Navigating Optional Practical Training (OPT) Application Timelines Amid COVID-19

25 min readApr 7, 2020

This article primarily aims to share practical guidance and insights from my personal journey navigating the EAD card application process during Spring 2020.

Highlights:

As of March 2020, the average review time for OPT applications was 30 days, more than halving the time from previous years.
If you apply to change your Mailing Address with USCIS, the date of address modification and the card dispatch are two distinct events. Changing the address will not delay the EAD card’s shipment.
The USPS Package Intercept carries a higher risk. I genuinely advise against using it unless absolutely necessary.

Optional Practical Training (OPT) is the legal work status for international students with an F-1 VISA in the United States. There is plenty of information available online about how to apply for OPT. Additionally, each university’s Office of International Students will have its own specific guidelines. This article will not provide a step-by-step guide to the application process. Instead, it aims to share insights into the application timeline specifics, particularly for those who graduated in the Spring of 2020, during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

I was inspired to share this because — the pandemic has led to changes in the application timelines. My own OPT was approved in 30 days, and it took an additional 42 days to receive the EAD card (Employment Authorization Document), which is significantly shorter than the usual 60–90 day timeframe. In fact, many students from the previous year had to wait more than 90 days to receive their EAD cards.

However, even with a quicker approval, I experienced a delay in receiving my card. It took 13 days for the card to arrive, whereas typically, it takes between 5–7 business days. This delay was due to a change in my address and the ensuing communication process with both the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and the United States Postal Service (USPS). I hope to provide some details (and lessons learned) about my experience to assist those who might face similar challenges in the future.

Intended Audience for this Article: Students who have submitted their OPT applications and are currently awaiting review.Topics Covered in this Article:1. The review process of USCIS.
2. How to change your mailing address with USCIS.
3. Methods to contact USCIS.
4. How to redirect a package with USPS (Package Intercept).

OPT Application Review Process

Historically, the review process typically ranges from 60 to 90 days. The earliest one can send in the OPT application is 90 days before graduation, and not a day sooner. However, to expedite the review process, it’s highly recommended to submit the application precisely 90 days before graduation.

There are two main reasons for this:

First-Come, First-Served Review: OPT applications are reviewed in the order they are received. Submitting early ensures faster processing. Delays in past years were often due to a high volume of applications submitted around the same time.
Start Date Remains Unchanged: Even if the review is completed earlier than anticipated, the employment start date (Start Date) will still be based on the date specified on your I-20 form. This means that even if the application is approved earlier, it won’t affect the start date of your employment.

In my case, since my graduation date was on May 20th, I could submit the application by February 20th. After preparing all the necessary documents, I sent them via UPS overnight delivery on February 24th. The UPS system indicated that the package was delivered to USCIS on February 25th. By March 3rd, I received a Receipted Number, allowing me to track the application review process on the USCIS website. I highly recommend setting up an account on the USCIS website as soon as you receive your Receipt Number. This way, you can see consolidated information and take any necessary actions (e.g., address changes, resending of cards) through your account. Below, I’ve outlined the entire process, including changes in the case status messages and their respective dates.

OPT Application Timeline

Note: Messages enclosed in quotation marks are actual status updates from the USCIS case status.

Day 0 (2/24): Sent with UPS 1-day express
Day 1 (2/25): UPS delivered
Day 8 (3/3): Receipt Number provided by USCIS received Day 30 (3/25): “New Card Is Being Produced” (i.e., your case has been approved)
Day 31 (3/26): “Case Was Approved”
Day 32 (3/27): “Card Was Delivered To Me By The Post Office” (i.e., USCIS has approved mailing you the card)
Day 35 (3/30): “Card Was Picked Up By The United States Postal Service” (i.e., USCIS actually mailed the card)
Day 42 (4/6): Picked up EAD card from USPS.

Overall, the pace of case reviews this year has accelerated. One can track the number of cases reviewed daily using the OPT Case Tracker website. This platform displays the number of cases for each application status based on their Receipted date (the day the application was received). Additionally, it provides the average number of days taken for reviews to be completed each month. For instance, cases submitted in November and December of 2019 took an average of two months for approval, whereas those from March 2020 were approved in an average of just 30 days.

OPT Case Tracker

This graph shows which bucket of receipt dates USCIS has started processing. You can probably infer which receipt dates…

opttimeline.com

It’s important to note here that from the date of approval (3/25, Thursday) to the actual mailing date (3/30, Monday) was only a span of 3 working days. For those needing to change their address, it’s crucial to be mindful of the time it takes to modify their address details.

Updating the Mailing Address

Note: This section is specifically for individuals who might find themselves needing to change or update their mailing address with USCIS.

Originally, I anticipated a 90-day waiting period for the review to be completed. By that time, I would have moved out of my university dormitory. As a result, when applying for OPT, I used the mailing address of a friend who was expected to reside in New York for at least another six months. However, due to the expedited 30-day approval and the circumstances of the pandemic, my friend temporarily relocated to another state and had no immediate plans to return to New York. Consequently, I had to update the mailing address to ensure I could receive the EAD card promptly.

To update the mailing address, I tried the following two methods:1. Modifying the Mailing Address directly through USCIS.
2. Applying for the "Intercepted Package" service with USPS, with the aim to redirect the mail to a different address. (Conclusion: Strongly not recommended)

The first method involves modifying the mailing address online via USCIS. Upon this request, the system automatically generates Form AR-11 and forwards it to a designated person for processing. Here is the timeline of my application:

3/25: Initiated mailing address change.

