USCIS Provides Filing Flexibility For International Student OPT Work Authorization Applications Affected By Service Delays

On February 26, 2021, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it was offering additional flexibility for international students affected by the delayed issuance of receipt notices for Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization. USCIS had previously acknowledged that it was "experiencing delays in issuing receipt notices for some applications and petitions filed at a USCIS lockbox facility," and, in particular, "significant delays" for Form I-765 applications relating to F-1 students. As of March 11, 2021, all F-1 international student optional practical training (OPT) and science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) OPT applications are required to be filed at USCIS lockbox facilities. Delays at these facilities have caused delays in benefit issuance.