International students face delays with STEM OPT application processing
18 posts across 2 communities in the last 30 days; 94% from r/USCIS.
“I have a pending STEM OPT with USCIS and because of that I am unable to get my drivers license renewed. My current OPT EAD just expired as well. I am about to refile my i485 and wondering if it won’t cause a problem. My i130 was approved but i485 was denied on the first attempt…”
“Hi everyone, I filed my I-765 for the STEM OPT extension and received a biometrics appointment notice. Has anyone else gotten a biometrics appointment for a STEM extension? How long did approval take afterward? Is this becoming standard for STEM OPT extensions or is this…”
“Hi, I have a pending application STEM OPT application with USCIS. The employer name in E-verify doesn’t match with the I-765 application submitted. I have same name with space in I-20 and I-983 and sevis portal as well. Employer name in E-verify has RedShift whereas in all my…”
Several users report significant wait times for USCIS to process STEM OPT applications, leading to uncertainty about employment authorization extensions. One user's case has been pending since July 2026, and they are concerned about the impact on their work status.
SOURCES (40)
“STEM OPT expires in Jan 2027. Currently working a full time job. 09/04/2026 — I-485 and I-765 received by USCIS 09/18/2026 — Contacted USCIS regarding an I-765 expedite USCIS later instructed me to upload a wet-ink signed explanation letter and supporting evidence to my I-765…”
“Hey everyone, I'm in a bit of a situation and could really use some advice. I applied for my STEM OPT extension on July 30, and my initial OPT expired on August 13. I'm currently working with my existing employer under the automatic extension, but I recently got a new job offer with a start date of November 1. I've already completed the I-9 onboarding through the new company's portal. It didn't specifically ask for my EAD card, so I uploaded my (state ID and SSN) or (i-94), I”
“I have a pending STEM OPT with USCIS and because of that I am unable to get my drivers license renewed. My current OPT EAD just expired as well. I am about to refile my i485 and wondering if it won’t cause a problem. My i130 was approved but i485 was denied on the first attempt. Can anyone share ideas or suggestions? F1 married to USC. submitted by /u/Chemical-Lock-2258 [link] [comments]”
“Hi everyone, Looking for advice from anyone who has gone through an F-1 STEM OPT to H-4 change of status. Currently on F-1 STEM OPT, valid until September 2027. Planning to file Form I-539 by October 30, 2026. Intending to request an H-4 effective date of March 15, 2027. Planning to stop working in March 2027. No employment days yet. Attorney estimates approximately 10.5 months for processing. Questions: If the application is still pending after March 15, 2027, can the applicant remain legally i”
“Hi everyone! I applied for my initial post-completion OPT on May 28, 2026 (regular processing) and completed my biometrics on June 18. As of October 11, my case is still showing as processing with no further updates . It has now been over four months, and the USCIS processing time has increased while I’ve been waiting. I’m wondering if there are any other May 2026 OPT applicants here. If you applied in May, could you share your filing date and whether you’ve been approved yet? My timeline: I-765”
“Filling out I-907 for my pending STEM OPT I-765 (filed May 2026). On the original I-765 my mailing address and physical address were different. I’ve since moved, so on this I-907 I kept the same mailing address but entered my new apartment as the current/physical address — meaning the two are still different, and the physical one is now different from what’s on the I-765 too. Then further down it asks for the address of the applicant named in the related case. Mailing or physical? My read is it”
“Hi everyone, I filed my I-765 for the STEM OPT extension and received a biometrics appointment notice. Has anyone else gotten a biometrics appointment for a STEM extension? How long did approval take afterward? Is this becoming standard for STEM OPT extensions or is this concerning? Thanks in advance! submitted by /u/Little-Trash-5578 [link] [comments]”
“Hi everyone! I received an RFE for my H-1B last week, and my lawyers are currently preparing the response. In the meantime, I want to make sure I have a backup plan and receive my STEM OPT approval before my 180-day automatic extension expires. I applied for STEM OPT on time and have already completed my biometrics appointment, but I haven’t received any updates since then. I have a few questions: 1) Is it common to receive an RFE or denial for STEM OPT while an H-1B petition is pending or has a”
“I’m trying to figure out the safest way to handle my situation and would really appreciate advice from anyone who has dealt with something similar. Timeline: May 2026: Graduated from my US university. April 2026: Applied for post-completion OPT/EAD. Mid-July 2026: I had to leave the US due to a family emergency while my EAD application was still pending. Late September 2026: My OPT was finally approved while I was outside the US. By mid-October: I expect to receive my physical EAD card via mail,”
“I filed my initial post-completion OPT (I-765, C03B) online on June 7, 2026 after graduating in May. I completed biometrics on July 9 , and since then my case has basically just shown that USCIS is processing it. No RFE, no denial, no request for additional evidence, and I did not use premium processing. My requested OPT dates were June 1, 2026–May 31, 2027 , but as of October 7 my OPT is still not approved and I don’t have an EAD . I also haven’t secured a job yet, which is starting to make me”
