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Singh0520

Travel with STEM OPT Extension pending (Old EAD Expired)

By Singh0520 in Student & Exchange Visitor Visas

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Singh0520 Newbie

Singh0520   0

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I'm currently on OPT and will file for STEM OPT within the next few days. My current EAD expires on February 04, 2019.

 

It's very important for me to travel to India on February 10th. Since It's very unlikely that I would be receiving my new EAD before my travel, Would it be safe to travel and re-enter USA without EAD card? Can I use valid I-20, password, visa, EAD application receipts to re-enter?

 

Also, would it be safe if I travel to India without EAD and then once received, my roommates send me the new EAD to India?

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randomstairs Community Regular

randomstairs   303

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Filed: Citizen (apr) Timeline
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2 hours ago, Singh0520 said:

I'm currently on OPT and will file for STEM OPT within the next few days. My current EAD expires on February 04, 2019.

 

It's very important for me to travel to India on February 10th. Since It's very unlikely that I would be receiving my new EAD before my travel, Would it be safe to travel and re-enter USA without EAD card? Can I use valid I-20, password, visa, EAD application receipts to re-enter?

 

Also, would it be safe if I travel to India without EAD and then once received, my roommates send me the new EAD to India?

If it's an OPT-based EAD then you don't *have* to present it at a port of entry. It's not a travel document like I-485-based EAD/AP. So, yes, you can travel as long as your visa is valid and your STEM OPT is extended. The EAD can certainly help but it's not a required document. Make sure you have other evidence of employment, job description, progress reports, etc. You should be fine. 

03/04/2016 AOS (EB2-NIW concurrent with I-485) mailed to Lewisville TX Lockbox
03/07/2016 AOS delivered to USCIS and signed
03/12/2016 Case received by Nebraska Service Center (NSC)
03/14/2016 Text notification received for I-140/I-485/I-765/I-131.
04/08/2016 Biometrics notice received for 04/21
04/13/2016 Biometrics early walk-in completed.
04/15/2016 EAD/AP combo card received in mail.

 

Long wait begins...

 

11/04/2016 I-140/485 cases transferred from Nebraska to TCS
12/01/2016 Prepared package for EAD/AP renewal (expires 04/09/2017)
12/23/2016 USCIS suddenly changes several forms, invalidating my EAD/AP renewal package (not yet sent)
12/27/2016 USCIS suddenly reforms the entire NIW criteria system, replacing a 20 years old one. Uncharted waters. 
01/07/2017 (Saturday!) EAD/AP renewal package with new forms received in Phoenix "reception desk"
01/17/2017 EAD/AP renewal case accepted; text/email with receipt numbers was received
01/30/2017 Law firm finally confirms that USCIS has suspended processing all EB2-NIW cases due to new criteria. 
02/23/2017 USCIS slowly starts adjudicating NIW cases again.
04/21/2017 Extended EAD/AP received in mail. Valid for 2 years. 
05/06/2017 Received a massive RFE on I-140 NIW case.
07/20/2017 RFE response received by USCIS (a very long response with 30 pages of docs)
09/14/2017 I-140 NIW approved!!! 
11/28/2017 RFE for new medical issued (plus another request re Supp J for employment which is clearly issued in error)
12/04/2017 RFE received in mail
12/07/2017 repeated medical exam for I-485
12/08/2017 Attorney receives documents for responding to I-485 RFE
12/21/2017 Response to RFE received by USCIS 
02/09/2018 I-485 approval (text, email) :)
02/08/2018 I-485 approval notice issued (the "welcome letter") - I'm LPR now
02/16/2018 Green card received
 
11/14/2022 Filed N-400 online; receipt and biometrics reuse form received online
03/07/2023 N-400 Interview scheduled 
04/xx/2023 N-400 approved, same-day Oath ceremony completed. I'm a US citizen.
05/xx/2023 US passport in hand

 

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Singh0520 Newbie

Singh0520   0

Posted
Timeline
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30 minutes ago, randomstairs said:

If it's an OPT-based EAD then you don't *have* to present it at a port of entry. It's not a travel document like I-485-based EAD/AP. So, yes, you can travel as long as your visa is valid and your STEM OPT is extended. The EAD can certainly help but it's not a required document. Make sure you have other evidence of employment, job description, progress reports, etc. You should be fine. 

Thanks for your response! You mentioned "STEM OPT is extended", what do you mean? 
Like I mentioned my STEM OPT extension application will be under process when I'm returning back to the USA. So it's neither approved nor rejected.

