OPT Approved, Yet Pending: Student in Legal Chaos

An F-1 international student recently shared a distressing experience that’s become increasingly common. Despite receiving confirmation through the SEVP portal that their Optional Practical Training (OPT) was approved, they are still waiting for the official document from USCIS.

The SEVP email and portal showed clear approval dates—August 4, 2025, to July 24, 2026—making it seem like everything was in order. However, upon checking the USCIS portal, the student found the case still listed as “Case decision pending” with an estimated processing time of eight months.

Legal Limbo and Career Uncertainty

This conflicting information has created a legal dilemma. Though an employer is ready to onboard the student, the absence of a physical Employment Authorization Document (EAD) prevents them from starting legally. This raises serious concerns about whether the 90-day unemployment period allowed under OPT will start from August 4.

Unfortunately, such discrepancies between SEVP and USCIS systems are not rare. For international students, this lack of synchronization means uncertainty around their legal status, career plans on hold, and unnecessary stress—all while they wait powerlessly for two agencies to align.