NOID overturned
Approved six weeks after the response
STEM OPT Extension
Background
The applicant, already in a stable job, filed for a STEM OPT extension with premium processing and received a NOID because of an arrest record.
Challenges
- The arrest record raised questions for USCIS that had to be fully answered within the deadline.
Strategy
- Began preparing the response as soon as the NOID arrived, matching the evidence point by point to USCIS's concerns.
- The applicant cooperated fully and the materials were well prepared.
Case Timeline
| Date | Progress |
|---|---|
| 10/17/2025 | Application filed (premium processing) |
| 12/29/2025 | NOID received |
| 01/21/2026 | NOID response filed |
| 03/04/2026 | STEM OPT extension approved |
Outcome
STEM OPT extension approved (response filed 01/21/2026 · approved 03/04/2026).
Closing Note
For STEM graduates with a steady job, status is the job. Assess the risk ahead of time rather than scrambling after an RFE or NOID arrives.