What changed in 2026
A few updates are worth flagging up front, because they have shifted what some competitor guides say versus what USCIS actually wants right now.
As of September 30, 2026, USCIS accepts the 08/21/25 Form I-765 edition and does not accept the 09/15/26 edition. The court postponed the fixed-admission final rule. Check the current form page and fee schedule before filing; do not use the September preview form.
USCIS no longer accepts the passport-style photo you upload with Form I-765. Under USCIS Policy Alert PA-2025-29, "Photograph Reuse for Identity Documents" (December 12, 2025), your EAD photo is taken at a USCIS Application Support Center (ASC) biometrics appointment, unless USCIS reuses a biometrics photo it already has on file from the last 36 months. OPT and STEM OPT filers should expect a biometrics appointment notice.
One more thing: for paper filings postmarked after October 28, 2025, USCIS generally wants electronic payment via Form G-1450 (card) or Form G-1650 (ACH debit). Personal or business checks, money orders, and cashier's checks are no longer accepted for paper filings unless you qualify for an exemption and submit Form G-1651. Online filings pay through Pay.gov.
Core documents every I-765 OPT filing needs
These items go in every packet, no matter which OPT category you are filing under. Start here, then add the category-specific evidence below.
Form I-765, accepted 08/21/25 edition as of September 30, 2026, signed and dated. Use category code (c)(3)(A), (c)(3)(B), or (c)(3)(C), as applicable. Check the edition date at the bottom of every page against the current USCIS form page. The 09/15/26 edition is not accepted while the September rule is postponed.
Filing fee: $520 paper (using G-1450 or G-1650, unless you qualify for a paper-payment exemption) or $470 online through Pay.gov. If you think you qualify for a fee waiver, read USCIS fee-waiver guidance closely; waiver requests fall under Form I-912 rules and may push you onto the paper track instead of the standard online flow.
I-20 with your DSO's OPT recommendation, signed by you in ink on the Student Attestation line. USCIS must receive Form I-765 within 30 days after the recommendation is entered in SEVIS for pre- or post-completion OPT, or within 60 days for STEM OPT. Count from the SEVIS entry, not the day the I-20 was printed. Missing the applicable filing limit can lead to denial.
For paper filings, send the passport-style photos called for in the current Form I-765 instructions. For online filings, upload a passport-style photo in a USCIS-accepted format that meets Department of State passport photo specs; USCIS online materials for Form I-765 OPT list JPEG or PNG as accepted formats.
Copy of your passport biographic page, showing photo, name, date of birth, and expiration.
Copy of your most recent Form I-94 (retrieve it from CBP). Submit the I-94 record itself, not the travel history page.
Copy of your F-1 visa stamp, or, if you changed status inside the US, a copy of your I-797 change-of-status approval notice.
Copies of any prior EAD cards, front and back. Missing prior EADs is a common RFE trigger. If you cannot find one, include a short written statement explaining the loss.
Form G-28 if you are represented by an attorney or accredited representative.
Certified English translations for any document not in English.
Category-specific checklist: (c)(3)(A), (c)(3)(B), and (c)(3)(C)
Every OPT filing falls into one of three categories, and the evidence requirements vary enough that it is worth comparing them side by side before you put your packet together.
(c)(3)(A) Pre-completion OPT is for students who want to work part-time during their studies after finishing one full academic year. You can file up to 90 days before that first full year wraps up. With the core documents, include a transcript or enrollment verification showing one full academic year of full-time F-1 study at a SEVP-certified school.
(c)(3)(B) Post-completion OPT is the standard 12-month work authorization at the end of an eligible degree program. File up to 90 days before your program end date and no later than 60 days after it. USCIS must also receive Form I-765 within 30 days after your DSO enters the recommendation in SEVIS. Include the DSO-endorsed I-20 and required identity/status evidence; check the current instructions for your category.
The post-completion deadline remains 60 days after program completion. The September 14 court order postponed the rule that would have cut it to 30. STEM OPT has separate limits: up to 90 days before the current EAD expires and within 60 days of the DSO recommendation, as explained by USCIS.
(c)(3)(C) STEM OPT is the 24-month extension for students with eligible STEM degrees working for E-Verify employers. Note the number: 24 months, not the outdated 17-month figure you will still see on some competitor sites. This category needs the largest document set, covered next.
STEM OPT extras, including the I-983 question everyone asks
The 24-month STEM OPT extension needs everything in the core checklist plus evidence specific to your degree and employer. Per the USCIS STEM OPT overview, you will need:
Copy of your current post-completion OPT EAD card, both sides.
Copy of your STEM degree diploma. A bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree in a field on the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List qualifies.
Prior STEM degree evidence if you are basing STEM OPT on an earlier degree rather than your most recent one. Include a copy of that diploma plus documentation that the institution is accredited by the Department of Education and SEVP-certified.
Your employer's EIN in Part 2, Item 28.a of Form I-765.
Your employer's E-Verify Company ID or Client Company ID in Part 2, Item 28.c. This is a 4 to 7-digit number and is NOT the same as the EIN. Mixing the two up is one of the most common STEM OPT mistakes. Your HR team or E-Verify administrator can confirm the right number.
And the question almost every STEM OPT filer asks: does Form I-983 go with my I-765 to USCIS? No. Form I-983, the Training Plan for STEM OPT Students, stays with your Designated School Official. DHS may ask for it during an RFE or site visit, but it is not part of your I-765 packet.
Paper filing vs. online filing: what changes in your packet
Most OPT documents are the same either way. The submission format is what changes.
For paper filings, you need physical passport-style photo prints, a printed and signed Form I-765, photocopies of supporting documents, and payment via G-1450 or G-1650 unless you qualify for a paper-payment exemption. Mail the packet to the USCIS lockbox address on the current Direct Filing Addresses for Form I-765 page for your eligibility category and where you live; OPT and STEM OPT paper filings go to lockbox addresses, not a Potomac Service Center lockbox.
For online filings through your USCIS account, you upload JPEG photos at 600x600 pixels or larger and under 240 KB, scanned supporting documents as PDFs, and pay the $470 fee through Pay.gov. Online filings get an IOE-prefix receipt number.
One hard rule: do not submit both a paper and an online I-765 for the same category. Duplicate filings are denied automatically and you lose the fee on the duplicate. Pick one channel and stick with it.
Processing times are roughly the same either way. Check your case status once you get your receipt notice.
Common document mistakes that trigger RFEs or denials
Missing or outdated DSO recommendation. USCIS must receive Form I-765 within 30 days after the SEVIS recommendation for pre- or post-completion OPT, or within 60 days for STEM OPT. The date the I-20 was printed does not restart that clock.
Submitting a reused passport photo. Since the December 2025 policy update, USCIS often issues RFEs when it looks like you used the same photo as a prior EAD. Get fresh photos taken within 30 days of filing.
Marking the wrong form box. Pre- and post-completion OPT mark box 1.a. "Initial permission to accept employment." STEM OPT marks box 1.c. "Renewal of permission to accept employment."
Entering the EIN in the E-Verify field. Part 2 Item 28.a takes the EIN. Item 28.c takes the E-Verify Company ID. They are different numbers.
Submitting the I-94 travel history instead of the I-94 record. USCIS wants the arrival record, not the list of trips.
Missing prior EAD copies for STEM OPT renewals. Include your current post-completion OPT EAD card, both sides. Do not assume USCIS can pull it from their own system.
CIP code mismatches on STEM OPT filings. The degree on your I-20 has to match a code on the STEM Designated Degree Program List. If your program title on the diploma differs slightly from what is on your I-20, include a letter from your registrar confirming they refer to the same program.