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randomstairs Community Regular

randomstairs   303

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Timeline
Posted
1 minute ago, Singh0520 said:

Thanks for your response! You mentioned "STEM OPT is extended", what do you mean? 
Like I mentioned my STEM OPT extension application will be under process when I'm returning back to the USA. So it's neither approved nor rejected.

I see. But your current OPT will be valid, right? If your I-20 and the visa are valid you should be okay. Double check with your international student adviser though.   

03/04/2016 AOS (EB2-NIW concurrent with I-485) mailed to Lewisville TX Lockbox
03/07/2016 AOS delivered to USCIS and signed
03/12/2016 Case received by Nebraska Service Center (NSC)
03/14/2016 Text notification received for I-140/I-485/I-765/I-131.
04/08/2016 Biometrics notice received for 04/21
04/13/2016 Biometrics early walk-in completed.
04/15/2016 EAD/AP combo card received in mail.

 

Long wait begins...

 

11/04/2016 I-140/485 cases transferred from Nebraska to TCS
12/01/2016 Prepared package for EAD/AP renewal (expires 04/09/2017)
12/23/2016 USCIS suddenly changes several forms, invalidating my EAD/AP renewal package (not yet sent)
12/27/2016 USCIS suddenly reforms the entire NIW criteria system, replacing a 20 years old one. Uncharted waters. 
01/07/2017 (Saturday!) EAD/AP renewal package with new forms received in Phoenix "reception desk"
01/17/2017 EAD/AP renewal case accepted; text/email with receipt numbers was received
01/30/2017 Law firm finally confirms that USCIS has suspended processing all EB2-NIW cases due to new criteria. 
02/23/2017 USCIS slowly starts adjudicating NIW cases again.
04/21/2017 Extended EAD/AP received in mail. Valid for 2 years. 
05/06/2017 Received a massive RFE on I-140 NIW case.
07/20/2017 RFE response received by USCIS (a very long response with 30 pages of docs)
09/14/2017 I-140 NIW approved!!! 
11/28/2017 RFE for new medical issued (plus another request re Supp J for employment which is clearly issued in error)
12/04/2017 RFE received in mail
12/07/2017 repeated medical exam for I-485
12/08/2017 Attorney receives documents for responding to I-485 RFE
12/21/2017 Response to RFE received by USCIS 
02/09/2018 I-485 approval (text, email) :)
02/08/2018 I-485 approval notice issued (the "welcome letter") - I'm LPR now
02/16/2018 Green card received
 
11/14/2022 Filed N-400 online; receipt and biometrics reuse form received online
03/07/2023 N-400 Interview scheduled 
04/xx/2023 N-400 approved, same-day Oath ceremony completed. I'm a US citizen.
05/xx/2023 US passport in hand

 

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Singh0520 Newbie

Singh0520   0

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Just now, randomstairs said:

I see. But your current OPT will be valid, right? If your I-20 and the visa are valid you should be okay. Double check with your international student adviser though.   

Yes my I-20, visa and passport will be valid. My current EAD will be expired and my new EAD will be under process. 

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randomstairs Community Regular

randomstairs   303

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Timeline
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You should be fine. I've just googled this for you: "If your STEM OPT extension application is pending with USCIS, is is okay to travel internationally. This is true even if your 12-month OPT EAD is already expired." Source: https://iss.washington.edu/employment/f1-employment/opt/after-approval/

 

Like I said, the EAD is not really needed for traveling and with a valid I-20 and a visa you should be okay even if your STEM OPT is still pending. 

03/04/2016 AOS (EB2-NIW concurrent with I-485) mailed to Lewisville TX Lockbox
03/07/2016 AOS delivered to USCIS and signed
03/12/2016 Case received by Nebraska Service Center (NSC)
03/14/2016 Text notification received for I-140/I-485/I-765/I-131.
04/08/2016 Biometrics notice received for 04/21
04/13/2016 Biometrics early walk-in completed.
04/15/2016 EAD/AP combo card received in mail.

 

Long wait begins...

