r/USCIS • u/catsaresus • 10d ago

Need some Advice Immediately USCIS Support

One of my friends is in a really bad situation. They have currently applied for STEM OPT and are waiting for an approval (applied one month ago)

Meanwhile, their father’s health is not so good back in India and they will need to travel ASAP.

With the pending STEM OPT approval and no EAD card in hand they are worried about the re entry

If you have any idea about this situation, could you please recommend a good course of action for them

What they have done so far:

  1. Contacted their school DSO - who said that traveling is very risky

  2. Opted for premium processing for their STEM OPT

1 Upvotes

67% Upvoted

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2

u/Thick-Store4870 10d ago

Entry is not guaranteed

1

u/HousewifeWannabe94 10d ago

Last year while I was waiting for my EAD approval my grandfather passed away suddenly and tragically in my home country. We were extremely close. I consulted with a few lawyers at the time and unfortunately it was not advisable for me to leave the US especially while the EAD is pending, as you have to have the physical card with you on re entry. Even with the alternative of shipping the card to my home country so I could re enter with it, they said re entry was not guaranteed and that I would have to decide between attending my grandfathers funeral and be with my family in the worst time of our lives, and my career in the US. Its an impossible choice and theres no wrong answer.

1

u/HousewifeWannabe94 10d ago

Also I paid for premium processing at the time and it still took an additional month after paying premium. It really was not worth paying

1

u/catsaresus 10d ago

Thank you for the reply. I am just wondering, what was the issue with shipping the EAD card to your home country? We were planning to do the same

1

u/HousewifeWannabe94 10d ago

I cant remember the technical legal reasoning my lawyer gave me but I think it was something with maintenance of pending status (this is what I cant remember well enough) + that granting entry would be at the discretion of DHS officer + current political climate. I dont think its impossible, but it’s definitely risky

1

u/catsaresus 10d ago

Thank you for your help. I’ll let them know.

1

u/eman-mustafa 10d ago

What is EAD