Many F-1 students have reported issues with OPT cards getting lost during delivery, even after approval. The US Postal Service handles the final stage of USCIS delivery, and repeated cases like these have raised concerns among international students.
An OPT applicant recently shared an experience on Reddit, highlighting fears around EAD card delivery. The user advised that once USCIS updates the status to “card produced,” applicants should stay alert instead of assuming everything will go smoothly.
According to the post, it is important to obtain the USPS tracking number immediately after the card is produced. If the tracking number is not available, contacting a live agent may help avoid delays or possible delivery issues.
The concern does not end there. Even when the tracking status shows “delivered,” some applicants have reported empty mailboxes. In such cases, they may need to reapply for the card and go through the entire process again without any refund.
This situation reflects the challenges in the system, where a crucial document required for legal work can face delivery issues. For many students, this adds stress during an already uncertain phase of their career journey.
To avoid such risks, some applicants are actively tracking their packages in real time. A few are even planning to visit local post offices to ensure the card is received safely without any delivery complications.
While USCIS provides tracking and options for non-delivery inquiries, ground-level experiences often differ. For F-1 students managing job pressure and visa timelines, relying only on delivery systems may not be enough.
Being proactive remains essential. From tracking shipments closely to following up when needed, students are advised to stay cautious until the EAD card is physically in hand and safely secured.