“Anyone got approval for stem opt who applied after april 5th 2026 with normal process submitted by /u/FlowerForsaken7824 [link] [comments]”
“I’m an F-1 student who successfully completed 1 year of OPT and applied for STEM extension in the month of July. As you may all know the approval and decision is still pending although I’ve completed my biometrics and all necessary documentation. I was hoping to travel domestically by air for a vacation in the coming few days. I keep hearing about people (students) being detained at the airport for no reason even if their legal status is still valid. My application for STEM extension automatical”
“I applied on May 25th 2026. NO PP Biometrics on June 22th 2026 As of Oct 5th 2026. No update yet. Any approvals for those who applied in this time frame? Is Considering PP now would be a good choice. submitted by /u/Fit-Head2821 [link] [comments]”
“Hi everyone, My regular OPT expired in August, and I applied for STEM OPT before it expired. My STEM OPT application is still pending with USCIS. My current employer will not be able to continue my employment after October because of a lack of funding, so I may become unemployed while my STEM OPT application is still pending. I currently have about 15/ 90 OPT unemployment days left. I’m confused about what happens in this situation. I am planning to apply for premium processing, but I have heard”
“I am currently in my first year of STEM OPT, expiring in December and doing the paperwork to request a 2-year extension. I’ve also recently married and am filing I-765, I-864 and I-485 soon. I have done research, asked around and have gotten different answers about how these two processes can conflict. I am curious if anyone has experience or knows if filing both the STEM OPT Extension and marriage-based green card together would cause any issues. With green card processing timelines being unpre”
“UPDATE: • Type: STEM OPT • Premium Processing: No • Date Applied: 03/24/2026 • Request for Initial Evidence (RFIE) NO • Biometrics Requested: YES • Biometrics Completed: 04/07/2026 • Notice of Intent to Deny (NOID): • Date Approved: 09/23/2026 • Date Card Produced: MM/DD/YYYY • Date Card Received: MM/DD/YYYY submitted by /u/Short-Anteater-8526 [link] [comments]”
“It’s been 165 days of processing STEM OPT. Receipt on April 6 2026. I can submit inquiry on October 5 2026. How long should we wait? I thought the average processing time is 150 days. I’m good to work till December 27 2026 (meaning 60 days after opt expired) submitted by /u/Electrical212121 [link] [comments]”
“I am on STEM OPT and got a job offer yesterday. I convinced them to sign up for e-verify and they did the 11 steps yesterday. Now we are just waiting for the e-verify confirmation. I already have their EIN so that I can fill out the I-983 and submit that to my DSO. Anyone have an idea of how long it'll take to get the e-verify enrolment confirmation? Also just to confirm we only needed the E-verify number for the I-765 when initially applying for STEM OPT? Once we have STEM OPT we only need”
“Hi Everyone, I applied for my STEM OPT on April 16, but my initial OPT ended on June 12. Since I had already applied for STEM OPT and my application was still processing, I qualified for the 180-day extension. I postponed my biometrics to June 23, and the only update I’ve received so far is, “We have received your biometrics. We don’t need anything from you at this time.” I called USCIS support, and they told me the delay might be because I postponed my biometrics. When I asked about the timelin”
“Hello all. I made terribly silly mistake and my future hangs in the balance. I submitted my I-765 for STEM OPT Extension on April 26 with my Biometrics completed on May 22. I only did regular processing. My OPT EAD ended June 30 and the 6 month automatic extension ends in december. I logged in today (september 5) and went through the documents and discovered that I had uploaded my old OPT I20 twice instead of my STEM OPT I20. My heart stopped! Immediately I drafted a letter explaining this mista”
“Hi everyone, I’m an international student on an F-1 visa, I filed Form I-765 around May. About a month ago, I also submitted an expedite request, I recently received a response from USCIS saying that, due to a high volume of expedite inquiries, their response is delayed and that I will have to continue waiting. At this point, I’m getting pretty worried because I could potentially lose my job offer, and I need to pay my bills. Has anyone been in a similar situation? Is there anything else I can d”
“Hi everyone, Looking for suggestions on whether I should upgrade my STEM OPT application to premium processing. My timeline: STEM OPT I-765 receipt date: April 15, 2026 Biometrics completed: May, 2026 Initial OPT EAD expired: June 15, 2026 Processing: Regular Current status: Still pending It's been almost 5 months since I applied and about 4 months since I completed biometrics. I initially decided to wait instead of paying for premium since I can continue working under the automatic extensio”
“I applied for my OPT on April 27 and I want to know when should I be expecting it and is anybody that has applied at the same time with the regular processing got their OPT yet? submitted by /u/Mobile_Extent8117 [link] [comments]”
“OPT I-765 applied: May 28, 2026 Biometrics appointment: June 6, 2026 Processing Form I-765: June 25, 2026 Premium-processing clock: Aug 9, 2025 submitted by /u/BrotherImmediate9744 [link] [comments]”
