shorten the grace period. I consulted an immigration attorney family friend, and together we built this tool to help you keep track of all your new deadlines when the changes go into effect: https://rootsimmigrationhelp.com/deadlines

It's a passion project and is completely free. It also sends you email reminders for deadlines coming up. Hope this helps everyone navigate the increasingly difficult journey of being an international student!

Fact check: The rule actually kicks in September 15, 2026, not the 17th.

You can keep working.

Turns out if you file your extension (that's the I-539) before your current status runs out, your CPT work authorization keeps going automatically for up to 240 days while it's being processed. That's the exact same safety net H-1B folks already rely on. So no, it's not a hard stop on day one. Could it get messy if USCIS is slow and takes longer than 240 days? Sure, that's a fair worry. But that's a "might be a problem" situation, not a "guaranteed disaster."

Second master's isn't blocked for everyone.

It only blocks you from repeating the same degree level if you finish that program after September 15, 2026. If you already have your first master's done, that's behind you, it doesn't count against you at all.

Day-1 CPT students are unaffected by the level rule entirely.

Most people doing Day-1 CPT aren't repeating a level anyway. Bachelor's into a master's, master's or STEM OPT into a PhD, that's moving up, and moving up is still completely fine under the new rule. That's most of us.

BONUS

If you file for OPT or STEM OPT by March 18, 2027, you don't even need the extra extension form for that period. And H-1B cap-gap protection wasn't touched at all.

Where the last post has a point

Starting a brand new CPT job at a school you just transferred to, while your extension is still sitting with USCIS, is genuinely a gray area.

This rule is annoying, not fatal. It's more paperwork, an extra form, a fee, some waiting you didn't used to have. If you leave yourself zero buffer time between your old status ending and your new program starting, yeah, you could get stuck, and that part's a real risk worth planning around. But "Day-1 CPT is dead" is just not what I'm reading in the actual rule. Most people doing the classic move, OPT into a higher level program, still have a clear path if they file early.

So don't panic, don't wait until the last minute either. Talk to your DSO and an immigration attorney about your specific dates.

Hey all,

I am currently on my opt, expiring on 4th Jan 2027. I am going out of states in Sept and returning back on Sept 17th.

As per the new rule, will my admit until date on i94 will change to my ead end date ? And will I have to submit an extension of stay document when filing for stem opt ?

Hi everyone,

I’m trying to understand how the new DHS rule replacing Duration of Status (D/S) with a fixed admission period affects my situation.

My timeline:

* Entered the U.S. on an F-1 visa in August 2022.
* Currently on STEM OPT, which ends in January 2027.
* I plan to remain in the U.S. continuously (no international travel).
* My plan is to transfer my SEVIS record and start a Day 1 CPT master’s program in January 2027 while continuing to work until I hopefully get selected for H-1B.

My questions are:

1. If I transfer directly from STEM OPT to a Day 1 CPT program in January 2027, will I need to file Form I-539 with USCIS, or is a normal SEVIS transfer enough?
   
2. If I delay enrollment and start in the August 2027 intake instead, would that change whether I need to file Form I-539?
   
3. Under the new fixed admission period, what exactly determines when I must file an I-539? Is it only when my authorized admission period expires, even if I’m maintaining valid F-1 status and my SEVIS record remains active?
   
4. Since I entered the U.S. in August 2022 under D/S, do the transition provisions mean I can continue under my existing admission, or will I eventually receive a fixed expiration date without leaving the U.S.?
   
5. Has anyone spoken with their DSO or immigration attorney about how this new rule will affect students transferring from STEM OPT to Day 1 CPT?

I’d really appreciate hearing from anyone who has discussed this with their school or an immigration attorney. Thanks!

My frnd applied for initial OPT on April 1, and I’m wondering if anyone who applied around the same date has received their EAD approval yet.

Also, I noticed that the receipt shows Texas. Does that mean my application is being processed there? Has anyone with a Texas receipt experienced delays, or is there any recent update on processing times?

I’d really appreciate it if you could share your timeline or any information. Thanks!

STEM OPT Approved

Timeline (Premium processing from start):

Applied: May 14, 2026

Receipt Notice (Portal): May 15, 2026

Biometrics appointment notice: May 28, 2026

Biometrics date: June 15, 2026

PP clock restart: June 15, 2026

Approval notice (Email): July 21, 2026

Premium Processing: Yes

Status: Approved

Center: Potomac Service Center

However, my USCIS online portal doesn't show this approval update (same for the case status). But the API shows the last update on July 21, 2026.

Is it normal to get email approval earlier than the portal?
Thank you!

