Is it necessary to apply for OPT or STEM OPT premium processing?

Starting from March 6, 2023, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has opened expedited service application channels for OPT/STEM OPT for F-1 visa holders awaiting I-765 approval.

Since April 3, 2023, F-1 students can submit paper applications or fill out the I-765 form online to apply for expedited services.

Although online applications have significantly improved processing speed compared to paper applications, USCIS still takes several months to process I-765 OPT and STEM OPT applications. Therefore, students planning to apply for OPT employment OPT挂靠 or need to transfer to a company through OPT extension OPT延期挂靠 should plan and prepare in advance.

Given that international students can only start working after obtaining the Employment Authorization Document (EAD card), the lengthy approval process complicates the hiring process for these students and increases uncertainty about their start dates. For example, even if you have a job offer and are ready to start, you cannot work until USCIS issues the EAD card.

It is especially critical that if STEM OPT applicants fail to submit the extension application before the initial OPT deadline, they will have to stop working until USCIS makes a decision on the STEM OPT application. However, fortunately, opting for expedited service can greatly simplify this process! It is worth noting that USCIS plans to provide premium processing?services for OPT and STEM OPT applicants from 2023.

 

 

The expedited service provided by USCIS incurs a fee of $1,500 and promises to process applications for eligible applicants within 30 calendar days. In other words, within a month, OPT and STEM OPT applicants will receive one of the following responses from USCIS:

• Approval notice
• Rejection notice
• Notice of potential rejection
• Request for additional materials
• Notice of initiation of fraud or false information investigation

Therefore, if you are considering whether to opt for expedited services for your OPT or STEM OPT application, it is advisable to research beforehand to determine if this service meets your needs. With over 10 years of visa experience, MaxOPT will provide you with professional guidance, answer your questions, and help you make informed decisions.

Conditions for applying for OPT/STEM OPT expedited processing

 

Only applicants in specific categories are eligible to apply for expedited processing:

• (c)(3)(A) - Refers to OPT applications submitted before graduation.
• (c)(3)(B) - Refers to OPT applications submitted within 60 days after graduation.
• (c)(3)(C) - Is for STEM OPT extension applications.

This means that F-1 students who do not fall under categories (c)(3)(A), (c)(3)(B), or (c)(3)(C) when applying for EAD, i.e., students of category (c)(3)(iii), are not eligible for expedited processing services. If students fail to submit Form I-907 (Request for Expedited Processing) according to the specified timeline, their expedited requests will be rejected by USCIS.

How to apply for OPT/STEM OPT expedited processing If OPT/STEM OPT applicants wish to expedite processing, they must fill out Form I-907 for expedited processing and pay the corresponding fee of $1,500. When submitting an expedited request, please note the following key points:

1. The expedited processing fee must be paid separately. Applicants need to prepare two payment instruments, such as money orders, personal checks, bank drafts, or a G-450 credit card payment authorization form — one for the regular fee for the I-765 application and another specifically for the expedited processing fee for the I-907. If you wish to avoid the hassle of separate payments, you can choose to submit the entire application process online.
2. It is essential to verify the latest version of the expedited processing application form. Like other paper application forms, the revision date of the expedited processing application form is crucial. Before printing and completing the form, make sure to check and confirm the latest revision date on the USCIS official website. If you want to reduce the risk of filling out errors, it is recommended to submit the application online directly.
3. Confirming the submission location is crucial. Form I-907 must be sent to Chicago. You can check the specific submission address on the USCIS official website. To avoid mailing errors, it is recommended to submit the application online directly.

For OPT/STEM OPT applicants choosing to submit a paper application, it is recommended to refer to the USCIS official guidelines to confirm the correct submission location for Form I-907.

 

Several key factors need to be considered before deciding to apply for expedited processing for OPT/STEM OPT.

 

Before deciding whether to apply for expedited processing for OPT/STEM OPT, carefully consider the following situations. If any of the following situations apply to you, then you may need to consider choosing expedited services:

• My employer agrees to cover the cost of expedited processing for my OPT/STEM OPT application.
• I missed the initial deadline for STEM OPT extension and now urgently need to expedite the processing.
• I have received a job offer but cannot start working due to not yet receiving USCIS approval for OPT/STEM OPT.
• I have time constraints and need a response from USCIS within a specific timeframe.
• I submitted the OPT application late and want to take full advantage of the 12-month period after approval without missing any days.