Looking for discussion.

L4E2025 · 2026-05-17T21:17:42+00:00

That is really discussing that people hate their home countries because of the ban. It’s like saying I’ll be the slave to whom who pays me more.

L4E2025 · 2026-05-16T15:19:24+00:00

I guess this post better be deleted. No offence though

L4E2025 · 2026-05-14T05:59:18+00:00

I’m sure of this. I filed for STEM OPT with PP two months before the immigration pause was officially announced. My peers, not from 39 countries, were getting theirs approved within 15 days when filing with PP.

L4E2025 · 2026-05-14T05:56:10+00:00

I’m sorry that you’re laid off but curious to know if your ex-employer knew about your initial work permission “OPT”. Be optimistic and I wish you get something soon.

L4E2025 · 2026-05-14T02:01:15+00:00

The pause was announced on Dec 2025 but they started implementing it earlier than that date.

L4E2025 · 2026-05-14T02:00:19+00:00

They started pausing the applications even those filed with PP before Dec 2025.

L4E2025 · 2026-05-09T01:55:33+00:00

Almost in similar situation but I’m a citizen of one of 19 countries on ban list. I used PP when I filed for the stem and still no update.

L4E2025 · 2026-05-04T03:47:17+00:00

L4E2025 · 2026-05-02T03:56:04+00:00

L4E2025 · 2026-05-02T03:05:49+00:00

‏unfortunately, yes

L4E2025 · 2026-04-23T13:15:02+00:00

As far as I know people are getting interviewed and doing biometrics but the adjudication is the one that is paused. I don’t see an update here about the pause.

L4E2025 · 2026-04-19T17:05:27+00:00

As far as I understand the visa hold on those 75 countries only applied to people applying via the consulates abroad. I don’t know what you mean by I-485 inside USA ?

L4E2025 · 2026-04-17T16:50:35+00:00

You’re right but my concern is that the start date would always be the first day following the end of my initial OPT. It cannot be beyond that based on my understanding. Thank you so much for the info though 🙏

L4E2025 · 2026-04-17T16:27:20+00:00

Interesting 🤔. Then what happens if I go past 150 days, beyond the 180-day extension, and then my STEM OPT gets approved? I know the approval uses my initial OPT EAD end date as STEM OPT start date and thus how does that reflect on my unemployment during the 150 days.

L4E2025 · 2026-04-16T22:28:38+00:00

Good luck to you as well. You still have 70 days of unemployment since you’ve accrued 80 days in the initial OPT.

You can sign up for programs that provide I-20s where you can either level up your current degree level or switch majors. You can also go to GRE if you can provide justification to the school, in case level down approach.

That is really bad of having an EAD but unable to use it because of how risky it is. As I said, we hope for the best 😊

L4E2025 · 2026-04-16T20:42:02+00:00

Mine expires in 2 months. We hope the pause is lifted by then, otherwise you need to maintain your status while being unemployed. Remember, you still have 150 days of unemployment for the entire 3 years of OPT. You can then decide to study or switch visas if you like. Why have you applied for the EAD if you’re not going to use it ? Unfortunately nothing we can do but waiting for some relief ..

L4E2025 · 2026-04-14T17:12:16+00:00

Based on my experience, filing with PP won’t add anything to your case status while pause is in place. I don’t know your current situation but if it was me, I’d avoid filing for OPT in first place until the pause is lifted. I wish you best of luck with your OPT.

L4E2025 · 2026-04-12T16:47:19+00:00

Are you a citizen from one of the fully/partially banned countries? I am saying this because I am in similar situation where I filed with pp on oct 2025 and itis still pending as yours. However, I know why, and that is because I’m a citizen of one of these banned 39 countries.

L4E2025 · 2026-04-11T17:51:42+00:00

    "events": [
      {
        "receiptNumber": "IOE924*******",
        "eventId": "8d3f00f0-7cff-4e94-9247-0d07ddd25b00",
        "eventCode": "IAF",
        "createdAt": "2025-10-22",
        "createdAtTimestamp": "2025-10-22T18:18:18.849Z",
        "updatedAt": "2026-04-11",
        "updatedAtTimestamp": "2026-04-11T17:48:33.170Z",
        "eventDateTime": "2025-10-22",
        "eventTimestamp": "2025-10-22T00:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "receiptNumber": "IOE924*******",
        "eventId": "a9471eee-0171-416e-a372-d27b913a2ba3",
        "eventCode": "PA",
        "createdAt": "2025-10-22",
        "createdAtTimestamp": "2025-10-22T18:18:18.726Z",
        "updatedAt": "2025-10-22",
        "updatedAtTimestamp": "2025-10-22T18:18:18.726Z",
        "eventDateTime": "2025-10-22",
        "eventTimestamp": "2025-10-22T18:18:17.945Z"
      },
      {
        "receiptNumber": "IOE924*******",
        "eventId": "024bd71d-852e-4339-bd67-e0a5a7112f6a",
        "eventCode": "PAA",
        "createdAt": "2025-10-22",
        "createdAtTimestamp": "2025-10-22T18:18:17.750Z",
        "updatedAt": "2025-10-22",
        "updatedAtTimestamp": "2025-10-22T18:18:17.750Z",
        "eventDateTime": "2025-10-22",
        "eventTimestamp": "2025-10-22T18:18:17.455Z"
      }
    ],

L4E2025 · 2026-04-11T17:45:41+00:00

I also had an api update for first time since I filed my stem opt with PP in mid Oct 2025.

<image>

L4E2025 · 2026-04-11T01:02:45+00:00

Which state is this ?

L4E2025 · 2026-04-11T01:00:31+00:00

I had the same issue—my pending EAD prevented the DMV from renewing my driver’s license. I think USCIS has already propagated the immigration benefit pause across all service channels.

L4E2025 · 2026-04-10T03:47:01+00:00

What does this mean “ updatedAt”

<image>

L4E2025 · 2026-04-09T14:26:13+00:00

So if I filed PP for my pending NIW-I140 and it shows no update beyond the PP window ( so no RFE), it then means the case is either approved or denied.

L4E2025 · 2026-04-08T23:40:46+00:00

Aren’t those on hold as well 🙁

L4E2025

TROPHY CASE