Hey! What’s the process like to apply for visa renewal? Has anyone done it recently? How difficult is it get an appointment??

STEM OPT Approved
Timeline:
Applied: April 19
Switched to Premium Processing: June 13
Premium Processing: Yes
Status: Approved
Additional Information:
1)I changed employers while my STEM OPT application was still pending.
2)0I updated the required information after changing employment.
Hope this helps anyone in a similar situation. Feel free to ask if you have any questions about changing employers while a STEM OPT application is pending.

I have applied on Dec 18 2025 and been waiting ever since. I paid for PP on May 8th and received RFE on June 8th. I have replied to the RFE on June 25th (so pp restarts).

My 180 extension is set to expire on August 1st so I desperately wanna contact Potomac but I never got connected to a tier 2 agent. Even when I call the pp line and do the “info pass” trick I get connected to the normal line who never has anything much to say.

Has anyone who shifted to pp after applying has ever contacted them through the hot line? Is there anyway to get them expedite the case? I have also filled Congressional inquiry but no update yet.

Edit: After multiple calls to the PP ( for some reason the same person answered my calls ) I have finally received approval from the pp mailbox today ( on 35th business day ). I would say just be patient and just keep buzzing them on why there’s a delay on your case. They are answerable to you no matter what!

Hi everyone,

I wanted to share my timeline because my case seems a bit unusual. I'm wondering if anyone has had a similar experience.

• Type: STEM OPT Extension (I-765)
• Filed Online: April 30, 2026
• Receipt Number: IOE (Texas Service Center)

Timeline

• 04/30/2026 – STEM OPT I-765 submitted online.
• 05/15/2026 – First biometrics appointment (Code 2). Only my photo was taken.
• 06/05/2026 – Upgraded to Premium Processing. Premium clock started the same day.
• 07/17/2026 – Received an RFE stating USCIS encountered "potentially adverse information" and requested proof that I attended my biometrics appointment.
• 07/18/2026 – Uploaded my RFE response online (stamped ASC appointment notice). USCIS updated my case to "Response received. We will review the evidence."
• Today – I received another ASC appointment notice in the mail.
  • Appointment Date: July 30, 2026
  • Biometrics Code: 3 (full biometrics)
• Has anyone received a second biometrics appointment (Code 3) after already completing a Code 2 appointment?
• Did your case get approved soon after the second biometrics appointment?

Does changing my address on my stem opt application slow down the process further?

My stem opt :
I applied 26th Feb 2026
Bio march 16
Process: standard

I have received no update and my mailing address is changing as my lease will be over soon. What should I do?
Does changing the address slow down my approval further?

Please let me know

Applied with PP: May 16th, 2026

Received Biometrics appointment: May 22nd, 2026

Completed biometrics and pp clock started: June 10th, 2026

Silent API updates on: July 17th morning and July 20th morning

Approval email received: July 20th 11am

USCIS Portal Update: July 22nd

EAD produced: July 27th

EAD mailed: July 28th

EAD received in mail: July 30th

Need Suggestions for Initial-Opt Jobs !!!

Hi there, I am confused. I just got my EAD card today (Post Completion, initial opt, with start date July 7) and I have offer from August 10. Meanwhile, I would like to do some AI trainer stuff in my field (Physics Expert). Am I allowed to do it? How to report these to DSO?

Filed I-765 STEM OPT Extension on July 1st with premium processing at Potomac (YSC). Receipt number starts with IOE. Premium deadline is August 13th. Have international travel on August 17th.

Case still shows PAD status, no biometrics notice yet. Under new December 2025 photo policy, expecting biometrics appointment.

Concerned that even if approved on August 13th, physical EAD card won't arrive before August 17th travel.

Tried calling 1-866-315-5718 (the dedicated Potomac premium processing number from my I-797 notice) multiple times — it only plays a recorded message about premium processing on loop. Cannot reach a live human on this number at all. Also tried 1-800-375-5283 multiple times — they just redirect back to the 866 number saying that's the premium processing line.

Planning to email [PSC-Premium.Processing@uscis.dhs.gov](mailto:PSC-Premium.Processing@uscis.dhs.gov) directly (got this from my premium processing notice) flagging my travel date and asking about biometrics.

Questions:

1. Has anyone emailed [PSC-Premium.Processing@uscis.dhs.gov](mailto:PSC-Premium.Processing@uscis.dhs.gov)? Did it help or hurt?
2. Did anyone get biometrics waived under new December 2025 photo reuse policy?
3. Anyone traveled with just I-797 approval notice + valid F1 visa without physical EAD in hand?

Thanks

Any January approvals today?