OPT Approved Late - EAD Dates Not Adjusted, Already Lost 114 Days?
Hi everyone,
I'm hoping to hear from anyone who has been in a similar situation.
I applied for my initial 12-month OPT on December 3, 2025. My requested employment dates were February 9, 2026 – February 8, 2027. I received my receipt notice about 3–4 days later.
Due to processing delays, my OPT was not approved until May 20, 2026, and I finally received my EAD card on June 3, 2026.
However, the employment authorization dates on my EAD card were not adjusted to account for the delayed approval. The card still shows February 9, 2026 – February 8, 2027.
By the time I received the EAD, approximately 114 days had already passed, and I had not updated any employment information in the SEVP Portal because I did not yet have work authorization.
I discussed this with my DSO, but they have not encountered this situation before. According to them, my SEVIS record remains active.
I also contacted USCIS. The representative advised me to return the EAD card so they can review the case and potentially issue a corrected card if appropriate.
Has anyone experienced a delayed OPT approval where the EAD validity dates were not adjusted? If so:
- Were your dates eventually corrected?
- Did you have to return your EAD card?
- How long did the correction process take?
- Did this affect your unemployment-day count or SEVIS status?
Any information, experiences, or advice would be greatly appreciated. Feel free to comment or DM me.
Thank you!