“Hi everyone, I’m looking for advice from anyone who has dealt with a lost/missing STEM OPT EAD. Here is my situation: • I applied for my 24-month STEM OPT extension with premium processing. • My STEM OPT application was approved, and I received the approval notice. • USCIS/USPS shows that my EAD card was delivered, but I never received it. • It has now been 25 days since the delivery date. • I contacted USPS and reported the missing card. • I also contacted USCIS and submitted a non-delivery inq”
“Hi, I have a pending application STEM OPT application with USCIS. The employer name in E-verify doesn’t match with the I-765 application submitted. I have same name with space in I-20 and I-983 and sevis portal as well. Employer name in E-verify has RedShift whereas in all my documents and application has Red Shift. Would it cause any issue if there is space in between? Will I receive an RFE? Appreciate any insights on how to fix this. submitted by /u/No_Bus_9528 [link] [commen”
“OPT application submitted: May 20, 2026 Requested OPT start date: August 25, 2026 Biometrics completed: June 18 Premium Processing applied: July 22 Approval email received: August 21 Approval reflected in USCIS portal: August 23 Card was produced: August 25 USCIS tracking number: Not provided in my portal After waiting around 3 days, I contacted Emma/live agent , and they gave me the USPS tracking number. EAD card delivered: August 29 One interesting thing in my case: I originally selected Augus”
“I came to the U.S. on a B1/B2 visa and later changed my status to F-1 in February 2024. I was supposed to graduate on August 23, 2026. I applied for OPT on July 2 and completed my biometrics on July 20. On August 19, I received a denial notice stating that my SEVIS record had been terminated on August 3 for failing to enroll. I immediately contacted my DSO, and he told me that the school did not terminate my SEVIS record and that it might have been an error on SEVP’s end. He submitted a correcti”
“Greetings fam, I am an F-1 student currently on standard OPT. My EAD for the 1st year OPT ends on the 8th of September 2026. I have applied for my STEM - OPT extension on a timely basis and have also completed my biometrics last Friday. The Driving License that I currently have was issued to me by the state of Tennessee for the duration of my initial OPT as you may have guessed is also expiring on the 8th of September. When I walked into the DMV today they said they don’t do EAD as a document fo”
“Filing for my STEM OPT extension soon (CIT degree). Curious if anyone in a tech support / help desk adjacent role (not a “pure” engineering title) has filed within the last 6-12 months and actually gotten their EAD approved? Just feeling a bit paranoid about how tech support-type roles are viewed for STEM OPT and would appreciate hearing real timelines/outcomes if anyone’s willing to share. Thanks in advance. submitted by /u/Effective_Fruit3318 [link] [comments]”
“Hi everyone, I’m looking for advice from anyone who has experienced something similar with post-completion OPT. I filed my initial I-765 for post-completion OPT (C03B) on April 24, 2026 . My application remained pending for several months. Because of the delay, I eventually filed Form I-907 Premium Processing on July 22, 2026 for the already-pending I-765. USCIS finally approved my I-765 on August 21, 2026 . The issue is that my approval/EAD validity period is showing: Start date: August 21, 202”
“Hi everyone, I am currently on my OPT which gonna expire on Jan 5th , 2027. I am planning to travel outside of US in end of November 2026. I am planning to apply for premium processing for STEM OPT in the end of September once my applying windows open. My question is do i have to apply fpr extension of stay the new rule which will be in effect from Sept 15. If yes, then how much time will it take and is it legal for me to travel outside of US and be back before the end of Dec 2026. submitt”
“Hi everyone, I’m an F-1 student who recently graduated and applied for initial post-completion OPT under category (c)(3)(B). My timeline is: I-765 filed/receipt date: March 13, 2026 Biometrics completed: April 15, 2026 Requested OPT start date: July 1, 2026 Current date: August 15, 2026 There have been no case updates since biometrics. I checked the USCIS processing-time page, and it says I can submit a case inquiry. I submitted the case inquiry today and received a confirmation number. For thos”
“Hey everyone, I’m currently on 12-month post-completion OPT, which expires on August 13, 2026 . I submitted my Form I-765 for the 24-month STEM OPT extension online today ( August 10, 2026 ). Here is what happened right after paying: Payment Confirmation: I received an official email from Pay.gov/USCIS confirming my $470 payment went through on Aug 10, 2026, at 7:00 PM . The email explicitly lists my Pay.gov tracking ID and ties it to my USCIS Receipt Number ( IOE9130558523 ). Downloaded Summary”
“filed my STEM OPT extension online on April 22, 2026. My case is still pending. When I originally submitted my I-765, I uploaded my signed STEM OPT I-20, current EAD card, passport/identity documents, official transcript as proof of my STEM degree, photo, and the other documents requested in the application. I recently realized that I did not upload my I-94 with the original application. Today, while my case is still pending, I downloaded my most recent I-94 directly from the CBP website and upl”
“My timeline: 01 July 2025 to 30 June 2026: Post-completion OPT May 28, 2026: Form I-765 Application for STEM OPT submitted with NO premium processing May 29 2026: Form I-765 Application for STEM OPT received June 27 2026: Biometrics completed Today (July 17 2026): USCIS is still processing the case. With the timely submission of STEM OPT application, my employment authorization is extended for 180 days, ending on December 27, 2026. Three burning questions: 1. What documents do I carry when asked”