USCIS Offers 180-Day Work Authorization Extensions For OPT Students – Path2USA

The U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Providers has acknowledged its processing delays of the employment authorization for F1 college students eligible for elective sensible coaching (OPT). With the intention to keep away from the damaging influence these delays are inflicting nonimmigrant worldwide college students on F1 visas, USCIS has provided to mechanically prolong the employment authorization for 180 days.

That is topic to the well timed submitting of Kind I-765, Utility for Employment Authorization, based mostly on STEM OPT. That is relevant to these STEM college students whose post-completion OPT interval expires whereas the appliance remains to be pending an adjudication from USCIS.

How Is USCIS Addressing I-765 Processing & Receipting Delays

USCIS is cognizant of such delays and is placing in additional hours to mitigate all backlogs. The workload is being redistributed in order that receipt notices can printed and mailed as quickly because the EAD software for OPT is obtained on the lockbox amenities.

Associated Article: OPT Backlog Stresses F1 College students

USCIS has made progress in addressing the delays

How Will This Impression OPT College students On F1 Visa?

USCIS is addressing the receipting delays triggered at lockboxes for Kind I-765, Utility for Employment Authorization referring to elective sensible coaching (OPT) for F-1 college students. 

Associated Learn: How To File Kind I-765

They’ve made the next lodging to verify college students aren’t negatively affected – 

• When you have filed the Kind I-765 based mostly on STEM OPT, USCIS will mechanically prolong the employment authorization for 180 days. That is relevant in case your post-completion OPT interval expires whereas the appliance remains to be pending.

• In case you used an outdated lockbox tackle your employment authorization software will nonetheless be accepted by USCIS. USCIS had introduced a change to the submitting tackle directions on Jan. 8, 2021, and when you used the older addresses, your software will nonetheless not be rejected.
• As all EAD functions are date stamped upon arrival on the Lockbox, your obtained date will replicate the date it truly arrived on the Lockbox.
  The delays in processing is not going to replicate on the obtained date.

How Can OPT College students Expedite Their Employment Authorization Purposes

Well timed Submissions: File Kind I-765 based mostly on STEM OPT in a well timed method, earlier than it expires.

Endorse Kind I-20: Have the Kind I-20 endorsed by the designated college official recommending a STEM extension. That is extremely useful to determine id and work authorization for functions of documenting employment authorization. 

Right Lockbox Handle: USCIS has up to date all lockbox addresses on Jan 8, 2021. Whereas they could not reject your software for submitting within the improper location, you inspired to test the shape directions on the USCIS web site for essentially the most present submitting directions to keep away from delays.

Contact USCIS: When you have not too long ago filed your software and are ready to your receipt discover, wait not less than 8 weeks earlier than contacting USCIS about your case standing.

USCIS On-line Software: Create a free USCIS on-line account the place you’ll be able to test the standing of your case. You possibly can find present processing instances and particular person case statuses from this account.