USCIS: OPT and STEM OPT Paper I-765 Filings Go to Chicago

by Niloofar Rahimi Zadeh updated on Nov 3, 2026 05:38:12 PM

USCIS updated its direct-filing instructions for Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, on October 7, 2026. The agency also established a temporary grace period: paper applications sent to a previous filing location will be accepted if postmarked on or before November 9, 2026.

For F-1 students, the key point is straightforward. Current USCIS instructions direct standalone paper applications for pre-completion OPT, post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT), and the 24-month STEM OPT extension to the Chicago Lockbox. The address depends on whether the applicant uses the U.S. Postal Service or a private delivery company. (dejavu.org)

Current Form I-765 Mailing Addresses for F-1 OPT

The following addresses apply when an F-1 student files Form I-765 by itself under one of these eligibility categories:

(c)(3)(A): Pre-completion OPT
(c)(3)(B): Post-completion OPT
(c)(3)(C): 24-month STEM OPT extension

If Sending the Application Through USPS

USCIS
Attn: I-765 C03
P.O. Box 805373
Chicago, IL 60680-5374

If Using FedEx, UPS or DHL

USCIS
Attn: I-765 C03 (Box 805373)
131 South Dearborn - 3rd Floor
Chicago, IL 60603-5517

The courier address should not be used for USPS deliveries, and the USPS post office box should not be used for FedEx, UPS or DHL packages. USCIS warns that sending an application to an inappropriate location can delay processing. (dejavu.org)

Eligible F-1 students may also file Form I-765 online for pre-completion OPT, post-completion OPT or STEM OPT. Students choosing paper filing should confirm the address again immediately before shipping their application because USCIS can revise filing locations. For a broader overview of the application process, see Day1CPT.org’s OPT and STEM OPT guide.

Premium Processing Uses Different Mailing Instructions

Students requesting premium processing must file Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing Service. The correct address depends on whether Form I-907 is being submitted for an already-pending Form I-765 or together with a new Form I-765.

Form I-907 for a Pending Form I-765

Do not submit another copy of Form I-765.

USPS:

USCIS
Attn: I-907
P.O. Box 805501
Chicago, IL 60680-4116

FedEx, UPS or DHL:

USCIS
Attn: I-907 (P.O. Box 805501)
131 South Dearborn, 3rd Floor
Chicago, IL 60603-5517

Form I-765 and Form I-907 Filed Together

USPS:

USCIS
Attn: I-907
P.O. Box 88782
Chicago, IL 60680-1782

FedEx, UPS or DHL:

USCIS
Attn: I-907 (Box 88782)
131 South Dearborn, 3rd Floor
Chicago, IL 60603-5517

These addresses are different from the address for a standalone Form I-765. Mixing them up could delay intake or cause the package to be returned. (dejavu.org)

Not Every Form I-765 Applicant Uses the OPT Address

The Chicago OPT address is not a universal Form I-765 filing address. USCIS determines the correct destination using the eligibility category entered in Question 27 of Form I-765 and, for some applicants, the state where they live.

For example, the October 2026 instructions direct some H-4 employment authorization applications to Dallas or Phoenix, while J-2 and M-1 applicants must consult USCIS’s lockbox chart based on their circumstances and residence. Applicants should therefore search the official address page using their exact eligibility category rather than copying an address from another EAD applicant. (dejavu.org)

CPT applicants should also note that Curricular Practical Training is generally authorized by a school’s Designated School Official on Form I-20. F-1 students do not file Form I-765 to obtain standard CPT authorization.

What Students Should Check Before Mailing Form I-765

Before shipping a paper OPT or STEM OPT application:

Confirm the eligibility category. Post-completion OPT normally uses (c)(3)(B), while STEM OPT uses (c)(3)(C).
Match the address to the delivery company. USPS and private couriers use different destinations.
Download the currently accepted form edition. USCIS may reject an application containing pages from different or unacceptable editions.
Keep a complete copy of the package.
Use delivery tracking and retain proof of mailing and delivery.
Verify the address on the USCIS website immediately before shipping.

The lockbox filing destination is separate from the applicant’s mailing address entered on Form I-765. If a student moves while the case is pending, updating an address with USPS alone does not update USCIS records, and USPS generally does not forward USCIS mail. Applicants should update USCIS directly and include the receipt number for each pending case. (egov.uscis.gov)

Frequently Asked Questions

Did the October 7, 2026 update change the OPT mailing address?

The updated USCIS page currently directs standalone paper applications for pre-completion OPT, post-completion OPT and STEM OPT to the Chicago Lockbox. Students should use the addresses listed for their delivery method and should not assume that a broader Form I-765 address update moved OPT filings elsewhere.

Can I still file Form I-765 for OPT online?

Yes. F-1 students applying under categories (c)(3)(A), (c)(3)(B) or (c)(3)(C) may file Form I-765 through an eligible USCIS online account instead of mailing a paper application. Online filing eliminates the need to select a lockbox mailing address, but the applicant must still meet all applicable OPT deadlines and evidence requirements. (uscis.gov)

What happens if I mail Form I-765 to an old address?

USCIS announced that it will accept applications sent to previous filing locations if they are postmarked on or before November 9, 2026. After that grace period, using an outdated address may delay processing or result in the package being returned. Applicants mailing close to a deadline should use the current address rather than relying on the grace period. (dejavu.org)

Is the Form I-765 address based on where I live?

Not for standard F-1 OPT and STEM OPT paper applications under categories (c)(3)(A), (c)(3)(B) and (c)(3)(C); USCIS currently directs those standalone filings to Chicago. Other I-765 categories may use an address determined by the applicant’s residence, eligibility category, related application or receipt number.

Should I send Form I-907 to the regular OPT address?

No. Form I-907 has separate addresses depending on whether it is filed for a pending Form I-765 or submitted together with a new Form I-765. Students should use the specific premium-processing address shown in the current USCIS instructions.

Sources:

Topics: OPT USCIS STEM

Share this