At this point, a designated person processes the request. Once successful, they will notify you, and you can log in to check the progress.

3/30: Address change successfully processed.

When comparing this to the card application process, it’s clear that the EAD card had already been ordered for shipment before the successful address update. Hence, the shipping address wasn’t successfully changed in time. Here’s an insight from USCIS regarding this:

Address modification and card dispatch are two distinct events. The shipment of the EAD card won’t be delayed solely due to an address change request.

Note: The provided timeline is just for reference. The phone representative informed me that the review time for address changes can range from a week to 30 days. Between 3/25 and 3/30, I made three calls, ensuring the phone representative annotated my case with my address change queries. However, it’s uncertain whether these calls expedited the address review process. I’d recommend that after changing your address, you contact USCIS for a clearer explanation.

Tips for Contacting USCIS

After updating my address, I called USCIS three times in hopes of understanding the progress of my address change verification. USCIS divides its representatives into Level 1 and Level 2. Level 1 representatives typically have access to basic information and, based on my experience, tend to be friendlier. If they can’t address a concern, they’ll refer you to a Level 2 representative. Level 2 representatives are more specialized; however, they can sometimes come off as impatient.

USCIS Phone Number: 1–800–375–5283

Upon calling, there are a series of prompts (to be elaborated on), but when the option for address change appears, select option (4). To connect with a representative, select option (6). After entering the Receipted Number, the wait isn’t typically long, and if there is a delay, the system will provide an estimated wait time.

It’s crucial to express any uncertainty about how the address change might affect your OPT application and ask the representative to review the status of your case. They can update you on the current case status, and you can also inquire about the USPS Tracking Number for your EAD Card. It’s worth noting that in the last three working days after I made my address modification, there might be a day’s lag between the information seen by the customer service and the unit dispatching the EAD card. Even if customer service indicates an updated address, the card might still be sent to the old address, which is somewhat perplexing considering administrative processes.

Using USPS Package Intercept (NOT RECOMMENDED)

After my unsuccessful attempt to change the address with USCIS, I turned to a second option: employing the USPS Package Intercept service. With this, I aimed to redirect the package to a specific post office, from where I could collect it myself.

Conclusion upfront: I would strongly advise against using this service.

I’ll detail the reasons shortly, but I’m writing this for those who, out of necessity, might consider using this service and wish to minimize potential risks.

To see if your parcel qualifies for this service, you can enter the tracking number on the USPS Package Intercept website. However, I later discovered that the EAD card was sent via Certified Mail, which doesn’t qualify for the Intercept service. Yet, contradictorily, the tracking link provided by USCIS did allow for the usage of this service.

Once you obtain the EAD card’s Tracking Number, you can monitor the shipment progress on the USPS website. By clicking on “Change Delivery Instructions” on the right side of the page, follow the prompts to confirm the original delivery address. Once verified, you can choose where you’d like the package redirected. There are three options available, and after selecting one, proceed to complete the payment for the service:

Different location at the original address: This can be spots like the front door, back door, mailbox, etc.
Deliver to a neighbor: This allows you to choose a different address within the same Zip Code.
Forward to a specific USPS location: Enter the postal code to select a nearby USPS location for pickup.

When attempting to use the USPS “Intercepted Package” service, ensure you select an appropriate post office that facilitates both mailings and pick-ups. Be prepared for potential misunderstandings about the service, even among USPS employees. Persistence and verification of your package’s location can eventually yield success.

Why I Strongly Advise Against Using the Intercepted Package Service?

There’s a significant discrepancy between the understanding of the Intercepted Package service on USPS’s official online platform and at local brick-and-mortar post offices. Most staff members are not well-informed on how to manage this service.
There’s a high risk of package loss. Numerous online discussions detail packages getting lost due to this service.
The service does not guarantee successful interception.

If you absolutely must use this service:

First, check if nearby post offices offer a “package pickup” service.
If they do, ensure that they are familiar with handling Intercepted Packages.
Finally, once your package is dispatched, apply for this service promptly. The longer you wait, the lower the probability of a successful interception.

Main Takeaways from My EAD Card Application Experience

Navigating the EAD card application process was a profound learning experience.

Here’s a recap of the key takeaways I gleaned:

As of March 2020, the average review time for OPT applications was 30 days, more than halving the time from previous years.
If you apply to change your Mailing Address with USCIS, the date of address modification and the card dispatch are two distinct events. Changing the address will not delay the EAD card’s shipment.
The USPS Package Intercept carries a higher risk. I genuinely advise against using it unless absolutely necessary.

In conclusion, even though obtaining the card was exhausting, I’m immensely grateful to have received my EAD card, allowing me to plan my next steps with peace of mind. This article reflects on my personal experience, hoping to offer insights to help others streamline their journey. As these are based on personal experiences, some situations might differ. Please feel free to correct any discrepancies. Wishing everyone a swift EAD card receipt, multiple job offers in hand, and urging all to stay well and healthy during these challenging times!

Please note that the experiences and insights shared in this article pertain to Spring 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Given the unique circumstances of that period, timelines and processes may have since evolved. Please always refer to the latest guidelines and practices when considering your own journey. Best of luck!