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International Student and Scholar Services

While Your Application is Pending

STEM Extension Receipt Notice

Immediately after submitting your online I-765 application, you should see confirmation on the screen that your I-765 was successfully submitted.

  • Click on Go to my cases and navigate to the Documents tab to download your Receipt Notice and a pdf of your completed I-765 form.
  • Upload your STEM Extension Receipt Notice to your ISSS Portal by submitting a STEM Extension Receipt Notice Upload (found in your Control Center).
  • Within two weeks of submitting online, you should also receive a paper Receipt Notice (Form I-797) in the mail.

Driver's License Renewal While STEM Pending

If you live in the Bloomington-Normal area, you can renew your driver's license while your STEM is pending for 90 days at a time at the Bloomington DMV if you bring a copy of your I-797C STEM receipt notice. Please click here for more details.

If you live outside of the Bloomington-Normal area, you should contact your local DMV for further details.

USCIS Processing Time

USCIS, not ISSS, is reponsible for processing your I-765 application for STEM Extension. Therefore, ISSS has no influence or control over USCIS processing times.

  • STEM Extension processing times can vary. There is no guarantee USCIS will process your application within a specific time frame.
  • You can check your case status by logging into your USCIS Account and navigating to the Case Status tab of your I-765 application. ISSS recommends you set your account notifications to receive both text messages and emails and login to your account on a weekly basis to check for updates or action items.
  • If you filed your 24-Month STEM Extension application in a timely manner, you can continue to work for up to 180 days after the expiration date of your current EAD card, while your application is pending.
  • If your application is adjudicated on or before your STEM Extension start date, then your EAD card should reflect your chosen date. However, if your case is adjudicated after the start date, then your EAD card start date should be the same as the date your case was adjudicated by USCIS.
  • If your application has been pending more than 90 days, and you have not received your EAD card, you can call the USCIS Customer Service number listed on your Receipt Notice and ask that they open a service request. You can also submit a case inquiry for Outside Normal Processing Time online.

Premium Processing

Premium processing (Form I-907) provides expedited processing for certain USCIS forms. For an additional fee, you may apply for premium processing while initially filing for STEM Extension or while the application is pending. If properly filed, premium processing gurantees USCIS will take adjudicative action on your I-765 within 30 calendar days. This means that within 30 calendar days USCIS will take one of the following actions on your case:

  • issue an approval notice
  • issue a denial notice
  • issue a notice of intent to deny
  • issue a request for evidence
  • open an investigation for fraud or misrepresentation

IMPORTANT: Premium processing does not guarantee your EAD card will be produced and arrive within the 30-day deadline.

  • The 30-calendar-day premium processing timeframe does not include the time it takes to produce your EAD.
  • After USCIS approves your Form I-765, your EAD should be produced within one to two weeks.
  • When your card arrives will vary depending on USPS delivery times.

Changing Employers While Application Pending

If you change employers while your application is still pending with USCIS, you should submit an OPT/STEM Employer Update request in the ISSS Portal. ISSS will update your I-20 to reflect your new employer and you can upload your new I-20 your USCIS Account.

Address Changes

While your STEM Extension application is pending, you must report any changes in address to both ISSS and USCIS within ten days of moving to the new address. It is also important to update USPS with any changes of address to ensure the proper delivery of your EAD card.

  • Update your address in your SEVP Portal.
    • Alert ISSS of this address update by submitting a Request Inquiry in the ISSS Portal or by submitting an OPT/STEM Employer Update request if you are reporting a change in employer information when your address changes.
  • Update USCIS by updating your address in your USCIS online account.
  • Update the United States Postal Service (USPS).

EAD Card

  • If you created a USCIS account and signed up for case status updates, you should automatically be notified via email when your application has been approved and your EAD card has been sent to production and shipped.
  • Your USCIS Account should provide the USPS tracking number for the envelope containing your EAD card. Generally, your card will arrive within 10 days from being shipped.
  • Once received, you should upload your EAD card to your ISSS Portal by submitting a STEM Extension EAD Card Upload (found in your Control Center).

EAD Card Issues

Non-delivery

If the USCIS site shows that your card was delivered, but you have not yet received it, then you should contact your local post office. If you are still unable to locate the card:

  • First, make sure that the address on file with USCIS is correct and update your address in your USCIS online account if needed.
  • Then submit a case inquiry for Non-Delivery of Card online.
  • Follow up in a few days by calling the USCIS Customer Service number listed on your Receipt Notice to check the status of your inquiry request.

Possible reasons for non-delivery:

  • The address you provided was incorrect. For example, if you live in an apartment and you did not include the apartment number on the I-765, then the envelope may not be delivered.
  • You requested USPS to forward your mail to a new address, and did not update your new address with USCIS. EAD cards are mailed by USPS as "Return Service Requested". This means they will not be forwarded to a new address.
  • You updated your address with USCIS but did not change your address with USPS. EAD cards are mailed by USPS as "Return Service Requested". This means they will only be delivered if the individual named on the envelope is officially associated with the address on the envelope.

EAD Card Errors

After you receive your EAD card, you should look it over and make sure everything is correct. If you find any errors on the card, the process of correcting them depends upon the cause of the error:

  • If the error was caused by USCIS, then the Notice of Action you received with your EAD card should have instructions on how to fix the error. You can also fill out the USCIS online typographical error form.
  • If the error was caused by you (the applicant), then you must refile an entirely new I-765 OPT application with USCIS, including submitting the full filing fee again.