 

11/04/2016 I-140/485 cases transferred from Nebraska to TCS
12/01/2016 Prepared package for EAD/AP renewal (expires 04/09/2017)
12/23/2016 USCIS suddenly changes several forms, invalidating my EAD/AP renewal package (not yet sent)
12/27/2016 USCIS suddenly reforms the entire NIW criteria system, replacing a 20 years old one. Uncharted waters. 
01/07/2017 (Saturday!) EAD/AP renewal package with new forms received in Phoenix "reception desk"
01/17/2017 EAD/AP renewal case accepted; text/email with receipt numbers was received
01/30/2017 Law firm finally confirms that USCIS has suspended processing all EB2-NIW cases due to new criteria. 
02/23/2017 USCIS slowly starts adjudicating NIW cases again.
04/21/2017 Extended EAD/AP received in mail. Valid for 2 years. 
05/06/2017 Received a massive RFE on I-140 NIW case.
07/20/2017 RFE response received by USCIS (a very long response with 30 pages of docs)
09/14/2017 I-140 NIW approved!!! 
11/28/2017 RFE for new medical issued (plus another request re Supp J for employment which is clearly issued in error)
12/04/2017 RFE received in mail
12/07/2017 repeated medical exam for I-485
12/08/2017 Attorney receives documents for responding to I-485 RFE
12/21/2017 Response to RFE received by USCIS 
02/09/2018 I-485 approval (text, email) :)
02/08/2018 I-485 approval notice issued (the "welcome letter") - I'm LPR now
02/16/2018 Green card received
 
11/14/2022 Filed N-400 online; receipt and biometrics reuse form received online
03/07/2023 N-400 Interview scheduled 
04/xx/2023 N-400 approved, same-day Oath ceremony completed. I'm a US citizen.
05/xx/2023 US passport in hand

 

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Singh0520 Newbie

Singh0520   0

Posted
Timeline
  • Author
Posted
2 minutes ago, randomstairs said:

You should be fine. I've just googled this for you: "If your STEM OPT extension application is pending with USCIS, is is okay to travel internationally. This is true even if your 12-month OPT EAD is already expired." Source: https://iss.washington.edu/employment/f1-employment/opt/after-approval/

 

Like I said, the EAD is not really needed for traveling and with a valid I-20 and a visa you should be okay even if your STEM OPT is still pending. 

Awesome!! Thanks alot :D :D

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randomstairs Community Regular

randomstairs   303

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Timeline
Posted
Just now, Singh0520 said:

Awesome!! Thanks alot :D :D

Sure. If you are thanking me you may click on the gray heart at the bottom-right of my post. 

03/04/2016 AOS (EB2-NIW concurrent with I-485) mailed to Lewisville TX Lockbox
03/07/2016 AOS delivered to USCIS and signed
03/12/2016 Case received by Nebraska Service Center (NSC)
03/14/2016 Text notification received for I-140/I-485/I-765/I-131.
04/08/2016 Biometrics notice received for 04/21
04/13/2016 Biometrics early walk-in completed.
04/15/2016 EAD/AP combo card received in mail.

 

Long wait begins...

 

11/04/2016 I-140/485 cases transferred from Nebraska to TCS
12/01/2016 Prepared package for EAD/AP renewal (expires 04/09/2017)
12/23/2016 USCIS suddenly changes several forms, invalidating my EAD/AP renewal package (not yet sent)
12/27/2016 USCIS suddenly reforms the entire NIW criteria system, replacing a 20 years old one. Uncharted waters. 
01/07/2017 (Saturday!) EAD/AP renewal package with new forms received in Phoenix "reception desk"
01/17/2017 EAD/AP renewal case accepted; text/email with receipt numbers was received
01/30/2017 Law firm finally confirms that USCIS has suspended processing all EB2-NIW cases due to new criteria. 
02/23/2017 USCIS slowly starts adjudicating NIW cases again.
04/21/2017 Extended EAD/AP received in mail. Valid for 2 years. 
05/06/2017 Received a massive RFE on I-140 NIW case.
07/20/2017 RFE response received by USCIS (a very long response with 30 pages of docs)
09/14/2017 I-140 NIW approved!!! 
11/28/2017 RFE for new medical issued (plus another request re Supp J for employment which is clearly issued in error)
12/04/2017 RFE received in mail
12/07/2017 repeated medical exam for I-485
12/08/2017 Attorney receives documents for responding to I-485 RFE
12/21/2017 Response to RFE received by USCIS 
02/09/2018 I-485 approval (text, email) :)
02/08/2018 I-485 approval notice issued (the "welcome letter") - I'm LPR now
02/16/2018 Green card received
 
11/14/2022 Filed N-400 online; receipt and biometrics reuse form received online
03/07/2023 N-400 Interview scheduled 
04/xx/2023 N-400 approved, same-day Oath ceremony completed. I'm a US citizen.
05/xx/2023 US passport in hand

 

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