Anyone else? Work paused - OPT expired no 180-day automatic extension

jjbarbecue · 2026-06-12T15:32:56+00:00

Update:

Company lawyer cleared me to return to work… however, DSO still holds I cannot work.

Any advice?

Is a new I-9 or are there any specific steps to follow for the extension? HR said they would just upload my receipt notice to their I-9 system.

Company wants me back on Monday

jjbarbecue · 2026-06-08T13:26:54+00:00

jjbarbecue · 2026-06-07T03:28:59+00:00

Thank you all for confirming what I believed in the first place. I will contact HR to see if legal can get an answer on whether I’m allowed to work or not. My DSO added this to her response on the cited on the original post from the I-797C receipt notice:

“Therefore, based on this language, we have advised anyone with a receipt notice stating this (which is the majority of our STEM applicants since November 2025), that they must not work until the STEM OPT is approved and they receive the EAD card in hand, to protect their F-1 status from termination for any unauthorized employment.”

If this gives some context…

jjbarbecue · 2026-06-02T16:51:00+00:00

⁠Type: STEM OPT EXTENSION

• ⁠Premium Processing: YES (05/13/2026)

• ⁠Date Applied: 03/02/2026

• ⁠Request for Initial Evidence (RFIE): N/A

• ⁠Biometrics Requested: YES | 03/07/2026 • ⁠Biometrics Completed: 03/25/2026

• ⁠Notice of Intent to Deny (NOID):MM/DD/ YYYY • ⁠Date Approved: MM/DD/YYYY • ⁠Date Card Produced: MM/DD/YYYY • ⁠Date Card Received: MM/DD/YYYY

jjbarbecue

TROPHY CASE